R56 Hitting bumps in my MINI Cooper S
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Neutral
Joined: Oct 2012
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Hitting bumps in my MINI Cooper S
Hello,
I'm new to the forum and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for regarding this topic.
I've had my 2011 MCS for almost 2 years now. I drive my MINI to work 5 days a week (40+ to downtown Pittsburgh) hitting the same annoying bumps and buckles. They're unavoidable and I find myself slowing well below the speed limit in an effort to ease the hit. It sounds terrible and makes me cringe when I hit anything.
I understand that MINI's have a rigid ride and I love it. Basically I want to know if I'm doing any damage to my car? Is the MINI sport suspension made to handle this? I feel that I'm just beating the hell out of the car.
This drives me crazy every day. Am I just paranoid? Is anyone else letting buckles and bumps hinder their driving? I should be having fun driving my MINI to work everyday!
Thanks.
I'm new to the forum and haven't found exactly what I'm looking for regarding this topic.
I've had my 2011 MCS for almost 2 years now. I drive my MINI to work 5 days a week (40+ to downtown Pittsburgh) hitting the same annoying bumps and buckles. They're unavoidable and I find myself slowing well below the speed limit in an effort to ease the hit. It sounds terrible and makes me cringe when I hit anything.
I understand that MINI's have a rigid ride and I love it. Basically I want to know if I'm doing any damage to my car? Is the MINI sport suspension made to handle this? I feel that I'm just beating the hell out of the car.
This drives me crazy every day. Am I just paranoid? Is anyone else letting buckles and bumps hinder their driving? I should be having fun driving my MINI to work everyday!
Thanks.
4th Gear
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 329
Likes: 1
From: Massachusetts
well the suspensions can handle quite a bit before any serious damage occurs......that being said its really hard to say for certain without some pics/ video (which ide imagine would be tricky to get).
if the car is bottoming out, or the chassis is hitting.....ide recommend finding another way to work...
..but if its just a bumpy ride, i would do what i could to minimize it, but not worry too much overall.
if the car is bottoming out, or the chassis is hitting.....ide recommend finding another way to work...
..but if its just a bumpy ride, i would do what i could to minimize it, but not worry too much overall.
You should be fine but I was the same way when i bought mine too. You can upgrade the suspension but watch for pot holes. My city here is awful, I call it pot hole city.
If your looking to upgrade your suspension just for a daily driver, look at the Koni Yellows.
Keep on motoring!
If your looking to upgrade your suspension just for a daily driver, look at the Koni Yellows.
Keep on motoring!
2nd Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 94
Likes: 1
From: Los Angeles County
hitting bumps, potholes, etc in any car will take your alignment out of spec (resulting in improper tire wear) and reduce the life of your shocks. slowing down to reduce the impact helps.
you can also move to a smaller wheel/fatter tire combo, which will lessen impacts and smooth the ride. For example if you have factory S model 17s on 205/45/17 tires, you can switch to factory S 16s on 195/55/16. switching to non-run flat tires will also help by the tiniest margin.
the dampening functions of motor mounts will also deteriorate faster, but that depends on the mount design of the specific car (i don't know how MINIs are designed). the motor won't fall out if the mounts go to hell. instead it'll make noises and vibrations worse
you can also move to a smaller wheel/fatter tire combo, which will lessen impacts and smooth the ride. For example if you have factory S model 17s on 205/45/17 tires, you can switch to factory S 16s on 195/55/16. switching to non-run flat tires will also help by the tiniest margin.
the dampening functions of motor mounts will also deteriorate faster, but that depends on the mount design of the specific car (i don't know how MINIs are designed). the motor won't fall out if the mounts go to hell. instead it'll make noises and vibrations worse
Last edited by HKSpeed; Mar 15, 2013 at 12:10 PM.
Thread Starter
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Neutral
Joined: Oct 2012
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Thanks for your replies.
I'm definitely not bottoming out or scraping the chassi. It's more like asphalt buckles, manhole covers, uneven pavement from the DOT's lack of leveling out asphalt, and small potholes here and there.
Are there other cars comparable to the MINI's ride?
I'm definitely not bottoming out or scraping the chassi. It's more like asphalt buckles, manhole covers, uneven pavement from the DOT's lack of leveling out asphalt, and small potholes here and there.
Are there other cars comparable to the MINI's ride?
The MINI has a very short travel suspension...you are almost sitting on the bumpstops at rest. The sports suspension is also too firm for high piston speed movement.
In short, other cars that handle better are not as painful.
Better shocks (Koni Yellows or Bilstein HDs) will help improve ride and handling, and cut your bumpstops.
- Andrew
In short, other cars that handle better are not as painful.
Better shocks (Koni Yellows or Bilstein HDs) will help improve ride and handling, and cut your bumpstops.
- Andrew
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 236
Likes: 0
From: Central CT
If it bothers you, you can do what I did and swap out the stock shocks/struts for Koni FSDs. The ride improved dramatically, the handling is improved as well. It's still a MINI, it will always ride somewhat firm, but now it doesn't "crash and bang" over bumps.
The roads here are horrible too, and there's not much that can be done to avoid the potholes. Make sure you check your shocks for leaking fluids periodically, 1 year on these NE roads was enough to blow one of mine.
The roads here are horrible too, and there's not much that can be done to avoid the potholes. Make sure you check your shocks for leaking fluids periodically, 1 year on these NE roads was enough to blow one of mine.
