MINI today? #2

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03-15-2016, 08:16 PM
Sockethead

Trevor, It looks like you don't have reinforcement plates in the shock towers, it would be prudent to get those in there now that you have coilovers. A lot of us have had our shock towers mushroom and crack after going to an aftermarket suspension...
03-15-2016, 08:57 PM
Rovert

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sockethead

Trevor, It looks like you don't have reinforcement plates in the shock towers, it would be prudent to get those in there now that you have coilovers. A lot of us have had our shock towers mushroom and crack after going to an aftermarket suspension...

I assume most are on the east coast where roads get damaged from weather which translate into your shock towers. Are most mushroomed towers naked without an M strut bar too? I feel that whole round mount onto the top hat help some too. Here in the west we don't have that damaged road issue.

I do have the reinforcement plates in my parts bin but FCP euro gave me two of the same sides. LOL. So I'll talk to them and see what can be fixed so I can put them in. I'm in no rush right now because all the roads I drive on are really nice. Thanks for the heads up though!! I'll make sure to get them installed.
03-16-2016, 04:50 AM
danewilson77

How are they side dependant? They both looked identical to me if I'm remembering correctly. Been a few years though.

Sent from an S6 Edge
03-16-2016, 05:10 AM
BimmerDude

Muffler hangers for the m3... (again). I replaced a bunch of bushings chasing down a rear end thump only for it to be my muffler slamming against my rear bumper
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...ps53o17zhj.jpg
03-16-2016, 05:50 AM
Jconlin16

Quote:

Originally Posted by BimmerDude

Muffler hangers for the m3... (again). I replaced a bunch of bushings chasing down a rear end thump only for it to be my muffler slamming against my rear bumper
http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e7...ps53o17zhj.jpg

:drool
03-16-2016, 06:16 AM
Sockethead

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovert

I assume most are on the east coast where roads get damaged from weather which translate into your shock towers. Are most mushroomed towers naked without an M strut bar too? I feel that whole round mount onto the top hat help some too. Here in the west we don't have that damaged road issue.

I do have the reinforcement plates in my parts bin but FCP euro gave me two of the same sides. LOL. So I'll talk to them and see what can be fixed so I can put them in. I'm in no rush right now because all the roads I drive on are really nice. Thanks for the heads up though!! I'll make sure to get them installed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by danewilson77

How are they side dependant? They both looked identical to me if I'm remembering correctly. Been a few years though.

Dane is right. There is no specific side.

Trevor, I'd still get them in there ASAP. Especially with camber plates which seem to exacerbate the issue. Strut bar doesn't help.
Perhaps you missed this thread? http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...tes-are-a-must
03-16-2016, 08:08 AM
terraphantm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rovert

I assume most are on the east coast where roads get damaged from weather which translate into your shock towers. Are most mushroomed towers naked without an M strut bar too? I feel that whole round mount onto the top hat help some too. Here in the west we don't have that damaged road issue.

I do have the reinforcement plates in my parts bin but FCP euro gave me two of the same sides. LOL. So I'll talk to them and see what can be fixed so I can put them in. I'm in no rush right now because all the roads I drive on are really nice. Thanks for the heads up though!! I'll make sure to get them installed.

It's not a big issue on M3s if you use the stock strut mounts. If you use camber plates, they're good to have.

The reinforcement plates aren't side specific, but we're also never intended for the M3, so the hole for the alignment pin is in the wrong spot for one side. You either have to drill a new hole or just delete the alignment pin.
03-16-2016, 09:17 AM
stephenkirsh

Quote:

Originally Posted by terraphantm

In both of your cases, you really should use INPA to figure out what the LCM thinks is wrong. If you don't have it, either find a local member that does, or just buy the stuff and set it up (these days you can get everything for < $30)

I don't have a Windows laptop, so it's not $30.
03-16-2016, 10:58 AM
BADCLOWN

E36 M3 verts with the hard top look great
03-16-2016, 12:01 PM
Rovert

Quote:

Originally Posted by terraphantm

It's not a big issue on M3s if you use the stock strut mounts. If you use camber plates, they're good to have.

The reinforcement plates aren't side specific, but we're also never intended for the M3, so the hole for the alignment pin is in the wrong spot for one side. You either have to drill a new hole or just delete the alignment pin.

Which I have taken off the camber alignment pin. It was an easy 4mm Allen key turn off. To install the plates do I just remove the four strut tower bolts and three top hat bolts on each side? I know yesterday when I did that and lowered the wheel to hang in the air, the suspension stayed in place and the top hat never dropped out.