My wife and I just got our first MINI last weekend. '09 MCS with stock suspension. I am looking to firm up the suspension a bit and decrease the wheel gap. The MINI will be driven by my wife mostly and we don't plan on tracking the car much if at all. Which springs will be compliant enough for her to use the car as her daily driver and not complain about the ride being harsh? H&R's sound more harsh than I am looking for from what I can tell from previous posts. For sway bars do most of you get front AND rear or just rears? Thanks.

 

This link might help you pick the set that will work best for you.
http://www.autoxcooper.com/pdf/MINI_...ng_Springs.pdf

Congrats on the MINI and Welcome to NAM, Dustin

 

Congratulations and Welcome!

You will find that this is a very personal decision but as all others, I do have an opinion.
I tried the H&R's and just as you have read I found them to be very "harsh". After about 600 miles I changed to the TSW springs and while they do not provide the same amount of drop, they are much more comfortable.
For me a good compromise.

Good luck.

 

Thank you. From reading the first reply it sounds like progressive rate springs would be the way to go. But, the TSW springs are linear but not harsh I guess. Anyone out there with Eibach or others that have compared with TSW?

 

I want springs that drop the car the lest amount. Something between half inch to one inch. I used to have progressive springs in my old car and I hated the ride but loved the look of being dropped.

 

What are the spring rates on the stock springs? Seems like you'd need to know that before shopping aftermarket springs.

 

I don't remember offhand, I looked it up. I had H&Rs, swapped to TSWs. They're a little higher than the H&Rs, I miss the drop, but they handle great and ride grate. TSW doesn't offer other springrates for the stock springs. I think they're awesome, the linear springs are much more predictable and dont "crash" over large bumps like the H&Rs did.

 

Anyone have experience with NM Engineering Springs? I guess they are new.

 

Are the JCW springs lower than MCS w/ sport suspension springs?