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How many miles on your car?
It may be that your stock struts are a bit worn...
I found that on my MINI, the ride became more firm as they aged....and not in a good way. After only 40,000 miles, I switched to KONI FSD's....made the ride a bit better than new....I do have a R53, but I will tell you the FSD's did make my car more pleasant to ride in....my wife no longer objects to longer rides....
It may be that your stock struts are a bit worn...
I found that on my MINI, the ride became more firm as they aged....and not in a good way. After only 40,000 miles, I switched to KONI FSD's....made the ride a bit better than new....I do have a R53, but I will tell you the FSD's did make my car more pleasant to ride in....my wife no longer objects to longer rides....
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Neutral
Joined: Oct 2012
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My car has around 40,000 miles now. I assumed that with age the suspension would become softer from hitting bumps. It sounds to me like there are worse commutes than I have when it comes to road conditions.
Many of you suggest Koni FSDs as an alternative. So with these the suspension is firmer, the ride is more comfortable, AND they improve handling?
Many of you suggest Koni FSDs as an alternative. So with these the suspension is firmer, the ride is more comfortable, AND they improve handling?
OVERDRIVE
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 8,233
Likes: 127
From: San Francisco
Yes for all those points, although "suspension is firmer" doesn't quite describe it accurately. It absorbs bumps better but it becomes firmer under steady load (braking and cornering).
3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 186
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From: Richmond, Texas
Dan you're in a Mini! Make it a game! Zig and zag! No mention of how old your tires are but the more tire wear the harder the hits. It's amazing how much better the ride is when you put on a new set of tires. I know exactly what you mean, expansion joints as tall as the sidewalls, potholes bigger than the tires, etc. and as one person stated, I do change my route to work. There are some streets in Houston I avoid as much as possible. One other note...sometimes I am going much faster than the speed limit, which will make some of those "bumps" seem twice as bad as hitting the same bumps closer to the speed limit. I haven't damaged any front end parts and have 83,000 miles so far.
My car has around 40,000 miles now. I assumed that with age the suspension would become softer from hitting bumps. It sounds to me like there are worse commutes than I have when it comes to road conditions.
Many of you suggest Koni FSDs as an alternative. So with these the suspension is firmer, the ride is more comfortable, AND they improve handling?
Many of you suggest Koni FSDs as an alternative. So with these the suspension is firmer, the ride is more comfortable, AND they improve handling?
IMO many folks put up with OVERLY STIFF struts in a MINI cause they say "its a sports car, it should be stiff", but having owned my car since new, I KNEW the change....the ride should be firm, but nor punishingly so.
One note...DO NOT USE FSD's if you want to LOWER your car...they are not made to function with lower than stock springs, and will fail.
Koni FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) is the first no-compromise shock absorber in the world. A revolutionary new technique which combines the benefits of firm and comfortable suspension in a single perfect shock absorber. Firm for sporty driving on even road surfaces. Comfortable for a smooth ride on uneven road surfaces. Realizing the seemingly impossible! Banishing the disadvantages of the past, Koni FSD shock absorbers are a smart suspension system adjusting automatically to road conditions as well as driving style. And all of this in a fraction of a second. FSD guarantees greater stability, greater control and thus greater driving pleasure.
NOT to be used with ANY lowering springs.
NOT to be used with ANY lowering springs.
The KONI FSD (Frequency Selective Damping) shocks achieve firmness for sporty driving on even road surfaces and smoothness for comfortable driving on uneven surfaces. These MINI shocks don't require the installation of complicated electronics, cables or sensors, and don't compromise comfort like competing shocks.
With typical shocks, the main damping characteristic is defined by the oil flow going through the piston assembly. KONI combines this with the FSD feature that adds a special valve. This valve controls an oil flow parallel to the one going through the piston rod. This parallel oil flow is closed by the FSD feature, giving a rise in damping force almost linear to the time that the piston is moving in one direction.
Put simply, the FSD feature is a hydraulic amplifier that delays the build up of pressure. Look at the FSD as an extra tuning option that creates the best possible combination of handling and comfort.
With typical shocks, the main damping characteristic is defined by the oil flow going through the piston assembly. KONI combines this with the FSD feature that adds a special valve. This valve controls an oil flow parallel to the one going through the piston rod. This parallel oil flow is closed by the FSD feature, giving a rise in damping force almost linear to the time that the piston is moving in one direction.
Put simply, the FSD feature is a hydraulic amplifier that delays the build up of pressure. Look at the FSD as an extra tuning option that creates the best possible combination of handling and comfort.
Neutral
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 2
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From: Fairfield County, CT
I recently bought a 2010 MCS with 22k miles on it and brought it back to the dealer 2 weeks later because of the feeling I was getting going over speed bumps and dips in the road. I was told they found and removed the strut spacers that were in place for shipping purposes from the front driver's side. They seemed pretty amazed that the spacers were still there after 2 yrs and 22k. Afterwards I noticed an instant improvement.
1st Gear
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Highland Village Texas
First thing is get rid of the run-flats. I have 9,000 miles on my 12 MCS and hated the crash into sharp bumps. I put Yokohama 580 tires, [Discount Tire 110.00] non run flat on and it is a world of difference. You will still feel bumps but not the feeling of tearing the car apart. I carry a tire plug, air pump and slim when by home and bought a mini spare for trips for 118.00. in over 50 cars and many miles have never had a blow out or major flat but i am prepared.
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