I seem to remember seeing a picture of it somewhere on here... but I can't remember who makes it... I don't have my car yet (just a few more days!) and I want to install the m7 plates and a strut bar..

anyone know who makes a red one?

 

This one is available in red but also requires their air intake for clearance.
http://www.promini.com/product-exec/product_id/197

 

You can have any of them powder coated red. Just a suggestion.

 

x2

 

sweet, i'll probably just do that then. I thought m7 made a red one for some reason, but powder coating seems the way to go.

So what does everyone think about the m7 plates/brace? I'm not looking for super race-quality handling... just to reinforce the towers and a little extra support.

Rach

 

The M7 FSB can be powder coated. The quality is top notch. The performance is top notch. Opinions are many. In the end it's up to you. I'm incredibly happy with it.

 

http://www.motorspot.com/strut.html

 

are those factory tower bolts? it's only got like half of the nut's threads.

Do they abbreviate FSB? usually tower bars are abbreviated STB's.

 

Happy with my M7 brace!

 

Yes, those are factory bolts and yes they're only able to get half of the nut on it. It's secure and I continue to check them for secure. They've never been even close to loose but I've got some replacement bolts coming. I would feel a little more comfortable with the bolt coming out just above the nut if not flush.

FSB - front strut brace
STB - strut tower brace
FTB - front tower brace
FSTB - front strut tower brace
SFTB?
There are rear strut brace's too so a STB could be either front or rear. I was just clarifying which end.

As long as we're talking apples to apples.

 

yep, i always say front stb or rear stb.

thanks for the info on the bolt. i would be kind of worried on the
threads snapping if the stb was actually doing anything to support the
front chassis flex (if any).

 

That's why the replacements are on the way. I would like to confidently pre-load the brace so I can really take advantage of it. Right now it's more for the mushroom protection and bling.

 

You can use the type of nuts provided with the JCW strut brace, that have a sleeve extending down the bolt. Someone wrote that the nuts for the M3 strut brace are compatible for MINI. It is item #5 on this diagram: http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=51&fg=70&hl=7

Edit: By the way, how did you mean that you were getting replacement bolts? I thought that the OEM bolts are welded to the support plate and can't be replaced with longer bolts. You have to replace the OEM part with aftermarket camber plates that have longer bolts.

 

I guess I should clarify that I have a request into my mech to find a solution. I like the idea of those extended sleeves. Whatever the solution is I just want a few more threads on the nut and bolt to hook up. When I get word back from him on this I'll post solution.

 

I used to have one from Sparco...too bad they discontinued it...