Hello everyone.

So, last week I had my KW's installed on my MCS and just wanted to share that they are great! Very happy with the look and the way they feel on the road.

If you're considering coilovers, I highly recommend!

Took it in to the MINI dealer for alignment and camber in the front is -0.5 degrees and the rear is -2.0 degrees.

Also, at this height, I've had no problems with bottoming out anywhere...like in/out of driveways, speed bumps, etc...

happy motoring!

 

Are you glad you went for them over the JCW Pro "coilovers"?

The KW's are great aren't they!

 

Yeah, so glad! Saved about $1,000 and way more adjustable!!

 

How is the ride comfort as compared to stock? Are you coming from the standard suspension or the OEM sport suspension? I have the standard suspension, which is quite compliant driving around the my city's potholes and broken pavement, but on the highway it gets a little loose and floaty. I'm thinking of upgrading, but I don't want too harsh a ride. My old R53 with the factory sport suspension was a bit jarring on the city streets, but was fantastic when the pavement was smooth.

 

I just went with nm springs and sway. Bought some wheels and tires with the money I saved from not going with coils. Ride quality is firmer but still much better than a OEM r56

 

I had standard suspension. Ride comfort is very good....a little more firm, but nothing drastic. However, definitely feels tighter in hard cornering

 

Looks good! Yeah, I almost went with the NM springs, but I live on the east coast and need to able to raise it back up for winter....we get a lot of snow up here.

 

Did you happen to take any stroke and bumpstops measurements to determine where to put the ride height, and also how they compare in stroke versus stock?

If not, did you measure your ride height change (and at what spring collar positions), front and rear?


The JCW accessory coilover kit is built by KW, and very likely either a copy or a subtle derivation of the V1, given neither have any damping adjustment, only spring pre-load. Not sure how you could conclude they're "way more adjustable".

 

With the JCW kit, you can only lower the car by 20mm max which is only 0.787 of an inch.

 

Its a fact that the KW V1's have much more adjustability in terms of ride height!

The JCW Pro kit has a disappointing amount of ride adjustability for its [mega] cost.

They also don't have the KW INOX coating, so it would be interesting to see them in a few years after all the road grime / salt has taken its hold.

 

👍

 

After market is always an improvement over OEM.....

 

Has anyone actually verified that or is that just a repeated rumor? I see nobody on this forum that has actually purchased them and made measurements. Also, $1,465 is $120 cheaper than the KW V1's. Mega appears to be relative.

The JCW dampers are stainless front, just like the KW. "INOX" is a marketing brand for KW, nothing special. It only takes about 2 Michigan winters before KW's stainless is just about ruined, which is double a painted steel body, but still less than an aluminum body.

Oh dear, this *can't* be serious. You've blindly discounted OEM testing regiments. Let me know which aftermarket products are subjected to 24 hour full power durability tests, emissions, OBDII certification, full temp [-40 to +125°C], humidity, salt spray, NVH, EMC, ad nauseum. Having been a vendor here once upon a time, I can assure you that there are NO standards required to sell automotive aftermarket parts in the USA (the one sometimes used standard is JWL). It's up to the ethics of the company to determine if their products are reasonably safe and effective, with absolutely no legal repercussions, as indicated in the fine print of your sales receipt.


Back to the OP. I'm guessing you didn't take any measurements? It's not too late to help the community.

 

Adjustability was stated by MINI back in August 2014.... the range is 10 - 20mm

 

Yes I read that too. It's doesn't actually say what "10-20mm" means. Here's the recent press release image with the JCW suspension. Certainly looks lower than "10-20mm", so perhaps that number is the range of adjustment, 10mm front and 20mm rear? Can't say for sure without having them on the bench and measuring them vs stock dampers.




Ok, maybe the OP can comment on the handling balance of the V1's vs. stock. Steady-speed constant radius handling balance, less understeer? Easier to rotate via trail-braking?

 

I love KW. Looking at the V3's myself. Good pick.

-Luccia

 

Yes the JCW Tuning Kit is 10-20mm adjustment . Saw the pre-porduction and it looked even lower then that. But those are large wheel and 20mm can make a difference.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...th-prices.html

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-prices-8.html




The KW V1 are very nice and another option and lower avg. 0.8 - 1.8" front & 1.2 - 2.6" rear . ES 2792632

http://www.ecstuning.com/Mini-2014-Cooper-F56-S-3_Door-B48A20A/Suspension/Coilovers/

So it comes down to what you perfer.

 

You're reading what you want to see. Nowhere does the JCW suspension say it lowers 10 to 20mm, it just says "adjustment" and explains it no further. I know this is beyond the scope of most peoples' interest, but it's an important distinction. Give you're a vendor I would hope you'd offer more actual data, but I understand if you've never done any measurements on a product that appears to be on terminal backorder.

The lowering range that KW advertises on their offerings is the TUV approved height range in order to retain minimum gross vehicle weight approval, something that's not legally applicable in the USA for aftermarket.



Now, just because I know you guys will want to jump the gun, at no point am I saying the KW's aren't a decent product. You just can't make a dismissive conclusion of the KW-made JCW coilovers based on misleadingly minimal information. The KW's are typically an acceptable solution for retaining compression stroke at a lower ride height. I'm considering the V2's or V3's for my upcoming JCW, as they offer tolerable damping and super-easy plug-n-play at a reasonable price.

 

Yes, adjustable is what i meant, not lowering. I have seen the prototype in person, but when the production comes out things change to meet TUV and US standards. It was on BO then taken off BO then on again. Seems like what has happened with most new F56 parts.

When we get one in I will analyze more as when MINI releases items sometimes, things change when it actually comes to the states.

When we do I will post up.

 

If you were correct we would all be driving stock cars :p

 

Most people do. Enthusiasts are the vast minority of car buyers. It wouldn't hurt to widen your perspective.

 

I understand completely. But then most buyers are not on forums either, that's usually enthusiasts. I prefer to improve my cars and make them preform better. Stock IMO is boring and normal.But hey we all have our opinions and we need not agree on these things.

 

Stock: McLaren, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Ferrari, Lotus, Pagani, Koenigsegg. Those are all boring and normal by your account. Corvette Stingray Z06 and Nissan GT-R are boring too?

You know what though, I know what you're trying to say and where you're coming from, because I was there once too. Fact is there's a big difference in what we perceive and the reality of the stopwatch, especially for the untrained or under-trained driver [read: most of us]. Lowering springs make the car feel alive and connected because they eliminate compression travel and put the car on the bumpstops, giving a very high wheel rate that results in fantastic weight transfer. The problem is once you're on a bumpy street or track is the car simply doesn't have enough travel to undulate and maintain contact, and you'll get passed by a car with correctly tuned suspension.

"Better" is a wholly emotional and subjective thing. If you simply want that raw visceral feel and awesome weight transfer, then lowering springs are, for you, "better", and the performance negatives simply aren't relevant.
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I just saw "TazMinianDevil"s signature:
This is a fascinating perspective. I'm sure it's partially in jest, but it goes to show the expectation that modded = worse, or more extreme, or something crazier than you can possibly hold onto. This to me means wrong, ignorant, and slow. A well tuned car is cooperative and balanced, compliant yet precise. It's not magic; it's physics, kinematics, and wisdom. A well tuned car is easy to drive faster.

 

We are talk Mini's...you do like to hear yourself talk eh ?

 

That's all you got? You really aren't contributing the the conversation.

Ryephile has been making legit posts with detail. It's something I've been following since I'm considering a suspension kit.