For JCW owners, who has upgraded their sway bar? If so, was the upgrade worth it and noticeable?

From my initial test drive, I thought the stock sway on the JCW F60 was quite good (as opposed to my test drive on the S) and am wondering what kind of difference I'd see if I were to upgrade. My CM is on a boat right now so I'm contemplating what kind of upgrades I'd want to do.

 

I really don't see the need to upgrade the sway bars. I've had my JCW for about two months and I feel very little body lean around corners. You are sitting a little higher in the car than, say in a sports car, so that may accentuate any body rolling, but I think it is well under control. The suspension is very nice. Did you try the JCW in sport mode?

 

I wish you had a friend with one that had a larger rear bar as it is a big difference. You will see reduced body roll, and much more neutral handling as the car kinda feel like it stays flat and steers from the shifter rather than the left from tire with the larger bar.
These are the ones we have been installing
https://www.waymotorworks.com/nm-eng...ountryman.html

also if you still have run flats going to standard tires will be a HUGE improvement.

 

I'd love to fee the difference... but as kwolfman states I think the car handles and rides great for what it is. (We have the adaptive suspension in ours which I'm pretty sure is the same set up as the JCW). In my opinion the car is very flat in Sport mode for a small SUV.

I'm also assuming a stiffer sway will reduce the independent rear wheel range of travel in the suspension and thus lift a rear wheel when tuning into driveways (with tall curbs) etc. Given it's an SUV I feel that's a bit counter intuitive.

 

Hmm...interesting. Thanks for the input everyone.

I thought for sure I was going to upgrade the sway but yea, i remember test driving it and the first curve I took at a higher speed, I was quite impressed with how it handled (I think at that moment was when I knew this was the car for me). Now if it was the S, I think I would be upgrading but I believe the JCW has a thicker sway (I believe?).

I also have adaptive suspension ordered so thanks for that input MrFunk.

I found a MINI dealer that is selling almost my exact car which very few seem to have this color combo (taking delivery in about 1 week!). Sneak peak here is what it'll look like:

 

I am a true believe in the sway bar upgrade, but.
I recently add a new Hellwig sway bar to my 2016 Jeep Rubicon, Holy Cow !
It has made a world of difference in the way it drives over the road.
'Ruby' has the electronic disconnect for the front sway bar, so I am good with a stiff sway bar on the rear axle. I don't think I can get the Jeep to lift the rear tire like what Mr. Funk described for his Audi.( although I am intrigued )
The bar on the front is pretty good size, but it needed help. That Jeep was all over the place while driving, and the Hellwig sway bar has tamed it.

I know you can't compare the Jeep to the Mini, but it was driving that Countryman 'S' that told me I needed to do something about the Jeep.
I also think the Countryman drives very well in sport mode. I'm open to a new sway bar, but it sure doesn't need one like my Jeep did.
Might be a hard sell, I just looked at the one at 'Way motor works', its twice the cost as the Hellwig I put on the Jeep, and the one I put on the Jeep was a monster!
I'd have to look to see how hard it is to put on. Jeep was a breeze, getting the old one off was a bear.
I'm a believer in sway bars, its just the $300+ is causing some pause.
Leaning toward Dinan tune, that maybe easier sell.

 

I will add that in "non sport mode" there is much more wallow and sway... i dont ever drive it in anything other than sport mode. I there was not a sport mode and I was stuck with normal mode Id for sure be looking at ways to improve it...