I'm ready to buy an MCS, I just can't make up my mind whether or not to get the sport package. On the one hand I love the 17" wheels. On the other hand I'm thinking that the MCS without the sport package has a more comfortable ride. Any advice?

Jalain

 

The sport package definitely has its benefits as far as handling goes, but at the expense of comfort.

What is your driving style?

 

Never ridden in one with the sport suspension so can't comment on the ride. The stock suspension handles quite well. If you are mostly street driving, stock may be all you need. You can add aftermarket suspension parts later if you wish.

As for wheels, IMO, the factory wheels are not a good deal. They are very heavy and very expensive. I would get the no-extra-cost 16" wheels and spend the money you would on the upgrade to buy a set of 3rd party aftermarket wheels. There are quite a variety available for the MINI. Check out the Tires, Wheels & Brakes section of the General forum. Lots of photos and suggestions.

 

+1

This is the route I took. Best part is, I save the $$$ on the initial purchase and have the option of upgrading to better parts if I feel the need. Coming from a truck, I probably won't feel the need .

 

Having ridden on stock suspension for almost 2 weeks now...I say its plenty good, and comfortable. This thing will whip around corners at a good rate of speed. In fact, I'm thinking of getting some advanced driving training to learn to control my MINI even better. I am an aggressive driver at times, but mainly cruise due to my commute...so the sport suspension would have been a definate trade off. Also, if you change out the current rims/wheels, to non-runflat summer performance tires and relatively lighter weight wheels...that's supposed to make a huge difference.

However...I will eventually add a few parts when my warranty is out. I think the MINI needs a little bit of lowering to make it look nice and aggressive, and would like the suspension a tad stiffer.

 

I have the regular suspension on my 07 MCS and it handles great. As soon as I wear out the run flats I will get some performance tires and she will handle even better.

 

ditto.

 

I would recommend joining the Golden Gate chapter of BMW CCA. Then take their car control clinic. It teaches a lot of basic stuff, and its a prerequisite for their track days. I'm not sure if it's required for their autox. I've been a member for 9years and been to several of their autox. It's a great learning experience and there are plenty of good teachers that will help you out.

 

I say consider the fact that an aftermarket suspension while cheaper in parts may turn out to be more expensive with labor and up keep. There are constant alignments, camber considerations as well as more tire wear. I had a full after market suspension on an Acura Integra GSR and I remember spending over $1000 on parts alone. Plus labor. Plus wheels and tires... when I was done, I remember over $2700 being spent. And this was about 10 years ago. Think about today's pricing...

I can say that the sport suspension is a good bargain. I've had my MCS for two weeks and the ride has seemingly settled somewhat. Meaning, I'm getting use to it and it’s not as bad as I initially thought.

At the same time, I have driven the non sport as well. The ride is definitely softer.

It pretty much comes down to what type of ride u want.

Good Luck

 

Thanks to all for the input. What if I passed on the sport package, but put 17" tires on the mcs?

 

In my opinion, going that route is more about looks than practicality. But again, if its what you want... hey... go for it!

 

I think the 17" wheels/RF tires cost $700-750 extra, about $185/corner. You can probably sell your brand new 16" wheels/tires for at least $100/corner. You can buy nice aftermarket 17" wheels for $140 each, then the tires you want. You'll come out way ahead money-wise with better stuff too. As for the sport suspension, you basically get 1mm thicker antisway bars front/rear for your $500. I added a 19mm aftermarket rear bar for $300 installed and I like it a lot. I think that's all most people need. The car rides exactly the same it just corners way better. Your choice.

 

The only reason i got the sports wheels was it looks amazing with the red/black combo and i had the sports package.

i test drove the minicooper S with sports package and it took bumps to my liking. Not too rough absorbs road bumps nicely.

As far as just getting factory wheels, i dont like that because there are alot of aftermarket wheels that are really nice and cheaper than what the factory offerers and the weight too!

