i'm wondering what i can do to soften up the ride of the cabrio S (suspension wise). she doesn't ride it aggressively so she's not worried about corning but just riding over small bumps, etc can be more jarring than she'd prefer.

anything we can do to smooth out the ride?

 

Do you still have the runflats? Going to a relatively soft conventional tire will make a huge difference. You can increase sidewall height a bit while you're at it - 205/45 > 205/50 - for a super-plush ride.

 

Do you have the standard or the SportPlus suspension?

As mentioned, (in either case) the non-runflats will soften things alot.

 

#1 get new non-runflat tires!! You will say WOW!!! I did.
#2 get KONI FSD's...the gold ones...great for a street car...do a quick search...well liked by drivers who want to soften their rides a bit...they will work fine from what I hear on any non-lowered mini on factory springs.


"Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) is the first no-compromise shock absorber in the world. A revolutionary new technique which combines the benefits of firm and comfortable suspension in a single perfect shock absorber. Firm for sporty driving on even road surfaces. Comfortable for a smooth ride on uneven road surfaces.

Realizing the seemingly impossible! Banishing the disadvantages of the past, Koni FSD shock absorbers are a smart suspension system adjusting automatically to road conditions as well as driving style. And all of this in a fraction of a second.

FSD guarantees greater stability, greater control and thus greater driving pleasure.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-fsd-shocks.html

 

Koni FSD shocks will help. Bumps are less jarring, with no loss in handling performance (actually improves). Do a forum search on "FSD" for more feedback.

I have FSD's with sport suspension and non-runflats, and I'm very satisfied with the ride over rough pavement on San Francisco streets.

 

I'd recommend going from a stiff 17 inch tire to a softer riding 16 inch all season 205-55-16. Koni FSD shocks are supposed to ride great.

 

 

We put 15's on my wife's 05 MCc and the KONI FSD's. A BIG improvement in ride quality.

 

I went with 16" wheels and non run flats, the ride is great.

 

Definetly start with going to NON runflats, then if you want it smoother go with the FSD's.

 

 

The OP already has non-runflats (judging from his previous posts).

 

The picture shows they Might have 18' or most likely 17' tires....trading the rims and going to 16' rims will help lot, and not sacrifice handling too much...15's (I use them for winter tires on my S) might be a little to soft to inspire handling...though may car does feel very playful with lightweight 15's and tires of the correct width for an S.
Getting KONI FSD's IMO would be a great move...their strut/shocks are likely pretty worn depending on the number of miles on a car......I getting a set my self...after I noticed how differently my has was riding this winter compared to last on the same snow tires. I will say that it appears that MY factory struts have degraded with age as much as miles, as my car, while a daily driver, has low miles compared to most other MINI's of the same age. I made the choice, mostly after talking to a few folks that have them, reading posts, and chatting with a couple of vendors.

 

Zippy - curious - how many miles on your OE struts?

I've heard other stories of them wearing out pretty early...

 

Only done 35,000......but the change on the same roads this year to last was remarkable!! They showed no signs of leakage either. So I'm installing some FSD, figure the ride will be better than stock, but still handle pretty good. have only heard good things about them on non-lowered cars. Some track rats seem undecided due to their progressive nature, but I'm a street only driver. I DO LOVE twisty back roads...anybody up for a drive on the kancamagus highway?!

 

I love my FSDs - both before and after adding TSW springs.

 

I did hear that TSW springs are an option with the FSD's (seems to be about the only one), but too much snow up here to lower a car IMO!!

 

Hey Blimey - how long (miles) have you had the FSDs? I'm considering them because Koni (like Bilstein) has lifetime warranty for the original buyer.

 

I've been running them for a year and a half, about 35,000 miles so far. Mine were pre-owned and had I think about 20K on them already. No issues. But also no warranty for me.

 

I'll wait for a sale and buy them. On my VW New Beetle, I bought a set of high pressure Bilstein HD monotubes which also have the lifetime (one owner) warranty as Koni. After 113k miles, they're still not broken!

Thanks for your response, Blimey.

 

I just got my Koni FSD's installed today....I can vouch that the frost heaves, bridge joints, and rough areas of blacktop are much better now. My car seems quieter now, and more composed...better than new. So I can say, my factory struts, with no leaks, or other apparent dammage were due to be replaced at just 35,000+ miles. It is an early 05'....I wish I had done it 6 months ago!!

 

Good to hear!!!

Did you compress the original strut pistons to see how easy/little resistance they have?

When I replaced the original BOGE shocks/struts with Bilstein HDs for my '01 VW, the originals had no leaks or damage but were very easy to compress. The rears at 40k miles could be compressed my index finger. The fronts at 70k were not as bad. Bilstein HDs are still doing their thing at 168k.

I hope Koni struts are built with the same standard of quality.