Anyone have any information or insight to the value or utility of a Front Strut brace as seen on so many of the "mini parts" sites?. ...

 

TwOMINIs,

The MINI is a very stiff chassis torsionally as is. That said, as long as the brace doesn't interfere with the intake, and doesn't weigh 1 billion pounds, there is no harn in triangulation.

For folks that want this, I recommend the aluminum BMP brace with the BMP intake.

I carry both, and I've been very happy with the quality of the system.

Let me know if you have any other questions; I'd be glad to help with your decision.

Randy
720-841-1002

 

>>Anyone have any information or insight to the value or utility of a Front Strut brace as seen on so many of the "mini parts" sites?. ...

Yes I can. I bought one from Diamond Racing and it works great. My MINI now handles corners twice as good as before, get one they are great.
Foodie

 

>>TwOMINIs,
>>
>>The MINI is a very stiff chassis torsionally as is. That said, as long as the brace doesn't interfere with the intake, and doesn't weigh 1 billion pounds, there is no harn in triangulation.
>>
>>For folks that want this, I recommend the aluminum BMP brace with the BMP intake.
>>
>>I carry both, and I've been very happy with the quality of the system.
>>
>>Let me know if you have any other questions; I'd be glad to help with your decision.
>>
>>Randy
>>720-841-1002
You sell for them that means nothing.
Foodie

 

Foodie,
do you notice any difference in ride comfort after the installation of the strut tower brace?

bbt4
electric blue MCS

 

Hi,
No quality difference, just smoother and flatter handling the turns.

 

>>You sell for them that means nothing.
>>Foodie

Foodie, don't discount RandyBMC's opinion just because he happens to be a distributor, he is once of the primary OBJECTIVE sources on this site and we are happy to have him. He independently test a varity of products and gives opiions based on what he finds. Tell me, how many diffeent brands did you ACTUALLY install on your car and note differences?? Did you actually handle each product on the market and chack for quality, functionality, weight, etc. before you purchased?

What Randy brings to MCO are solid recomendations based on REAL WORLD experience, not product line bias. If you review some of his posts, his recomendations are across the board, not biased toward any particular vendor.

 

>>Yes I can. I bought one from Diamond Racing and it works great. My MINI now handles corners twice as good as before, get one they are great.
>>Foodie

I see your post count now, didn't realize you were new to MCO, sorry to come down so harsh. Just get a little ticked at flippant comments sometimes.

Welcome to MCO... happy motoring.

 

To add to what cgehring said about RandyBMC...

Sure, he sells the stuff, so what? He's tried out bunches of different mods to find what he thinks are the best ones, and only sells those! If he starts trying to sell us unheard of brands for exorbitant prices, then I'll question him. But I'm betting he doesn't make *too* much more from one mod to the other (in the same category of course). He's also got his reputation on the line. If he says that some component is the best one he's tested, and a bunch of people say otherwise...well, he's just hurt his buisness. I think he's got us in mind here.
~Brad

 

>>To add to what cgehring said about RandyBMC...
>>
>>Sure, he sells the stuff, so what? He's tried out bunches of different mods to find what he thinks are the best ones, and only sells those! If he starts trying to sell us unheard of brands for exorbitant prices, then I'll question him. But I'm betting he doesn't make *too* much more from one mod to the other (in the same category of course). He's also got his reputation on the line. If he says that some component is the best one he's tested, and a bunch of people say otherwise...well, he's just hurt his buisness. I think he's got us in mind here.
>>~Brad

I dont mean to come down hard here. I have a lot of experience with in the sales arena, too much if you know what I mean. To be any good you have to be enthusiastic about what you sale. Randy is that, would you agree? But to monitor a sight and sell stuff that you write about just is not correct.

No one can be impartial and still be enthusiastic. It doesnt work when you need to make a living and feed a family, so he should do one or the other, he may be a great guy but lets you and I be honest. His decision is based on prejudice of what he offers. Thats a fact.