 

The 17" wheels are the worst and most ridiculous part of the sport package!
The 16" wheels have more choices of affordable rubber and weigh less. If you want a Mini performance package, get the JCW and aftermarket wheels. The Mini 17-inchers are really heavy -- like 5-10 pounds too heavy. Per wheel. Plus the runflat too-heavy weight.
Multiply each pound of unsprung weight by 10 for the equivalent topside mass.
Get the 16" wheels, wear out the runflats, put your winter rubber on them. Then get some quality summer rubber mounted on some lightweight quality wheels.

Unless you just look plan to shine the car and look at it alot. I've met those folks and I guess that's cool too; to each their own...

 

I like the 17" wheels I bought. Yes, I bought them for looks alone. I'm certainly not planning to put my car on the track, nor do I engage in (illegal) street racing. I've grown out of trying to get the best of the guy next to me at the stoplight.

So, I bought the sports package for the looks, the same reason someone would buy the JCW Aero kit.

 

Thanks to all for your input. I really want the 17" wheels because I think they look really cool. But I'm going to pass on the sport package and maybe spend the money on leather seats instead. I live in Canada. I was on the mini US website and found these 16" wheels as an option. Maybe this is a nice compromise. If I have to buy 17" wheels and tires after I buy the car, I anticipate that altogether it's going to run me an additional $2000. Prices are much higher in Canada compared to the US.

Thanks again,

Jalain

 

Flick the rear fogs on when somebody is tailgating you --- then punch it. The combination of them hitting their brakes and you motoring away will dumbfound them and keep them off your tail for good.
Or **** them off into a roadrage incident.
Either way, it makes the afternoon go faster.

 

I liked the sports package in the '07 MCS - the higher lift of the car, the way the seats fit, and the option to turn on "sports" or not. At first it was a big change from my '04 MCS with sports on all the time. Maybe I'm just goofy, but the 17" didn't make a difference to me. I still go really really really fast...

 

I hope you got more than that with your sport package, 'cause when I got my car I got the same car height, same seats, same sport button and suspension as you did and no sport package!

 

The 2007 Sports Package gave you 17" wheels, DSC, and Xenons. The suspension was stock. No change in "lift".

All MCS have sports seats, and a "Sport" button.

The main difference you get with 17" wheels is that they are heavier, ride is harsher, and they may turn in a little quicker, but changing tire models can affect turn in more than 16" to 17". Mainly, they are a cosmetic change. The O.D. of the tires is the same for both wheels (on the MINI).

 

Ok, maybe I'm just nuts, then. Or maybe the US-spec vehicles sold in Germany were different??

My '04 MCS had the "sports package" and was visually obviously lower to the ground and tilted forward (nose closer to the ground) -- I constantly scraped bottom over speed bumps, which made me realize the difference. The steering was also much tighter/had less "play" in the steering wheel.

My '07 MCS turbo also has the "sports package." But the car is MUCH higher off the ground, and not nearly as tilted forward.

There are other differences in what I understood the "sports package" to include (via documents, not just what I was told by the dealer), but I can't think of the others without that paperwork...am I just nuts?

 

Thanks again for your help. Let me put it this way. My girlfriend is going to be driving the car and she's more interested in comfort than handling. I probably am to, to a lesser degree. What I need to know is what will make the mcs ride harsher, the sport package suspension, or the 17" wheels. If it's the suspension more than the wheels, then I'd like to forget about the sport package, but put 17" wheels on it because I really like the look they give the car.

Jalain

 

Sports package also comes with DSC, sports suspension, bonnet stripes, and 17" wheels (though the web-spokes are $500 more).

 

I think Robin's right. You got 17" wheels/tires, DSC, and xenons. No sports suspension. Sport seats are standard in MCS. Even with the SS the ride height is the same, you get slightly thicker sway bars is it.

 

If you're talking about the 2008, Xenons do not come with the sports package and the sports suspension is indeed included.