Having spoken to my dealer and a couple of other informed people, I was under the impression that the JCW Strut Brace wasn't compatible with the JCW Tuning Kit as the brace fouled the enlarged air box?

But surfing the web tonight, I found the following pictures, interesting eh?

P.

Lesson 1 - most dealers know jack, and if they are in doubt or need to find something out they will take the easy route and say it can't be done

Lesson 2 - think about MINI as a company, if they design a tuning kit for people that like to spend more money on their cars then why deny them the chance to spend more on a brace?

;)

It is a bit stupid to make a tuning kit and a strut brace and say they are not compatible. :rolleyes:

Lesson 1 - most dealers know jack, and if they are in doubt or need to find something out they will take the easy route and say it can't be done

Lesson 2 - think about MINI as a company, if they design a tuning kit for people that like to spend more money on their cars then why deny them the chance to spend more on a brace?

;)

Apparently there was a memo / instruction from MINI that this couldn't be fitted with the tuning kit and that a redesigned one was being produced.........this would make extra money:D

Although there are loads of people out there that are running both. One member on here said the problem was when you engaged reverse the 'forward' movement of the engine causes the airbox to knock against th brace.

Apparently there was a memo / instruction from MINI that this couldn't be fitted with the tuning kit and that a redesigned one was being produced.........this would make extra money:D

Although there are loads of people out there that are running both. One member on here said the problem was when you engaged reverse the 'forward' movement of the engine causes the airbox to knock against th brace.

Hi Japper,

I'm not about to make the same mistake with the JCW brace as I did with the R53 JCW ITG air filter!!!

The "official" word from my dealer is that fitting the JCW brace with the JCW Tuning Kit is "not advised".

P.

I had 1 they look good all shinny but i didnt think it did anything for the handling.

I had 1 they look good all shinny but i didnt think it did anything for the handling.

I think you maybe right? The brace didn't look like it would do much? I'll wait for GTT etc to make one!

I went to a dealer today who had a brace in stock. The dealer and I placed the brace onto the top of the struts, we agreed that the brace would fit. however the brace would probably knock on the left hand front corner of the air box everytime the throttle was "let off"? :frown:

Apparently there was a memo / instruction from MINI that this couldn't be fitted with the tuning kit and that a redesigned one was being produced.........this would make extra money:D

Although there are loads of people out there that are running both. One member on here said the problem was when you engaged reverse the 'forward' movement of the engine causes the airbox to knock against th brace.

Ahh! That would explain why I have had a brace on order from MiniMania for 2 months. The other parts came in only a few days.

hey, my brace just came in!
It's very shiny.:D

hey, my brace just came in!
It's very shiny.:D

Have you fitted it yet?

Nope, they forgot to include the mounting nuts. I'll have to wait for another week or so before they come in. I'm not in a big hurry to install it right now anyway - I'm sure there's not enough grip in the snow for the brace to come into play.;)

Though mine isnt fitted with the tuning kit obviously as its a Cooper not an S..... I am a fan of the strut brace.... whilst it doesnt do wonders for the handling on driving 'spiritedly' you can tell a but of a diff. and if all else fails - it looks the bees knees :D

I heard the strut brace doesn't really do much because the r56 chassis is much stiffer than the r53s

purely cosmetic

does anyone know howmuch torque is advised to fit the nuts ?

Just to let you know........ my R56 strut brace is for sale.