I recently purchased an 06 MCS and want to install a set of Koni FSDs... however I have heard that you cannot run the Koni FSDs with anything other than the original springs/stock height... anyone know if this is true ?

 

no, you can run them with many lowering springs. However, Koni designed the spring to work exclusively with stock springs. Many people have had failures when running with aftermarket springs, and many people haven't.

If it were up to me, i wouldn't run anything but stock springs.

 

FSD with H-Sport

I love mine. Great handling and great ride.

LB

 

FSD + H-sport - great handling / zero problems

 

FSD + H&R Greens and IE Fixed Camber plates...no issues but then I upgraded to Megan Coilovers for a night and day improvement in ride comfort and handling, lol.

 

Good morning Octane Guy,how do you like your fixed camber plates? thinking
of having Danny at Minicorsa fix me up with springs,rear bar and mybe plates
have'nt run in to you going to work in awhile, BRG with white roof and wheels

 

Must Haves!!! Course I sold them with my FSD/H&R setup when I went with the Megans--but they made my tires feel new again---they were nearly ready for replacement.

Danny does all my work as well.

Yeah where have you been? LOL.

 

Still criusing the 405 late at nite going to work, playing the mileage game
criuse control on 55 mph in the slow lane not much fun but a little nicer
on the pocket book

 

I don't recall anybody reporting an actual FSD failure as a result of using lowering springs. The main consideration is that Koni designed FSDs to use the OEM travel length and tuned them for the rate of the OEM springs. If you use lowering springs, the FSDs don't perform fully as Koni intended, and you lose some of its benefits.

It is possible there could be an issue with premature failure when using FSDs lowering springs. That is a universal issue when using shocks and springs that weren't designed for each other, and applies also to using lowering springs with OEM shocks.

 

i don't recall exactly who have had the failures, but i'm pretty sure i read that some people have.

 

FSDs + Fixed plates + H-Sport Springs = great ride and good cornering!

As already mentioned several times.

 

I had FSDs and HSports for 20,000 miles and they're still fine.

 

2x.

 

Ask the TSW guys about it. Something about a dude off-roading his Mini in Canada or something...

Whatever it is, while documented, it's apparently rare and under well-beyond-normal circumstances.

 

I installed FSD'S and they raised the car about 3/4" I talked to Koni and they said that I could use lowering springs as long as they don't lower the car more than stock heigth.

 

Im runnin Richards old greens and fsd's with the fixed camber plates and I love em

 

Hey good to see you! I was really happy with the setup too. When you're ready to make the coilover jump, you'll be happy to know there is still room for improvement...as long as you got the money...hahah..who knows--maybe I'll want Cross's one day and will sell the Megan's to you.

 

I think it was k-huevo. I trust his input. Might want to search on it.

 

How are you likin the coilovers richard?are yew around the same ride height as yer old setup or did yew go lower?

 

I put at the same ride height---I still scrape on speedbumps and my driveway as it is. And it's now so stiff that I go on 3 wheels when entering driveways at an angle. Overall it's a great upgrade from the FSDs....nothing to complain about.

 

I read all the posts and debate about FSDs & lowering springs, and decided to go with the JCW springs and FSDs on my '06 Cooper . . . the very slight drop inherent in the JCWs combined with the FSDs gave just the slightest lowering effect visually, and the combo has been wonderful for ride/handling tradeoff.

 

I actually just emailed KONI about this setup a few days ago. The replay was that they tried them with Eibach springs, which lower just over an inch, and the FSD's failed under the harsh reliability testing they do.

They have not tested them with JCW springs (or any that only lower a minute amount) so they do not know what would happen. The feeling is that they should be OK and within the tolerance that the shocks are designed for.

 

Forgot the mention, this is the setup I am going with.

Do you have any pictures of the setup and a little more detail on the handling?

 

FSD + H&R greens on our '03, here. So far so good.

I know of at least one FSD user in our local club who runs the stock springs and one failed anyway.

Next I'll be upgrading to coilovers. Probably Cross.

 

It's interesting that Tire Rack sells a kit with FSDs and Eibach springs which lower about an inch. I wonder if these problems are only on Minis with FSDs and lowering springs?