I might be able to pick up some new Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs (approx 30mm drop all around) for a nice discount if things work out, and I was looking to hold onto them until I get a set of new shocks/struts and most likely Hotchkis rear control arms, and possibly some camber plates.
Already approx 80k miles on the OE suspension give or take (110k on car but previous owner had coilovers on long enough to require all the balljoints/bushings needing replaced when I purchased it).

I know most shocks state not to be used with lowering springs, however I am curious as to what most people here run with theirs, and what their drop is over stock? I do like the idea of Koni FSDs, as they are a bit softer and I tend to overthink every little road vibration/noise and would help settle that paranoia a bit (Koni FSD and Eibach Pro-Kit is a common retail kit for other vehicles, but not Mini sadly). Currently my car rubs in the rear over small bumps/sharper corners if we have 3 or 4 people in the car, so I know my suspension is in need of an upgrade in the near future... and with new shocks/springs the drop shouldn't be the full dramatic 1.18" drop over my current worn out ride height.

 

Koni Sports and Bilstein (B8) are most often used with lower springs.
Koni Sports (Yellow) will be more comfortable than Bilsteins.
Koni STR.T will be more comfortable yet and can be used with lower springs,
but won't perform as well as the two mentioned above.

 

I had replaced the stock sport suspension with STR.Ts on my Jetta and liked them, but being such a high body roll car as is, it is a bad comparison handling wise for me to take from it to decide on the mini. The ride quality was pretty nice with STR.Ts, sporty but not too rough on the abundance of lazily paved roads out here. I guess yellows would probably be a safe spot to aim for, although I have no clue what dampening I would want, but being barely more than the STR.Ts it seems pointless to not get the adjustable version. Worse case I spin them fully soft to run similar to the STR.Ts anyway.

My other issue is whether it would be safe to toss in the new springs/struts when I get them, or will the geometry be thrown off too much with the 1" or so drop to be able to enjoy running them without the adjustable control arms and camber plates? Tires tend to already burn through alot faster on the mini than any other car I have had in comparison to their mileage ratings, and too much camber offset is never a good thing for healthy tires.

 

I put STR.T's on my wife's 2001 VW Cabrio a few years ago and found them
a little disappointing. The Cabrio is heavier than the other mk3 VWs that use
the same part, so maybe that's why I found them to be a little too soft.
Also, I've had to replace the front pair already. One died completely, and the
other lost its gas charge.

 

Both the Koni Yellow and Koni Orange are able to be used with lowering springs.

The Yellows are adjustable rebound so you can make them firmer.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-ye...rt-shocks.html

The Oranges are fixed non adjustable valving which is very similar to the Yellows set on full soft. Kinda a more cost effective option since you have to remove the rears to adjust.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-st...0-r52-r53.html


The Koni FSDs are NOT for any lowering springs.