So I've been trying to find out the difference between the sport suspension and the stock suspension option. What are the differences between the two? Are the struts upgraded and the springs or just struts? Basically, I'm wondering if the sport suspension option is worth the money and if it lowers the car at all.

Thanx
Jon

 

The struts have different valving and the springs are different as well (both have different part #'s... indicating different parts). Rear swaybar is a little thicker, too.

Ride height is the same between sport and standard suspension.

 

So all in all is it worth the extra money? Eventually I'm looking to lower the money by way of Leda or Palo Uber coilovers or just lowering springs.

 

If you're talking about the $500 sport suspension, then that's just sway bars...the hyper sport package has sway bars,springs, and maybe struts(probably not). Just look on miniusa.com and it says.

 

It is not clear whether the sport suspension is just 1mm thicker sway bars or stiffer struts as well. The route I would go if I had the money would be to go with JCW suspension through dealer if it is available.

 

The Sports suspension pack for 500 includes as stated above, thicker sway bars, springs, and harsher valved struts. Which is useful for AutoCross +G stock...

 

Wrong, wrong, wrong.

The Sport Suspension includes all the changes I mentioned for a mere $500 (go check the part numbers with your dealer or at www.realoem.com)...

The Hyper Sport package includes the Sport Suspension and uber-trick Hyper Sport Body Kit for $1500 . Thats a good deal if you like that body kit. I personally would need MINI to PAY ME more than $1500 to have that body kit on my car... but hey, it's just not to my taste.

If your end goal is coilvers, anyway... save the money, go with the stock suspention and swap it out later. If you just want a lower car that hadles very, very well... the Sport Suspension and a set of lowering springs can be done for less than $1000 TOTAL AFTER INSTALL (about 1/2 the price of coilovers). Its a great value for the money. Just depends what your end goal is for your car.

 

ANyone has the mushroom problem on an R56 yet? Did they fix that problem?

 

they probably fixed it. I can't believe my MINI rides like a E46 sedan and handles like a Elise.

 

When I was at the dealership they told me they hadn't fixed the problem in terms of the mushrooming thingy.

Uh what is the hyper sport bodykit? Does it look better or worse than the JCW aero kit?

I think I'll probably just go with the sport suspension and lowering springs... although leda coilovers and/or Palo Uber coilovers do look tempting, haha.

 

From Ryephile in this thread:

"The R56's strut towers are more integrated with the unibody than with the R53, where they were more of an afterthought. The R56's strut tower has structural ribbing in two axes very close to the mounting points, whereas the R53 only had one structural rib, and it was further away, so it was less effective. I'd imagine that the R56 won't have any significant mushrooming problems like the R53 based on the changes."

 

I have the JCW kit on my 07 and am completely satisfied with how it looks.The aero kit from the factory mentioned above doesn't finish the car off as well in my opinon.(whats one man's meat,is another man's poison).

 

JCW kit:



Hypersport kit:

 

I wish I had known it came with different shocks and springs, I would have ordered it

the website sucks, it is not specific so I asked here and was told it was only swaybars

if I had known it was shocks & springs & sways for 500 $ I would have got the package

 

I was told by my MA that they have reinforced this area and that they did address it on the 2007's.

Anyone else know for sure?

 

See Robin's post, referring to Ryephile's post, below. As a general rule, if you want a techinical answer without all the bias and bs, look for ryephile's input.

Yes, they did address the issue. I had an 04 and I can easily see the improvements.

 

i have a new mcs with the regular suspension. it rides like a marshmellow. i am having the jcw suspension installed next week with the jcw tuning kit too.

 

Please tell me this is just the configurator on crack and that's not what it really looks like. What's with the bizzaro black bits near the front fog lights and the crazy black wheel arches?

Has anyone actually been brave enough to order it? (And are there pictures?)

 

Quite a few people have ordered it. And that is what it looks like. Some people paint the arches to match. Personal preference.

 

the jcw suspension is great....car rides much more confidently and it is quite comfortable...only lowers car 1/4 of an inch...highly recommend

also jcw tuner.....beautiful turboprop sound and awesome torque...worth the price to go oem

if you are on east coast, morristown is very good in service and parts dept....worth the drive

 

You could hear the audible groans of disappointment when the online community first saw the pics of this kit. But as mentioned, people are buying. It definitely looks 2000% better with the arches painted to match.

--Dan
Mach V
FastMINI.net

 

NDMYR,

Do you have any pictures of the new setup?

What did Morristown charge for the suspension install?

 

Nevermind on the labour charge. I saw the 4.5 hours in another thread.

Pics, though, would be nice.

 

Are you calling me sticky buns? because I am riding on a marshmellow?

 

I have it and I love it. To me, it looks much better in person than it does in pictures. To each his own, but I've got nothing but compliments on it since owning it. I think the standard look is rather plain and not sporty enough for a little hot rod like the MINI, but that's just me. The JCW is nice, but I don't care for the rear on it much. My only regret is not getting the rear fogs. Forgot to add them and didn't realize it till it was too late.