I decided not to touch those unknown coilovers I previously posted about and am now looking into other options. I would appreciate any feedback or opinions from those with experience.

My 06 Mini currently has what I believe to be Tein springs which are a little low for my taste and environment (NYC driving). I've come up with the following options:

Money is a consideration but not the biggest factor. I'm looking for ride quality and performance without sacrificing too much comfort. Personally I don't care too much about a harsh ride and have had several cars in the past with coilovers (b5 A4 with KW variant 1, 350z with Tein coilovers, etc), but with the crappy NYC roads and the fact that my girlfriend is also going to be driving the car, I'd really prefer not to be slammed to the ground popping out dental fillings.

cheapest:
Current Tein springs
Bilstein stock replacement shocks:
qty 4: 285.50
non OEM strut top bearings:
qty 2: 72.50
Strut tower reinforcement plates: $65

Total: $423

Option 2:
H&R Cup Kit used for 3k miles advertised locally for $400
non OEM strut top bearings:
qty 2: 72.50
Strut tower reinforcement plates: $65

Total: $537

option 2:
Megan Racing coilovers:
Total: $860 (camber plates means no strut top bearings or reinforcement plates)

Any other options?

Cheers,
Jason

 

H&R cup kit is going to be as low if not slightly lower then the tein springs you have now. I haven't ridden in a car with the full cup kit, but I have in a car with just the H&R sport springs, and I have bad roads here and it was rough to the point that I wouldn't install them in my car.

Also a thing to consider, do you have adjustable rear control arms already? If not, you're going to need those as well and they will run you $220-250. Best advice is to not skimp out the first time and get it all done at once. I have some brand new M7 coilovers for sale, but they are a little more expensive.

 

BC's

 

Don't run the Tein s-tech (green) springs and don't run the H&R springs. Too low.

The H&R cup kit would be worth getting if you sell the springs and run JCW springs if you can find them. Or Tein H-techs (gold), or even stock if you can handle the ride height. Maybe Swift, but they are firm.

Megans/BC coilovers are not exactly known for riding well on rough roads. They have high spring rates, poor valving, and not much travel.

Konis with a GOOD set of springs would be the way to go for your uses. Unfortunately there aren't many good options out there for springs.

The IE fixed camber plates are an option to consider instead of repalcement strut tops and reinforcement plates. Strong top mount with a nice increase in handling.

- Andrew

 

Coilovers, you dont want springs and struts.

Also, nothing wrong with BC or Megan coilovers, they go lower than the H&Rs and have a better ride than the H&Rs.

The KW V1s are TOO soft, so youd really want the KW V2s. I know I ran the V1s - I now run JIC-CROSS Coils.

 

I have an '05 JCW with 68K miles and wanted a new feel. Went with KW Variant 2 coilovers and Hotchkis adjustable camber plates. The difference is amazing! No squealing when zipping around corners, etc. Perhaps more than you want to spend, but my .02.

 

I've ridden through NY City on KW V2's... it's not comfortable. For those that don't know, NYC streets are terrible in some places. Megan's, BC's, hell any coilover I garauntee is going to be a rough ride.

SimplyJ, if you're looking for "comfort" you're best bet is to stay stock or possibly try TSW Springs... if you have to have coilovers or go low, maybe KW V1's or ST's, BC's maybe with a soft spring rate or Fortune Auto Coilovers with a softer spring rate (these are the most comfortable coilovers I have owned/ridden in yet, but so far I have the only set). Mind you, KW's and ST's are both going to lower the car about 1" even at the highest setting and because the rates are so soft, putting multiple people in the car or a bunch of heavy stuff will make the car sag.

I've been through NYC and mutiple of its highways and bridges in multiple lowered cars, stock cars, etc... and I hate the roads. Once you get out of the city they aren't terrible.

 

IMO go stock springs on Koni FSD for the best ride and handling in NYC.

 

Out of that list I would go with the Megans, but don't count out the KW's.

 

Some coilovers - Megan, BC, and a few others, offer custom springs rates based on driving.

Rough ride i guess would be based on opinion, i personally love having no body roll or even the feeling of body roll.

 

I would go with BC, KW are not really as good as everyone thinks they are...

 

Megan's I believe are a one spring option, you can change springs by ordering something like Swift or Hypercoil, but that's another $300+ dollars. BC's I'm pretty sure you can pick any spring rate you want when you order, problem with BC's (not that they are bad, I think they are better then Megan) is that they don't change the valving if you order different spring rates, they just send you the rates you chose. If you pick a spring that is too soft (because softer = comfort) but the shock itself is stiff, you'll get the pogo stick effect.

No body roll can be achieved without going coilovers... I had no feeling of body roll with Koni Sports and Swift Spec R Springs, but again, very harsh ride on crappy roads (which NYC is plauged with). Rough ride is very opinion based, but road quality is also an issue. In my area, I have had multiple people come from out of town who have said their highways suck and when they get to my area, they start to appreciate their highways because mine are that bad.

I'm not trying to tell SimplyJ not to get coilovers if that is his ultimate decision, just pointing out, comfort won't be the selling point.

ColinGreene - I agree with you in some aspects. I really didn't like the turn in feeling of the KW's, since normal KW's have the big progressive cone spring up front, and their prices can get a little out there, but I do love the lifetime warranty they carry to original purchaser and the coating on the shock body is awesome, they stay looking new for a long time and the threads clean up far easier then other coilovers, there is much less of a chance of their lock rings seizing, vice other brands.

 

The springs used on BC/Megan/whatever are total junk.

KWs with progressive springs are boring and soft. They are well constructed coilovers with decent valving though.

The thing is, stock is so bad and adding springs that are too low makes it even worse. So even a not very good set of coilovers like BC or Megan might be an improvement, though you'll have to set them up right. But I still prefer have a good damper like a Koni with good valving.

If comfort is priority number 1, then get Koni + stock springs or JCW if you can find them.

- Andrew

 

Well the thing is, If your buying "Affordable" suspension, don't expect it to have or do everything you want it to do like a High end larger cost suspension.
its like buying a Buick and expecting a Rolls Royce.
For the Money Id buy the BC then pick up some swift springs....
They arent much of a challenge for me to get swifts so...

 

As a temporary measure until the spring, I've picked up the H&R shocks (painted konis) and will install them to replace the worn shocks along with replacement strut top bearings and strut tower reinforcement until the spring/summer when I hope to start modding more aggressively.