 

True, but he has a choice as to what to offer. He's not obligated to sell *only* Rogue Engineering parts or anything like that. Sure, he *might* choose his parts based soley off profit, but I doubt it. Soon people will get a better idea of what the best products *truely* are (with a bit more testing), and Randy knows that his reputation and his shop's reputation are both on the line. Also, i think that he's a good guy. He's not some evil person trying to get rich quick. He's honestly trying to help people out. Why else would he post those DIY how-tos... He could be *charging* people to do that. He's also attempting to work with MCSHP.org to find out exactly what the best products are. Why would he do that if he had something to hide? Granted, if there are two almost equal systems, one of which he sells and one which he doesn't, he might try and push his product a bit, but probably not much. I think he'd come right out and say "They're about equal, but I don't like the other one because it ______." He won't have to be in the position of saying that very often though, because he's tried to make sure that he's only selling the best products out there.

Well, nothing else that I say is going to influence you, so I'll let this topic die (also don't want to hijack this thread), but i think Randy isn't going to purposely steer you wrong.
~Brad

 

damn! take it easy.
randy obviously can't be making that much $$$ off orders from this message board.
he's a great resource and seems to be a cool cat! if you're skeptical, i'm sure he would not mind
if you took your business elsewhere! we don't need player haters around here!

 

Randy

I like the design of the BMP front strut brace, but want to Madness intake. Will the two work together? And what about the Diamond brace -any limitations to what intakes can be used?

 

I have seen many fourms/boards go down this bumpy road. Selling on them is usally the downfall.

B

 

I for one enjoy Randy being here and it wouldn't be the same. He talks more about the products, additional things you can do to them, tips, etc...he isn't just reading off some dyno sheet and price sheet and saying come to me don't goto the rest. Randy - don't change one bit.

 

I second that ... he tests and evaluates everything and then recomends what he thinks is the best - and, like he has said, he'll match the product to the car & driver's style, tastes and preferences - sounds good to me!

 

>>Randy
>>
>>I like the design of the BMP front strut brace, but want to Madness intake. Will the two work together? And what about the Diamond brace -any limitations to what intakes can be used?


Matt,

I placed a call to Tracy at Diamond Racing about the strut brace, and I'll let you know what I find out (I'm also a distributor of their products, along with BMP, MINI-Mania, MOSS MINI, MINI-Madness, ALTA Performance, Turner, Helix, H-Sport, Borla, Magnaflow, Quicksilver, and I'll set up any others I need to to provide the best products).

The BMP brace doesn't work with the Madness intake. That, and the finish quality of the BMP intake are why I recommend that one. I know Madness is working hard to bring a strut brace to the market that works with the intake - but no dice yet.

The Diamond Racing brace may work with the Madness intake, so that could be a viable option for you (you just lose that beautiful aluminum handiwork, sigh). I'll be sure to post when I talk to Cy or Tracy.

I don't really want to get involved with the whloe argument that has developed here, but thanks for the support guys!

Randy

 

>>>>Randy
>>>>
>>>>I like the design of the BMP front strut brace, but want to Madness intake. Will the two work together? And what about the Diamond brace -any limitations to what intakes can be used?
>>
>>
>>Matt,
>>
>>I placed a call to Tracy at Diamond Racing about the strut brace, and I'll let you know what I find out (I'm also a distributor of their products, along with BMP, MINI-Mania, MOSS MINI, MINI-Madness, ALTA Performance, Turner, Helix, H-Sport, Borla, Magnaflow, Quicksilver, and I'll set up any others I need to to provide the best products).
>>
>>The BMP brace doesn't work with the Madness intake. That, and the finish quality of the BMP intake are why I recommend that one. I know Madness is working hard to bring a strut brace to the market that works with the intake - but no dice yet.
>>
>>The Diamond Racing brace may work with the Madness intake, so that could be a viable option for you (you just lose that beautiful aluminum handiwork, sigh). I'll be sure to post when I talk to Cy or Tracy.
>>
>>I don't really want to get involved with the whloe argument that has developed here, but thanks for the support guys!
>>
>>Randy

This is not about Randy its about business style only. No more need be said. I hope
Foodie