Hi,
Total new guy waiting for my 2011 Clubman S. Been on this board for one month now. Learned alot, thank you. This whole Mushroom issue is something I would like to prevent. After reading most of the posts it seems like the Craven is better then the M7 Strut Tower Protector. But, for an extra $100+ I can get a Strut Bar. So, the question is if I get the NM Engineering Front Strut Bar, will it prevent the Mushrooming as good as the Craven Strut Tower Protector? My main concern is the Mushrooming. I am thinking about the NM Strut bar just because if it protects and adds stabilization, its all good in the hood per say. (worth the extra $)

Please share me your thoughts.
Thank you

 

I've heard of people having strut tower protectors bend, can't remember what brand, but I'm pretty sure the M7 and Cravenspeed are made of the same material. Any hard metal ring around the strut tower will help prevent mushrooming, so it really may just depend on what catches your eye more.

 

Well maybe someone will chime in and confirm, but I don't think mushrooming is an issue anymore with the Gen 2. I think it was a concern on the Gen 1, but the strut towers were redesigned for the Gen 2...and mushrooming is pretty much a thing of the past. I'm sure you could probably hit something so incredibly hard that mushrooming would be possible on a gen 2, but I think anyone else will tell you, you'll bend a rim or blow a tire quicker than you'll cause mushrooming (and mushrooming is caused by a barrage of these incredible hits).

 

I wouldn't worry about mushrooming in a Clubman. I suggest that you do a search and try to find actual reported cases of mushrooming in an R56 or Clubman. Mushrooming was a common problem in the 1st gen (2002-2006), but the strut towers were redesigned for the 2nd gen (2007+) and it is no longer an issue.

Mushrooming received a fair amount of publicity during the 1st gen. My opinion is that vendors who make anti-mushrooming products for the 2nd gen are playing off of fear generated by reports of mushrooming in the 1st gen MINI.

 

Thank you everyone. This Board is Amazing! I recall reading on another forum that some people were upset that BMW/MINI did not address the fix for the 2nd Gen even after knowing that it was a known problem. The internet is a fantastic source but you can't believe everything. So I guess I will saveup for the NM Front Strut Bar unless someone can recommend an alternative. Looked into VIP, M7 etc. (must be able to fit the DoS CAI). Can't confirm 2011 Clubman S fitment for VIP. and do not want to deal with liner tear with M7.
Thanks

 

But they did address the problem in the 2nd gen. Which forum was it?

If you search around, it isn't too difficult to find pics of mushrooming in the 1st gen (example here). However, I challenge you to find even a single pic of a mushroomed 2nd gen, even though many more 2nd gen's have been built than 1st gen's.

 

Thats great news! Since I have been lurking everywhere for this info. I can not recall the exact forum. Now I can just focus on the Strut bar itself and not weigh too heavily on the strut tower protector.
Thank you All!

 

Seach for my thread "Damn Trucks" and you will read of an incident that resulted in "mushrooming of my right strut tower. Granted it was extreme, but as they say, "accidents do happen". I have had my repairs completed and have since added the Craven Strut Tower Defenders in the natural anodized aluminum finish. We will see if they help - they certainly can't hurt. I also started another thread yesterday regarding changing from the 205/45 17 run-flats to 205/55 17 or 215/55 17 non run-flat tires as a way or providing more impact absorbing potential, along with filling out the wheel opening better. Still no replies on that thread. Best of luck with your decision.

 

Thanks highlander709. I read your thread. So sorry to hear about what happened. WOW. At the end of the day at least no one was hurt.
Happy 4th!

 

at the end of the day, it is better to strut your stuff than to stuff your struts

(sorry)

 

so what do you recommend? NM strut bar or just the Craven protector? If I am getting the NM, I need to justify the cost. If there is only minimal difference in stiffness to the ride by adding a Strut bar, I may just go with the Craven Protector. (focusing on possible Mushrooming caused by my wife driving straight into a pothole)

Total newbie here.

 

and as you are new, I should restrain my sense of humor. i am sometimes the victim of senseless word play...

i would recommend that you do not worry about a weakness that was apparent in the Gen 1 cars, and enjoy your new Mini!

kind regards,

Charlie

 

The greatest word of advise yet! Thank you and have a great 4th

 

i mushroomed my strut tower in R56 (2011). i went with NM tie up bar - should prevent further mushrooming and helps with handling

 

Thank you. Got me thinking again

 

Both the NM Tie bar and the Craven STDs work great to prevent mushrooming. If you want to stiffen up the front end spend the extra on the bar, otherwise just get the plates.

 

How did you mushroom your front strut towers? Also how did you find you it was mushroomed? Did you have to hammer it back before you put on the plates?

 

Forgot to mention, I went with an adjustable camber plate instead and I think if you are interested in preventing mushrooming, the camber plates should do that and help The car's handling especially initially turn in, as well.

 

GTSpec Strut Bar, http://www.google.com/products/catal...ed=0CDMQ8wIwAA#

I got mine price matched by JSC Speed to another website with a lower price, paid about 150. Painted the plates dark silver to match the car, voila.

 

the passenger side strut tower mushroomed in my 07 r56. had it fixed but... havent decided on mushroom defender yet. glad i stumbled upon this forum

 

i hit a major a$$ pothole. i could immediately see left side tower protruding a few mm out AND one of the anchor bolts was broken (it was all OEM set up back then). i didnt hammer it back - my shop guy said not to touch it since hammering it back might have weakened the metal a bit. since then i pout on camber plates and a tie up bar.

 

I have bent two front mini rims in two separate incidents but the towers did not mushroom in either incident. Both times it also caused the run flats to bulge with fractured sidewalls. So glad you did not blow out your rims and tires as well.

 

I know this is an old thread but thought I would mention I had it happen to my own car - a 2010 Cabrio. I cannot even put on the plates until I have the car put on a frame machine - strut tower is totally mushroom'd.

 

Was it a single incident, or something that developed over time? Was there any other damage as well?

 

I hit a pretty good pothole and bent my passenger side front rim. I went to Peter at M7 and picked up a bar. He personally took a look at my Clubman and said that while it wasn't bad, there was slight mushrooming. I believe him only because i didn't tell him which side i hit the pothole and he was able to tell. When i went home to put on the plates and the bar, i was able to put it on without jacking up the car or hammering down the tower. Better safe than sorry.