Looking for a set of coilovers for my r56S. Here are my priorities:

1. Budget
2. Performance
3. Street comfort
4. Adjustability
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. lowering my car


I cannot stress how little I care about dropping my ride height lol. Any suggestions based on my priorities? I'd like to hear from people that have actually owned a kit please!

 

Not really an adjustable coil over, but I recently installed the Koni FSD Active units on my R56 and pleased with the results. Both budget friendly, arguably perform better than the OEM and consume road imperfects with more compliant manor compared to the OEM.

 

I think BC Racing makes the best bang for buck coilover on the market right now. You an pick up a set of BR series coils for the R56 for $1k, add another $300 if you want fancy options like Swift springs. BCs can also adjust ride height independently of spring preload, which is a huge deal. You don't even get that on higher end Ohlins and KW coils. What that means is you have a far greater range of height adjustment without having to swap out springs, and you can set them at more or less stock height and maintain the same spring stiffness.

 

BC racing seem to be the most popular for coilovers. We also have some forge coilovers on sale exclusive and they have front camber plates. https://www.ecstuning.com/b-forge-pa...fmsus-r56~frg/

KONI reds and some lowering springs if you like traditional and not the coilover set up. Nice smooth ride.

 

Check out our custom KWs as they are matched to the MINI and not just off the shelf. I personally run them on my clubman which is my daily driver. They are firm, but not harsh and the most predictable setup you can get that really build confidence and allow you to drive to the limits
https://www.waymotorworks.com/kw-var...r55-56-57.html

 

This.

WMW's KWs are amazing. I've been on V2s for a few years now and I absolutely love them. They work great on the street and the track.

 

I have been watching this tread from the beginning and did not want to comment because I have not owned an inexpensive set of coilovers for a mini and really just wanted to see what other people said about theirs. Because you did not give a price range of what you want to spend and you said 1st priority is budget. I was thinking you meant something like what you find on Ebay for about $400-$500 range. If I'm right and this is what your wondering about I would say don't even think about it unless someone can verify they have them and they have lasted.

let's cover your list.

1st budget, that's problem when you have all the other things with it. The main part of a coilover or even regular type suspension is the shock and it really has the toughest job of all the parts. 1st it controls the spring from bouncing up and down, I'm sure you have seen an older car that hits a bump and it just keeps bouncing for a little bit or sometimes a while? That's because the shock is totally shot. So its important you have a shock that can not only handle the higher spring rates needed to make a car handle better but it has to be well built to last. The higher the spring rate the more the shock has to be stiffer. That's why people that race like adjustable shocks so when they switch spring rates they can tune the shock to that spring rate.

2 and 3 counteract themselves. If you want true performance you will have to sacrifice comfort because the spring rate will need to be softer and if you want performance it will have to be stiffer. There is progressive springs but I personally feel that takes away to much from performance . Its just my opinion and I'm sure some people are very happy with theirs. But we are talking coilovers and I just dont look at them as a progressive rate setup.

4. Adjustability. We need more information. Ride hight is a given adjustment for a coilover unless you mean easiness? Or like stated in shocks some have adjustable rebound (the resistance when the shock is extending) or compression. Some shocks only do one with some resistance added in the other direction. Some do them both at the same time and the more expensive ones adjust each separately (double adjustable) . We will just leave at the double adjustable because there are some that have more and that just really is a true race shock ($$$). There is also camber plates.

10. Lowering my car. It's at the bottom after skipping 5-9 and you say you care little but give a lol. So because this is written and we are not having a face to face conversation its sometimes hard to know if you being serious or joking. No problem either way it just gets lost without facial expressions and tones. I never thought of having coilovers to keep my ride height stock so agin little confused on what you exactly want unless you mean you don't need the ability to lower it to extreme measures.

from time to time I have seen good deals for quality set ups and if you looking for spending less money that's your best bet or like a couple examples up top $1000 is reasonable for good quality coilovers. Or buy a good quality shock like the higher end bilstein or single adjustable koni and the JCW springs are very impressive and I have seen them used on here every now and then.

 

N54 if your getting notifications on your post. There is a nice set of used coilovers on this forum he is asking $800 and they have everything. Adjustable shocks and camber plates.

 

Because of your top 3 factors... I'd say go with the Koni FSD setup and stick with it....

I agree with putting lowering last on your list... In most applications on the street, with debris, holes, uneven pavement etc... you will actually lower the performance of a mini by lowering it IMO. There is so little free travel before you are on the Jounce bumpers that your suspension, ride and control over you car will be so much better with good travel... Once you touch the jounce bumpers... your spring rate is crazy high.... which is why, again IMO, that most people prematurely fail their shocks when they put on any brand of lowering spring.

I have a set of Stance adjustable coilovers...RARELY do I adjust them.... well, since I set them up... I never adjust them... Wish I would have gone with the FSD's on that car...

I do have the Ohlins R&T coilovers on a second car...nice and adjustable... which were really well designed and tuned specifically for the R56.... setup as Ohlins specs since they spent a lot of time developing the kit for great performance... you get all of your criteria met... and there is very little lowering of the car.... Sweet setup... but... NOT a budget item ($2200 street price for the set)... easy to adjust them with one **** on both front and back... with no tools from under the car.

IMO.... Go with the FSD's and an uprated rear swaybar... you will be dollars ahead and you will really appreciate just how much better the car handles compared to stock.

My 2¢. FWIW





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how’s NVH of the forge vs. OEM? I’d love a nice planted feel in the corners during spirited driving while not having to avoid every road imperfection

 

link doesn’t work for me for some reason, anyone else have this problem?

 

where to begin... so yes I think it goes without saying that $400 ebay coilovers are out of the question.

and while 2 and 3 counteract each other, one is prioritized over the other. I have a good understanding of suspension systems but since most budget oriented coilovers are pretty much bolt on, align, and drive; I wanted input from drivers who have had them installed.

Anyway still looking for a good option. I love my BC racing coils on my bmw, but they’re far too stiff for the street (even on minimum dampening). Worried that the BC’s on the mini would perform similarly (although id imagine a much different spring rate could lead to a softer ride in the r56 vs. the bmw)

 

Keep in mind stiffer doesn't always been better for performance. A good coilover is compliant, not necessarily stiff. In fact for street performance, a coilover on the softer side is going to be far superior for handling mid-corner bumps and dips than something more track oriented that is rock hard.

With BC you can custom spec the spring rates if you order from their custom shop. Off the shelf their spring rates are 7k front and 5k rear, which l run on my car but with Swift springs not the stock BC springs. I don't find them overly stiff for daily driving and pretty good for when I go into the mountains. And I don't have the dampeners on the absolute softest setting either. I have a friend who custom spec'd some Feal coilovers on his F56 and I think he got 6k front and 4k rear because he was worried about the ride. He likes that setup for daily driving but he had to get longer springs in the rear than normal to counteract the sag from running abnormally soft springs. With normal length 4k springs, the rear sagged down so much the wheels tucked and no amount of adjustment fixed it.

 

N54... the 4th thing down on your list .... what adjustability are you looking for since ride height is not one of your concerns??






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Also... What is it about coil-overs that interests you compared to shock/strut combo?































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Hi everyone. I just picked up a 2008 cooper s over the weekend. It’s going to be my fun car. I’d like a more comfortable and lower ride. In that order. I’m never going to push the suspension. So performance isn’t a priority. I’d like to stay around $500 if possible. Also adding a short shifter. Any and all suggestions are welcome.

thanks