Very manly


Anybody running one?

 

Wow.. Looks awesome..

 

Kewl!

 

Is it the most expensive currently available? £219 in "pearl patina" silver or £234 for powdercoated black. That's $434 USD at current rates for the black, plus shipping from the UK. The crossbar is CNC milled from a single billet of alloy!

http://www.mini2.com/forum/wheels-ty...-1st-pics.html

Here's the pearl patina finish:

 

Not cheap is it?

 

Umm guys no offense to GTT here but this looks like someone took some scrap metal punded it with a bunch of hammers then decided to weld two plates at the end and walah..presto a strut brace.
Not my cup of tea but hey I know GTT is good for it. Just my $.02, and especially not for the price. does anyone agree with me here? or am I the only one?

 

Well, all of the pieces are milled not stamped and I don't doubt that it is strong and high quality compared with others. However I just noticed that the end plates are flat and not shaped with ridges to sit snugly against the strut tower, so they won't be making claims about mushroom prevention like the m7 version. By the way, in the MINI2 thread, Roland of GTT said they also have a lower frame brace about to be released.

 

Yes, but it looks like you must remove the whole bar to service the air filter?

 

There are a number of bars like that.
It also might make getting to the oil filter more difficult too. As do some other bars.

 

In terms of being rigid, these types of 'solid' bars would provide the most.

Thanks.

 

not necessarily - you would have to look at the "bolt-up" design. As an example only take a look at the M7.

 

I like the M7 bar but it would be a better bar if there were locator dowels used for location instead of bevel head bolts. They're( the bolts) nice and work well for clamping but aren't ideal for shear loads.

The GTT bar will be better in tension and compression load conditions. Probably torsional loads as well.

I would like to see the bottom of the plates though. I think the M7 wins there. Better for helping suppress the dread mushrooming.

 

Interesting peice....although it looks like a M7 bar met swiss cheese.

 

I have one on the way to test fit on my GP.

 

Nice.
Please do post your feedback.
Personally I'd be very interested on how this may impact access to the oil filter.

 

The GTT is a beautiful piece and clealy as a single rigid piece should be most effective. If its in the way of anything then the only option is to remove (6 bolts) - others will also require some bolt removal as well if you need to get to something so I don't see this as a big deal. The M7 bar does double duty - the plates (which can be bought seperatly) address the mushroom effect and then the bar serves as a strut brace. I see your point on the bolts but I can't imagine that sheer loads would ever get close to what the bolt can tolerate.

 

I doubt the bolts would shear I was just mentioning that in shear they would be weaker than a single piece.
Since no one has ever measured the flex no one has an idea of the real world loads on a bar.
This of course is why this topic is such a worn old chectnut

 

From all the reading I can find it really sounds like strut bars are for bling only. So, if you go with the M7 you at least stop mushrooming.

That said, Roland from GTT claims very big handling improvements with this bar. I also love the look of the black one.

Longboard

 

If you have done any handling improvements to your car, lowered it or gone with stickier tires for example you WILL have a more controllable car . Turn in will be quicker and more precise and your carve thru the sweepers will also be more secure. If you have a good STB and don't notice a difference ,you aren't driving hard enough

 

I've been very tempted by the GTT strut bar. I already own several GTT products they arent cheap but i love them(intercooler, cai, silicone snoot boots..)
But I already have a m7 strut brace which i have yet to install mostly due to the fact that its black and i was under the inpression it would me a titanium finish like there website says.

What's holding me back from getting the GTT
1. Price
2. single piece with no adjustment(what if it dont fit, i know sounds stupid but you never know)
3. doesnt sit strait on strut plate
4. have to remove to access cai and oil filter

pros
1.looks sweet much nicer than the evil black one from m7
2. solid bar, probably more rigid
3. it's a GTT,i've been impressed with their products so far
4. making my club mates jealous, yeah you MINI-speed

 

Yeah, I must admit the GTT strut bar look very aggressive and strong...and it definitely has the bling-bling factor. Go for it Azureus!!! It'll only compliment your already GTT-themed engine bay even more.

It's too bad GTT in the UK doesn't have any connections in North America...well, there was/is one source but they didn't seem to be able to supply the demand when I needed it. GTT is highly regarded in the UK for their various staged packages (GT220, GTT260, and their parts) for the MINI. Azureus got me hook onto GTT...I will no longer be jealous anymore (hint hint!)

MINI-Speed

 

I love the GTT strut brace on my GP. Everything about it is "right" to me. At least, that is my personal opinion, and for my GP in particular. As far as the oil filter access goes, we did an oil + filter change a couple weeks ago, and went to the filter from the bottom of the engine rather than the top. One other thing, I had the RDR/Helix camber plates installed at the same time as putting the GTT strut brace on. Wow, what a great combination!

 

Anyone have pics installed?

 

tnoy66 has installed pics here. More pics in the MINI2 thread.

 

Cheers matey

I feel an excuse to post some here too



Since the first batch were produced, he's now had the back edge milled out a bit more as can be seen in the MINI2 thread, post #168 or in this pic.



I'm currently waiting for his 2 lower braces. One is ready and waiting for me, the other is still 'in production'. Hopefully I'll have them in the next couple of weeks