I am NOT slamming you, I personally feel that too big a rear bar with no change up front is overkill. I've also set up lots of cars for the track, and I usually tell my customers to learn to drive their cars first (learning the limits, not the remedial stuff) then make small changes like a rear bar, to enhance the performance, then go faster and learn the next level.

Just adding a rear bar will not change how the car drives straight, it will only reduce body roll when corning. It will also change lanes flatter
--Dan

 

I have the 25mm competition rear sway bar. This was the only suspension mod with everything else stock, and I had it in the middle setting. Cornering was a lot faster with neutral handling, only by lifting throttle can my Mini go a bit oversteer, but cleared immediately if I step on the throttle again.

Then a year later, I bought the M7 strut tower brace. After putting the brace on, the car feels understeer again and is a pain on waist when cornering fast. I figured that a stiffer front had canceled the stiff rear, so I adjusted the rear sway bar to the stiffest setting, now the car is back to the original as if no strut tower brace was installed... Plus having a much more solid front when turning or driving over bumpy roads.

Couldn't be more happier with 25mm bar, it gives you more room to make the tail stiffer.

 

Then a year later, I bought the M7 strut tower brace. After putting the brace on, the car feels understeer again and is a pain on waist when cornering fast. I figured that a stiffer front had canceled the stiff rear, so I adjusted the rear sway bar to the stiffest setting, now the car is back to the original as if no strut tower brace was installed... Plus having a much more solid front when turning or driving over bumpy roads.

Couldn't be more happier with 25mm bar, it gives you more room to make the tail stiffer.[/quote]

I have both the top and lower M7 braces / so it looks like 25 comp bar is the way to go right?

 

I'd suggest the 19mm for the type of driving you will be doing. If you plan on autocrossing or road racing in the future, then you might want to get the 25.4mm comp bar. Ride comfort is mostly unaffected by both bars.

As far as MINI's go, snap oversteer is due to rough or jerky driving. You can spin out a perfectly stock MINI if you drive it jerky enough. A person that can drive smooth will have no problem with the competition bar.

 

all good dan... no offense taken

 

19mm WITH front bracing?

 

Just take the 25mm one and mount the stiffest (inner most) hole, becaues you have a very stiff front. You won't be happier!!

And just like what other people said, unless you jerk the car significantly, you won't experience an oversteer. And even if you do, e.g., playing on snow purposedly , pressing on the throttle will cancel it out immediately.

If you get the 25mm one, you can always go back to softer settings, but if you get the 19mm one, I'm sure even the stiffest setting with your front brace will not be able to make it even neutral.

 

For typical driving on the street, a neutral handling makes the car turns much easier, much even wear on the tires, and actually safer when you mistakenly enter a curve too fast, since the car just slides in parallel to the road, not heading out of the curve.

You don't need to do autocross or road racing to benefit from a neutral handling.

 

Thanks! 25mm it is then.

 

Good choice. You won't be disappointed.