With a suggestion from a fellow NAM'er, please post pics of your R53 (or R50!) with TSW springs -V2 preferred, but V1 will work too. Also, your impressions of them will be greatly appreciated.

I have done multiple searches, but haven't come up with much. Maybe it's my ability to search?

Thanks!
Mike

 

It's not you. The search function on NAM leaves much to be desired.

 

No one? Surely there's a few of you out there with pics.

 

Here are the only ones I have sorry for the poor lighting not sure if it helps at all...but I figure its better than nothing.

As for the ride quality, I can say that my ride quality improved over stock suspension, it was softer and less jar-ing (keep in mind my older cars both had Tein HA and Tein DriftMaster coilovers so the ride was very stiff if you were wondering my where my threshold is at)
As far as handling goes, I can say that with the Hsport 25mm rear bar the car felt less edgy and more mellow on limit, maybe very slight increase in corner hold but other than that minimal improvements, but noticeable none the less, more than a placebo effect.

 

Your car looks great! Great description too!

Thanks,
Mike

 

Well, that's one person. Hopefully, this will grow.

 

I haven't been here in awhile. I've had TSW V1 and V2 springs on my MINIs and will post pics when I can find time to take a few. Last pics I took were just after I had M7 springs installed which were replaced by TSW. I can tell you the ride and cornering are far better on the TSWs. My wife likes them too - which says a lot.

The M7 springs were just too low for me and I bottomed out frequently. I've put two seasons of AX and 6 DEs on the TSW springs (with stock shocks) and have been very happy with the setup. Coilovers are a bit too pricey for me at this time but the TSW springs have never let me down.

 

Thanks for the reply! This is exactly what I'm looking for (minus the pics, hehe). Would you mind posting a couple of pics with the M7s, and of course the TSWs when you can? I'd greatly appreciate it!

Thanks again in advance,
Mike

 

There is one pic of my MCS in my gallery taken about 250 miles or so after I installed my M7 springs. If my car is relatively clean at AX this weekend I'll try to remember to take pics.

 

Thanks! WOW, Butler really does 'look' great with the M7 springs. Sucks we can't have the best of both worlds and have the looks of the M7 springs and the performance of the TSWs short of coilovers. I can't justify the expense of coilovers right now either. I completely understand. When you say you constantly bottomed out, do you mean on the bumpstops, or do you mean bottomed out Butler?

Heck, even if Butler isn't clean, I'd love to see a pic or two with the TSW springs.

BTW, did you get my PM on metroplex? Obviously, you can ignore it since you're posting here.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Couple more questions - what other suspension mods do you have other than the TSW springs and I'm assuming H Sport camber plates? Do you have your alignment specs? Are you willing to share them?

Thanks,
Mike

 

Here you go...my suspension mods are:

TSW Springs (V2 I think...bought them last June)
TSW Camber Plates
TSW Rear Control Arms
TSW X-Brace
Powerflex Front control arm bushings
H-Sport 25.5mm Rear sway bar

Alignment is:
Front
Camber = -2.00
Toe = 0
Caster = 4.25 (not adjustable)

Rear
Camber = -1.25
Toe = 0

The car rides great...I get no complaints from friends or girlfriend. Most people couldn't tell it from stock. I did notice that the spring/shock damping is a little better matched with TSW springs, and I have yet to be able to hit the bumpstops in cornering...expect when I just throw the car into hard 90 degree turns at 50 and let the outside front tire take a beating...then I'll hit the bumpstop. But I really don't do that. Anyway hope this helps...let me know if you have questions
















Ooops...edit* it actually is not lowered in this pic. But the angle, darkness, etc. gave me that illusion...plus the picture was taken only a couple weeks before I installed the springs.

 

WOW! Thanks for the post! That's exactly what I was looking for! Of course, your CR looks GREAT! Now I just have to justify spending money that I really don't need to spend...

 

Justify...its already justified, you need it to look that good

 

True dat. Hey R53, just to keep you updated... I got the TSW's on my R56 today. I absolutely love them. There's your justification. Your car needs these springs.

No more thinking... just do it.

 

I know, I know...it's just the cheap skate in me that needs justification.

 

Here are a couple of pics of Butler with the TSW V3 prototype springs on him. The V3 front springs are a bit stiffer than the V1 and V2 springs and are a straight spiral wind (read linear and not progressive) This has the advantage of giving you room for more camber adjustment without needing to "adjust" the strut towers to get to -2.0+. I like the slightly firmer ride than what I had on the V2 - and they perform well on the AX field. I'll have DE impressions at the end of this month.







Note - this is on my 225/45/16 Hankook RS2 AX tires and Rota SS wheels. When I have my streets on - TS ProRace 1's shod with 215/45/17 Kumhos they fill the wheel wells up a bit more.

Go for it! The TSW springs are great, and you'll love them. Jeff, Scott and Mike all stand behind their products.

 

Butler looks awesome, those 225s really must give you some bite. Nice ride height.

 

Fuego... great pics!
And so timely!!!

I just ordered a pair of the V3 springs earlier today...
Great feedback!

 

Sorry for the late response. Great pics Fuego. I really appreciate the feedback too.

How's the tire wear of the RS2's on your MINI? I have a set on my 911, and I LOVE them! Tire wear looks to be normal - in fact, it looks like I don't drive it nearly as hard as I should .

Thanks again!
Mike

 

I've been very happy with the RS2's for AX tires. My wife and I both AX monthly with the local BMW club and we each have a set dedicated for AX. Wear has been outstanding on them. We've managed to get a full season + out of them so far and plenty more like left in them. We both ran in a PCA time trial class this weekend (LOTS of runs) and they took a pretty good beating. I'll buy them again although Hankook is coming out with a new RS3 that may be worth looking at.

I had used Falken Azenis RT-615s before and was not happy with them - they got hard from heat cycles before I ran out of tread. No similar problems with the Hankooks.

As for the springs I took off the V3 prototypes last week and put the final version on. They were fantastic on the time trial course. The small amount of added stiffness was noticeable and welcome on the high speed corners and sweepers, and the street ride is still fantastic.

 

Not sure if you'll be able to answer, but were the first two versions of the springs softer? Was this the main concern when updating the springs? What about ride height?

Again, sorry for all of the questions. There's no doubt I want these, but I honestly want it to be just a tad lower. Just trying to be as honest as I can be.

Thanks,
Mike

 

Nope - the V1 and V2 springs were both beehive shaped like the OEM springs. The biggest difference was a tweak in the ride height in the front springs. The V3 springs are linear (straight wound) in the front like the rear springs and are about 25 lbs stiffer.

Why the linear (straight wind) spring this time? The beehive shape of the OEM style front springs limited how much negative camber you could get with adjustable camber plates without "adjusting" the inside surface of your strut tower with a BFH (large hammer) to provide more clearance for the inside edge of the springs. The V3 linear springs don't have the "bulge" in the middle of the spring so it doesn't have issues with clearance to get at least -2.0 degrees of camber adjustment. I have TSW's adjustable camber plates and had previously "adjusted" my strut towers to fit the progressive springs with -2.1 deg of camber in the front. Now with the linear springs I can get my fingers between the spring and the strut tower with the camber still set to -2.1, and could probably get to -2.5 or -2.6 before the endlink tab contacts the strut tower.

The idea to go with straight wind springs came from the R56 since they don't have the beehive style springs in the front like the R50/52/53 models. I am really enjoying my V3 set.

 

I believe all TSW springs have been linear.

That has been their major selling feature all along..

The shape of the spring is not the same thing as linear or progressive spring rates.

 

V1 or V2 TSW = linear springs. I am also waiting for the V3.