Choosing the Right Roll Cage for Your MINI R53 / R56
1. Application & Certification
When selecting a roll cage, start by defining its intended use: aesthetics, weekend track days, club motorsport, hill climbs, full competition and review the event regulations. That use dictates the type of cage required (bolt-in vs weld-in, number of mounting points, half cage/full cage).
If you intend to compete under formal regulations (eg. Motorsport UK / FIA), you’ll need a certified cage, including appropriate documentation. Lohen supply Safety Devices bolt in and weld in cages that meet these specifications for both the R53 and R56.
Lohen offer the following cages:
MINI R53 - Safety Devices Weld in. Certified for motorsport use (will require inspection and we suggest using a qualified welder for the installation)
MINI R53 - Safety Devices bolt in with cross door bars - certified for motorsport use.
MINI R53 - Safety Devices bolt in with single door bar. - Show / aesthetic use only
MINI R56 Safety Devices bolt in cross door bar - certified for motorsport use
MINI R56 Safety Devices bolt in Show cage with single door bar - show / aesthetic use only
MINI R56 Custom Cages weld in.
All the bolt in cages above can be supplied as a rear only section.
2. Bolt-In vs Weld-In
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Bolt in cages are less invasive, easier to install and remove, and ideal for fast road, track day and most competition usage.
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Weld in cages offer greater stiffness, lighter weight and are required for some competitions, check the regulations of the competition that is being entered. Here we have a weld in cage from Safety Devices for the R50 and R53 platforms while we use the Custom Cages 6 Point National Spec CDS roll cage product for the R56. This featured in our race car Polar Bear and while much more complex and time consuming to install it produced a light and stiff chassis and sadly it ultimately proved to provide excellent protection.
3. Fitment for R53 / R56
When fitting a cage in an R53 or R56, here are key fitment nuances:
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Check whether the car has a sun-roof. The safety Devices R53 cage will not fit in cars with a sunroof. Cars with a sunroof generally do not meet competition regulations hence cages are not usually developed with this in mind. However when designing the R56 cage with Safety Devices Lohen specified the requirement to have a cage mage that would accommodate the sunroof. The cage was termed a Show cage, it was constructed with to allow installation without interference to door cards or dash boards, requiring minimal interior trimming for installation. The clever design allow the Show cage to be installed in both sunroof and non unroofed MINIs.
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The term bolt in cage is a little misleading at times. While the cage can be bolted in and out, to ensure the cage is being mounted on a strong footing, steel plates are welded to the floor which in turn allow the cage to be bolted to them.
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Lohen can supply a cage as either a rear only section or complete with the front section and door bars. Lohen supply both the R53 and the R56 bolt in cages in single or cross door bar. A cage is only deemed to be certifiable when fitted as a complete cage with cross door bars for competition use.
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Consider interior space: driver headroom, seat fitment, seat belt angle once cage is installed. As regulations have moved on there is a requirement for cages to follow closely to the shell profile; this is particularly evident with the Safety Devices R56 cage, where bars run closely to the pillars requiring the removal of seat belts and in the motorsport certified cage trimming or removal of parts of the dash and fixing to the pillars via welded connection points.
4. Additional Items to Consider
When installing a cage, you’ll likely upgrade many other items in the process. Here’s a list of what to think about:
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Door cards: If you add door bars then the original door trims will need to be removed however in doing so sharp edges within the door are exposed. Lohen offer motorsport door cards for the Gen 1 and Gen 2 MINI models.
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Foot plates: When the interior is removed to allow the cage to be fitted and to comply with motorsport fire regulations this exposes an uneven floor. Lohen's driver and passenger foot plates remedy this, providing a flat and comfortable position for the feet and allowing good access to the pedals, and bracing for the passenger!
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Harnesses: Once a roll cage is added, you may move from the standard 3-point belt to a 4, 5, or 6-point harness. This means you’ll need proper mounting points, the harnesses can mount to the cage but additional eyelets will need to be secured to the chassis to secure the lower straps of the harness.
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Seats: Upgrading to bucket seats often requires seat brackets, lowering the seat base, and confirming the seat position relative to the cage and steering column. We'll cover this in the installation section.
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Fire risk and heat: If you’re tackling the welding to install footplates for the remove as much interior as possible and ensure sound deadening and anti rot coatings are removed inside and out. It's also important to remove paint from these areas to ensure a solid weld is achieved. Keep fire protection in mind while welding, it is worth having a fire blanket and extinguishers on hand as well as a friend on fire watch while completing the welding phase.
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Routing and guarding of pipes and wiring: With tubes and bars added, you must ensure fuel lines, wiring harnesses, and other service pipes are protected and clear of interference. This is also important when applying heat for the welding processes. A burnt wiring harnesses will cause all sorts of problems and may ultimately result in poor performance and host of electrical gremlins.
