I have an MCS with JCW, and am looking into a front strut tower brace. I've read on this forum many opinions and seen lots of pictures, but every picture either shows an aftermarket CAI (which I don't have) or a MC (not S) engine compartment. Does anyone know of someone who makes a strut tower brace which fits on a stock MCS without modifying the air filter housing? And better yet, does anyone have a picture with one installed on an MCS?
-Cor.

 

The H-Sport brace fits without modding stock or cold-air intake.

Don't have a picture, tho.

 

If for looks then fine

Unless you are doing long sweeping high speed turns on the track a bunch of times each month, most of us with MINIs would not benefit much from the front tower strut brace of any design.

A few hard charging MINIs do race hard but most of us cannot easily detect that the brace is helping much and certainly it doesn't help for street driving.

If you purchase is to improve the suspension then the rear swaybar is a much better benefit. For the MCS get the 22mm adjustable 3 hole bar and use the softest or middle settings to start with. If you have the rear swaybar already then go for lighter rims and non runflat tires if you want- that will make a very big difference.

If you really like the looks of the front tower strut brace to dress up your engine bay then choose one that is light. The H-sport brace is OK.
See
http://www.h-sport.com/bin/images/products/20800_lg.jpg
The Hotchkis Sport Strut Tower Brace adds rigidity to the engine bay area of the Mini. Benefitting from an all-aluminum design, the Brace utilizes a solid, CNC formed 22mm center section with billet ends pieces. The center section itself has the necessary shape in order to clear the stock and most aftermarket air boxes. It comes with a brushed silver finish while the billet ends are anodized H Sport Blue. The Brace is easy to install and can be utilized with or without H Sport Camber Plates.
Retail price: $270.11

Various vendors carry it.

 

Not getting it for looks, I use my car for performance purposes. And I'm not sold on getting one yet; it seems like a lot of money for very little payoff. I was just curious, if I ever got some extra money falling from the sky, which one to get. Thanks for the feedback.
-Cor.

 

Is it true that the rear brace does more than the front on our MCS?

Ive seen a couple pictures of MCS with the rear tie bar...

Id get that front H-sports after getting some KW's. :p