I have searched high and low for a good way to lower my pre-march 02 Cooper S and make it handle great. I had the H&R company custom make me lowering springs for my car since there was no other company making lowering springs for the first generation at the time. I still think they dont make these springs for production. Since i lowered my car 1 1/2" my struts have blown out and this time I want to replace it with a performance streetable strut/shock kit.
-I found Spax. Are these coilovers my only option for lowered performance?
My production date is 01/02
What has everyone else done?

 

You'll have better luck in the first-gen forum (I know of some suppliers but can't really provide any quality info).
Off the top of my head, there's M7, H&R, Koni, TSW has some, various re-branded options.

 

Thread moved... and merged with the duplicate... oh, and renamed while I was at it.

(just a bit of capitalization, like Mini -> MINI and march -> March... hehe)

 

I solved my own problem. I called all of the major suspension companies and apparently the mounting points are different on the struts where the sway bar and control arms come into play. They can be changed to the newer style by welding on different mounting points. I don't know where these points are but I heard it was more easy than hard to do. M7 said it is possible to use their coilovers to do this. For now I bought what limited options Koni had to offer, which is a strut/shock cartridge replacement sport kit for $900. I will also continue to use my H&R 1'' lowering sport springs. I also ordered a front camber and rear controll arm kit from M7 to balance out my extreme tire killing camber. Im not into welding different points and switching things over because it gets spendy and risky. I would also be spending even more money for a decent set of coilovers, especially when the only driving I do is on the street and backroads. I might do a track someday but a new set of 18''proxes 4's are $660 at my local Les Scwab tire store.

 

Sounds like you've already made a decision, but for future reference I had good results with SPAX coilovers on my '02 built '03 MCS. Since they also make a version for your configuration, I would suggest keeping them on your list for the future.

Damper adjustments are very easy to make and cover a useful range. Ride comfort was very good IMO (better than my current PSS9s), and they also worked well for autocross. They'll work with or without camber plates.

Scott
90SM

 

Mini mania has the spax kit for $650. I thought that Spax was a lower end brand. Do they compare with the other major names? better than my 900 koni shock inserts? Its not too late to cancel my order. Are they well built? waranty?
thankyou
-Clint

 

PM sent.

Scott
90SM