I have had 4 convertibles in my life now and decided on a mini cooper. I went to test drive a few at a local dealer. They had a regular mini convertible and when it took it out it seemed to shimmy and shake a lot. I then took out a new hardtop MCS and the ride was much better but it had a sport suspension. The Clubman S also felt a lot more solid. A few owners i've talked to about the convertibles say they do flex a bit.

Do the 2005-2006 MCS with the sport package also shimmy/flex a bit?



I just sold a Honda S2000 which has a very stiff body for a converitble, maybe that's my problem.

 

Hi....

Our '05 MCS Cabrio w/sport package doesn't shimmy/flex. It is really solid. But We've never driven a MINI that wasn't a MCS or a hard top to feel the difference . . . it's as solid as the BMW 330i convertible that I drove back in 2000. However, maybe someone who has driven some other MINIs can shed some light on the topic?

Valerie

 

The regular MINI coupes are just about as rigid as you can get. It doesn't matter whether you have the sport package or not, it's not the suspension it's the frame. Only a few cars in the world are stiffer, and most of them are $100k+.

The convertibles however are not very rigid. To say it flexes "a bit" is an understatement. They aren't the worst as far as convertibles (or cars in general) go but they are nothing like the coupes. You can do a few things to improve them -- engine brace, an M7 under strut system... they noticably improve the handling of the car, eliminating some flex, but it's still there.

And to be honest, after almost 2 years of owning it, it is getting to me enough that I am thinking of replacing it with a regular MINI. I had a Z4 before - my first convertible - and kinda expected the MINI to be more rigid than it is. Overall, the Z4 was a better convertible than the MINI is (As it should be since it was built from the ground up to be a convertible/roadster).

But still, when the top is down and it's nice out and you are on a decent road, it's easy to forget about the flimsy frame and be flat out amazed at how fun the MINI is and how well it handles. In some ways it blows away the Z4, which I personally always felt was the best handling car that BMW made.

Anyway, just a few thoughs since the flex in the convertible is a big pet peeve of mine. But it's still a great car.

 

Thanks, ronmichael, sounds like you know A LOT MORE about cars than me Valerie

 

Sounds like I'll be sticking with the cage version. For some reason I'm extremely sensitive to vibrations and noises. Roadway harmonics and oscillations drive me nuts. Droning exhausts, tire noise and squeaks and rattles also drive me nuts. My wife THINKS i'm the one that's nuts.

 

Chassis flex is subjective. I have owned convertible versions of a Saab 900 Turbo, a Lotus Elan, a BMW 3 series, a Buick Regal Turbo with T Tops(I forget the designation) and a Nissan 300ZX with T Tops. I was happy with the rigidity of each of those cars - took them for extended drives before signing on the dotted line, but I seem to remember the Buick flexing the most.

I am happy how my Mini performs, so I bought one. This is a decision only you can make.

 

The M7 USS made a big difference for me. The flexing didn't bother me for daily drives but adding the USS made a HUGE difference when cornering hard on twisty roads. That should be one of the first MODs to consider for any R52 owner, especially if you plan to do performance driving.

 

+1- The m7USS make the cabrio into a totally different car.

 

i understand the m7 helps in handling, but does it make the ride stiffer?

 

No. It makes the body stiffer and allows the suspension to do it's job without compensating for excessive body flex.

 

+1 - The USS (or perhaps a similar under-strut brace from another vendor) makes a world of difference in stabilizing the chassis on the cabrio... for me, on my car, it was a night-and-day difference when pushing the car to the limit on twisty washboard pavement. Sport suspension does make a big difference, also, over the standard suspension. But, overall, there are HUGE differences in ride between the R52 and an R55/R56... the R52 (and it's siblings the R50/R53) have a significantly more "rough and raw" feel than the 2nd Gen cars... at least IMHO.

I have no problem hanging with any coupe owner in our club on the twisties. Of any generation.

That said, the convertible will absolutely, positively be louder and will have more creaks and rattles than a coupe. But I'm a cabrio guy... so those parts are "features" for me... not "problems"...

FWIW, I'm surprised you've had four convertibles but are very sensitive to vibrations and noises... what convertibles did you have that didn't have ANY of that stuff?

 

If I could find some wood to knock on I would say my cabrio is pretty dang quiet in the rattle dept, more quiet than many reports I have seen here on NAM from tintop owners... but since I cannot find some wood to knock on I am not gonna say that because I don't want to curse myself

 

I just had the M7 Strut Tower Brace and M7 USS installed today, along with a heat shield. I cannot believe the difference!! BliimeyCabrio, you said it! It's night and day difference. All I can say is WOW!

 

 

I'm in love with my 07 cab...it does however corner like driving a tube of toothpaste....anyone successfully thrown mods at the suspension and been happy with the results. I've tweeked the power plant a little....15% pully, CAI, new pipes.....Great Performance enhancers....what do you recommed on the suspension????

 

1) If you haven't already, ditch the run flats for real tires. Huge difference in cornering grip.
2) M7 USS or TexasSpeedwerks XBrace under-chassis brace. As stated earlier, huge difference in front end rigidity and resulting suspension performance and grip.
3) 19mm adjustable rear swaybar.

Those three things are all I've done on top of the OEM Sport suspension... and I'm VERY happy with how my car corners. And I drive HARD in the twisties.

Beyond this, there are many options for springs, coilovers, camber plates, etc. But personally I wouldn't waste my money until I had done 1-3 above and evaluated results vs. desire.