So, again in the interest of "cheap mods", my research has led me to these bad boys:

http://www.minimotors.com/Mini_Coope...649&pID=114721

They are the convertible strut braces for the engine. They "should" bolt right on to a R53. I have checked, and there are ports for where these bolts should go. They are just currently covered with little caps.

The only issue I see with the install, is with the driver side brace. The bottom of it bolts to a spot that is currently being used for a bracket for the AC line or something.

Has anyone else done this mod?!?! It looks so easy and it's so affordable!

 

ya this mod is pretty popular, takes out a little front end clicks and ticks in the cabin. I can't see it doing much else suspension wise, but it helped with the NVH, in my R53. Get it if you can afford it, why not, it's cheap

 

They are actualy from a r52...
Cars build after mid 2004 should have the bolt holes...
very common mod
lots of threads, helped with nvh, and a few rattles....

 

PS
That hole on the drivers side is a non issue...
When you do the install, it is very tight, but you will find another hole down there if i remember right.

 

my R53 is a 09/03 build and has the threaded holes.

 

As others have said, these are OEM R52 hardware. They're among the best $35 I ever spent, I'd say... Definitely a noticeable improvement in chassis stiffness and a welcome reduction in dashboard creaks and cracks and pops and squeaks. Still nowhere near quiet, but much better! You'll need a handful of M6x1x<15 hardware to install them; I treated mine with blue Loctite.

Take this with a grain of salt, but know that I'm a mod sceptic: I don't think my strut tower bar did anything, I'm certain my rear stress bar did absolutely nothing, and I have my doubts about the utility of sway-bar end links. But I'm also convinced that OE engineers, with kajillions of dollars for R and D, get things much more right than professional aftermarket tinkerers.

 

+1
It is good to hear exactly what i have thought, and sometimes posted!
i know wmw includes the needed bolts....only negative are they are torix if i remember right, so they appear 100%, right down to the bolts..
he can even powdercoat them for folks who want color other than oem black...