Ok I have a few questions for those who are running the Bilstein PSS9 coilover set-up...

I just bought a pair of these a few weeks ago and just had them installed a week ago. The previous owner said they were on the car for 5k miles. Now this is my first coilover set-up and first spring/shock upgrade for my MINI. No I have owned other lowering suspension from H&R and Tein on previous vehicles but never coilovers, so excuse me if I am ill informed.

No the first thing I noticed with my PSS9's were that they were really stiff. I played with the damper settings and currently have the front on 9 (completely soft) and the back on about 6 (slightly stiffer.) The thing that I am noticing now is that on the freeway and around town I am bottoming out in the front. Is this normal? I mean it slams hard when I hit some not-so-huge bumps. The back never bottoms out but is quite bouncy at the current setting. the fronts are also set all the way down (as low as can be) and the backs are not. Does anyone else with PSS9's experience any bottoming out?

I am not too interested in raising them up either, I like them at the height they are at. Now keep in mind I have Ireland camber plates on the front so even with them lowered completely and my 17 inch wheels on there is still a gap in between the tire and fender. Any idea and what this could be? Is that normal?

Thanks in advance for the help...

 

Im running PSS9's wound all the way down with KMAC plates. With my setup I am binding the front springs and the helper springs in the back were fully compressed so I took them out. My ride is super stiff and it bounces pretty good now that the HS are out of the back but I dont mind it. Plus, 9 is STIFF as far as I remember cause thats where I have mine. Im tucking to about 1/4" from rim in the rear and right on the tire in the front. I want to go lower so I will need to call Bilstein to make me some different springs. And I only have like an 2" of shock travel...lol. I bottom out all the time but not bad. Only on the really crazy stuff. Maybe yours need to be rebuilt.....

 

I was thinking that maybe I have to rebuild. I am still playing with the damper settings to figure out before I call Bilstein. But I did call them to ask about damper setting and they told me 9 was softest. I originally thought 1 was and had them set at that but i was seriously bouncing all over the place. My helper springs are also maxed completely out...

 

Also with the rear damper settings...

I assumed that putting them into position would mean putting the number upwards but I am still not sure. The front dampers have notches so you can tell what damper setting it is on but the backs don't have this. Can someone clarify this for me?

 

You have to use your best guess...and Im still pretty sure 9 is the stiffest..lol. 1 felt like I was on a cloud...

 

Aren't there a ton of people running the Bilstiens? There has to be more users out there that have there cars slammed on these that can offer comment eh?

What size wheels are you running UKSUV?

 

Yes, 9 is stiffest. I am running 2 front and 6 rear on SoCal roads. No bottoming issues.

 

How low are you running compared to stock CFMINI? Are you running your car slammed?

 

not slammed - maybe 1.25-1.5" lower. Can just see the top of the tire with 1 person in the car.

 

Thanks! That ride height is exactly what Bilstien suggested 1.5 max drop

 

I am going to have to give them a call again. I talked to the tech on the phone at Bilstein and he indeed said that 9 was the softest and 1 was the stiffest...

 

18x7.5 et42. normal 18's....nothing crazy. I have been running the CO's for 30K miles so far. I wish I had a better pic....I will snap one in a few....

 

i have pss9's and 9 is without a doubt the softest setting.

there have been others that have purchased new springs with softer spring loads to make up for the stiffness you are feeling.

and yes i do bottom out on bumps but it's a rare occurrence for me

 

Amazing the discrepancy in the damper setting.

Maybe the softest seems harder to some because its bouncier? Weird indeed, how are you guys determining where to set the number? What part of the shock body do you use for reference when setting the dampers?

Thanks

Rob

 

I agree. How low are you sitting with your coils? What size wheels?

I am going to mess with them today or tomorrow. May have to raise them up.

 

Yes that is a good question. The front definitely have a noticeable notch in them but the back has nothing. Where are people lining these up at?

 

Whatever...your silly. If 9 is softest setting your shocks are blown....

 

Called Bilstein again. This time I talked to tech on the West coast site and on the East coast site and both of them today said that indeed 9 IS THE SOFTEST SETTING. He also said with my vehicle dropped lower than 2 inches goes beyond what the PSS9's were designed for and bottoming out would be common...

 

Well then Im in store for one harsh ride when I turn them down to 1.... Put it this way...the fronts didnt drop much but in the rear..when I pulled all my interior out it was sitting 4 inches off of the tire (stock). Now, Im tucking 1/4" from rim. And of course you will probably bottom out over harsh bumps when fully slammed. Thats a given....

 

ill show you blown lol at least they arent as blown as kal's engine sorry, kal, that was a low blow :P

duvinclunk - you dont feel a notch at each setting? it's ever so slight in the rear. turn slowly and you should feel it.

im pretty low, when on my 17's (215/40) i can fit a finger between the arch and the tire but at an angle, not horizontal to the ground.

 

Wow dude! 1/4 from rim? 35 series tires? I remember seeing some pics of your car in the "lowered suspension" thread. Were those with your Bilstiens?

 

Here...I just took this pic like 30 seconds ago.... And the ONLY interior I have is wire harnesses, a 6-point cage and one Sparco seat. So just imagine if I had a full interior...

 

I cant fit anything in between the tire and wheel at an angle... THAT!

 

dayum chinny
slammed on 18s =ballerrr

 

Holy ***** my friend I thought I was low for cripes sakes