I have a 2002 MC with the standard suspension. I had no choice at the time - take one of what was coming in or wait a year, supposedly.

The MiniUSA website lists the description of the Sport Suspension Plus as stiffer springs and stabilizer bars.

Does this option provide much benefit on handling or ride? Anyone driven MC's with both standard and "plus" suspensions enough to notice?

I'm thinking of doing the Mini-Madness Rear Swaybar upgrade, but not sure if I should also be looking at some new springs or stabilizer bars first. Note: I don't want to lower my MC.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. :smile:

 

The Sport+ suspension on the Cooper is, in effect, putting the 'S' suspension on the Cooper: the sway bar is 17mm instead os 16mm and the springs are different, so the car is already lowered a bit (the 'S' is lower than the Coop).
The Madness sway bar is a good upgrade for the stock stabilizer and should prpbably be done at any rate, but the only spring upgrades will lower your stock Cooper.
I've got the Sport+ and now wish I'd ordered the stock since I want to upgrade anyway ... the only advantage to the Sport+ as a starting point is that I've got the stiffer 'S' bar on the front too ...

 

Thanks! That's nice to hear, and I don't mind a tad of lowering for better handling - I meant I don't want anything close to that slammed Honda Civic look. Any springs recommended that are close to the MCS standard height?

Question: What do you mean by "S" bar on the front? If you mean stabilizer/sway bar, do you know of an aftermarket upgrade that adds real improvement?

 

I believe the Cooper stabilizer/sway bar is 22.5 mm and the 'S'/Sport+ bar is 24mm, or there abouts ... I don't know of anyone that has an aftermarket front bar yet ... look in the Performance Mod's forum for excellant How-to's and discussions of springs.

 

the solution is H&R springs and Madness rear sway bar, about $5-600 for parts alone. Figure another 300 ro the labor. People who have done it rave. there are a couple of detailled diy threads, if you are inclined; it's not too tough, but you need a place to work, a jack and stands and you might have to take the struts somewhere to get the springs off/on (a minor task, but requires a spring compressor)

 

There has been much discussion about the difference between the suspension packages. I can't clear up all the differences in springs and shocks that you get depending on what options you order like the sunroof.

Grassroots motorsports has a huge writeup in their latest issue and they list the sway bars as:

Sport Suspension Plus:
24mm front, 17.5mm rear

Sport Suspension:
19mm front, 16.5mm rear

I hope this clears this up once and for all :smile:

 

Well, if that's what they say, it isn't quite right. Here are the numbers:

Sport

22.5 front
16 rear

Sport +

24 front
17 rear

Maybe the caliper slipped or something. It could have even been a printing error, I know that happens sometimes.

I'll double check these in the morning with a spec book.

Hope that helps!

Randy

 

Thanks Randy, makes me feel a little better about my 22.5mm front sway (formerly a "19mm" sway) - I was about to start calling the dealer to see how much buy the Sport Plus front swaybar.

I think what I'll do is wait until there is a really nice and expensive afternmarket front sway upgrade (as we were discussing earlier this week). Then I'll buy someone's old 24mm Sport Plus sway from them as a real cheap upgrade for me.

Now I'm finally going to order the Madness rear sway when you get back to me on the Green dop in filter....

 

Well I guess I didn't clarify anything then :smile: