Hello, I know I don't post often but that's mainly due to finding so much information already. Anyway, here goes...
My 2005 Mini Cooper S (manual, if it matters to you) has got some strut tower mushrooming. It wasn't much until I hit an absolutely MASSIVE pothole in the rain yesterday and now the vehicle has a slight pull to that side. I can take pictures if you like but you know how the tower's supposed to be flat? Well, neither is.
Anyway, I'm going to call the dealer and see if that kind of repair is covered by my extended warranty but I'm willing to bet it's probably not and as my local dealer charged $120 USD per hour for labor alone it'd cost a shedload to have them fix it.
Looking around I've seen that it's a pretty common and apparently not very scary problem, you just have to reinforce/repair the strut tower with some additional bracing. My problem is that I've found a few and cannot decide on whether to try it or not. I've got money to spend, what's most important is that it's done right, but if I can save a little change from not having to go to the dealer that'd be nice (and it looks simple enough).
Here's what I've found that looks interesting:
Madness MINI Cooper S Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates
These "claim" to be the best. The installation instructions I'm not sure exactly where I found but basically just say, "jack the car, use a couple of common wrenches, remove strut, place plate on to of strut and underneath tower, and tighten it down." It's 3.5mm steel so I do not doubt that it's probably pretty tough stuff, but I'm skeptical as to whether that'll really make the strut tower flat again like it's supposed to be and fix my problem. Call my skeptical, but for $100 I just want to make sure I'm not just ****ing my money away.
I've never dealt with Mini Madness but they seem to be reputable. If you do not have direct experience with this particular product does anyone have experience with their other products? Would you trust them and their claim? Looks like a nifty, simple fix and that'd be very nice indeed.
Second, while less preferable I've found this as well: M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates - Way Motor Works
This looks a little more "serious" but again from someone I've never dealt with and there's no installation instructions I could quickly/easily find so I'm not sure if I can install these in my driveway or if I'd have to buy them and then pay the dealer to put them on. I've heard them referenced before but always as a preventative, never as a "fix" so I have no idea if they'd work.
Any other suggestions? My mushrooming isn't quite this bad
but it's not far off and has a noticeable impact on my steering, something I'd like fixed.
Thanks for your time and responses, even if it's a simple, "did you see this thread?" To that I'll answer in advance no, I haven't seen a thread asking about these two (or others) for fixing but if there's another I'd be more than happy to research it if someone would point the way. Your experience and replies are well appreciated.
My 2005 Mini Cooper S (manual, if it matters to you) has got some strut tower mushrooming. It wasn't much until I hit an absolutely MASSIVE pothole in the rain yesterday and now the vehicle has a slight pull to that side. I can take pictures if you like but you know how the tower's supposed to be flat? Well, neither is.
Anyway, I'm going to call the dealer and see if that kind of repair is covered by my extended warranty but I'm willing to bet it's probably not and as my local dealer charged $120 USD per hour for labor alone it'd cost a shedload to have them fix it.
Looking around I've seen that it's a pretty common and apparently not very scary problem, you just have to reinforce/repair the strut tower with some additional bracing. My problem is that I've found a few and cannot decide on whether to try it or not. I've got money to spend, what's most important is that it's done right, but if I can save a little change from not having to go to the dealer that'd be nice (and it looks simple enough).
Here's what I've found that looks interesting:
Madness MINI Cooper S Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates
These "claim" to be the best. The installation instructions I'm not sure exactly where I found but basically just say, "jack the car, use a couple of common wrenches, remove strut, place plate on to of strut and underneath tower, and tighten it down." It's 3.5mm steel so I do not doubt that it's probably pretty tough stuff, but I'm skeptical as to whether that'll really make the strut tower flat again like it's supposed to be and fix my problem. Call my skeptical, but for $100 I just want to make sure I'm not just ****ing my money away.
I've never dealt with Mini Madness but they seem to be reputable. If you do not have direct experience with this particular product does anyone have experience with their other products? Would you trust them and their claim? Looks like a nifty, simple fix and that'd be very nice indeed.
Second, while less preferable I've found this as well: M7 Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates - Way Motor Works
This looks a little more "serious" but again from someone I've never dealt with and there's no installation instructions I could quickly/easily find so I'm not sure if I can install these in my driveway or if I'd have to buy them and then pay the dealer to put them on. I've heard them referenced before but always as a preventative, never as a "fix" so I have no idea if they'd work.
Any other suggestions? My mushrooming isn't quite this bad
Thanks for your time and responses, even if it's a simple, "did you see this thread?" To that I'll answer in advance no, I haven't seen a thread asking about these two (or others) for fixing but if there's another I'd be more than happy to research it if someone would point the way. Your experience and replies are well appreciated.