Just to update this again!

The coilovers have been ordered today.

Now I need to shop around for some longer bolts and hubcentric spacers

 

you think you will need 12mm spacers to clear? It looks like you have some clearance as it is (probably only like 5-10mm however) I wonder if you could get away with 5mm spacers and maybe just run it close? Not sure how many more mm the coilovers will add. Anyways im interested in how it all fits together. Maybe ill go with some 7.5 et 45 wheels instead of 8 inch so I dont have as much issues come coilover time.

 

Just thought I would share a couple if beading pics to show how the Gtechniq coatings deal with the rain - very impressive





And one of the car at the MINI factory. Well worth a visiting anyone hasn't been & gets the chance

 

Great thread! I love what you have done with your car. Well done sir!

 

needs stripes

 

Update - coilovers will be here by 26th September.

I am hoping to get the car booked in on Wed 1st October for fitting as that will be my next day off - shame they have taken so long to arrive, but at least there is progress now!

KW have also stated that no spacers are required in conduction with OEM rims, so I am thinking some 5mm spacers may be needed on standby for my Speedline rims, as they sit 3.7mm closer to the struts than the OEM rims.

I have seen that H&R make some direct bore 66.5mm spacers in 5mm sizing, but they are £56 a pair!!!!! :cursing:

 

Still happy with your CC:ing? On your pics the headlamps looks to small I think, due to this. maybe white rings would be cool? Black panda-eyes I do not like, and not chrome either. Hard decisions!
the back lamps looks very nice without the chrome.
and what about the grille surround, do you still like it cc, or would black be better?
I ask these questions because I want to do some if this things myself. You have been very good inspiration.

 

Fairly big update... the KW Coilovers arrived today!!

V1 (Inox)



Unboxed a front strut and they seem to have replicated the indent from the OEM suspension which should hopefully mean I can get my 18x8 ET45 wheels on without a spacer (they currently fit fine on the OEM set up)



Indent on the KW's:



Indent on the OEM's:



Fitting will be taking place a week today (8th Oct) complete will a full Hunter laser alignment to get the car set up properly

Cant wait!!

 

Update - they are on, and they are as low as they will go!

The good news for F56 owners is that I can confirm that 18x8 ET45 with 205/40/18 tyres DOES NOT need a spacer. The bad news is that this set up is as aggressive as you can really go without encourtering unesscary headaches with fitment.

The fronts rub slightly on full lock when negotiating heavily cambered roads / drives at medium to low speeds, but its fine everywhere else. This will be solved with camber plates as and when they are available to order. Camber plates will be essential as currently I can only get -0.4 degrees camber with the stock set up. The rears don't seem to rub at all and I've had -2.4 degrees of camber dialled in, which obviously helps.

Pictures:









My driveway is rather difficult to negotiate now :(

 

Nice!
How is it to drive?

 

If i can get the money together before the baby comes, I am going to HAVE to purchase this!!

Remus valvetronic exhaust:

 

Sounds like a rice rocket. Or my leaf blower.

 

Popped out for 10 mins down to the Quayside tonight after work for a few pictures. Not my best work as I've not used my camera in about 6 months!!!


F56 on KW coils by jamesnathanjolly, on Flickr


F56 on the Quayside by jamesnathanjolly, on Flickr


LED headlights by jamesnathanjolly, on Flickr


IMG_5361 by jamesnathanjolly, on Flickr

Very happy with how the car is sitting, and I think the guy I met in the Golf R was more than a little surprised about how capable these cars are

 

Yes! Man the F56 looks really good from that angle.

 

It just works doesn't it

Such a cool motor - but they look awful with wheel gap!!!

 

It's true, that S bumper looks immeasurably better sitting lower to the ground.

 

Yep now that my car is lowered I've grown to like the front end a lot more, even the bottom lip everyone hates

 

I think if that guy took pix of me MY bottom lip would look good too lol.

 

the pics look great! how is the ride quality with the coils and 18s?

 

It's bouncy!! :-/

 

Speedline decided they liked the photos I took the other night that much they wanted to use them for marketing etc. So in return I now have a slick corporate fleece from them.

Pretty chuffed to have my pictures recognised by a big company and they love the MINI too!

 

^ congrats! the pics really are awesome

 

r99, I have two quick (and probably outdated) questions on your fitment Before coils was there any rubbing? Second dumb question, where does it rub? Thanks for entertaining my stupidity I love your set up and I love the pics

 

r99, well executed nice car

 

No rubbing before coils

Small amount of rubbing up front with the ride height as low as it is. Only on full lock / full compression which is a rare occasion anyway.