Where did you get your setup? Im looking to replace the jcw suspension due to someone else putting on something that is rough as all heck and bouncy, cant stand it anymore.

 

I put Bilstein B6 struts on my daughter's R52S and have been happy with them. I need to replace the rear shocks in the near future, too, and I'll use B6's there, too.

 

I got the shocks and springs from ECS. If you still have the MINI OEM JCW springs, either the black or red ones, then you only need shocks. I would suggest the Bilstein B6 for the black springs; B8s for the Red springs. The OEM springs will have 3 colored stripes on them.*

I think I saw that ECS and/or Turner Motorsports is having a sale on Bilstein shocks as we speak.

Edit… I see you have an ‘03 JCW. If I remember right, that was a dealer installed option on a R53S. I don’t know how much of a suspension upgrade they did back then. Later MINI JCWs came from the factory. If they kept the S suspension, then the S springs will be softer than the black JCW springs, which will softer than the red JCW springs. This may need to be looked into if you need OEM MINI springs.

(*pm me if you think you want as set of JCW black springs for an R56 that I think will fit the R53)

 

Those appear to be the same wheels on my 2019 Miata.

 

You have an excellent eye

 

Yes, its a dealer installed option back then, but whatever the case, this suspension has to be replaced before the motor mounts go lol. I only had this harsh of a ride when I had air bags down all the way, its pretty bad. Plus having run flat tires make it worse, I will eventually replace the rims and tires on this also. I did see ECS having a sale on the B6 and B8 right now, If I dont get he chance to get them I will just go full coil overs like I did on my 04, but want to keep this one more stock.

 

“Air bags”? So the car can be raised and lowered on the suspension?

If that is true, then when you had the air bags down, you were likely fulling compressing the bump stops in the shocks, so you effectively had no suspension. That would explain the rough ride. MINIs have only about 3” of suspension travel. Lowering the car a little over an inch will fully compress it.

Without knowing whether you need springs for this change out, I brought up the point about dealer installed because, if you need springs, knowing what they put in or not might point you in the direction as to what MINI springs to select. This won’t matter if you don’t need springs or you go to coilovers.

For coilovers, I would go with the Bilstein, also. With that, I would go with something that allows for an inch or less of lowering so you don’t screw up the roll center and handling of the car. I think the Bilsteins allow for that. Not sure what other makes allow for that.

 

I meant to say I had a car with air bags, and it would ride that rough with them down all the way lol, my bad. Sorry for the confusion.

It feels more like the springs in the car are way too stiff, the car is bouncy like. It very sporty feeling, but there is no give in the car, its soo stiff that it spins the tires in second by just pressing the gas down, it wont even squat any.

 

Is there a chance your shocks are adjustable? Yellow? That sort of ride behavior can result from shocks that are too too stiff or broken. Koni adjustable shocks (Koni yellows) can actually be adjusted to the point of having no flow through them. They won’t compress. On the other hand, a stiff spring with a well built adjustable shock set on soft will ride pretty nice. I have been there with a set of AST coilovers.

 

Paint! Well, sealer, but still PAINT!



Came out mostly really great! Have a couple small areas of runs that I need to block out on the bumper, but all-in-all a great first experience spraying auto paint! Details in my sig build thread if interested.

 

Sprayed out some Tamco Indi Blue metallic and clear.

 

Today is exactly 1 month before she turns 18, so i decided to get her tuned by Adrian. i do have to say she is running great, and ill never touch that 7400 redline.

 

Replaced my rear JCW badge as the old one was peeling. Got to change the front one as its had better days.

 

Drove it through the finger lakes region. She just loves to run!

 

Doesn't look like Buttermilk Falls...where was this shot taken? Finger Lakes have some great MINI roads for sure👍

 

Hector Falls overpass on 414 coming up out of Watkins Glen. I had some business down in Horseheads, then up in Auburn. Clear sky, low 80s temperatures, and no traffic until Seneca Falls. Followed Seneca Lake on 414 up to Ovid, then cut across to 89 and followed Cayuga lake to Seneca Falls. It was a fantastic drive.

 

I’ll take the bet that you will hit that redline, and more than once….


It is beautiful in that area.

If you want to see what a HPDE looks like “from the inside”, I’ll be at WGI on Friday 8/4 and Saturday 8/5 and can get you in as my guest to spectate. Just PM me.

 

Sounds like a fantastic offer! Unfortunately, I already have plans for that weekend - I'll be mountain biking down in Ellicottville.

 

Oil change and plugs. One step colder to see if it corrects a misfire I have been having.

Need more time as I still have some sensors to replace (cam position sensors, get an occasional error/safe mode), a larger intercooler and a couple other doodads.

 

Saturday should have started off like any other weekend - Working on my Mini.
Today was a little different to put it mildly.

I've been having the unfortunate yet inevitable key lock cylinder failure from using my key to manually unlock the driver side door for several years now.
I replaced the actuator but suspect a BCM issue. The "tumbler" is now starting to wear out from excessive use. So last weekend I headed out to the salvage yard and pulled a couple of lock cylinders from a 1st and a 2nd Gen Mini.

Last night I began the simple yet nerve-racking procedure of taking one apart with the intention of swapping in my original key lock "tumblers"/key-ways....


Initial disassembly of a key lock from an '05 R52. FYI - apparently key locks are the same from 1st gen 2002 - 2nd gen 2014(?).



Main parts disassembled. Key-ways/tumblers - next.


After carefully plucking out the spring loaded key-ways / tumblers; they were each laid out to their corresponding slots and values recorded.



A closeup view of those 8 tiny, micron size tumbler springs resting securely atop an old speaker magnet.

......
Early this morning as I was walking out to my Mini, while passing by my nextdoor neighbor's apartment...
Something just didn't seem right to me. (With all due respect and sensitivity; This forum is not the appropriate place to go into (unsettling) detail.)
I called 911. The police and fire dept confirmed what I already knew.

It is now mid afternoon and there is a lot going on. I will pick up where I left off with my DIY key lock repair when things settle down.

 

Bought it, and then drove it 10+ hours home.

 

OOOhhhh - a second one? Now, as my old neighbor informed me, you too will have a 'pair of roller skates'!

 

 

This one is all mine, the red JCW Aerobody is actually my 16yo sons.

 

Nice….
And your son is blessed…
When I was 16 I inherited a ‘59 MGA with a blown engine…. I learned a lot with that car. First and foremost Lucas electrics suck!
Hope your son treats it well…