F55/F56 :: Hatch Talk (2014+) MINI Cooper and Cooper S (F55/F56) hatchback discussions.

F55/F56 What would you do?

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Old Dec 4, 2020 | 03:29 PM
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What would you do?

So I have a 2019 JCW LCI with Iconic package. I have had some little things done so far....cravenspeed cold air intake, short shifter, chassis big pair chassis brace, front splitters, rear diffuser. If you had a couple grand to play with what would you do? Never been on the track and it is my daily driver. I would like to do the digital speedo but not sure about the coding. Already have the pro exhaust. Just thinking if I want to use my fun money on my car :-)


 
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Old Dec 4, 2020 | 09:31 PM
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Have you considered an upgraded rear sway bar? Perhaps this one?
 
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Old Dec 5, 2020 | 04:54 PM
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A sway bar is in my list but have not started research yet .
 
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Old Dec 5, 2020 | 05:23 PM
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Such a great color combo! I also love the JCW track spoke wheels. I use them for my my winter setup but like them so much I’d like to have them for summer as well!

Have you considered the JCW pro suspension? It looks killer, maintains a warranty, and will improve your handling.



 
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Old Dec 5, 2020 | 06:05 PM
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Sharp looking Mini. I use the Black Spoke wheels in the winter with crappy runflats. My summer setup is 18’s with summer performance tires. I would love to close that wheel gap and looked into doing coilovers. WMW recommended KW Variant 2 coliovers. Not sure how these would effect my warranty. I did not include DDC in my build. I will checkout the JCW suspension. Thanks!




 
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Old Dec 5, 2020 | 08:04 PM
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I second the coilover idea. JCW Pro is supposed to be great. V2 should be great too, but will be a bit more harsh. Also consider KW Street Comfort- that's what I have. I believe they are basically the JCW Pro, but with adjusatbility. Less harsh over rough roads. Car will be a little less flat in corners. But still an improvement over stock. You rarely read about them here, but on the German F56 forum they are really popular. Even in a country with famously smooth roads.

You could also do the rear NM or VIP bar, makes a bit of sense to do it while the coilovers going in. At that point you've done maybe 1/3 of the work to get at the rear bar. Helps a little.

If you're content to keep those stock wheels (they do look good), how about wheel spacers so they're a bit more flush? With or without lowering, would look great.

Great looking car btw!
 
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Old Dec 6, 2020 | 06:56 AM
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A rear sway bar and another set of wheels with some sticky summer tires when spring comes around would be the ideal setup imho
 
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Old Dec 6, 2020 | 09:20 AM
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I'd also recommend the JCW Pro - taking care to lower only 10-15 mm on the ride height.

Warranty, quality, handling - I use that setup (plus camber plates) for SCCA STU competition.

Depends on your appetite for speed though... ;-)

Cheers,

Charlie
 
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Old Dec 7, 2020 | 08:31 AM
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Originally Posted by Triwingar
A rear sway bar and another set of wheels with some sticky summer tires when spring comes around would be the ideal setup imho
What he said. RSB is cheap and improves/lessens the understeer. Mine was only $300 installed on my first Mini.
 
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Old Dec 7, 2020 | 11:36 AM
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Black or Red gas cap, given it's the only chrome on the car, use the rest of the funds for road trips?
Originally Posted by cmt52663
I'd also recommend the JCW Pro - taking care to lower only 10-15 mm on the ride height.


I have the JCW Pro suspension (set -10mm from stock) it's handles better at a slight compromise in road compliance.
Your car doesn't look like it's sits very high so I'm wondering how much bang for buck you'll get by lowing or if you'll be happy afterwards (can't return the kit or the labor).
Live with the car for awhile, you might find that you don't want to mess with the suspension.
 
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Old Dec 7, 2020 | 12:40 PM
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Originally Posted by MomMini
Sharp looking Mini. I use the Black Spoke wheels in the winter with crappy runflats. My summer setup is 18’s with summer performance tires. I would love to close that wheel gap and looked into doing coilovers. WMW recommended KW Variant 2 coliovers. Not sure how these would effect my warranty. I did not include DDC in my build. I will checkout the JCW suspension. Thanks!
Holy Crap!! We are family!!



 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 06:56 AM
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I got rid of all the chrome except the beltline. Just got a quote for coilovers and there is so much that goes with it. Price is not an issue but the setup may be more than I need. The RSB is going to happen. Just trying to decide if lowering springs is a good option to close that wheel gap. I do not do my own maintenance. I can do little things like change mirror cap covers. Anything else is beyond my skill. I drove to Detroit from Chicago to have a short shifter installed :-)
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 07:21 AM
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Originally Posted by J_L
I second the coilover idea. JCW Pro is supposed to be great. V2 should be great too, but will be a bit more harsh. Also consider KW Street Comfort- that's what I have. I believe they are basically the JCW Pro, but with adjusatbility. Less harsh over rough roads. Car will be a little less flat in corners. But still an improvement over stock. You rarely read about them here, but on the German F56 forum they are really popular. Even in a country with famously smooth roads.
Actually the V2 rides better than the JCW Pro. They are both made by KW, but the JCW Pro is more like a KW V1 setup with some different springs the JCW speced. We've installed both and driven both the the KW V2 IMO rides better and since the valving is adjustable makes it better as the JCW is fixed and only has minor ride height adjustment.

While you are doing the coilovers it is the perfect time to install a rear sway bar since you have to remove the rear springs to install it anyway. Check out our WMW bar as we made it cost effective and a proper match to the chassis at 25mm as anything smaller wasn't stiff enough to have an improvement over stock.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-25...5-f56-f57.html
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 07:25 AM
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Originally Posted by WayMotorWorks
Actually the V2 rides better than the JCW Pro. They are both made by KW, but the JCW Pro is more like a KW V1 setup with some different springs the JCW speced. We've installed both and driven both the the KW V2 IMO rides better and since the valving is adjustable makes it better as the JCW is fixed and only has minor ride height adjustment.

While you are doing the coilovers it is the perfect time to install a rear sway bar since you have to remove the rear springs to install it anyway. Check out our WMW bar as we made it cost effective and a proper match to the chassis at 25mm as anything smaller wasn't stiff enough to have an improvement over stock.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/wmw-25...5-f56-f57.html

My quote includes that RSB:-)
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 07:34 AM
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Originally Posted by MomMini
Just got a quote for coilovers and there is so much that goes with it.
FYI: I was quoted around $1,000 to install the coilovers, so I did them myself, took me 5 hr's, which to me means it would take them 2.5hr's
IMO: I wouldn't do lowering springs, it's almost the same amount of work as mentioned above (rear easier and no height adjustment) and the struts/shocks/suspension components weren't designed to operate in that lowered position.
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 10:30 AM
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Way,

Any chance of shipping coupon codes coming out for xmas? Have to ask :-)

TA!
 
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Old Dec 8, 2020 | 01:37 PM
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I'd suggest a Stage 1 tune (not the piggy back boxes) - I've had Dervtech Stage 1 on my '19 JCW for about a 5-6 months now and loooove it! Smooth as butter with extra 40-50hp or so on top, it's how the car should have came from the factory (https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...n-the-usa.html).
 
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