Just installed a new suspension setup on my 2017 Clubman S ALL4 with Sport Suspension + DDC.

Parts List (partial):
• AST Springs. ASTLS-19-75 (The new ALL4 specific springs from AST)
• Bilstein B8 dampers. 22-291134 (FR), 22-263179 (FL), 24-263481 (Rear 2x)
• NM Engineering 25mm Rear Sway bar
• New Genuine MINI strut mounts, shock mounts, shock boots, spring pads, bump stops (cut down a tad), hardware, etc.

The install went really smoothly. The rear sway bar install was probably the trickiest part, but it wasn’t too bad. I waited about 3 months for the rear dampers to get delivered from Germany so I had the struts all pre-assembled and ready to go. That saved a bunch of time and hassle - especially not reusing the old strut mounts/boots/etc.

I haven’t driven it too hard yet, but overall I’m very impressed. I’d say maybe 15% stiffer than stock. I’ve used Bilstein and Konis on various cars and it’s usually the same story. The “crashing” over bumps with the factory suspension is much reduced. Firmer now, but much more controlled and composed. I should add that I’ve never been impressed with the factory DDC damper. I think they’re bad. Car also seems to rotate better. Must be the new RSB. I’ll post more impressions later.

Random notes:

• I deleted the DDC which means the black plastic spacer above the rear damper mount doesn’t get reused. In my research I missed that I needed shorter bolts for no a spacer/DDC setup. I cut down the old ones as a temporary solution and have ordered the proper bolts.

• Get an E20 socket for the lower damper bolts. My set of E-Torx sockets didn't go up to E20. I had to use an E20 box end wrench. Not great for a giant M14 bolt like that.

• I took ride height measurements before the install. I’ll do it again after it settles in a week or so.

UGH. Sorry for the photo rotation. The forum is doing that.

 

After a few hundred miles, the drop is almost exactly 25mm at each corner.

 

Love me some good suspension tweaking

Looks good, how’s the ride and handling?

 

A week in and I’m very impressed. Really can’t see a downside yet. Not harsh or uncomfortable at all. This is how the factory sport suspension should have been.

I’d still say its about 15% stiffer than stock - pretty minimal. I expected this setup would have been far harsher than it is.

Hard to say what mod did what, but I’m thinking the NM rear sway bar has definitely taken out some understeer. I’m on the softest setting and the car “rotates” better on freeway cloverleafs.

I’ve just ordered the Powerflex front control arm bushings (the rearward ones), hoping to make the steering a bit more direct.

 

Did you use the factory end links or replace them with the NM ones? I did. I think getting rid of the factory ones was important as they will flex with the 25mm bar.

I agree about the affect the bar has, the car really rotates nicely....

 

Stock end links (for now). I figured I’d try them first as replacing them later will be an easy swap.

 

One of my biggest issues with the factory suspension is a weird reverberation/shudder in the chassis that I mostly felt on larger expansion joints at freeway speeds. It was a bigger issue in Green and Normal mode - Sport mode helped a bit. Almost could be described as “cowl shake”, although that term is a bit vague.

The issue is greatly reduced with the new suspension, but I still feel it a tad. My next thought is the squishy, fluid filled control arm bushings still keep the suspension a bit unsettled for a half second or so. Hoping the Powerflex bushings will help.

 

Little update. Heard a terrible clunking sound today. Looked underneath to find the lower shock eye ripped away from its bushing. These are the Bilstein B8s.

Gonna swap over to the factory springs and shocks and sort it all out again this summer. Hopefully can do a warranty claim in the meantime. 👎👎👎

 

Lower shock bolt was torqued to spec. with suspension loaded at ride height.

Inner bushing just ripped away from its metal sleeve. 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

I'm trying to wrap my head around how that would even happen!? There would have to be some serious side loading on the shock body...

 

Yep, never seen that. Maybe a huge pot hole or something lateral.

 

Yeah, can’t fathom what happened. Never crashed, never tracked, no major potholes, etc. Most my miles are just freeway cruising and around town.

I got my rear factory springs and dampers reinstalled. Looked around closely and no evidence of damage to anything else 🤷🏼‍♂️

 

Selling this stuff cheap.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/market/368280

 

you go with coilovers?

 

Going through some upgrade path analysis... Would you be able to share your thoughts on choosing AST springs vs some other manufacturer?