Big question!! Did I do good by dropping the sport suspension for my 07 cooper s to get a better aftermarket anti sway bar or is the sport suspension worth the $500? I had the sport suspension in my 05 but i'm not sure of how much it has changed with the 07's and if $500 just buys me a so so anti sway bar front and rear then I think I would rather get my own and install it. What would yall say??

 

I have ordered sport suspension, but don't know its components. Reports I've read say it makes a real difference in handling. Before experimenting, and spending $$ on aftermarket parts, that may or may not work, I'd keep in mind that (1) BMW designed this car, and (2) its budget to get the best results is a lot bigger than yours or mine.

 

I would get the sport suspension if you want to keep the stock ride height, maintain an OEM-compliant ride quality, don't want to tear apart your new MINI and/or risk the warranty.

Personally, I opted for the base suspension, as I will buy coil-overs for it when a quality set become available down the road once the aftermarket has caught up.

For the record, the Sport Suspension includes 1mm thicker front and rear swaybars, stiffer springs, and firmer dampers over the base suspension. Luvyellow raises a great point; MINI has huge resources available to make the suspensions the best overall compromise between excellent balance and excellent ride quality; the SS pushes the compromise closer to outright handling at the expense of some ride comfort. By media reports however, that ride comfort sacrifice isn't too big a deal. I would bet the SS is still softer than the early '02 MCS suspension that received so many "harshness" complaints. If you're interested in the best handling factory-spec MINI, get the SS!

 

According to the realoem site, the 2007 (R56) Sport Suspension has
a 23.5 mm front bar and an 18 mm rear bar, whereas the regular suspension has
a 21.5 mm front and a 16 mm rear (same part number here as the 1st Gen SS bar).

They also list different strut part numbers for the regular vs. sport suspensions.

realoem doesn't list spring applications, but I'd be willing to bet they're different
for the Sport vs. the regular.

Edit:

The regular suspension bar sizes above only apply to the R56 MC.
The MCS without Sport Suspension has a
22.5 mm front and 17 mm rear bar, (and 23.5/18 for Sport Suspension)

 

I'd say it depends upon how much of the stock suspension you plan on replacing. Just the rear swaybar? I'd probably go with the sports suspension and then add a swaybar if needed. Much more than that and I'd go with the base suspension. Like if you're planning on swapping the rear way and springs, or rear sway, springs and dampers - then definitely don't pay more for the sports suspension.

Of course, my thoughts are based on the current cars, not the 07s.

If you could get the JCW suspension from the factory, at a bit of a discount over dealer installed, that would be awesome.

 

It's worth the $500 unless you plan on tracking the car constantly. As reported on MotoringFile yesterday, the sport suspension is made up of thicker sways and different springs vs the standard suspension.

 

I've received mixed opinions on the Sport Suspension as to weather it just changes the anti sway bars front and rear or if it actually changes the springs as in the 1st gen coopers. I do think I will go with the SS Now if it changes the springs as well. According to the Mini site it doesn't say anything about the springs like it did for the 1st gen so that's what got me thinking about it.

 

Read the comment above for your answer....

 

My first post had incomplete information, I'm re-posting it here with corrections,
plus edited the first post:

According to the realoem site,
the Cooper R56 has
a 23.5 mm front bar and 18 mm rear bar for Sport Suspension, and
a 21.5 mm front bar and 16 mm rear (same part number here as the 1st Gen SS bar)
for regular (non-Sport).

The Cooper S R56 has a
a 23.5 mm front and 18 mm rear bar for Sport suspension, and
a 22.5 mm front and 17 mm rear bar for regular (non-Sport)

They also list different strut part numbers for the regular vs. sport suspensions.

realoem doesn't list spring applications, but I'd be willing to bet they're different
for the Sport vs. the regular.

 

I read it but still have received mixed opinions compaired to the Mini website and also what My mini Dealer who has been to the launch in Arazona has said. . I've learned so much about the new mini from motoringfile though and gabe you've done an awesome job there. I'm going to take your word on it and my experience with the sport suspension in my previous Cooper S and get the Sport Suspension in this one. I'll have a chance to drive both on Friday so Hopefully if it's more noticable then I will keep the SS. Thanks for all the info. I'm also adding the LSD which I didn't have in my other cooper so I can't wait to drive this one and see the difference. Also, Thanks cristo and everyone else for your info.

 

That information came from Jeff Stracco - MINI USA product manager. ...and I don't recal MF being wrong very often when it comes to things like this

 

Gotchya!! Well it definatelly was worth the $500 on my last Mini so I went ahead and added that and the LSD to my order. Now if I didn't have to wait 5 weeks.

 

Hello all-first post here.

I am specing my Mini, and I am still a bit unsure of the OEM suspension options: Is the only difference between the "sport suspension" and the "hyper sport package" the aero bits?

I have read the post above but am just seeing swaybars listed under sport suspension on the build your Mini site. Does the hyper sport package have more spring and strut than just the sport suspenson?

If the sport suspension or hyper sport package has stiffer springs/struts, does anyone know the rates? Would they be at all worthy of R-compounds at the track?

Or, does anyone know of a trackable (w/Hoosier R6s) coilover kit that is proven for around 2-2.5K? Or, even better, a suspension tuning shop specializing in setting Minis up for the track (coilover set-up, alignment settings, etc)?

Thanks for any help -my Mini will still be a couple months out, so i could wait for someone to develop coilovers. But if nothing would be available by then, I would rather order my Mini with the most aggressive OEM suspension for tracking this season.

 

Coilover options exist already, including those with camber adjustment and without. Check this section's other posts. I've got MINI sport suspension and I love it. It does come upgraded springs and shocks in addition to rear sway bar. GRMPer's had some success autocrossing without going aftermarket, and that keeps him in GStock for SCCA. If you don't mind paying $1500-$2500, coilovers with camber adjusters and adjustable rear links will probably help you lower and set camber back. If you're going that route, don't bother with MINI sport suspension upgrade.

Re: hypersport. You'll want to track down elusive pics of it before you even consider it. To put it bluntly. Only a mother (a blind one) could love that body kit. It's not the same kit as the JCW Aero kit, and it looks like MINI may be going back to the drawing board, as it's been delayed.

 

Yeah, I was under the impression that the valving on the shocks was different, too. Supported by what my dealer and realoem are showing.

Either way, I have been happy with the sport suspension... and that was knowing full well that I would be swapping srings as soon as the car arrived.

I figured I would be hard pressed to find a set of front struts, rear shocks and a sway bar for $500.

 

Thanks guys!

I'll research the CO's, but will probably order the car with the SS so I can take my time on CO choice.

I can't wait to hit the Midwest tracks with it!

 

looks like the setup is pushing the boundaries of both performance and comfort. any idea how upgrading KONI FSDs would compare to stock sport suspension?