Hi. Just purchased a used car with the "Sport" package, which I understand doesn't include the stiffer "Plus" suspension option. It could be that the car has this option, but I don't know for sure - I didn't spend enough time test driving different cars to get a feel for the difference. Mine feels plenty stiff for my purposes, but I'd like to know, just for curiosity's sake.

So, the question:
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How can I visually identify the standard/Plus suspensions? Spring/damper colors? Sway bar diameters?

Thanks in advance.

 

... I thought the Sport package on the base cooper included the Plus suspension. I dunno, I ordered it seperately. Best way to tell is to go to your dealership, drive a stock mini with the same wheel/tire combo without the sport suspension and see how it rides. "Seat of your pants" decision.

 

If you have the sport package on a MCS, you have the beefiest stiffest stock set-up. I am not sure if a MCS without sport package is any different though, but I do know that the MCS is stiffer than the regular non-supercharged MINI.

Someone please correct me if I am wrong.. . .

 

Thanks for the (quick!) replies. My car is not an S It's a standard Cooper.

>>If you have the sport package on a MCS, you have the beefiest stiffest stock set-up. I am not sure if a MCS without sport package is any different though, but I do know that the MCS is stiffer than the regular non-supercharged MINI.
>>
>>Someone please correct me if I am wrong.. . .

 

The Cooper S comes stock with the Sport Plus Suspension

The Cooper comes stock with the Sport Suspension
-The Cooper Sport Package is: 16" Alloys, DSC, Fogs, the Cooper rear spoiler, and sport seats (no suspension modification)
-Even if you have the sport package on the Cooper you would need to get the Sport Plus Suspension as a seperate $500 option.

 

Even though the MINI brochures don't specifically mention it... A past article in Grassroots Motorsports said that the 'Sport' pkg DOES include the "Sport Suspension Plus".

I wouldn't count on your dealer/salesperson knowing the correct answer! Has anyone asked MINIUSA about this?

 

John,

The information I posted above is from MINIUSA.com

If you look at how the two Sport Packages are configured (Cooper and Cooper S) I really don't see how the Sport Plus Suspension gets into the Cooper Sport Package.

The Itemized Cooper Sport Package (cost of items purchased seperately)
- DSC ($500)
- Fogs ($140)
- Alloys ($500)
- Sport Seats ($270)
- Rear Spoiler ($100)

So, a little over $1500 worth of stuff for $1250

The Cooper S Sport Package
- DSC ($500)
- Xenons ($500)
- Fogs ($140)
- Alloys ($500)
so a little over $1600 for $1250

So there appears to be some parity between the two packages in terms of the amount of kit you get for your money.

Why would MINI continue to list the Sport Plus Suspension for the Cooper for $500 as a seperate option if it was included in the sport package? Why would they add the Sport Plus to the Cooper Sport Package when there is already over $1500 worth of stuff in the Cooper Sport Package?

In this case, if that's what they said, then Grassroots is incorrect.

 

One more thing, I think there is some confusion caused by MINI naming the base suspension as a "Sport Suspension" which generally refers to a suspension option with stiffer springs, but which MINI then terms Sport Plus. So I can see how this could be confusing.

 

Thanks Dave.

I'm going to get out my calipers and measure the rear sway bar on my MC...

 

>>One more thing, I think there is some confusion caused by MINI naming the base suspension as a "Sport Suspension" which generally refers to a suspension option with stiffer springs, but which MINI then terms Sport Plus. So I can see how this could be confusing.

I think the MINI One has the regular suspension. MINI Cooper has sport & MINI Cooper S has sport plus. Too bad the MINI One isn't available. I know people the the big cities would buy it.