Good to know. I cant wait to get my setup all done and not have my teeth chatter when I go over a set of bumps.

What tyres are you running I need those too, I am thinking the PSS!

 

I have falken ze 612. don't get them, they are the worst tires on wet. No grip at all. I used to use hankook Ventus V12 on my 350z, very good and affordable.

 

I cannot comment on the OP and those aftermarket springs.
Koni changes the ride quality vs the stock struts no matter the mileage. Higher mileage suspensions should obviously be in good working order to run them. At 2k I switched from runflats to conventional tires because the stock ride was a bit harsh but the car with 17's and V12's lesson the harshness but the car loss its quick turn in. Mines a daily driver with factory 18"s and runflats and with the FSD the stock sharpness with a smoother ride quality is still there. I'm not some spokes person for Koni but I've had Koni's in my other cars I've owned and I've always wish I installed them sooner.

 

I can't wait to put a set on my MCS. I put a set on my 328xi and it totaled transformed the car. I was shocked. Before the install my car would crash over potholes or uneven road .mtotalled eliminated that and cornering was greatly improved .

 

I cant wait either! I think this is going to be exactly what my MINI needs!

 

Just keep in mind, as a reminder, you CANNOT use lowering springs with FSDs; they are not compatible with any, and were not designed for it. Some people made that mistake. If at any time you want to install lowering springs, you'll have to go with a different shock. I do love FSDs though and intend to install them as well in a few months.

 

Thanks

 

Finally installed FSD , ride is definitely improved not as much as it did when I installed them on mi 328xi .

I also installed Continental DWS06 . Hopefully these will be good for coming winter.

 

Those tires are supposed to be one of the best for the winter! How many miles do you have on your stock suspension before you replaced it?

 

123k.. put back stock springs . I hope the tires do the job this winter

 

I've read this before and I'm hoping to understand a little better - why not? if the bumpstops guard the final leg of travel so the shock doesn't bottom out, what is it that a lowering spring is doing that a longer spring isn't? The only issue I've ever heard of a short spring having is getting unseated at full droop, but I doubt that is what they are referring to.


could it be that, since they don't want to define an exact spring stiffness range, they assume all lowering springs are going to be too stiff for the FSDs? just conjecture, I'm not a suspension engineer. Otherwise, am curious to know what about a lowering spring is the problem.


Not disagreeing, just hoping to understand better.

 

I'm no engineer, but I think that FSD's don't work well with lowering springs because of the way they affect the length of travel, not because of the stiffness.

The valving and fluid in the shock changes depending on how the shock is compressed (fast, slow, short, long) which is why the FSD's provide such a good ride while maintaining a decent level of performance. When you lower the car, you're compressing the shock and shortening it's length of travel, which throws off the way all that fancy valving works, and probably bottoms out the shock too.

I've read that Koni can tell if you've been running lowered springs by the way the shock wears and eventually fails, which kind of makes sense if you're not ever extending it the last inch or so, that inch should look better than the rest of the shock.

That's just my guess, but I think it's probably worth Following Koni's advice and running FSD's. I lowered my first R53 with H&R lowering springs and the performance was amazing, but the ride quality definitely suffered. I have a buddy who just souped up his BMW 340i and loves it on the track, but is actually driving his beat up honda civic to work because he can't stand the exhaust burble and back firing in the parking garage. The moral of the story is consider what the use of the car is and what you can tolerate. I didn't want to re-install the stock springs on my lowered r53, but I have no intention of lowering my new (to me) R53. For me the performance gains aren't worth the sacrifices on my daily driver/2 track days a year car. I'll stick with performance tires, chassis stiffening, stiffer sway bars, and maybe some front camber.

 

Cool I am at 132l so we are close to the same. I think those tires will be good. I just put Micehlin PS AS3 on mine for the winter

 

I considered those tires but continental was better price . From sears no less

 

Always good to save money! Whats next on the mods/fix list for you?

 

Pulley and exhaust ...next year 18s with track worthy tires

 

How about you?

 

Sweet! Suspension refresh complete with rear sway, and then some Rotiform BLQ rims

 

I will need rear sway bar as I plan to track car , any recommendations?

 

Honestly all I know is I am going with the 19mm for street use as I never plan to track it so I wouldn't be much help to you, sorry!

 

Steffen

What's a Detroit tune ? I want to upgrade power economically

 

Detroit Tuned MINI Specialists

 

A pulley kit will get you about 20 HP right now for around $160 that's a great bang for the buck! You will have to either be mechanically inclined or pay a shop to do this mod though, it can be quite in depth for some greenhorn mechanics.

Next mod I would recommend is a quality exhaust such as the Stratmosphere , Milltek or Borla Race system, both sounds great, but the Stratmosphere/Miltek systems are proven to be more power productive.

Who is Detroit Tuned? We are a full service shop located near Detroit, MI opened in 2004 and have been making MINIs better ever since. We also have a full online webstore as well as a wealth of knowledge on all things MINI, feel free to give us a call if you have any questions or concerns with any of your upcoming mods. 586-792-6464

 

^What they said. I think he was asking me about my DT BPV which is just a part. DT is a shop that made the boost valve for the r53. What kind of mini do you have? Also a CAI would be good too!