2010 R55 JCW with the factory oem jcw suspension.

My is still using the factory suspension with 133K miles. I thought about using the same setup I had on my R53 which had Koni Yellow Sports up front and KW springs alll around. I stated with the OEM rear R53 shock as that suspension was very low mileages like 45Kish. Was using a Megan adj chamber plate.

Here is what I have for the R55JCW.

all front bushings have been replaced with Powerflexusa. Just as I had on my r53 to aid in power transfer and suspension performance.

-Front Koni Sport’s
-Front OEM JCW coils

-Rear Koni Sports
-Alta 22mm Swaybar
-Rear OEM JCW Coils
-Hotchkis rear control arms

the r55’s suspension isn’t happy and so its time for me to buy the other parts to get it happy.

I currently live in southeastern Idaho on country roads with road dips, grooves, potholes, and bumps. Many of the intersections have been replaced with round abouts. The remainder of the roads are fairly flat surfaced. I’m afraid of bottoming out at higher speeds when hitting poor road surfaces. So I am stuck on either just staying with my JCW springs or going to another set of kw’s. Those I had on my R53 S dropped my car about two inches. Although the tires were engulfed and it was awesome at higher speeds in canyons I couldn’t move it from the garage in even with 1.5” snow as it would bottom out. Forget pay drive through car washes or winter driving after the added KS’s. I thought about using the factory JCW springs for now but I’m going to be busy this summer and want to enjoy my R55.

anyone still running their OEM JCW springs for performance shocks?

 

Define “not happy”?

For me, I’m not a fan of the Konis. Too soft. But, they do have damping adjustment….

I would keep everything you have, and replace the Konis with Bilstein B6 or B8, whichever is readily available. The damping is the same, it the B8s have a slightly shorter shaft to work better with lowering springs. The B8s will still work fine with OEM height springs, like your JCWs.

 

The factory shocks have high mileage so it’s time to upgrade the suspension. I like canyon carving and pushing hard in curves in regions like the Cascades in the PNW. I ran Koni Yellows up front with no issues. It’s why I choose them again. This Mini hasn’t been pushed much and it mostly won’t be because that’s not its purpose. I am looking at an R58 JCW to take on that role. But I do like to drive and so I’m interested in hearing how others have their R55 JCW’s setup.

I’ve nothing against Bilsteins as I own a set from a build I sold three years ago. It’s a different vehicle and I own land cruisers with OME suspensions.