I saw and read a little on the JCW Sport kit and it seems like a great deal through Morristown until I saw that the R50 kit is $200 more than the S Kit. What's the difference? Unless it happens to be a typo.
http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=3751

and:

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=3751
Someone care to explain how they warrant an extra $200 for the R50. But, on the actual front catalog listing, both are listed as Cooper S parts. It's not until you open each window that one says Cooper and one says Cooper S. For that price, I could get TSW springs on Koni Yellows. If it was 650 for the JCW stuff, I'd be all over it. Would I be better off with the extra $200 for the JCW kit or the cash spent on Yellows?

 

I've been very happy with the TSW springs, brake components (and everything else) I've purchased through TSW. They are local and I have personally seen their stuff being tested on local MCs and MCS's. They know hwat they are doing. The JCW components are overpriced IMO and a bit tame for those of us with a bit of a sport(y) inclination. Not bad and they do come with a warranty, but a baby step from stock

 

R50 kit comes with sway bars

 

Aw, dammit! I just bought the Hotchkis 19mm bar 2 months ago. Now another question arises, is it possible to get said kit without the sway bars?

 

You could just order the S kit. Same springs and dampers I'd assume between the two kits.

FWIW, I would go with the TSW springs and Yellows. You get adjustability and firmer springs, slightly bigger drop.

 

When you order the JCW kit, the dealer wants the VIN to provide the correct springs F&R to match the weight distribution of your car, and your VIN will be that of a R50. Items that weigh a lot (and probably affect the spring choice) would include the sunroof option, and the weight of a supercharger hanging out in front. So using the VIN from a MCS might not be the best choice for your R50.

Try contacting Morristown to see if they can either use your VIN for the R53 kit. . . And if not, can they use your VIN for the R50 kit, but then (manually) delete the swaybar components from the parts list. This should get you the right springs and the right price (without the swaybar).

Good luck,
- Jim

 

Well, lets assume that it is possible to get the JCW kit for $650. Is it worth it for a street car to spend the extra 200 on the Yellows and TSW stuff or save the cash for other stuff, ie-camber plates and control arms? If it's not possible, then Hell, for the same price I'd go Koni's and TSW springs. As stated, as of now, its all street car but over the Summer I wanna hit a track day or 2 if the budget and time allows it.

 

Where have you heard this? How much do the JCW springs vary? This sounds like a stretch to me.

 

It is possible to get the Cooper JCW suspension kit without swaybars... if you ask the right people. I got my kit that way by accident. If your Cooper came with the Sports Suspension Plus option (which had the larger swaybars), a JCW suspension upgrade would not include swaybars.

I say, don't try to be sneaky, just tell the parts people what you want.

 

I have a follow up question. I think I'm gonna go with the TSW springs and Yellows. I have yet to hear 1 negative thing about the springs and Koni's are, well, Koni's. But my question is this: What other than springs and struts do I need when lowering my car? I've been told many times over that plates and control aren't neccessary because it's not even a full inch of drop. I know an alignment needs to be done. Other than that, should I get new strut mounts as well or if the old ones are good, stick with those? I'd probably also go ahead and get the reinforcement plates as a just in case.

 

The reinforcement plates would be a good idea, as mushrooming is a common issue, especially with stiffer suspension. With a minimal drop, you need nothing else other than an alignment.

 

I'm also considering TSW/Koni Yellow suspension and already have a larger rear sway bar. Thinking front camber plates would be a nice complement to completing this setup (as an added bonus would they address front mushrooming?) Also, would adjustable rear links ('04 w/ fixed rear camber) be necessary for adjusting rear camber after installing this package?

 

As far as the alignment goes, you have to have rear control arms and camber plates to get an alignment.

 

-i just put on tsw's over oem shocks
the car handles great
-if i were to add new shocks
-yellows they would be

 

The dealers love spouting this BS off. It has a lot more to do with the fact that the people working in the parts departments have no idea how to find the springs unless they use your VIN. I've had them ask me the VIN number so I can find out the cost on wiper blades, somehow I doubt that's different from model to model. A SC weighs, what, 6-9 lbs? Even if it did add another 100-150 lbs (Which it doesn't) are you saying that you have to swap out the springs on your car when you put a passenger in it?

The logical reason behind asking for the VIN is because that tells them whether or not you've installed the SS+ on the car (An option for Cooper owners, required for MCS owners), which includes the up-rated swaybar. They make 3 sets of springs, SS, SS+, and JCW, they don't make 5-6 different spring rates for JCW depending on the weight of your car, it's a production car, not a race car. Even if they did, putting the wrong springs on for your car (Aka a car sprung for 100 lbs additional weight) would just make it stiffer, not necessarily a bad thing considering how soft the JCW springs are to begin with.

 

Front allows no camber adjustment without camber plates. The rear on 05+ models allows for minimal camber adjustment (The camber arms are adjustable).

You shouldn't need them unless you drive extremely aggressive on the street with your car. At that drop i'd be surprised if you have more than .5 in the front and 1 in the back.

I run 1.5 front and 3 in the back for a track setup, seems to work fine on the street.

 

Depending on what year your Mini is, you have may have some adjustability on your stock rear control arms. With such a small drop, you don't need to get camber plates to have it aligned as the increase of negative camber you will see in the front will be insanely minimal and perfectly fine for street use.

 

You only need to get the lower rear control arms. I have H-Sport Lower Rear Control Arms with my TSW springs.

No noise at all from them. I highly recommend them.

 

you beat me...yes, what rustyboy said