I now have the resources to replace the original struts and shocks plus front and rear rubber mount kits. My 2005 S R53 has 136,000 babied miles and I am looking for non performance replacements since I drive slow and I'm old. Been looking at the KYB GR2 & the Sachs OEM replacement. For the mount kits I have only looked at the KYB kits and the reviews on Amazon don't seem thrilling. Would love to hear any recommendations for others who have replaced their shocks and struts with the mount kits of what they bought and are happy with.
Thanks in advance!!

KYB https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...5&autoModClar=
Sachs https://www.tirerack.com/suspension/...5&autoModClar=

 

I just installed all 4 Koni STR’s (the orange ones) and I love them. As a spirited/normal driver they have been great. I also put on the Alta 22 rear sway bar and it made a world of difference. It is a really simple installation, and well worth the time/money.

 

+1
T, unless you just love spam email from Russian girls looking for a sugar daddy, you really should get your screen name changed.

 

+1 KONI struts and heavier RSB are THE best mod bang for the buck.

T, unless you just love spam email from Russian girls looking for a sugar daddy, you really should get your screen name changed.

 

Hands down... I'd go with the Koni Special Active shocks/struts... (Red Ones)... They run the stock springs only (no lowering with these shocks).

These are the new iteration of the famous Koni FSD's (Gold ones)

No fiddling with adjustments... The Orange Koni's (STR.T's) are great too.... but have different, firmer, more high performance, feel and don't have the same tech inside as the Special-Active-FSD's ... Different character than the STR.T shocks/struts.

If you are dealing with everyday driving... I'd spend the money and go with the Koni Special active set... you'll really be happy with them.

These shocks will absolutely improve/transform your cars handling... and give real-world street manners to your car in a way that the bilstines/KYB/Sachs replacements cant.

If you really just want bare bones basic replacement shocks... RockAuto has some great deals on fully loaded (springs/mounts/shocks/struts... assembled)... great shipping too. They have the Bilstein B4 sets for around $200 for the set F/R (IMO... on par with what was installed on your car at the factory) .... They also have the KYB GR2's for $350 for the set F/R.

For the Sach's bare bones... I'd go with TireRack at $260/set... they have great prices on those and free shipping.

https://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-s...0-r52-r53.html

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-koni-par...12/87451012kt/






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Also... I would definately replace the Jounce bumpers .. (aka 'bump stops') on the shock shafts... those are wearing/aging items that are key to the function of the shocks/struts.

New upper shock mounts are in order at the same time.

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I got rid of the Bilstein B4s that I had installed two years ago as they were much too harsh with the Bridgestone Drive Guard run-flats.
In went the Koni active shocks and Michelin Pilot Super Sports along with PowerFlex bushings in a few areas.
A kidney belt is no longer under consideration and I don't feel like my R53 and me are being beat up.

And how old is old, now?

 

THANKS for the excellent responses. I think that I will go with this kit unless I find a better solution from you guys. I like the "turn key" kit so everything is there to complete the job.

Here is the link for the kit and would love to hear everyone's opinion good or bad on it. Oh, to answer the last poster's question, I'll turn 63 March 30th.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Cart/?add1...salesrep=dlegg

 

"Oh, to answer the last poster's question, I'll turn 63 March 30th."
Well, then, I'm officially old as I'm 63.
But the MINI keeps me young...

 

Save your money as you don't need all the parts in those kits. You will still have to dismantle the stock shocks, so it won't save you anything to buy all the new parts. You can reuse all the springs, bolts, rubbers and so on.
Just get the Koni FSDs as they ride great and are direct replacement for the stocks.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-s...0-r52-r53.html

If you need front mounts they are affordable
https://www.waymotorworks.com/oem-fr...rut-mount.html

and if you need the rear upper mount parts go with the powerflex as there is actually another thread around here showing the failures of the aftermarket ones
https://www.waymotorworks.com/powerf...-bushings.html

 

OK peoples, here is what I have it narrowed down to; Amazon;
I have 5 hours of price comparison invested and Amazon is the most competitive.
Am I missing anything?

 

Makes me wonder how the B4-Bilsteins would have been without those horrible tires tho?
Always hard to narrow down causes when you change so much at one time.

















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Actually, according to my records, I changed the rear shocks first and was so impressed I changed the front struts a week later.
The Drive Guards were losing air between the tread blocks after about 22K.
The Michelins came four months later along with nirvana.

At the end of September 2019, I put the active Konis on the rear of my 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen TDI with only 15K on it. They cured a lot of ills that were inherent in the factory setup. I texted my friend at the time: Changed rear shocks in the VW, today. Totally worth it. Interior is much more quiet over all road surfaces. There’s no booming coming from the rear axle over Bot’s dots and potholes. The rear end doesn’t have the jittery-skittery overinflated-tires nervous energy feeling anymore that actually made me feel uncomfortable before. It carves corners much more smoothly and consistently and doesn’t get discombobulated by road imperfections. It’s pretty much solved everything I hated about the handling and noise level before. Relatively cheap fix. Like the MINI, I find I’m driving 5-10 mph faster in the same places and not realizing it. Thumbs up.

