I have a 2017 F55 s that feels like its going to flip over when I take a turn.
I have 18" 7.5 wheels and the stock runflats on it.
Per a friends suggestion, I added an NM sway bar (and that helped).

But the darn thing i till too "floaty" and cannot corner well.
I cant lower or change the springs because I ordered Dynamic Damper Control on the Sport Package (big mistake).

Man, I'm really losing my mind on this - any suggestions out there?
I'm willing to change the wheel/tires setup.

Please help

 

First thing I'd do is ditch the run flats. That'll make a BIG difference. Aftermarket wheels would be a good move also. There are a lot of wheels available that will save a lot of unsprung weight compared to stock wheels. All the standard MINI wheels are heavy (>20 lbs). That's one of the reasons the JCW Racing Team uses Neuspeed (NM) wheels. You can use springs like the ones offered by NM with the DDC suspension. There are members on this forum that have done so with good results. YMMV

 

First thing I did when I got my F55 was swap out the runflats for Pilot Super Sports... amazing tires....

 

Hmmm ...
Ok if I go 18 x 8 with the wheels, what is the widest tire I can buy?

 

Can't help with 18" wheels. I'm sure someone else will chime in. I'm running 17X7.5 et40 and 215/45X17 tires with no clearance problems.

 

If a car has a soft suspension characterized by excessive body lean, how would tires fix the problem? Wouldn't the body lean still be there?

 

Tires are just step one of suspension and handling overhaul.

 

The wheelbase on the F55 is longer so I'd opt for coilovers or stiffer springs if I were you. Then you will not only reduce body roll but also have a pretty good ride over the 3 door hatch. You can play with wheel & tire combinations until the cows come home and maybe still not be satisfied!

 

Take it back to the dealer and test drive another F55. Perhaps there is something wrong with your particular car. I have known no MINI to have too soft of a suspension.

 

18x8 is 225 that's what I'm running on my 18x8 offset 50 (3mm spacer to clear Jcw brake up front) double check wth rear suspension since it get close wth the strut. For me, going coilover was the best option even with the stock 16 runflats, it handled great. Lowering the car 1-2 inches helps with center of gravity. With a proper suspension/coilover you can get away without rear sway bar. (Still will probability get one down the line) I'm running Kw V3

 

It can be a matter of taste. A couple weeks into owning my R55 I took a corner that starts out going over the top of a rise then drops fast. Felt the whole damn car roll and pitch to the side as it failed to deal with the road dropping away at the same time as weight shifted left. It was a bit scary.

I ordered a stiffer roll bar right quick. And that fixed the problem.

My F55 deals much better with that same corner, but far from perfectly. I have a set of JCW Pro coilovers in the garage waiting for me to install when we get some warmer weather. We'll see how the car takes that corner and a few other challenges in my local back roads when it sits an inch lower. I suspect I'll end up adding a rear away bar after that to get it dialed in.

That anecdote is a longish way of saying that a suspension that is fine for some conditions and drivers may not be fine for every condition or driver.

 

Just picked up an F55 S, 17" run flats, I'm still in break in period, but not having any trouble in corners thus far. Cruising through 55 mph on corners marked for 35. If I remember correctly the difference in wheelbase between 56 and 55 is only 1.5 inches and 1/2 inch narrower. It is a different car, but don't think anything to do with wheelbase.

 

I dont think I can put coilovers with Dynamic damper - can I?

 

Can I put coilovers on a car with DDC? Finding conflicting info.

 

what size?

 

Do you know any of those members, Id like to contact them and see what/how they put lowering springs with DDC. I just keep wasting money and cant get the car to feel right. Sucks

 

Just read about them in passing. Couldn't tell you the member names.

 

more tire grip will make the body roll even more if you cannot change to coilovers I would put on even stiffer rollbars if they even exist

 

Yes, you can put coilovers on. However, you'll lose the dynamic adjusting capability, because only the factory shocks provide that.

 

You probably have too much rear sway bar effect, I'd put it on a softer setting. Too much cowbell makes the car want to swap ends and/or tip over sideways.

 

If you have 215/45/R17 doesn't it mean you your tires have a bit taller sidewall than the original 205 tire? I wanted to go with 215 myself but used tire calculator tool on the web and it pointed out that sidewall is taller, might alter the speed reading(by not much). Won't it alter handling of the vehicle?

 

I have - and i did so after reading threads on here. Lots of examples of others doing the same - i read. digested, and rolled the dice in a more educated way. free info from sharing caring peeps.: search for combos of DDC and springs and theres a good few users. Out of that theres likely to be a subset of 5 door blokes. Lots of info on spring mfg used with the electronic DDC, with or without wheel/tyre variables

As other wise chaps earlier in the tread stated: use case/roads/user requirements will all come into play. Take thread 'emotions' as more art than science, and add them to your own personal requirements. Easy to lose track of your problem by reading others. If your goal is the car handles like a turd on certain roads" try to put that into more specifics. If you are cornering a hairpin in second gear at 60kmh id say no amount of springs will stop the car feeling like it will tip over. Focus in on options and threads that solve the specific requirement/problem you have. Maybe take less stock in your mate you had you add an nm swaybay 'just because' and go with your gut. Its your car not his. A Cooper S with DDC should be at the higher end of unmodified hot hatch handling.


My details are just to illustrate that yes - can can swap out springs with the dynamic dampers - and keep the electronic dampers in place
Use case: DDC. 3door JCW
parts added: nm engineering springs
experience: DDC still alters ride stiffness nicely - but everything is much firmer. *sport mode is now too much on cobblestones and really bollixed roads" but like, thats just my opinion, man

 

Ive had H&R springs over DDC for 2 years now, no issues.

 

Going to about 400# up front stops that from happening, at least on the faster Street tires. Can probably get away with less with the less sticky 300+ TW or all season stuff.

 

I have the stock JCW 18"s with the Pirelli runflats, all stock suspension (normal not DDC) and don't have the floaty feel.
I've changed the pressures to 36 / 34