Looking to lower the clubman a little bit. I currently have the sport susp w/ runflats. I don't mid the ride currently, but I don't want to make the ride any harder than it already is. Does anyone have 1st hand account of how hard the ride is with the h&r springs are compared to the sport suspension? Any input is appreciated...

 

I have 17 inch wheels with RFT + sportsuspension + Eibach Pro-Kit and yes it became slightly harder.

 

Same setup here with 17"RF and Sport. I'm having the H&R springs put on this coming Wednesday and will let you know the ride differences once I get home.

 

awesome.. cant wait to read the review..

 

we put the H&R's on our R56 and its almost too low. The ride is a little better than stock as the spring rates are progressive. However we bottom out the front quite a bit more as expected.

 

My Clubman had the sport susp package (not w/wheels) when I ordered it.. I put the H&R springs on 1.5 hrs after I brought Samsung home. So I cant really say how much the ride changed. But it is not harsh at all.. helped by the longer wheel base. We also have the H&R springs on our 07 JCW S, and the clubman does ride smoother. I have 18"s on it too.

 

Your car looks great!! I think the lowered look is sooo much better. I just need to do it. Have you had any issues with bottoming out? did you install the springs yourself, if so how hard was it? If you took it somewhere, where did you take it and how much was the install charge. Thanks

 

Dead Ringer,

I'm in the same boat as you are. I'm anxious to hear what Phurbahl says about the ride.

BTW, where are most of you guys getting your work done. My dealership is saying it will be about $800 just for the install. And unfortunately I'm not that mechanically inclined to do this myself.

 

no way, there are a lot of local installers here that will do it for less than that. I would just call around to some of the import tuner shops to see what they will charge. I will either have a buddy and I do it, or if its not too much pay someone, but I don't think it will be too hard to do.

 

took me about an hour and a half with a spring compressor. Just make sure if you cant get all four wheels up in the air at the same time you do the front springs at the same time and the rears at the same time. I used a cheap harbor freight spring compressor. Afterwards you will need to get an alignment and that was $100 at my Mini service.

 

It was funny (in a sick kinda way) I went into my dealership and asked and the service manager said it was at least an hour and a half per wheel at $120/hour. Then the springs... Then the alignment (unless that's apart of the hour and a half). I'm gonna start looking around. Someone recommended like a pepboys or something.

 

In the shop and waiting impatiently....

 

One of the guys in our club and I did it.. He has done many, I have done it with him twice now. Not hard, but if you have never done, you will stuggle at first.. Rear is simple. and the factory control arm have just enough adjustment to camber out. The front is a little tougher. start to finish we can do in just over an hour. We do not use a spring compressor. One of us hold down on the spring plate, while the other hits with air gun...

as others here have said, many places can do for you... believe it or not, Midus Muffler ( at least here in Phx ) can do. Any place that does struts can do easily.

clearance issues no more than my GP. Does not bottom out.. but I to take speed bumps and dips with care

Or, just take a road trip to Phx, we will do it for ya

 

Azminiman,

I'll leave in the morning.... ha ha ha...

I'm going to have to look around the area where I work and see who's there and talk with them about doing it. I just can't see spending that much money. Absolutely crazy.

BTW, have you had any trouble with your Clubman bottoming out?

 

Got it back this afternoon and I really like the change. It went from a sedan feel back to a more gokart like ride. It feels stiffer but not harsh and the body roll that I used to get at speed on our favorite offramp is barely noticable. Looks a whole lot better too without that huge gap in the wheel well. I won't have any pics until Monday as we are out driving the rest of this week. Well worth the money in my opinion.

 

already here in Phx. If I get the springs I might hit ya up for the install, which the more I think about it, the more I think I will do it. I of course would help out. If its a lot easier I will also rent a spring compressor, but if you dont think we will need it then I can always save the money. I will let you know in a few if I order the springs.

 

I didnt notice you were from phx. Coolness.. You should come to our club ice cream night on sunday. This month its in Gilbert. check out the web site
www.dynamicminicollective.org and we are doing some pullys/belts and blow off valves and stuff on saturday in N Phx near carefree hwy.

 

Not at all,, just have to take it easy over speed bumps and rolled curbs

 

I'm assuming you went to Downtown MINI. That is where I took delivery of my 08 MCS Clubman. I'm in Titusville which is Central Fl but over on the East Coast about an hour from Downtown MINI. I had Eddie at 1FastMINI in Winter Park install my H&R Springs on my Clubman. He really knows his stuff with MINIs and is a very honest guy. He has done a lot of work to my 05 MCS Cabrio so that's why I did not hesitate to take it to him to have it lowered. I believe he charged me about $600 to install the springs, H-Sport control arms, and H&R Rear Sway Bar and that also included the alignment after the springs were installed. His phone number is (321)284-4772. His website is at the top of the page on NAM where it lists the vendor directory.

As far as ride goes, I love it. It's more agressive and handles more like my 06 MC Hardtop. It does not rub at all even with 4 adults in the car and I also have 18 inch wheels on it. Road noise is to a minimum too. I'm not sure about how the ride will be with run flats. I know on my cabrio, the runflats were brutal and I felt every bump. I switched out to the Yokahama Paradas and the ride is sooooo much nicer. I've said it before and I will say it again, the Clubman rides and looks best when it is lowered.

 

Robert....

Thanks for the info. I'm gonna make a call pretty soon. I just need to get one or two paychecks under my belt.

As for T'ville. I grew up there. My old stomping grounds. My family still lives there. Mom and brother off of 50 and my sister lives up in Mims (the metropolis) in Fawn Lake. For me, it's a nice place to visit but not stay.

BTW, thanks to you I have approval to do a body kit. It's a long story, but the day I ordered my car I told my wife about what you had done and she said that I could do the same if I wanted to... She doesn't understand what she did with that comment.

Joe

 

Wow..I'd definitely shop around. I had a set of H&R springs installed on my R56 at AMVIV this year. Parts and installation was a total of either $310 or $320. I can't imagine it would be that much a difference in the install for a Clubman.

 

Cool! Let me know the next time you're in Titusville. We meet up here on a regular basis. The MINIs of Brevard gang which is a subchapter of Sunshine Minis(www.sunshineminis.org) I actually don't have a body kit on mine, I had all my black body trim painted Pepper White. It really gives it a nice look.

 

Joep,
Pete down at MINSPEED has a shop next door to him in Pompano Beach that does alot of Mini work, and I am told, they are real good. They have painted a bunch of stuff for me. I don't know where in central Florida you are, but maybe the Sunshine Mini site could help you too.

Good Luck,
Larry

 

Just got back from a good run in northern CA with our club and I have to say that the H&R springs make a huge, huge difference in performance. We found some great roads up around Mt. Shasta and the lower center of gravity pretty much eliminates the body roll altogether. The only downside is that the bump-torque steer when you are under acceleration in a turn is accentuated but if you know it is coming you can compensate fairly easily. I did "learn" to drive a bit slower over some of the rougher areas and have yet to take it over any of the speed bumps in our area but overall I am completely happy with the changes.

 

Phurbahl,

Thanks for the report. I'm going to research the cost with some of the recommended placed in central florida and then go for it. I like what it does to the appearance of the MINI and after what you said it appears to be a win-win situation. Thanks!

And by the way, call me slow but I just figured out your screen name. Hilarious!

Joe