R56 strut tower brace / strut tower mushrooming

buzz · Member

R56 strut tower brace / strut tower mushrooming

TOWNEMINI · Towne MINI - Official

When looking at it as a nationwide issue... very few have had this issue. To the best of my knowledge only one customer of mine had this issue, they may decide to chime in. MINI is aware that one day the towers may look slightly different than when they were new. But when looking at the strut plates and bearings, and performing an alignment, it has been found to be a non issue. Whether any aftermarket kit works in stopping this purely aesthetic problem I dont know, but the large plates that get bolted on the top would work much better than a strut brace. In my opinion a strut brace would do little to stop this phenomena, it seems like its vertical forces causing the "mushrooming" not side to side torque through the suspension into the frame.

It took a few years to have the few that did have this issue to surface, if the R-56 did have this issue i am not sure anyone would know of it. But the suspension is much different, slightly softer, i would like to assume no one will see this.

Many people have installed the strut braces on the R-56... most for looks. I have only seen one M7 come in on an R-56, the rest have been the JCW brace.

buzz · Member

Thank you for your prompt and informative answer to my question.
I'm due next month for my one year service and have a clunk issue in what I think is the drivers front area. I've spoke to your service department and they are not sure what it might be but will be checking it out when I come in.
thanks again,
BUZZ

SPDinNY · Motorer

www.vipcustomparts.com has one available for the R56. We do not have one for my wife's R56 yet but may soon.

PepperMINI · Motorer

Spd, I like your new picture!!! Can we get that on a tshirt?

TrixieinNY · Motorer

PepperMINI wrote:

Spd, I like your new picture!!! Can we get that on a tshirt?

He has that tshirt! it's from Out Motoring smile

buzz · Member

Thanks for the tip on VIP! I like the STB and I also like there Air box .

Have you or anyone tried VIP's air box on there R56?

SPDinNY · Motorer

I haven't tried the air box. We are going back to stock on our R56. We wanted it for sound and since we did the Forge BOV we have plenty of woooosh. The stock box tends to let in more cold air then most of the aftermarket ones out there.