Ended up getting it done for around $1000 for the NM springs and rear swaybar. It’s incredible the difference this has made. I swear the car just dives in the direction that you turn the wheel now. I almost feel like I could get the rear end out if I wanted to. I’m probably going to chew my tires to bits. If anything the ride is better than it was before. Stiff over bumps, but in a smooth way. No banging as I had before over road joints. One issue is that the swaybar was installed upside down. Getting that fixed next week. Hopefully that will cure some creaking that I’ve had in the rear. Anyway, if you’re thinking about it, go for it!

Pic attached to show the ride height.

 

 

Looks great … Did you also get the alignment done? If so, did it come into factory specs? What wheels are those? And specs? My JCW is on order and I went with the factory 18” wheels so |’ll need some winter wheels. Sorry for all the questions

 

Aligned but I don’t know the details. The wheels are FlowOne 18x8.8ET45. They did not rub, but I did do spacers just for the look. I would have to check, but I think I did 12 in the rear at like 5 in the front.

 

Thanks for the info. I was looking at those last week on Tirerack they are 18X8 which I like because I don't want the fronts to stick out to much. The only issue is finding a all season tire in 205-40-18

 

Looks awesome!

 

When you say the ride is better than it was before, what exactly got better?

 

Question, I see the rear is sitting a little lower then the front? Do you have something in the trunk? Or is that how it sits?

 

mostly that I’d get a bang over joints before and now I don’t. It’s stiffer. Maybe some would consider that harsher but I’ll trade a stiff feeling for the bang I had before.

 

No junk in the trunk. I’ll have to look closer. Could’ve been the upside down sway bar. Fixed now. Could be lighting. Could be then fronts are closer to the fender so that there is shadow in the rear. Could be that the rear is really lower.

 

Standard ride height for the Mini when measured to the fender is to have the rear slightly lower than the front. HOWEVER, if you measure at the side sills to the ground, the rear is slightly higher than the front. If you look very closely at the picture, you'll see the rear is raised just so slightly at the side sill.

 

Thanks... Maybe the front will settle some with the weight of the engine. Still looks great

 

hotchicken By any chance do you have any side pictures? I want to see how the new wheels and tires sit? Thanks...

 

My 2023 JCW doesn't "bang" over joints so I find it odd that yours did. The Dynamics suspension is very robust and can easily handle bad roads.
Friendly advice to anybody thinking of lowering their Mini. Lowering your Mini and making it drive harsher does not mean you are actually improving the driving experience, instead it means you are changing it. Definitely try to test drive somebody else's Mini before you go forward and lower yours because you may or may not like the results. Been there done that.

 

OK so obvsly “bang” is not a technical term and you and I may mean different things when we use the word.

I like the way the car rolls over road imperfections better now. It’s quieter and more comfortable over road joints, for example. No more cringe-inducing noise or feeling. It is not harsher. It’s tighter and smoother and drives better overall in my opinion, which is the only one I’m worried about.

 

 

Thanks but looking for a picture to see how the new wheels stick out or not. Either standing in front or the rear while taking the picture.

 

OK you mean “down the side”. I’ll snap one. I have 15 mm spacers on the rear, and I think five in the front. The rear rubs on bumps and hard corners now, so I’m going to have to put on skinnier spacers. It’s flush to a slight poke rt now. Depends on the angle.

 

Thanks... Yes, sorry down the side. I ordered the 18" factory wheels on mine and plan to run 10mm up front and 15mm on the rear. I'm planning to order the same wheels on your but due to no all season tires in 205-40-18 I'm going to run snow tires for the winter months with no spacers. I'm really not planning to drive it in the snow but you never know.

 

here you go


Rear from above

 

Thanks... I was concern about the fronts sticking out but being your running spacers I think I'll be ok without them. I would like the fronts to stick inside the fender trim a little without any poke.

I see your running the 18X8.5 I will order the 18X8 45et which will sit in more.

 

BTW spacers in front are minimal. 3mm I believe. 15 in back.

 

Thanks...

 

Very Clean. Keep us updated with the mods.

 

What side blinker cover are you using? (replacing or covering the Red stripe)