I have a post-May 2006 JCW Cooper.

The other day I went to put Vogtland springs on it. The Vogtland are advertised to lower the car 1.5" It is my understanding JCW springs lower the "S" setup 1/2" However, side by side off the car the Vogtlands are same height as the JCW. On the car the Vogtlands are actually about 1/4" higher in ride height. With the JCW springs the gap between the top of the front tires and the wheel opening is about 1.5" and a little more with the rears. I am trying to figure out what happen to the 1" that should be the difference between the JCW and the Vogtlands. My JCW springs are black with two small white or silver stripes on one of the coils - no other marking that I can see. Just a footnote: The front JCW coil have an unusual wrap on the final coil that makes them impossible to stand upright on the floor. Whereas the Vogtland have a normal coil that enables them to sit flat on the floor. The original paper work on the car says it does have the JCW springs, struts, brakes etc. Can anyone give me any insight.

Thanks

 

Istalled the jcw springs a couple of weeks ago. All red...

I know the jcw springs are linear, I am going to guess the others are progressive. This might be the difference you are describing.

jcw are linear, others are prob progressive. This might be the difference you are describing.

 

In a nutshell what's the difference between progressive and linear?
I had in the back of my mind JCW springs were red.
So it sounds a if my springs were changed from JCW to something else that are the same ride height as the Vogtlands.
Does anyone know of the two id stripes that I mentioned. They almost look like a Roman numeral "2" without the top and bottom bar, each about a 1/4" wide, like two brush strokes and their gray - no other markings on the springs.
Do springs settle after a couple thousand miles and if so how much.

Thanks

 

Linear = spring compresses at the same rate through out its travel. Handling is even and predictable.

Progressive = spring becomes stiffer the more it's compressed. Usually this is designed as a compromise to provide comfort in normal driving. When taking the curves fast, the springs becomes stiffer. Handling is uneven.

 

Just a note... factory JCW comes with the same stock suspension as a regular S. No red JCW springs unless an owner installs them after purchasing the car.

 

Are factory JCW a 1/2" lower than stock or 1.5" lower?
The springs off my JCW are exactly the same heights as the Vogtlands and the Vogtlands are suppose to be 1.5" lower.

 

The terminology is getting confusing here.

A "factory JCW" is stock height (it comes with the same springs as a standard S).
Optional red JCW springs lower the car about 1/2" from stock.

edit: If your car appears to be lowered (can you post a pic?), it almost certainly has aftermarket springs if they are black.

 

rkw - check my gallery, it was the only way I knew to post the pics.

Thanks

 

Hmm... I'm not the best for judging from that angle but to me it doesn't look obviously lowered (certainly not as much as 1.5"). Maybe others can chime in.

 

Sounds like the car has stock Mini springs. Stock springs are black with different stripes.
There are three different JCW options. 1) is engine optionwhich your car probably has. 2) is brake option which it does not look like, from the photo) that your car has. JCW brake calipers are red. 3) is a suspension option. JCW springs are red and lower the car about 1/2". You car did not appear to have the suspension option because your springs were black.

I suspect you springs are not sitting on the perches properly because of the different coil shape. Did the aftermarket springs come with different perches (were the top and bottom of the springs sit on the strut assembly) that match the shape of the spring?

 

quikmni

Thanks for you post, I've come to some of the same conclusions. It does have the works engine upgrade. It does have the brakes. The sticker said it had the springs and shocks but I thinking they were taken off the car before it was sold at some point. I am still puzzled about the Vogtland springs. I put the rears on this morning and the car is diffently lower now in the rear - looks right, like you would expect. The fronts are still a mystery because the nose is not flying - the car is dead level. Yet the front springs that I took off the car are the same height as the Vogtlands I put on. The Vogtlands lowered the rear of the car and did noting to the front. I know what your saying about the springs being seated correctly - they are. Though I am an experience mechanic I doubled check myself this morning. I even check to see if I put them on upside down - with the Vogtland I believe its possible.
If they are stock S springs I can't figure how the Vogtland fronts can be the same height off and on the car.

 

I wonder if the front stock springs that were on the car had been modified, such as being cut or heated up to shorten them a little.
I believe the Vogtland springs advertise a 30mm drop but some vendors reference the amount of drop as compared to a regular MC instead of a MCS so the drop might be more like an inch on your MCS.

If the car looks pretty level maybe there is no issue. When I added H&R springs to my 03 MCS I thought the front was a little too high compared to the rear, like the front needed to be about 1/4" shorter.

Also the springs will settle a little lower after driving for awhile.

 

quikmini,

No, the spring weren't cut or heated up to bend - powder coat covers every thing.
I posted a new picture to my gallery (don't know how to post otherwise) that I just took. This is with the Vogtlands all the way around.
I do like the ride of the progressive more than the linear - solid but not bone rattling.

 

Looking at the side view gallery photo, it looks lowered and balanced front to year. Not sure why you did not measure a different in front from stock to Vostland but it looks good now.

 

Yes looks like you had stock S suspension.