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Coilovers for best ride quality?? R56 owner Unhappy with BC racing DS coilovers
JCW GarageInterested in John Cooper Works (JCW) parts for your 2nd Generation MINI? This is where JCW upgrades and accessories for the MINI Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S (R56), and Cabrio (R57) MINIs are discussed.
Coilovers for best ride quality?? R56 owner Unhappy with BC racing DS coilovers
I have an 09 JCW and put BC Racing DS series coils on it. I am convinced they will turn the car into a rattle trap over time. Anyone else who could weigh in on this would be helpful. I have them set to one click from their softest setting. I spoke with BC Racing and they said, "Who sold you those? They are for racing!" ARRRG.... I researched the purchase here.
I am hoping there is a solution that can provide the reduction of ride height (just wheel gap, not crazy stanced) and still give something close to a factory ride. I know that there is a trade off here. I get that. I am just hoping to get the best ride that I can and get rid of wheel gap. I am only a daily driver, not even, I work remotely. I do NOT want to ruin this near mint 2009 JCW. To do so would just be wrong.
I do not need, nor would use, the dampening adjustment of KWV3s I would just set them and forget it.
I would however, spend time tuning suspension to get the best ride, but don't know that that is actually something that would be an issue for street driving.
Is it just about getting the coils with the best spring rates and dampening for my purposes?
This is pretty common complaint heard from customers going to coil overs. Often they are either too stiff, or lowered too much and have no shock travel causing the harsh ride. Coil overs are generally made for performance or race cars so they naturally have stiffer valving and stiffer springs. Great for racing, but not so good for daily use and roads that aren't perfectly smooth like race tracks. This is also done because manufactures often look at the car specs like weight and current springs and build their coil over setup off the shelf.
This is why we do our own custom setups on KW and Megan coil overs. Both of these setups we do have been put together with real world testing of installing various springs and valving setups on a MINI and driving to find the good and the bad until a matched setup with made that would provide improved performance, but not beat you to death or give you that harsh ride.
So if you are looking for the all out killer performance run at the track, but still able to daily our TSW spec KWs are the ticket. Using a custom linear spring setup they will be firm but not harsh and predictable to keep you consistent with track use and build confidence quick. https://www.waymotorworks.com/kw-var...r55-56-57.html
I called Way and he told me. This one's all my fault!
I was in a rush and went with what I could go and get. ECS had the BCs so I went and got them. I live in Cleveland so ECS is here. I should have driven the truck and ordered from Way. Hate the truck!
The last question is really not in need of an answer, it can just be resolved, as much as it can by adjustment, but I will ask. Is the MINI pictured above lowered to the point that it will ride too rough for the interior panels? Can you remove wheel gap and not tear up a mini daly driving?
This is pretty common complaint heard from customers going to coil overs. Often they are either too stiff, or lowered too much and have no shock travel causing the harsh ride. Coil overs are generally made for performance or race cars so they naturally have stiffer valving and stiffer springs. Great for racing, but not so good for daily use and roads that aren't perfectly smooth like race tracks. This is also done because manufactures often look at the car specs like weight and current springs and build their coil over setup off the shelf.
This is why we do our own custom setups on KW and Megan coil overs. Both of these setups we do have been put together with real world testing of installing various springs and valving setups on a MINI and driving to find the good and the bad until a matched setup with made that would provide improved performance, but not beat you to death or give you that harsh ride.
So if you are looking for the all out killer performance run at the track, but still able to daily our TSW spec KWs are the ticket. Using a custom linear spring setup they will be firm but not harsh and predictable to keep you consistent with track use and build confidence quick. https://www.waymotorworks.com/kw-var...r55-56-57.html
Most of the time with coilovers on MINI is the version that are not dampened are too hard for daily, good if you are a track junkie or like the OG ride of the Gen 1 MINIs. If dampened, they will have a smoother ride. You dampen the rears more then the fronts and this always for a smoother ride.
I done this with my R58 JCW on ohlins and its a much better ride. I daily it all year till the snow/salt hits. I have some coilovers going on the R52 and will do the same. You can always adjust the dampening to stiffer in the back if you like.
For $360 I decided to try lower spring rate Swift springs. 5K front and 4K rear. The bottom line is that ride quality will only get so good at 0" wheel gap. I think this is about as good as it gets with coilovers. If I can't live with this I guess I try Koni Yellow's and HR.