 

I'm planning to install the orange konis on my car. The TSW springs are on backorder, do most continue using the stock springs, or is it a good idea to change them? My car is a daily driver that occasionally will see track use.

 

You should check our FSDs as all Koni is on sale
https://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-s...0-r52-r53.html

And for the rear shock mounts I still recommend going powerflex rather than those aftermarket with all the failures people have had.
https://www.waymotorworks.com/powerf...-bushings.html

 

Tires make a big difference for sure.

My kid's car has B4s with H-sport springs. With some budget Sumitomo all seasons the ride was pretty stiff, borderline harsh. Now with Conti DWS06, the ride is more civil and quieter due to the new tires. The suspension is still stiff since there's not a lot of travel, but the difference the new tires made a significant improvement to the ride quality.

 

I'm not a fan at all of lowering the street cars.
Yes it looks cool... but it will not perform as well in the real world with irregularities in the road.
ANY lowering spring puts stock or stock replacement struts/shocks firmly on the jounce bumpers... and really takes away a lot of travel that can give you better control in addition to a less jarring ride.

Those H&R sport springs, at 1.4" drop, at rest, are taking up MOST of the compression travel in your shocks.... and really putting the squeeze on the jounce bumpers.
The rebound forces following a comprression event (aka bump in the road) are way higher than the shock was ever designed for.

Not many performance springs out there that don't lower by at least 1"....
Even the TSW springs take away more than half of the available compression travel....and have the car sitting firmly into the travel of the jounce bumper.

IMO... this sacrifices performance, on real roads (with dips, potholes etc).. for looks.... The increased spring rate surely 'flattens out handling" but I'd bet, on the road....in the real world, that a set of FSD/Special's with stock springs and a mild uprated rear swaybar would handle as well or better than the lowered stock or replacement strut/shocks AND be able to deal with the day-2-day things we run over



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First off thanks for all the advice from you folks. Ran into minor issues with installing the drivers side strut. First off the pinch bolt was hopelessly rusted into place and could not be removed unless I paid $200.00 just to remove it and have it drilled out on a bench. Second the ABS sensor was also permanently adhered to the wheel carrier also. Ordered a new wheel carrier from MINI Mania for $189.00 and an ABS sensor and lower outer ball joint plus new sway bar links from ECS Tuning. Other than that, the installation was one of the easiest and simplistic maintenance jobs I have ever performed on my MINI. All bolts and hardware were easily removed and reused except for new mounts front and rear. Being that this car has spent it's entire life in upstate New York, all my trips to the car wash washing off the road salt after the snowstorms paid off. Both wheel bearings and ball joints were in perfect condition. The Koni FDS struts and shocks are performing way beyond my expectations and I'm so glad that you folks recommended them. My timing was perfect with the economy slowdown and the prices dropped significantly from the prices I posted in the earlier replies on this thread. Between all the parts and the alignment, I believe I have less than $950.00 invested. I was quoted around $750.00 to have them installed and aligned so I saved a lot of money by doing the job myself and had all the tools and a heated garage for comfort. Overall I feel that after 15 years the original equipment worked very well and hopefully I will get many, many years out of these new parts.

Struts with new end link

Struts with new end link

 

Nice work..Good choice. Thanks for the update.

Those FSD/Specials are one heck of a good package.

Stock ride height does not sacrifice handling or safety (or bent wheels ) on the street compared to any 'lowering' spring that takes away useable suspension travel.

An uprated rear swaybar would be the only thing that I would consider if you find a decent deal on it.






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im about to do this very job, with the koni active struts

what brand of springs did you go for ? Sachs?

 

tper,

I used the same springs that came as original equipment with the car. They were in perfect condition since I have had this MINI since 7 miles on the odometer and have driven it like a church lady 99.9% of the time.

Hope this helps!

Buggy

 

Thanks buggy

my springs are shot after 80k

only problem is bmw springs are on back order

I fancy the same set up as you
koni red and original springs

Have you heard anything about what folk are using to replace bmw springs? I heard Sachs of febi are both good alternatives , but to avoid LESJOFORS brand

I just replaced every bush and now that I’m an old man I want the harshness to go. I know it will never be smooth but I would like something less crashy. Certainly not a fan of lowered cars, especially living in Scotland

 

That's impressive. I shudder to think of what your strut towers look like.

 

Strut mounts were under a GTT bar with massive tower support places since new

surprisingly the rubber is still completely in tact

 

Good thing you ran the supports. I'm surprised the rubber in the mounts held up. Maybe it's a climate thing?