Car: 2007 Mini Cooper S Astro Black
Mileage: 58000

Just wanted to share with everyone specially living in the bay area my experience today with getting my springs installed. I ordered my springs from Alta a few months ago and have not really been able to find a decent shop to get them installed. After talking with a few car enthusiast they recommended a shop called Sonic MS based in Mountain View. I checked their site, looks like they work on really high end luxury cars, so I figured they will be pricey. I called them up last Friday to set up an appointment for today, since its my day off of work. They gave me a 10am appointment. I also asked how much it would cost to just get the springs installed and they quoted me $250 total. That sounded real reasonable to me since some other shops have quoted me between $600 to $1000 for installation only.

So I arrived at 10am and they were setting up for the day. Really nice car eye candy M3's and AMG's. I met with Andrew who runs the front desk. He was ready for me, had paperwork ready to just sign and I asked again before i signed anything about it being $250 and he said yeah thats the cost. He also said it would be about 2hrs and he would give me a call. I didn't have a ride or anyone to pick me up so I went for a walk. Not being to familiar with the area I walked to Castro St. where they had tons of restaurants and bookstores. If you walk all the way down the strip you hit the Mountain View Caltrain/Light Rail/VTA station. Which basically will take you anywhere around the bay. I only had 2 hours to wait so I had some breakfast and walked around a bit and headed back to the shop around noon-ish I noticed my car was still wheel-less and up on the racks.

I hung out with Andrew and talked about what rims they recommended and he showed me some also one of the tech guys drives a mini as well and he came and we talked about other modifications they can do. They have worked on many Minis they said and are big fans. Anyways this is sounding like a YELP review so ill keep it short. The most I waited in the waiting area was 20 minutes more and my car was ready. I checked out my Mini no more wheel gap lookeds clean. I was very happy. Finally!!! Andrew told me that at 500 miles the springs will settle and it will drop some more. Also to get it aligned at that time. I paid $250 and drove home.

I noticed the difference immediately I honestly felt the steering wheel smoother not a lot of bounce like i thought I would get. So far I am very satisfied and happy how my mini looks and feels. I think its important to praise people that do good and professional work. These guys did that and I recommend them.

Here is the info on the shop if anyone else is interested:

Sonic Motorsports LLC
1045 W El Camino Real
Mountain View CA 94040

tel : 1.888.685.2910

https://www.sonicms.net

 

Keep us posted on the break-in of the H&R springs.

 

Thanks for the review. I'm in San Jose myself and just got some NM Engineering springs for my JCW Clubman. I bought a spring compressor and have been pondering doing the install myself but it's good to know I can take it to this shop in case I change my mind.

 

Any Pictures with the springs? Thinking of getting this done as well. Thanks

 

Good to know. Our office just moved to Sunnyvale, and we find ourselves in Mountain View for lunch almost every day. I'll give them a call and see what they say for the H&R's and Koni's I'm waiting to install.

Also would like to see pics, haven't seen many people with the H&R's installed around here.

 

You can also check out Speed Element @ http://speedelement.com

They are also in San Jose. I have friends who go there all the time.

 

All my rides are done at Nissi Motor in SF.. www.nissimotors.com

 

I heard that the R56 doesn't allow you to lower it before the suspension hits the bump-stops, like 1/4 inch only? just wondering if anybody knew more about that

 

any idea what alignment would cost from them?