Hi, I want to raise my 2004 cooper and put on bigger tires. I saw the "beachcomber" and it looks great. I have to drive on terrible roads; rocks, ruts, washboard. I ran over a dead pig and nearly broke my neck with only 4 inches of ground clearance. I hope someone can help. Thanks, Kim

 

I don't see how larger wheels will give you enough clearance for the next dead pig you run into. Maybe you need a Jeep Wrangler. Just sayin...

 

I'll give the benefit of the doubt here, assume this isn't a trolling post (even though it smacks of it), because I like the idea.

This is going to involve having specially machined spacers made to put between the front subframe and unibody, and also between top of strut and strut tower. Then the front bumper brackets will need to be modified or fabricated from scratch to bring the bumper back to it's intended location. You will probably need longer brake hoses all around. In the rear, you will need the same type of custom spacer for the struts, and custom longer adjustable control arms made. Fortunately there is a wide selection of tires and wheels available to suit this. There are probably many other little bits that will have to be done up front that I am missing, but those are the major ones. Oh, and it may be a challenge to find an alignment shop willing to make it go down the road straight. And be prepared to go through inner CV joints on a regular basis - they are not cheap!

I've done this myself on an old Subaru. It was fun, and worth it, but I had 4WD and actually wheeled the thing. Don't expect too much more than 3-4" of total lift (including tires) for your thousands spent.

 

I thought it sounded like a trolling post except for the beachcomber comment. Then again I just noticed it's the OP's first post, so probably toying with us and I took the bait.

 

We had a guy in the Miata community who did something similar. Didn't actually raise it, but he put on taller tires, and removed both front and rear sway bars. He named it 'Loosey'.

 

Wow, a dead pig?! Where do you live?!

 

There was that MINI Odyssey thing back in 2006



http://www.carpages.co.uk/mini/mini-...y-28-04-06.asp

All they did was use soft coil-overs raised to the limit and beefy rims and tires.

 

I'm actually in the process of doing this right now.I've already got the lift made and the tires and rims purchased.Just waiting for a nice day to get everything put on and cut off.I'll have to put some pictures up when it's done.This is gonna be a big *** mini when it's done

 

This I have to see.

Not that I would actually ever do it, but its a cool idea.

 

Well the mini's are doing well in the Dakar, but those are obviously super modified countrymen.

...but this does look like a trolling post with two trolls. I'd still love to see a lifted mini on like 31" BFG's...

 

I thought the Dakar competitors were running a re-bodied X series BMW chassis.

Cheers,

Charlie

 

I'm not a troll.I'm actually going to be running a 3" suspension lift and I've got 4 28" bf goodrich mud terrains all ready to go.My wheel adapters just came in yesterday so I should be able to get pictures up soon.Atleast with one mounted.I'm going to achieve a total of around 6 or 7" of extra lift.I live in MA so this will actually have a practical use.

 

Dead pig on a road in mass!?
At least if you got a chunk caught on the exaust, the car will smell like a bbq....
Might want to try the basic power mods....the extra weight of the lift kit, and diameter change will making accelerating tuff.....
Dirt/gravel roads in mass.....thought the enviormentals said they caused too much dust....
Now if you said NH....except for the pig...no wild boars in the ne either..
interesting project...

 

Oh I didn't hit the pig,that was the OP.And all the power mods were going to be done anyway.I'm sort of curious why people think I'm trolling.Is it that people think this is going to look stupid,or that it seems a bit too tricky to accomplish?

 

it's that you and the OP had 1 post each, only in this thread AND it's a little outlandish. You both may be legit, I guess time will tell.

 

Some of the VW TDI guys have raised their cars like the OP describe. Search for lifting in the "Upgrades (non TDI Engine related)" section of http://forums.tdiclub.com/

 

Something like this perhaps?

 

Waiting for pictures "or it didn't happen".....

Where in MA that is so bad?

I'm in upstate NY, drive further north in NY and into VT to go skiing and haven't encountered anything that would make me want do anything more than stick with the 16" wheels that I have.

 

OK first question, what's a trolling post?

Second question, I'm getting a Countryman in a few weeks (so excited) and I'm curious about this question. Is there something I can do to get more clearance and not void the warranty?

 

I'm not sure if it would void your warranty,but they actually sell a countryman lift.I believe it's around a 2" lift.It's exactly where I got the idea on how to lift mine came from.And it's not that it's necessarily bad in MA,I just wanted to do something other then lower it and put different rims on.If I were to take a picture of one of the spacers I built and the tires,would that satisfy your thirst for some proof that I'm actually doing this?I still have to make the rear spacers but I had got the strut taken off and got all of my measurements today.Things aren't going as fast as I wanted them to but I'd rather take my time than rush it and have a spacer break.

 

There were pics of a slightly lifted MINI floating around NAM a couple of years ago. It could have had BFGs on it. I think it had spot lights on the grille and roof. It looked kind of neat.

 

Reposting images of the DSQUARED2 MINI. The link from the prior post is not working.

 

^ I want that.

 

Ditto!!!!

 

That is badass. Too bad it wasn't 4x4.