Strut Tower Mushrooming

[MOMINIDC]

Hi folks. I'd like to hear your experience with any strut tower mushrooming and/or torn upper strut mounts, and what steps you've taken to address them (strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates, etc.).

 

If you don't mind sharing your experience by replying with the information below I'd be grateful. To start, I've provided my information below as well. I'm not doing any scientific research or survey, but just want to know what may work or not on DC Metro roads.

 

1. Vehicle type:

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both:

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats):

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model):

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers?

 

For me:

1. Vehicle type: R53

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both: Both

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats): 18" non-run flats

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model): JCW Strut Brace

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers? No. The passenger side has mushroomed/had torn strut mounts twice

 

Thanks!

Mark

[JustJAY]

Hi folks. I'd like to hear your experience with any strut tower mushrooming and/or torn upper strut mounts, and what steps you've taken to address them (strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates, etc.).

 

If you don't mind sharing your experience by replying with the information below I'd be grateful. To start, I've provided my information below as well. I'm not doing any scientific research or survey, but just want to know what may work or not on DC Metro roads.

 

1. Vehicle type:

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both:

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats):

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model):

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers?

 

For me:

1. Vehicle type: R53

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both: Both

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats): 18" non-run flats

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model): JCW Strut Brace

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers? No. The passenger side has mushroomed/had torn strut mounts twice

 

Thanks!

Mark

 

'04 R53 MCS Had mushrooming, but fixed it. I put camber plates and strut tower brace. Had 17"RFs, went to 18" NonRFs and am now on 17" Non RFs. Fixed it a few years ago and no mushrooming since.

 

Wife's car '06 R52 MCSc Had mushrooming, but fixed it. Put on strut tower brace. Had 17"RFs, went to 18" NonRFs. No mushrooming since.

 

The reason your mushrooming has returned is because you are using a JCW brace. That does not do anything for mushrooming, IMO, mostly for looks.

[TGGRRR (Ali)]

Hi folks. I'd like to hear your experience with any strut tower mushrooming and/or torn upper strut mounts, and what steps you've taken to address them (strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates, etc.).

 

If you don't mind sharing your experience by replying with the information below I'd be grateful. To start, I've provided my information below as well. I'm not doing any scientific research or survey, but just want to know what may work or not on DC Metro roads.

 

1. Vehicle type:

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both:

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats):

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model):

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers?

 

 

 

 

1. Vehicle type: R52

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both: No

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats): 17" runflats

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model): Craven Speed Strut Tower defenders

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers? I just added them about a month ago, haven't had any issues.

 

Ali

[Edge]

The reason your mushrooming has returned is because you are using a JCW brace. That does not do anything for mushrooming, IMO, mostly for looks.

To clarify Jay's statement, the JCW brace does not cause mushrooming in any way, but it does little to prevent it. I have one on my R53.

 

1. Vehicle type: R53

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both: Both

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats): 18" run flats (3-season), 17" run flats (winter)

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model): CravenSpeed Under Tower Indurators

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers?: Yes on mushrooming, jury out on strut mounts

 

To be clear, I used to use the competing product to the CravenSpeed UTI (MINI Madness' Strut Tower Reinforcement Plates), but I found out the hard way that they are badly designed. The hole in the middle of the MINI Madness ones isn't large enough, and over bumps, the top of the strut mounts would hit them, causing the strut mounts to wear out VERY fast. I switched to the CravenSpeed ones only a few months ago, and I'm hoping that the strut mounts last a lot longer now. Both products have prevented any further mushrooming.

 

The main reason I have bought these products is because they allowed me to keep my JCW Strut Brace - since it's OEM and that's what I was going for. Ultimately, M7's Strut Re-Inforcement Plates or Strut Tower Brace (which includes the plates) is a superior solution, but then your JCW Strut Brace goes to waste (unless you resell it, I suppose).

[Scavenger]

1. Vehicle type: 2006 R53

2. Mushrooming, torn strut mounts, or both: Mild mushrooming only

3. Wheels/tires (e.g., 17" run flats): 17" run flat

4. Any preventive measures (e.g., strut tower plates, braces, or camber plates - please describe make/model): Ireland Engineering Fixed camber plates in conjunction with DINAN front strut tower brace, and keep an eagle eye open for pot holes.

5. Have your preventive measures been successful in preventing mushrooming or damaged towers? Mushrooming was never very bad for me, but I haven't seen any signs since having the camber plates installed.

[ZugZugMcD]

My understanding is that this has not been a problem with 2nd Gen MINIs.