Hello all, I have a 2013 Mini Cooper Countryman S All4. I recently had a rear coil spring break. I'm having trouble finding a replacement so I was thinking about putting aftermarket coils on and replacing my struts with B6 or b4 bilsteins. The problem is I want to lower my ride as little as possible with the potholes and awful back roads here in Nw Ohio. I've never done anything like this, so here's the questions.
Can I rebuild the rear strut assembly with OEM parts (minus the struts and coils)? And Can I only do the rears for now? And would anything else need to be replaced?

 

Wulfgar, Sorry, I can't answer your suspension question. But I have to know, were you at least having some serious fun when the coil spring broke (WOW!?!?!)?

 

If it were me in your shoes, I would do the following:

Springs:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-h-and-r-...et/28923-4~hr/
Shocks:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-bilstein...kit/2748340kt/
Fitting kit:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-assemble...06772749ktkt1/
Rear camber arms:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-hotchkis...f-2/13800~hot/
And, while you're in there, sway bar links:
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...359806351~lem/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...359806352~lem/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...509803515~lem/
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-lemforde...509803516~lem/

Anything not included with the above, can be reused from your car. Might look like a big investment, but if you do the work yourself, the suspension will be pretty good for at least another 5+ years.

You could save some money with Bilstein B4s, depending on how long you plan on keeping the car. Maybe find some OEM springs from Ebay, and knock the end links off the list. If you're planning on keeping the car for at least another 2-3 years, the list above will give you some good smiles, and maybe convince you to keep it going a little bit longer.

 

Jawilli6, I wish! Then again, I shudder to think what could have happened if I would have been lettin loose! Was driving along then BANG!

Njaremka, awesome! Would it be okay to buy it all and replace the rears only and ride on it for a couple weeks before doing the fronts? I'll probably go with the b6's if I can get them at a decent time but it's my daily driver so I can't be too long without it.
Thanks a ton for the feedback! I'm hoping to keep my MINI for as long as possible and would like to learn wrench on her myself as much as I can!

 

If you are going aftermarket springs, you'll want to do front and rear at the same time. Doing only the rear will cause some unsafe driving dynamics, since the rear will be lower and stiffer than the fronts.

Really, its not a difficult task if you have any mechanical abilities. Assuming you have any skills, you and a buddy could bang it out on a long Saturday. Read up on the procedures, get yourself some of the special tools, and have at it.

 

Got the parts ordered! I'll update when finished. Can't wait to get this baby rollin again!

 

There are a couple of helpful videos on youtube and some threads here on NAM that are very useful.

 

That's a bummer....but rears are done!

 

That is a bummer. What's your plan for extracting it?

 

Well, either drill in the bolt and use an extractor or use pliers on the other side where there's threads showing and see if I can twist it through. Either way, I'll get a torch first to try to help loosen it. Penetrating lube didn't seem to help too much

 

I just did the suspension on my car and new sway bars on my son's WRX. Had limited success with the first penetrating oil I tried. Then I got Aerokroil and it worked MUCH better. Good luck!

 

So I ordered new bolts for the lower strut but they're taking FOREVER to even ship. If I were to find the right size, is there an alternative I could get at the hardware store, like a grade A or something of that nature?

 

It would have to be the world's best hardware store to have those bolts. I'll send a PM to follow up.