Hi folks,
I have an 09 FJCW with OEM R113 18" JCW wheels with 215/40's


I want to add some coilcoers and was looking at the folowing system and added parts:

• KW Variant 2 Coil-over System
• Hsport (Hotchkis sport) Competition Rear Swaybar
• Hotchkis Sport Rear Camber Links
• Vorshlag's R56 camber plates

I don’t have much knowledge on suspension and suspension parts but this was recommended and will be rather expensive. I’m looking at around $3k plus installation/re-alignment,

Any other suggestions, I’m worried about rubbing and uncomfortable driving conditions. I still want the car to be drivable in long road trips yet handle really good when needed. I may even start to track it.

Are there cheaper options that would work, i don't want to half *** this and want it right.

I heard i would probably need spaceres and new bolts????

Thanks

 

If you want to do it "right" then yes you'll pay. Especially for a wicked suspension setup. You've picked tried and tested brands in the MINI community. You just cannot go wrong with Hotchkis and KW

I think the KWV2 is a good place to start since it at least adds rebound damping adjustment for a small premium about the V1. Make sure to drill access holes for the damper adjustment in the rear so you can tune the rebound for street and for the track. You could shave cost by getting the ST brand but the stainless steel bodies on the KW brand are worth the money, especially for a daily driver.

The reason you need spacers and wheel studs is because when you lower this much, the inside edge of the tire has a good possibility of rubbing on the front coilover spring. Most people need at least a 5mm spacer with this setup. You may need more depending on your tire size and wheel offset. When you start introducing spacers, longer bolts or wheel studs are needed. I say go straight to studs since trying to align those stupid wheel bolts is nonsense when we have studs available that make life so much more simple.

You also need to add at least adjustable front swaybar end links. If you use the stock ones and lower a lot they will bang on the front control arms.

If you want to shave some cost out of the project skip the camber plates, especially if going to the track is a big maybe for you. If you're a summer track nut or live next to very exciting twisty roads they are a must. For the highway warrior they're kind of a waste.

 

Thanks Shane,
I love this car and the fact that i can go drive it and have such performance is awesome and not have ant worries. I just worry that once i start to change the suspension I’ll start having problems here and there, like "oh, now you need this, and ,this, and this”.... and it will just keep going on and on.

The reason for wanting coil overs is that it just hit 60k and the rear drops down big time and the front nose dives big time under hard acceleration and shifting which has me thinking the stock shocks are shot. I don’t want it much lower but just a little.

I still want to run the stock JCW 18” wheels and my stock 17” Challenge wheels too.

My 06 GP is pretty low and I have had problems with just going up friends driveways. It is stock.

Is there a good swap out other than coil overs and will improve or fix my nose diving and rear drop problems during shifting… ????

I noticed it was really bad after watching a video I took with my Go-Pro at the rack and I could see how much it really went up and down… it was and looks pretty bad….lol

Most of my driving is on twisties out in the country with the other MINIacs
Thanks

 

This.

Especially with coilovers, buying cheap will ultimately cost you more.

Don't skimp on the pate.

 

It might be worth having your technician check out the front control arm bushings. Your problem sounds very much strut related, but at 60K those bushing are probably on their way out. It's a lot of work to replace such a cheap part I changed mine last year proactively with Powerflex. They prevent a lot of what I'd call wheel toe in & out squirming under hard braking and improve cornering response.

The way you're talking you just might as well get camber plates too. Everything is going to be apart so heck, save the cash and install those too. When you get an alignment have the shop make a paint pen mark with street and track settings on the camber plates. For example, -1.5 and -2.5. That way if you're going to be a straight line highway warrior for a while you can easily change the camber and know exactly where they need to be.

I do a lot of business travel to Texas and know all too well about the ridiculous ramps for driveways and businesses. Not friendly at all for a lowered car!

 

You said it yourself "i don't want to half *** this and want it right."

With that, you're already contradicting yourself. Do it once and do it right. You may not like forking out the $$$ early on, but it's much more rewarding down the line.

 

+1. You may want to save money off the bat, but if you cheap out the first time... you will spend twice as much in the long run.

I would know. Have done that many times.

 

+1 The ST and KW V2 are good coilovers.