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Removal of sound deadening material: In many track cars the factory insulation is removed for weight saving, but you must check that metal surfaces are clean and the interior remains corrosion protected.
Installation Guide: Step by Step
Tools & Preparation
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Clean, well ventilated garage with jack stands or lift
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Protective gear (welding helmet, gloves, respirator, eye protection, hand abrasive protection)
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Clear the interior: Remove seats, carpet, sound deadening, door cards, headliner if needed
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Label wiring harnesses, disconnect battery
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Ensure shell is aligned and resting on suspension at ride height (so mounts align properly)
1. Interior Stripdown
Remove seats, carpet, rear seats (if applicable), door cards, centre console if needed. This gives access to floor and pillars for mounting plates. Also remove sound deadening material from mounting zones (but keep in non-mount areas to protect against corrosion).
2. Fit Mounting Plates
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Align the footplate of the cage where it sits on the floor pan. On R53/R56 you will need to remove floor carpet and pad to access bare metal, this is applicable for both full and half cage installations.
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For weld in components: mark and grind the mount surface, apply anti corrosion primer, then weld the plate. We suggest completing a trail install of the cage, marking the correct positions for the mounting plates and then completing the welding processes. Yes, you'll fit the cage twice this way but it's best to measure, check and check again before firing up the welder. Removing incorrectly position plates is not a pleasant job.
3. Cage Main Hoop & Diagonals
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Place the main hoop into position (often behind front seats, tied to the central tunnel or floor).
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Check clearance to roof lining, headliner, and door opening. For sunroof models this can be tight.
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Fit diagonals (e.g., door bars, roof diagonal, X-bars) as required by specification.
4. Welding Considerations
If welding:
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Use appropriate weld type (MIG/TIG as specified by manufacturer).
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After welding, check for distortion in tubes, shell, and doors. Re-align if necessary.
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Paint or powder coat the cage and chassis to protect against corrosion.
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Inspect welds for penetration and quality. Poor welds = weak points.
5. Protecting Wiring, Fuel & Brake Lines
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After the cage is installed, run wiring loom and fuel lines so that they do not run adjacent to tubes where abrasion may occur. Use split loom conduit, P-clips, and grommets.
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Guard fuel lines (especially hard pipe sections) with heat shield or cover tube where near exhaust or cage tubes.
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Brake lines: ensure routing avoids pinch points, kinks, and tube contact.
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If you removed sound-deadening, inspect floor and underside for grime or surface corrosion — treat and reseal this, a corroded area will be weak.
6. Seat & Harness Installation
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Mount seats using appropriate brackets which secure to floor and, if required, to cage rear supports. Ensure seat mount height gives the correct hip point relative to steering wheel and pedals. Lohen supply MINI specific seat mounts from Cobra that team perfectly with the Cobra range of seats. The guys at Cobra love their MINIs at much as we do so it's a well developed product. Try the Imola, Sebring a or even the entry Monaco Pro for a safe and comfortable race seat
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Once seats are in position, install harnesses. Ensure the lap belt is as low as possible over the pelvis, shoulder belts at 45° over the shoulder, and anti sub strap between legs if required (in 5- or 6-point harnesses).
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Check that seat clearance is adequate with door closed, steering column movement, and that head clearance from main hoop is safe. Consider in most case you'll be wearing a helmet.
7. Final Checks & Re-assembly
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Re-install any removed trim or panels that still maintain safe clearance.
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Check all bolts are torqued to spec.
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Verify the cage does not interfere with airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners, or other safety systems. If airbags are removed you must consider implications for road legality and insurance (many insurers will require airbags to be retained or vehicle to be track only).
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If you removed carpets and sound deadening, reseal floor pan and apply corrosion protection.
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Inspect welds, bolts, routing of lines one final time.
8. Road & Track Considerations
If the car remains road-legal:
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Ensure that head clearance is ample and that there are no exposed bare cage tubes near driver’s head without padding — for a road car you may need padding on door bars or main hoop.
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Confirm with your insurer that the cage installation is acceptable and that the car still meets MOT/road-use regulations.
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For track only use, you have greater freedom but still need to adhere to motorsport regulations (harness angles, cage certification, etc).
Summary & Tips for Success
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Plan the purpose of the cage (road vs track vs competition) first.
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Choose the correct kit for your model (R53 / R56), verifying sun-roof or not.
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Don’t underestimate the additional work: seats, harnesses, trimming, wiring/fuel line routing.
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Quality of mounting (plates, welds) and routing (wires, lines) is just as important as the tube layout.
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After installation: test for interference, check driver positioning, seat fitment, harness angle.
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Keep documentation of installation, photos of welds, and verify your insurer’s acceptance.
By following these steps you’ll build a safe, well executed roll cage installation in your MINI that not only enhances safety and stiffness but also complements the other elements of your build.
