Hey,

Anyone know if non-turbo R56 springs fit on a Cooper S?

I'm desperate to get the Cooper S sport springs out of the car.

Anyone know if a softer spring option exists, aftermarket?

 

Aftermarket springs will fit both models, so I would think OEM springs will physically fit. Whether they are softer, or by how much, I’m not sure about that one. It’s possible the front will sag too much on the Justa springs, since the S model is heavier in the front.

If your car has the optional OEM sport suspension, it is known to be harsh. Fitting Koni FSD shocks is a popular option with OEM springs to smooth out the ride. I might be tempted to try that option before fitting Justa springs.

 

Thanks for your thoughts.

I installed FSDs five years ago. Its no cure. The crashing continues.

​​​​​​I haven't found an aftermarket spring for the r56 S.

How much heavier can the S be. Its just a turbo and intercooler. Does the Justa have a different transaxle. Maybe that's the reason for the weight difference. The S engine block is aluminum after all.

I barely drive the car but when I do I cannot believe mini allowed this chassis to be produced... And I say that as someone whose reference (daily driver) has KW V3 coilovers installed.

Anyway I'm in search of softer springs. Yes I know, get rid of the run-flats...

 

Getting rid of the run flats will help enormously. I run 215x45s (non-run flats) on 17" wheels. I had the sport suspension (20% stiffer) on my R53 and it was ridiculous to drive. I switched to a standard S suspension and it helped a bit. If you want a much nicer ride you need to go to 15" wheels and tires with higher sidewalls.

 

As soon as these run-flats are worn out they are gonna be replaced with regular tires. For sure.

I dont want to buy new rims as the rims were recently replaced so 17s gotta stay but I concur that tall sidewalls would do wonders.

Maybe regular S springs and not the Sport suspension springs is my next step. Ill keep looking for alternate non-lowering aftermarket springs in the meantime.

 

I've been here for 12 years and I've never read anything positive about the factory Sport Suspension. For the best ride go with the standard springs & sway bars, non run-flat tires and Koni Special Active shocks.

 

Pelican parts, which seems to have the most options for springs said they have nothing for sale that isn't a lowerinlowering.

Maybe ECS Tuning sells something. If not I'm gonna need to buy some used S non sport springs.

To add to the annoyance I think, maybe, the koni FSDs with 20k miles are dead. They aren't saging but I'm getting this weird knocking noise. This happened once before and it was a destroyed inner ball joint on the a arm. Massive pothole destroyed it.

​​​​​​I've searched and searched, checked all bolts, pried on the ball joints with a pry bar. I can only figure it's the struts. The front tophats were changed with the struts. The control arms and sway bar bushings too. I'm at a loss. Everything was charged at the same time.

It sounds like something is loose but only on small undulations in the road. I'll try and post a video.

 

Crankshaft is much sturdier, cylinderhead is different alloy and may weigh more, dual-mass flywheel (instead of a smaller single-mass one on the Justa), bigger clutch, gearbox is bigger and heavier, added turbo and HPFP, slightly thicker sway bars. Granted, bigger brakes don't contribute here, since they're not resting on the springs, however it's probably still almost 80 lbs more.


Again, divorce those bloody run-flats first! The 2nd gen Mini does suffer from both super-stiff run-flat tires and insufficient suspension travel resulting in too frequent hitting the bump stops which are ultra-high rate. It's NOT the (main) spring rates. That's why I don't think you really want softer springs, as you'd hit the bump stops even more often, but you should actually want more travel and better shocks.

 

We got the most spring coverage. Stock springs are per VIN and you just got to hit me up.

Aftermarkets AST Suspension has some of the most gradual lowering springs you can get. For the price of the OEM springs new most just got with aftermarkets.

The non sport spring are going to be a little softer and its matched to the factory strut. On stock springs also its weighted per the VIN. So the heaver the car the tighter the spring in sense. Well if that makes sense.

So if you get a stock R56 with new spring(have not sagged with age) non automatic, not loaded, no sunroof, it will be the lighted car. Soft springs

 

Thanks for your thoughts. I DO want softer springs. I have the sport suspension and its too stiff. But I do understand your point.

I have Koni FSDs...they helped. Runflats are gonna get replaced when they are worn..dont wanna pay for new tires prematurely. They are 3/4 to the grave...

 

I dont want lowering springs. I want to retain as much travel as possible.

Will the JUSTA spring fit on my Cooper S? If not what will replacement NON SPORT springs cost? How do I send you my VIN?

 

Physically they will fit. They all share the same top-end and bottom diameters. I'd prefer the S non-sport springs over Justa ones but it's up to you. Despite same uncompressed length Justa springs may lower your S especially on front, thus reducing precous travel even more. I know that's disappointing. A set of used springs should be cheap, but take care they are in good shape (good paint, no rust) before you fit them. Not to sound boring, but life with your Mini begins when you finally swap the tires some day. A proper set of non-RFT isn't that much more than paying a shop for swapping springs + the springs themselves and you probably may gain more.

 

I'd put on used springs if I could find some I KNEW were from a non Sport suspension car. For sure. (I don't pay shops. I do everything myself.)

I cannot justify $800 in tires right now if I can use what's on there another 6 months, but yes these runflats with Sport suspension are a mindboggling combo.

 

They will work the ride height might change, as long as its R56 Cooper to R56 S. PM with VIN. Like i say they are based on weight from factory.