Installed stock spings with the FSDs today...looks like a MINI SUV!

Little bitty 16" rims there with a lot of space to bounce in under the well.

The stock springs need some time to settle in before *another* alignment and since they only had less than 2,000 miles on, there will probably be some settling. But just for fun I measured them at the wheel wells to see the differences.

So read 'em and weep! (And correct me if I got this wrong)

-----Stock ------H-Sports -----H&R

F --25 1/2 ------24 1/4 ------24 1/8

-----------------(-1 1/4) -----(-1 3/8)

R --25 1/2 ------23 1/2 ------23 3/4

------------------- (- 2 ) ------(-1 3/4)

Too early for impressions of the ride other than I feel higher up!

Dave

 

Pictures?

 

Gotta give me a little while to adjust...this has been rather traumatic for me.

(Besides, it's dark out)

 

Well then, don't stop there, I have stock springs, FSDs, and 15" rims!

I'd like a lower look but I drive on bumpy streets daily and don't want to either scrape or bumpstop. Has anyone installed Texas Speedwerks on a cabrio and know how much it drops?

 

OK, maybe I was exaggerating.... a little.

 

Then you'd just love my 15s . Actually, as I understand it, the FSDs (not yet installed) in some cases add a bit of height - so we may have a similar look.

Dave, when you have a chance, let us know what you think of the ride with the stockers & FSDs.

That's what I'm planning after my H&R return is processed and my rear control arms arrive. I'm also adding Ireland Engineering fixed camber plates which will add more cushioning.

 

Just to finish this thread off

After 500 miles the stock springs settled about 1/4"" both front and back (to about 25 1/4" ground to bottom of wheel well).

The ride is much improved especially on the hard jolts. Frankly, it is a relief not to be trying to avoid cracks in the pavement. I still liked the look lowered but my attempts to do so over an extended period of time resulted in too harsh of a ride. And I'm not changing out my 16" Minilites just to fill in some space; I like them too much (call me old school).

I still need to get the alignment (had to wait for the springs to settle), so I'm not going to comment too much on the handling except to say it remains good and will no doubt improve when I get rid of the positive camber in the rear.

All in all, it was a good experiment and I don't regret it at all. (Especially after I recoup some funds from selling the H-Sports and H&R's).

If I was to try this again (which is likely in the not-too-near future) I would probably go to coilovers that have been well established for use with the cabrio.

Right now, I'm sticking with the better ride for the daily driver and liking it!

 

Have there been coliolver that have been established for use with the cabrio?
I would love to see it.

 

Wow. I'm impressed with the tenacity of you guys. You don't want to take "no" for an answer as far as lowering your cars.

Unfortunately, MINI did not endow your car with much suspension travel even at stock ride height, then added the run-flat tires with their stiff sidewalls to boot.

I'm afraid your near-term answer is to buy the new MINI; I think it has more suspension travel, plus they probably took other steps to deal with the ride issues.

We know the FSDs work well at stock ride height and we'd love to offer the Eibach lowering springs as a kit, but we just couldn't recommend that combination after trying a vehicle (MCS coupe).

Roger
KONI-North America

 

It will be great if BMW addresses suspension travel with the new R56, but it will be several years until a R56 cabrio is offered. In the meantime, it appears that there are a few viable options for lowering the R53 cabrio:

1) Megan coilovers with the uprated 450lb front springs (I believe Brownflyer found these to his liking);

2) Texas SpeedWerks springs (no TSW/cabrio reports on NAM yet) which have paired well with FSDs on heavily optioned [heavier] hardtops; and,

3) JCW springs if you can find them.

 

I think they can be ordered through dealers. However it has the same issue as with the TSW -- they were designed for the hardtop and not for the heavier cabrio. There is no JCW suspension kit offered for the cabrio.

The new M7 coilovers may become another option.

 

I agree the TSWs were designed for the hardtop, but have not heard any issues (or positive news) for their use on a cabrio. The TSWs lesser drop and higher rates are a step in the right direction for us cab owners.

Agreed and its great to have another option from a reputable vendor.

 

Thanks for the compliment! I have always considered tenacity a virtue since it is not one of the deadly sins. Of course it is not always as much fun as a deadly sin.

I have got the alignment done with a few miles in and can clearly say that the stock springs and the FSD's are a very nice ride and handle great. The FSD's are a very nice product.

While I'm going to give this particular mod a little rest, I'm very interested in hearing about anyone else's results in thiis endeavor.

 

Right now I am riding H-sport springs on the original shocks. After trying all the combinations I think the h-sport, koni fsd was the best of the bunch.
Has anyone tried the Bilstein PSS9 Fully Adjustable Coilover System on the convertible yet? Since that has adjustible dampening and height maybe this might be a viable alternative.

 

The biggest "disadvantage" that we have (as cabrio owners) is the additional wheight of the car. Most systems outhere, were designed with the hardtop in mind not the cabrio. Anytime you put a fixed damper system (non ride height adjustable) with lower springs you will have the effect of shortening damper travel, even more so when used with the cabrio due to the additional weight.

Now, the PSS9 do have ride height adjustability but it's not independent of damper travel adjustment. What I mean is that anytime you adjust ride height, you are also adjusting damper travel. Also, the PSS9 dampers are the same length as the stock ones (if I remember correctly from my research) so when lowering the car, the cabrio will have a more significant drop than non cabrio due to the weight and thus loose damper travel.

In theory tho, and this is what I've been pondering in my head, they should work. Here is why, we know that in any damper system the drop will be more pronounced for the cabrio due to the weight. So, if you set the ride height adjustment nut at same level for both hard top and cabrio, the cabrio will have more of a drop. Now, what if you could adjust the height adjustment nut upwards to put more pre-load on the spring, thus raising the car. You just in essence increased damper travel as well as reducing the amount of drop originally. Look at the picture below, the two left shocks are for the front. Now look at the black ajustment nut, if the system allowed for sufficient adjustment upwards to compensate for the additional drop...problem solved. I just don't know 1) how much of a drop would occur with those springs 2) how much adjustability there is on that nut to compensate for the additional drop of the cabrio. And unfortunately, I'm not one to spend $2,500 to find out...




I have been running with Megan Coils and so far so good. But, I'm about to try a different spring rate to see if I can soften the ride up front and stiffen it in the back. I haven't had issues with bottoming out any more, but now that I switched to 18x8 215/40/18 I can definitely feel the bumps trasmit more to the body because of the higher rate spring upfront (8kg).

I should have the springs on over the weekend and will report my findings.

 

If you go to the Bilstein website and look at the list of acceptable car applications, it lists the mini, (except the convertible). I called up to try and get clarification but they weren't very helpful. Oh well, there goes another idea.

 

Hey everyone, I installed the new springs on the MR (megan racing) coilovers and WOW... It's better than I expected. Here is a link to the thread where we've been posting our findings:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=88535


This is now a real option for us cabrio owers. Unfortunately, MR doesn't offer that spring combo for the coilovers (I guess if you talk to them, they might be able to switch springs for something similar) and it leaves you having to get these new springs through Eibach. I will post some pics later to show you the drop on my car.

 

Here are the pics.... Keep in mind that I'm running with 18X8 and 215/40/18









The back end has plenty of drop left about an additional 1", but the front can only go 1/4" lower. However, I don't want to go lower than this. I might even raise the rear about 1/4".
--------------------------
Now here is another interesting bit of info I just came accross...new coilovers from TSW. Read On...

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=89549