I have a 2012 JCW and am growing tired of the large wheel gap and need to find a good set of coilovers.

There is little discussion on what the best coilover options are and what they offer for performance, etc.

Please provide details on settings, experience, ride quality, additional suspension mods.

Thanks, I hope to find something that will work for me and also open a discussion for any future coilover purchases.

 

We can't tell you what the "best" is without you telling us what you want the coilovers to do. Just using them to get mad low? Using them strictly on the track? Using them as a DD only?

Also, what's your price point as that will drive a huge part of the discussion.

We run the TC Kline Double Adjustable setup with 350lb springs front and rear. It works

 

OP..i have 2012 jcw as well. KW v1 installed on my car. I don't track or plan to. I want to look nice and use a daily driving. the most important thing is that i don't plan to muck with the compression or rebound so that is why v1 is good for me. So far i am happy with it. Much better than stock in term of response to the road.

 

The car will be daily driven in Canada with plenty of potholes and snow.

I am looking for something that will reduce wheel gap, improve road feel, but also allow for a more compliant ride (less choppy) than the OEM JCW suspension.


^^^Withthe V1 suspension do you feel the car hops over bumps or jolts more?

 

You are perhaps at cross purposes I'm afraid. I am pretty sure ALL coil-overs are at least to some degree designed with the idea that the car will be lowered. That means stiffer springs (although perhaps not drastically) and shock valving to control those springs. The outcome will not be consistent with the goal of an improved ride on different road surfaces.

Or in other words, the price of reduced gap and improved feel is LESS compliance.

Cheers,

Charlie

Having said that, I'd suggest you consider the H&R street setup (which uses Bilstein shocks) simply because I put 100k miles on them without any issues at all. It was however NOT a Cadillac experience...

 

I understand that I am not going to be riding in a Cadillac with the feeling of floating on a cloud, but I don't want the choppy 'Civic style' bouncing of a poorly lowered car either.

I am willing to pay up to $3000 installed for coilovers, camber plates, control arms, etc

Essentially I am just looking for something that will still be comfortable as a daily driver and will not have any regrets living with in a few years

 

Maybe you can consider getting a set of Michelin Pilot Super Sports in 215/45/17. That will close down the wheel gap and will give you more comfort and handling without worrying much about getting coilovers only to have to spend a lot to get your optimal setup.

 

There are a ton of Coilover options. Some good, some cheap, and some bad. As you look around you'll find most sets are just manufactured by large companies with a generic set of springs and valving. Some of those can work ok, but usually tend to not perform well, or have a harsh ride. That is why we recommend the old TSW Spec KW's. Years ago TSW did a bunch of testing and came up with an awesome setup. The spec'd out KW V2 and V3 coilovers with their own spec linear rate springs. And use a smaller 60mm size springs to gain more camber. Many people will claim linear springs will ride to hard and harsh. They would be correct if your using an 800lb spring rate. But that is NOT the case with our setup. These springs where chosen as a perfect middle ground that will out perform the standard progressive setups out there, but not be too hard to drive everyday. These will be firm, but actual better than stock as they always react the same making them the most predictable out there.

Also don't let other vendors selling KW fool you. These are exclusive to WMW and our Dealers.

 

If you're just looking for a street setup you're probably best off with the KW V1 or V2. The cheaper coilovers will rust/seize pretty quickly in harsh winters. No sense in going with the V3 as you don't need the adjustment. I can't speak to the WMW KW V2 setup since they don't have spring rates published on their website. I would recommend the h-sport rear camber arms and the IE fixed camber plates if they make then for 60mm springs.

Just so we're clear though those harsh winters will eventually seize any coil over out there. Springs and shocks might be something you should look at instead.

 

Way, do the smaller springs on your custom TSW/KW's allow stock wheels, like the R90's, to be used without spacers?

 

If this is the case. Ohlins Road & Track. You want the cloud? These will bring you up to cloud 9. Driving the MINI went from being bearable to outright enjoyable on a daily basis.

It has been the biggest improvement and the money was well spent, you will thank me later if you get the Ohlins. Those that I've convinced to buy Akrapovic exhaust systems have done the same; I don't play around. Do it once, and do it right!

 

I am thinking of swapping out the JCW suspension that has been on my car for 4 years for coilovers. My issue is not what to get. My issue is where do I go to get them installed and setup properly? Can any mechanic do this? I live in the NYC area. Any suggestions?

 

Lemme help you out. E90Post has a huge base with region boards that are 100000000x more helpful than on NAM.

Here's your region's recommended shop list. This should help you out.

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115224

 

The double digressive piston in the ohlins is definitely a superior design but it does come with a price...

 

Hmm, so that leads me to think the Bilstein PSS10, Ohlins and TC Kline are the best options for sub $3k.

Unless someone has any feedback or real world experience with Meister R. These seem to be a great deal at $1500 and include camber plates.

 

Any thoughts on best way to keep a stock comfort level or close to it?

 

Ohlins DFV's. they are the best coilover for both street and track. I have them on my other car and they are better then stock.

 

Don't go too crazy with your spring rates.

 

sorry, bit of a noob with regards to spring rates....care to elaborate on what is a good versus bad spring rate?

 

Minis (compared to other cars) don't need a lot of spring because they're light weight and short wheelbase and the front/rear motion ratios are pretty good. The stock KW, Ohlins, or TC Kline rates aren't bad. You'll see something like 350-400 front and 190-250 rear rates. I wouldn't go any higher if you're wanting a comfy ride.

 

WMW sure is secretive with spring rates.

 

Anyone know the spring rates on KW V1?

 

Other than buying the coilovers, what else do I need to pick up?

lower control arms, bushings, camber plates, sway bars, etc.....??

 

i spent decent time researching before putting the kw v1. Most recommend to get rear control arm(i end up with hsport). While you install the coilover, mind as well install the rear sway bar (my ireland engineering).

Notice my front, that is almost the highest setting i can go with that. The rear is somewhere in the middle. With that setting, my rear alignment was way out of whack...maybe that is why people recommend to get the rear control arm. During the first week of the coil over install, i had adjusted the height and drove over 250 miles and did the alignment.

I was in r2afanatics's car, man that ohlins coilover is so nice. His car is much lower than mine and it was very confortable, feel like factory without the run flat crap.

My suggestion is if you have the money and able to afford it, get the ohlins. If you want the bang for it's buck, either ST or KW v1. Since you live in nasty weather ( i can say that because southern california ) u should get the kw v1. Also not sure about hr street performance coil over, they little bit cheaper than KW v1. Lastly, if you go for cheaper coil over, then you can use that fund for something like RSB, rear control arm, and maybe evolve tune or something.

The thing about some member, i.e. r2afantics, they really into handling and suspension. He track his car therefore, he wants best. I am not dissing ohlins, kw v2 or v3 or other high end coil over, i am just implying that unless you going to spend a lot of time at the track, then yeah justification is there.

I specifically looking for either ST or KW V1 because i want to adjust the height only and not other stuff, i.e. compression and rebound. Adjusting those can be a nightmare and have to worry alignment. Murphy law apply to human being that if you give us control, we are going to FU...hehehehe

 

Anyone with experience with the BC Racing coilovers in the R56? They seem to be popular with the R53 crowd: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-feedback.html