After a lot of reading and researching, I'm leaning toward getting TSW springs with stock JCW shocks and a 19" Hotchkis rear sway bar for my 2009 JCW. Car came with the stock JCW suspension, not the sport suspension.

I'm looking for slight lowering while getting reasonably comfortable ride and crisp handling. Yeah, I want it all This is my daily driver for running clients around on occasion. Don't plan to autocross or track day it. Does this setup make sense? Should I be switching shocks at the same time? Bilstein or Koni? Car has 20K miles on it. Thanks in advance for opinions/advice.

 

Last I knew the OEM JCW struts were manufactured Bilstein, and the JCW Springs by Eibach.

 

Now there's an interesting bit of news! Thanks, man. I have a couple of buddies pushing the NM Engineering springs vs. the TSW's.

 

I just bought a 2010 JCW with factory aero pkg but without JCW sport suspension... I was also searching for a setup that would lower it a bit without too much sacrifice; I wanna keep it reliable without having to change the shocks every year or two!

 

We have similar goals. I believe the TSW springs yield mild drop without harsh ride. It's the shocks I wonder about. Not sure if stock jcw shock is the best choice for those springs.

 

What I worry about is that I would like a complete setup that is as or more effective than stock and that won't wear out tires too quickly or have me go through shocks... I may be able to live with a little bit more stiffness but I don't want to compromise reliability...just to look cool...I mean this car is not cheap and I want to keep it in great condition... What's the drop on the tsw springs...?

 

TSW spring reputedly have a smaller drop than NW Engineering, M7, H&R, Eibach or any of the others I've researched. On paper, it's 1 inch in front and 3/4 in for the rears. On the reliability issue, I'm with you there. I don't want to screw up the shocks either. I understand that the TSW works with the stock JCW shock. I know that certain models of Koni, Bilstein, etc. are wrong length for shorter springs. For example, I was told I could use Bilstein Sports but NOT Bilstein HD's with the TSW's.

Ray

 

Even the setup with the tsw drop the front 1"...this have to be noticeable because it is about twice the drop of the jcw/sport suspension i wanted first... Probably a good way to go! Have you had comments with 18" wheels...( I madly want a set of r-109)...These wheels and a moderate drop are the only mods I plan while still paying for the car( and maybe 1 or 2 CF goodies)!!

 

Didn't really consider the 18" wheels as there gets to be less and less rubber between you and the road as you get into larger diameter wheels.

 

That's why I want a mild drop... I know18" will not absorb the bumps especially with a suspension drop but won't it corner better? I would think so... But even the 17" cross spokes I have would look better with a smaller gap with the fender!

 

Ah, now we enter the realm of speculation my friend! In general, the plus one size difference means you get a stiffer sidewall with the 18 vs. the 17 to keep the same tire diameter. Theoretically, the stiffer sidewall should mean higher adhesion and cornering all other things being equal but I'm not sure about that.

On the looks question, I agree that whatever size you go with, a smaller fender gap looks better. That you achieve with lowering springs. Remember that the tire diameter is approximately the same whether you use 16, 17 or 18 inch rims.

 

I think you are just going to get a stiffer harsher ride. I my 2011 JCW does great on the track and I use it as my work commuter-airport runner. No Sport suspension either just stock JCW. The reason I went that way it is cheaper to build what you want and it will be better. Adjustable shocks are the only way to go. Dial them up for the track or go soft for the ride home. Phil Wicks
drove his 06' race car to the track on them. Unloaded 6 racing slicks and everything you need to race a Mini for the weekend including chairs and lunch. Loaded up put street tires on and soften the shocks up. My JCW with 17" rides better than my 10 s that had 16"s. I think it is all the dunlop tires compared to the Brigestone rock the 10 had. They actually ride good for RF so I didn't swap them out. I ran 2 hard track days on them and they are still good. My only complaint is the body roll in the corners. I bit much for a track car but it got around fast. I see a rear sway installtion coming shortly. My goal is not to kill the right which is now already better than I expected. I figure going to regular tires will only get better so a bit stiffer will get offset.
Keep us posted on your results. Fully adjustable Koni's and a rear sway might be the total answer. But if you go that far you might as well do the springs too, LOL. Looks like it is all or nothing.

 

Appreciate your detailed remarks. Will keep posted.

 

gray raven
This is the first time that I have heard that the JCW struts were made by Bilstein. Has it always been that way even in the first generation? What was you source for this information.
Thanks, Steve

 

Heard it here on the site. Forgot who. Reckon it should be double-checked. You know we really can't trust everything we hear on the internet

 

Hi, all. Happy to report that today, through the generous efforts of Mark W. a local mini club member (Thanks again, Mark!), the TSW springs and Koni FSD shocks were installed along with a 19mm Hotchkis rear sway bar. I can report this is an excellent combination in my 2009 JCW. My goal was crisp, neutral handling without a jarring ride quality. I'm very pleased with this setup. Only a slight drop with the springs, nothing drastic. Washboard streets that transmitted bumps to my bum before can now be taken at the same speed and are definitely muted and smoothed. The car is planted nicely in long sweeping curves with a neutral, easily modulated aspect to the handling that wasn't there before. Take what I'm saying with a grain of salt because handling and ride is so subjective, but for my tastes, the TSW springs from Way Motor Works coupled with the Koni FSD's I got from shox.com make beautiful music. The 19mm rear bar is icing on the cake.

 

ClevelandRay
Please keep us posted on the longevity of the FSD's on lowering springs. I know that WMW is very diligent about using FSD's on stock spring height only and does not even suggest JCW springs which is only a 10mm drop. He has posted several times that Koni will not replace them under warrenty if a lowering spring has been used and they fail.
Thanks, Steve

 

Well Clevelandray...congradulations!!! You finally did it! Keep us posted! I'd like to see your new stance. What's the lowering from your setup?

 

Thanks, Steve. Yes, I was aware of his advice before I pulled the trigger. What finally convinced me to do the FSD's in combination with the TSW's was two factoids. One is I found several posts from other Mini owners (not on NAM website) who were running this combo (i.e. TSW & Koni FSD's) and reported long term satisfaction with the setup. Two, I related the FSD warning I had heard to the vendor who sold me the FSD's. He could have just as easily sold me Koni Yellows or any number of similarly priced products so I figure that his profit motive, if that was the sole reason behind his FSD advice, was a wash.

This vendor reported having direct, face-to-face contact with Koni engineers in regard to the question of FSD's on a Mini with lowering springs. He reported that initially, when FSD's first came out, they were NOT recommended with lowering springs. Later on, real world experience proved that if the lowering springs were not TOO extreme (e.g. like the 0.5 inch/12.7 mm drop with the TSW springs) that the benefit of the FSD technology would still be achieved and all would be well. Now a more typical lowering spring like an H&R, Eibach, M7, etc. is more like a full 1.0 inch or more. Big difference between those and a TSW or JCW spring. So that's where I'm hanging my hat. A gamble? Yeah. We'll see how it works out. Got about 300 miles on them at this point so too early to make any long term prediction. For now, it's all puppy dogs and rainbows.

 

ClevelandRay
Thanks for the info, I hope it all works out for you.
Steve