Thanks

If possible, can you give me the European partnumber? I saw the US en EU partnumbers are different.

 

Any info yet?

 

Yeah... any update would be nice.

After a conversation with the regional H&R rep... and his call to Germany... I'm still only finding one part number for the new Cooper hardtop springs (same as Ryephile provided - and I ordered a set). I was told they will ship this week after they have been "approved" for the S. Supposedly they have only fitted them to the Cooper? Whatever...

$318 after tax and shipping from my local Les Schwab (sound about right Ryephile?). They quoted me $188 for installation. I figured it sounded about right.

 

My H&R's from FMW Tuning.de were ~$298 including shipping. There is no tax since it's overseas.

I will be installing them on Friday night; I'll post pics after that along with measured ride height change as well as handling and ride quality change perceptions.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

Cool. Then factoring in 7.8% sales tax here in Washington... I'm not getting gouged too terribly bad.

I'll definately be interested in seeing pics when yours are installed. My car just got to the VDC n in Port Hueneme on the 13th, so I'm still about two weeks out from pick up. I'm trying to time everything to fall into place just right... we'll see.

 

while you guys are at it, can someone figure out the difference between spring rate between the sport suspension and the standard?

even if they're h&r rates?

e.g. 6kg?


thanks for the time



_

 

Get a chance to install those springs yet, Ryan?

Pics? Driving impressions? Did you get the Sport Suspention, or stock set-up? I'm very interested in hearing and seeing how it goes.

My springs showed up today (yesterday, actually), so they will be going on within a couple days after I take delivery (should be next week!). Can't wait !

 

Here is my install and feedback for H&R part # 29090-1 from Germany.

I measured before and after of "overall ride height" which I measured from level ground to the bottom of the wheel arch apex. For the record, I ordered the base "standard suspension" as I had intentions to replace it all over time anyway.

Before front, 26.1" high:


After front, 24.6", a 1.5" lowering:


Before rear, 26.3" high:


After rear, 25.3", a 1.0" lowering:


The springs provided the advertised front end lowering but are a half inch shy of advertised rear lowering. Perhaps they'll "settle" over the next few days like some springs do.

The ride quality is marginally changed. Bumps and cracks in the road are only slightly more noticable; still nowhere near as abrupt and aggressive feeling as the Koni Yellows and H-Sport's I had on my R53.

I haven't had too big a chance to push the handling yet, but my initial impressions seem that there is a slight increase in understeer, which is slightly bad. What is excellent however, is the absolute elimination of all the "torque steering firmness" that stock R56's experience. This is primarily due to the lowered roll center and greater forward traction, leaving the tires with less mechanical advantage over the suspension geometry. This improved geometry makes the R56 much more "R53-like" in chassis feel and steering feel, a very good thing.

Here's a final hot pic of Astro on the dyno today, to show stance:


Overall these are recommended for the street and show enthusiast, but racers and autocrossers will want to wait for H-Sport to release their springs in hopes they're as good as theirs were for the R53.

Cheers,
Ryan

 

So is it a safe assumption to say you'll be looking for a stiffer rear bar to address the understear... followed by a full set of proper coilovers down the road?

 

I'd prefer a firmer rear spring instead of band-aid'ing it with a rear swaybar. That's why I'll be looking towards H-Sport for their R56 spring set.

 

I was at Patrick MINI last night, admiring an R56 in Yellow with an aero kit, and JCW bits including exhaust and 18 inch wheels...and I came away with similar sentiments...this car sits WAY too high. Lowering to me is not even an option, but a MUST with this car.

TJM

 

Here, here.

Hey Ryan...

...if it's not asking too much, any chance you could post some pics of the profile of the car? Maybe front and rear, too?

The close up pics are great, and show a terrific amount of detail. The 3/4 offset one with the car on the dyno hints at what the overall visual effect looks like... but some clear cut left side, right side, front and rear shots would be nice.

 

http://www.michiganmini.org/forum/in...?topic=1477.15

 

Thank you MINI Fireman!

 

No problem. So is your socal buddy gonna play with your R56 too? Keep up the good work, Ryan.

 

What soCal buddy? I was the only one that did the design and fab on my R53.

 

Yea I know. I was just wondering if your friend in Irvine was planning anything for the R56 with you.

 

No I haven't talked to him about the R56; but that said anything can happen. *wink* The 1st order would be a turbo kit and/or pistons. That's another thread though, lol.

 

I'll be watching.

 

Cool! Thanks for the link. Answered a couple other questions I had, too.

 

I've had a chance to drive the suspension a bit harder, now that the tires are broken in. The handling balance seems to be actually quite similar to stock. I was surprised when I took a set of 2nd gear sweepers and I was able to throttle adjust the balance of the car, just like with the standard suspension! The handling limits are still very high, and the car seems quite elastic at the limits; moreso than the R53 was. Overall I'd say that if the H&R's do degrade the handling, it's less than I initially thought. Chalk the initial impression up to brand-new tires glazing over the ground with their mold-release still intact.

Good stuff!
Ryan

 

My old 2002 MINI had a coil-over sport suspension and was lower to the point that the wheels tucked into the fenders just a little. It looked awesome, and the handling around corners was phenomenal. But... the ride quality suffered quite a bit. Loading up the car with a couple of friends and motoring down the highway, "stuff" would scrape on the highway! I say stuff, because I never did find out what scraped. Whatever people do, I would use caution when lowering the new MINI. I for one am seriously considering it AGAIN, because I do think the R56 sits too high, but I want to approach this new project with caution.

 

--->z3bum: Concerns regarding suspension travel can be viewed just a few threads away: R56: more suspension travel?

The long of it is; you can lower your R56 a little bit, but not as much as you need to make the car sit aggressive and maintain anything resembling decent suspension travel!

 

At least until some coilover answer comes along that uses a shorter shock body, correct?

 

---msh411: You are correct! Shorter shock bodies will help lots. Both front and rear are shock-travel limited right now.