ECS Tuning was able to get ST coilovers designed for the SE and I installed these this past weekend. I am going to play with the ride height a bit more before I get an alignment. I will probably try about 1/2" higher to see how that feels.

Overall, the car handles more like a go-kart. It is flatter and a bit rougher.

The car looks more like a Mini now too instead of being a little SUV.

I also add 8mm spacers in the front and 15mm in the rear. I also got these from ECS Tuning.

 

I had ST coil overs on my GTI.
A word or 2 of caution.
Be very careful when parking up to bumper stops and near curbs.
I tore my front bumper cover off twice.
Winter ground clearance was barely livable.
I had them removed and reinstalled the stock components.

A vehicle like the Mini or a GTI always look fantastic when lowered, but there were too many compromises for me.

My Mini will be tuned and piped.
Maybe an updated rear sway bar too.

 

I've never owned a car where the front bumper wouldn't hit parking blocks. I also live in the south so I won't be driving in the snow. Even in the few times it snows, I wouldn't drive it in the salt.

 

Looks great!

 

Aren't you afraid about the battery? The car is raised compared to other minis for the reason of making sure the battery has clearance.

 

This coilover kit is designed for the SE. The kit is from Germany and not available from ST of the US so ECS had to contact ST in Germany to get the kit for me. It is TUV approved, has higher springs rate in the rear, etc. I don't drive off road, on snow, or on bad roads.

Check out the ground clearance on the I3s, for example. Lots of people put lowering springs on that car without any issues.

 

Yep, they are running the AST springs on the I3's , its one of AST suspension most popular.

Glad to get them for you.

 

I guess that sounds good, and I have lowered many of my cars and suvs in the past. I'll just admire your car from here.

 

I raised the rear 3/16" and the front about 1/8". It feels a bit better and the rake looks better too. The ground clearance is at least 5.5" now which is what a stock Tesla Model 3 is. In the rear, the ground clearance is over an inch higher.

I didn't realize until after I got these coilovers that the rear springs aren't adjustable on the car. You have to remove the sway bar end link, remove the lower bolt on the shock, and then pull the springs off the car. ST states in the instructions that you have to do this to adjust it.

 

Looks awesome!

On another note, those are great wheels. Great design for a MINI and a reasonable size.

 

I raised the front some more and now it is 13 1/16" from the center bore to the edge of the fender on all four corners. I will probably stay with this ride height. It feels pretty comfortable, looks great, and has enough ground clearance. The difference isn't all that noticeable in person unless you really look at it. It looks more balanced.

If you didn't know, the SE has different plastic moldings to make the increased stock right height have the same wheel gap as the S. They did a pretty good job at it too because I read many posts about S owners also using about 13" from center bore to the edge of the fender and that is what I ended up with too.

 

When I first read that MINI created wider black wheel-arch moldings for the SE to hide the car's fraction of an inch higher stance, I wondered if owners of ICE MINIs would install the SE's moldings to make their cars look lower instead of bothering with expensive suspension mods.

 

Can anyone measure the stock ride height of the SE? I would like the measurement from the ground to the edge of the fender. I should have measured this prior to installing the coilovers but I was too excited and just jumped in.

I think I need to raise the front about 1/2" so that the ride height is the same in the front and back. Right now, my ride height is 24.5" front, 25" rear. The distance from the center bore to the fender is 13" front and back. After looking at lots of OEM pictures, the front does seem to have more clearance between the tire and fender. That is why I think I need to raise the front 1/2".

Thanks!

 

I taped this yardstick vertically to the rear and then the front. Tell me if this doesn't work for you and how you want me to do it again.


stock MINI Cooper SE ride height

 

I should have clarified. Measure from the ground to the top of the wheel arch fender lip. Another way to measure it is the center of the wheel bore to the top of the wheel arch fender lip.

 

Will this work?

MINI Cooper SE stock ride height with 17" Loop Spoke rims

 

That is perfect! Thanks!

Stock
25.75" front
25.5" rear

It is odd that Mini set the front 1/4" higher than the rear. I'm guessing it is to provide more ground clearance to the motor. The motor is the lowest point in the car, not the batteries.

Right now, I have my coilovers set to 24.75" in the rear and 24.6" in the front. I'm going to try this for a while to see how I like it. I think the pictures above have the front at 24" and 24.2" rear.

 

Another reason to have greater ground clearance at the front is to accommodate brake dive, which occurs only at the front end. Also, I'd guess that front passengers (which is all most 3-door Hardtops ever carry) affect the front ground clearance more than the rear.

 

From my untrained eye, I see 14.25" in the front, and 14" in the rear. (to the center of the hub, which removes tire size differences) Mini vehicles have always been higher in the front than the rear, but that's only to the fender lip. If you look at the pinch welds, the car has a very slight rake to the front.