Hi everyone!

Here's a picture of my 2012 CMS All4. I just installed a R53 JCW suspension on the front, and I'll do the rear today. The fitting was pretty easy, keeping the CMS top plates and I'll need adjustable link kit.



These are BMW replica wheels... 17x8 +35

EDIT: Oh, and the stickers are from my Autocross club, in Quebec City!

 

Interesting. Cant wait to see how it comes out with both front and back lowered... Do you think those springs will be able to handle the weight?

Kyle

 

The rear is a bit low, and there's rubbing :( With OEM wheels it'll be ok!

And for the weight, I'm not really afraid... JCW springs seem to have better spring rate than my stock CMS springs.

I'll probably put a spacer between the rear top plate and the car about 1/2''

 

So what tires are you using and how much did you lower the overall vehicle height?

 

Those are the OEM tires...

And or the drop I would say at least 2''

 

lowest I've seen yet. congrats!
looks good.

 

Nice, looks great, howz the handling? better?

 

I just come back from the race track... Handling is SOOOOO better! Just as a JCW

I'm now looking for coilovers

 

Were you able to get the alignment as per specs?

 

Didn't got the time for the alignment. For sure I can't get the OEM camber, tires are rubbing enough like this!

But I'll try at least to reajust toe...

Oh and I will try soon whith my race tires (235-40-17) on OEM wheels... I think it wont rub anymore!

 

it the front or rear camber too far to adjust back to spec?
There are a few co.'s that have adjustable control arm/links.

 

I didn't try yet... But I'll probably need camber plates for front and control arms for rear...

But because I'm racing, I prefer to have a bit more camber than OEM

 

Hi, do you reckon any problem fixing the R56 stock spring on the CMS?

 

So the only thing different is the top hats of the struts? The struts are the same dimensions on the bottom and slip into the R60 front knuckles with no problem?

Yes, you should be fine once you increase the offset from +35 to the stock +52.

I did this on my R53 to get the rear ride height where I wanted it. You've got to love the simple way the MINI rear suspension attaches to the body!

 

Where do you find this spacer??

 

MiniMania.com used to sell them. It's basically just an aluminum plate that sits between the top hat of the rear strut and the body of the car. I think they were around 10mm thick. I haven't seen mention of them in several years and they're no longer on their website.

On my R53 I just cut four square pieces of aluminum plate of the thickness I wanted, and drilled a hole in the middle of each. Only cost a couple of bucks and worked great, had them on for around 50k miles until I sold the car. I think most people made their own like that, rather than buying the expensive machined spacers, maybe that's why they stopped making them.

Here's an old thread... https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t-spacers.html

PS - When you put your adj. lower control arms on, what did you set the rear camber to? Somewhere around -1.5?

 

No way.. I still think that is too much. I started at -.5 then finally settled on -.8ish
I feel that -1.5 although performance in turns will be great, real world application of daily driving that -.5 to -.8 is the best alternative.

One thing to note, Specs for our cars: -1.5 to -1.8

 

Thanks for that info, I figured it was around there but couldn't find the official spec from MINI. I started to wonder because in the other thread, the guy who put Hsport arms on showed his alignment printout. It started out around -2 which is probably where most of us are at with lowering springs and the stock arms... and then the shop adjusted his new arms to -3 He was better off before he paid them to screw up his car, those tires aren't going to last long like that.

 

I'm ya no good!! Unless he has money to burn