I currently have a 2002 MCS with Alta Sway bar and Tein Springs. What would be the most cost effective way to smooth out my ride? I am also running non-runflats. On decent roads my car feels great but with all the construction in NY State on some roads I almost hit the ceiling.

Would coilovers be my next step? Also what would be a good set to buy just keep in mind that I have a daily driver and don't track the car at all.

 

Morning from the left coast, what size tire are you running if your running a
40 series tire try a 45 series for street driving

 

Need more info-

Your wheels are stock 17" S-lytes-
What non runflat tires do you have, what size, how many miles on them, what tire pressures are you running?

Your shocks are stock? How long have you had the lowering springs?
When is the last time you did an alignment?
How many miles do you have on your MCS?

How much do you carry in your MCS most of the time (Load)?
How much is your budget?

What are your other driving needs? Any High peformance driving school or events? Any track or autocross? Have you done performance driving in the past? Are you the original owner?

OK- a few notes.
17" wheels allow for lower sidewall tires like 205/45-17 or 215/45-17 and this makes for a stiffer ride even with non runflat tires. S-lytes are heavy at 25 pounds and fairly unresponsive- that doesn't affect smoothness directly but it can affect ride quality and handling.

Your 2002 MCS is getting on in age. Over time the shocks will wear out. It is possible if you had the lowering springs for at least a year or about 20,000 miles that the stock shocks are worn enough to result in a much harsher ride than when they were new.

If you have not been doing an alignment to factory specs every time you change tires or did the suspension upgrade then your alignment might be out of specs and result in a harsher ride.

The heavier the load in your MINI and the higher the tire pressures you run the harsher the ride. Older tires with at least 20,000 miles get harder over time and are less comfortable and noisy.

Some solutions-
Read though this post and answer the questions.

Consider-
Better shocks- Koni Yellows if you do some performance driving, or Koni FSD if mostly street driving.
Alignment to factory specs if you have not done it in a year.
Different wheels and tires- with an eye for ride comfort and within your budget. Probably the best compromise is a light weight 16x7 rim (search at tirerack.com the selection is good- talk to Alex) and 205/50-16 tire. You're lowered so 205/55-16 is probably too tall and would rub. You're looking for 50 or 55 series tire built for more comfort in street driving but with good traction and handling.

In 205/50-16 some choices-
For the performance minded:
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 (Max Performance summer tire)
280 treadwear Y speed rated 22 lbs $125 each
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx
240 treadwear Y speed rated 21 lbs $104 each

For good balance of handling and comfort
In Ultra HP summer tires (many more to choose from-
General Exclaim UHP $66 380 treadwear W speed rated
Michelin Pilot Exalto PE2 $136 240 treadwear W speed rated
Kumho Ecsta SPT $83 320 treadwear W speed rated
Avon Tech M500 $76 280 treadwear W speed rated

In Ultra HP All Season tires-
Pirelli PZero Nero M&S $100
400 treadwear W speed rated 22 lbs
Kumho Ecsta ASX $72
420 treadwear W speed rated 20 lbs


For the comfort minded:
Goodyear Eagle ResponEdge (Grand Touring All Season tire) $122 each
440 treadwear V speed rated 23 lbs
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....le+ResponsEdge

Of if you want to consider 15x7 rims (usually lighter than 16")
then in 205/55-15
Bridgestone Turanza LS-V (Grand Touring All Season tire)
400 treadwear V speed rated 23 lbs $125 closeout
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....l=Turanza+LS-V
Tests
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/...irePageLocQty=

 

Thanks Minihune

17 Slites
Kumho Ectra 205-45 tires (New) the car has 40K miles.
Last allignment was done about a month ago after tire were put on.
Shocks are stock.
Tire Pressure I am unsure of I will check when I get home.
Tein Springs have been on for about 5 months
No track or autocrossing.
Daily driver and I commute 100 miles a day
Purchased the Car in September 06 with 21k miles.
The load is just me 99% of the time (165lbs)
I drive aggressive on weekends but nothing to extreme.
My daily commute is all NYS Truway which is brutal on a car.

As far as buget I don't have one but I tend to spend money based on it being a daily driver meaning I won't over spend on the highest price parts since I don't autocrosss or go to the track.

 

OK, this helps.
Assuming you want to keep the S-lytes
The Kumho tires (both with similar ride comfort) are either
Ecsta SPT (UHP Summer tires) 320 treadwear W speed rated
or
Ecsta AST (High Performance All Season tires) 400 treadwear H speed rated
Both are decent tires, SPT offering better handling and traction.

Alignment recent, no damage to any of the rims?

Given that the car already had 21,000 miles when you bought it you don't really know how it was used (heavy loads and aggressive driving will wear shocks).

At 40,000 miles I'd expect that the stock shocks are worn, not so much by anything other than just daily use.

So the upgrade that makes the most sense is shocks. Your springs are recent. If you do install new shocks ask the shop if they think you need to realign, I think you might be able to get away with not having to redo the alignment since ride height is unchanged.

Shock options-
OEM shocks.
Koni Yellows
Koni FSD
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...es/suspension/

Most owners of Koni FSD are happy with that choice.

Check the tire pressures and look for about 34 psi front and rear.
Even 38 psi would be a bit bumpier but offer less rolling resistance and higher mpg.

 

Minihune

Thanks for the information. I am going to go with the Koni FSD and then next year when the tires wear go with 16 inch rims.

 

Definitely a solid plan.

Some ideas. If you can find another MINI owner in your area with Koni FSDs go for a ride. You have lowering springs so that affects things a bit but not that much.

Before going to 16" wheels find some MINIs with 205/55-16 or 205/50-16 tires and go for a ride. The 205/55-16 offers slightly more comfort and much larger selection of tires. For clearance the 205/50-16 is better for you. For any tire you are trading off- better performance (handling and traction) for comfort or treadlife with value.

For 16" wheels you can choose any width from 16x6.5 to 16x8.
Most common is 16x7 and offset should be about +42 to +45mm.
The wider the rim the less the offset. Stock offset is +48mm.
Tirerack.com has a lot of rims in that size, edgeracing.com has some and Rota wheels are popular.
For the Classic look, minilytes, panasports, and ASA JH6 from tirerack are nice.

ASA JH6 Bright silver finish 16x7 +42mm offset $169 each 17.5 lbs

see also Team Dynamics wheels
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...aps_mud_flaps/

Tirerack also has shock upgrades-
http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...dard&brand=all

 

I love these to bad they are 17. I never liked black rims but the silver lips make them look sweet.