Me and my fiance were going to lower our mini's but the suspension will not be under warranty. We have the springs and are ready to go but now I don't know if I should wait.

So I guess what my question is should I just do it? What are the odds of the suspension going out?

 

Good question but no perfect answers.
Many have lowered and not had any problems.
But, if you lower you are changing the systems MINI spent a lot of time and money to develop. And yes I think they did a good job.

If you do it have fun and don't worry.

 

You're focusing on all the wrong details...haha...let the pictures do the talkin...

Wrong Decision


Right Decision


Hope that helps!!

 

Dude, time to resize the pic!

BTW, the cops will ding you for the tint if you're pulled over for speeding, or if they're in a bad mood. Not allowed in CA on the driver's, passenger's or front window.

As far as lowering goes, just remember that not all speed bumps are created equal. Some seem to be modeled on the Great Wall of China.

 

Lower the MINI you should. Spoken I have.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=56164

 

Thanks for that off-topic rant.

As far as speed bumps, driveways, stuff in the road, etc, so long as you slow down and attack them accordingly, you shouldn't have a problem. I never have.

 

You and your fiance both have MINIs? Then lower one, and keep one stock, the only real drawback is a bit stiffer ride, but it will handle the corners better and of course look better when lowered.

 

LOWER IT! You will LOVE it!

 

Friendly advice is now a rant?

 

Thanks?

No offense, but I am fully aware of the laws in California in regards to my car. My Alta intake isn't CARB certified, my exhaust is too loud, I am not running a front license plate, and my tail lights are too dark. I have been driving this way in California for 2 years and have yet to have a problem. If I do, I will have no problem returning that item to stock.

Back on topic...LOWER!!!!

 

Good stance versus 4x4 lift-kit...

Before:



After:


Lowering is mandatory for proper stance!

 

Lower it!, Especially the R56, they sit crazy high in stock form. I have over 62,000 miles on my lowered MINI, no problems at all, well lot's of problems, but none related to the lowering.....well maybe a few related to the lowering, did need to get the front strut supports replaced at around 40,000....but they probably would of gone bad anyway....

 

Those are excellent examples of why EVERY MINI SHOULD BE LOWERED!!!

Here's mine...

Before:




After:

 

You would be a tool not to get lowered.

 

three MINI's lowered:

JB-pss9's on 17s
BRG-pss9's on 16s
CR-cant remember the name but it's on springs on 15's

 

Truth...especially on the r56

 

I just replaced my 17 inch S lights with Rota 17 inch rims. The stance didn't look too bad before but now the new rims make the wheel gap look bad.. I am going to lower mine. (2003 MCS) For all of you that lowered, did you just use springs? Did you have to get new rear control arms to get the alignment back to normal? I plan to upgrade everyhting in the future to either coil overs or just better struts and springs. But for now I want it lower!

 

lower more than an inch and you'll most likely need control arms to correct the negative alignment.
coilovers go as low as you want. springs are set at a drop.

 

pictures speak a thousand words and we are both going to get our minis lowered. My fiance did some research and with the mach v springs rear control arms are not supposed to be needed. The alignment should go to factory spec.

Thanks for the pictures and they really made my mind up for me.

EDIT: I talk to my MA at Long Beach Mini and he said the only thing that would not be under warranty will be the suspension.

 

The alignment won't go to factory spec....but it will not be changed enough to necessitate the rear control arms. You will get a little more negative camber in the rear, but it won't be enough to cause much wear on the rear tires.

 

My mechanic got my car back to factory spec after lowering with the H&Rs.

 

interesting.. maybe the r56 springs dont lower as much as the r53 specific?
when i put h&r's on my r53 my rear camber went to -2.75 with the oem control arm adjusted as much as possible.

 

there is a slight amount of camber adjustment with stock rear control arms...but I'm surprised. As gln mentioned, it sounds like the r56 isn't lowered as much with the H&R's.

I still hold to my statement that rear control arms aren't needed for simple lowering springs.

 

Ignoring the aesthetic issues...

If you lower with just springs, you will shorten the life of your dampers (struts, shocks, whatever you want to call them) and they will not be covered under warranty. How much will you shorten their life? It's hard to say. But, you will shorten their life.

If you lower a lot, you will have issue with rear camber (as others have mentioned) and possibly CV joints as they may be operating out of their designed range - which can cause vibrations.

If you chose a poor combination of spring rates and damper rates, you will make the car handle worse than stock - ever see a slammed car pogo-ing down the road after going over a bump?

 

With respect, you can get away with a lot of car modifications in SoCal that you can't do here in the northeast/midwest. The frost heaves will KILL you, or you're driving so carefully and swerving around bumps so much that it simply gets tiring - it's not "fun" swerving, it's OHCRAPI'MGOINGTOLOSETHEOILPAN swerving. IMHO, the R53 handles jus' fine non-lowered. The R56 does 'look' a tad high on its suspenders though.

(I think I'll put that flame suit on now)