I have Hsport springs and Koni yellows. The car handles like it is on rails.....huge fun to drive. The ride is firmer but OK on smooth road. When you hit a road that has some "bumps" the ride is "coarse". It is not a very sophisticated ride. Do coilovers deliver a more sophisticated ride while still giving you performance handling. If you ride in a M3 you get both. That is what I am looking for. Any Ideas?

 

You probably want softer spring rates in that case.

Maybe even soft linear rates. :smile: (KW's?)

Even with factory struts the ride can get somewhat firm over
rough roads when the bumps are large enough.

 

From numerous other threads, it would appear that you would prefer the M7 springs. They offer greater progression with a lower initial spring rate and then a slower increase than the HSports. Final spring rate is about the same.

Coilovers generally offer greater adjustability but are generally linear rate springs meaning they offer (relatively) the same resistance through the stroke.

You might consider softening the Koni's. What you may be experiencing is too much compression damping. If the shock is not absorbing the hit and just stiffening against the hit, this would be the case (particularly on small sharp hits.) You can turn the **** and see what happens. You can also have the shocks revalved to suit your driving style and environs. There are other, dual adjustable shocks (Ledas, Tiens, Moutons, etc.) that would be better suited to your refined tastes.

 

The Mini will always have a rougher ride than an M3. This is due to the short wheel base. Your Konis are only adjustable for rebound. There is no adjustment for compresion. Do you have run flat tires? You could replace them with a non run flat with the same profile and get a better ride and better handling.

 

I don't expect the Mini to ride like the M3 but I used that for an example. What shocks do you recomend?

 

I have HP tires on 17s...no run flats

 

SpiderX, I'm sporting m7 springs and think koni's would be a perfect match for them. Please let me know if you sell them.

 

They are for sale. They will come off my car as soon as the Bilsteins get here. They have about 2000 mi. on them.

 

ah, where are you and how much?

 

PSS-9?

 

yeah PSS-9's? Id like to hear your review of these after your experiance with the koni's. Ive got M7 springs right now with stock shocks. Need to make some kind of a change in the damping as its a bit bouncy in the rear now.

 

I think that the price new is $649. Is $500 too much?

Bob

 

I just ordered the PSS9s and the Konis will come off my car next Wed. I can ship them Thursday. I can take Visa, MC, Amex, Pay pal. (I have a non related business)

 

Sorry, Atlanta, GA

 

Those Koni dampers are a big hammer approach; they work but they are not at all sophisticated about the way they do business. And, they get down right nasty as spring rates approach 400lbs; these units cannot handle much beyond 350lb springs in my opinion. Fine for the (light use) track but not the street. My experience is with both linear rate and progressive rate springs. I much prefer Bilstein HD dampers for the street.

but, if you can buy a coilover system - dampers and springs developed together, you will much likely be happier...and lighter by a few bucks.

 

Amen to that brother. I ordered the PSS-9s and I am definately lighter a few bucks. I have done several mods and plan on several more. The car is so fun to drive considering my dog does not ride in the front seat.

 

I had Koni reds on my mustang and at the lowest setting with svo springs it would hammer you...absolutely no sophistication.

 

what else is there beside Konis?

 

THe Konis are great if the road is relatively smooth. For some reason Atlanta roads in the last few years have taken a huge hit. Since 74' when I moved here the roads have always been great but something is going on and maintenance has gone to "hell in a handbasket."

 

Let us know how it rides with the Bilsteins.

 

Will do!

 

I wonder if anyone has tried the KW variant 3's on a MINI yet. I haven't played with adjustable dampers before, so maybe adjustable compression and rebound is too much to start with- sorta like jumping into the deep end to learn how to swim...

I also wonder if adjustable compression is beneficial on a MINI, since it appears the vendors that do carry variant 3's list them as a special-order item, rather than as a standard stock piece, like the 1&2 variants.

Since I don't track my car, I have been considering a set of KWs- in part to keep linear spring rates, and in part b/c they have stainless steel bodies and should be less susceptible to corrosion over time.

If anyone has a set of these, are there any drawbacks that I should be aware of, such as extra noise (clunks, clacks, etc.) beyond what a set of lowering springs added to stock struts might cause? I have read some other threads about coil-overs here, and some posts have specifically cited increased noise as a concern.

Sorry for so many questions, but coil-overs are a big chunk of change, so I want to be absolutely sure I'll be happy with the change they bring before I spend!:smile:

 

Also, if one is willing to part with PSS9 money, you might want to consider Ledas. I think I spent less than a 100 bucks more than what the PSS9's would have cost...

 

Bilstein released their SP shocks for the MINI... for use with lowering springs... I'm interested to see how they perform for people, but I don't believe they are adjustable.

Right now, the Konis are proving to be a good setup with springs, even if the ride is rough on the street...

P.S. Did you sell your Konis yet?

 

Have you seen the KW V3 avalible for the mini? On the KW web site they dont show a part number for the V3.