On the MiniUSA Configurator, it appears that the Sport Suspension option is just thicker anti-sway bars. Is this correct?

 

It is more than just thicker sway bars, you also get tighter springs and struts from what I recall.

 

yup, stiffer springs, shocks, struts, and swaybars...

 

How did anyone confirm the springs, struts etc? Does anyone have the PT#'s off them to compare? My MA SWEARS it is only swaybars. Would be nice to know what the $500 really buys. Someone post numbers please and thank you!

 

Go onto the www.realoemparts.com site and plug in a 2007 MC and 2007 MCS and check it out.
You'll find that the Sport Suspension option has different sway bars and different
struts than the regular suspension. Springs aren't listed on that site, but on the older models, SS+ had
different springs than SS models, and I'm sure the same is true for the
R56's.

 

Thank you Adam for saying this....it doesn't come with springs or shock-struts. Just 1mm thicker front and rear sway bars, and maybe different from and rear dampers....NO way you're gonna get sway bars, shocks, springs, dampers ALL for $500...come on guys.

 

Cooper with Standard Suspension
front strut 31316777139/140
front bar 21.5 mm 31356772751
rear strut 33526778565/566
rear bar 16 mm 33556754818

Cooper with Sport Suspension (these are all same as MCS with Sport Suspension).
front strut 31316773873/874
front bar 23.5mm 31351772753
rear strut 33526778569/570
rear bar 18 mm 33556772787

MCS with Standard Suspension
front strut 31316777141/142
front bar 22.5 mm 31356772752
rear strut 33526778567/568
rear bar 17 mm 33556754819

MCS with Sport Suspension (same as MC with Sport suspension)
front strut 31316773873/874
front bar 23.5mm 31351772753
rear strut 33526778569/570
rear bar 18 mm 33556772787

I'm certain the springs are different between the sport and regular
suspension on each model also.
Call your dealer's parts department to confirm.

It's $500 more to build with one set of shocks/sways, and springs vs. another set.
They don't take the Standard ones off and replace with the Sport ones, so it
really doesn't cost the factory much more to build with the Sport parts compared
to the Standard ones.

 

The hyper sport package includes springs and sway bars(in addition to that ugly body kit).

 

Um, I don't get your argument here. It doesn't cost MINI anymore to fit a stiffer shock (if it's same technology), 1 mm stiffer sway bars, and stiffer springs. Parts have the potential to cost the exact same $ to produce, other than the cost of variety and the overhead you have with stocking two sets of parts. Installation cost is identical, again other than the overhead involving keeping two sets stocked at the assembly line. And as proven by the differing part numbers, you were not correct.

BTW, I know it's difficult to troll through the thousands of posts here, but this subjects been covered thoroughly several times. If you don't know if the parts are different, why proclaim it?

shocks = dampers. They're the same part, ones the American term, ones the British

 

Well better performing parts do cost more...a 200lb spring costs less than a 1200lb spring. Stiffer springs are manufactured different therefore would cost more, same exact thing with the shocks. 1mm bigger sway bars have more material, therefore are more expensive...and shocks aren't the same thing as dampers, just look it up in the JCW suspension install pdf or someplace else, they're not even close to the same.....not arguing, just discussing.

 

This has been beat to death so many times it isn't funny.

ALL 3 ARE DIFFERENT. Shocks, springs, and swaybar.


end the thread already.

 

Looking online, the Sport front struts are $30 more than the Standard ones,
but the other parts are the same or nearly the same price

 

It definatley comes with stiffer shocks. IDK about the springs

 

The "Dampers" in the JCW description are bumpstops. That PDF would make a British tech weep. Notice it was put out by BMW in Germany.

 

Does anybody remeber the movie Rainman?
chuck

 

Scott wrote:
"...a 200lb spring costs less than a 1200lb spring. Stiffer springs are manufactured different therefore would cost more, same exact thing with the shocks. 1mm bigger sway bars have more material, therefore are more expensive...and shocks aren't the same thing as dampers, just look it up in the JCW suspension install pdf or someplace else, they're not even close to the same.....not arguing, just discussing."

I used to be in the spring mfg. business and feel qualified

 

Scott wrote:
"...a 200lb spring costs less than a 1200lb spring. Stiffer springs are manufactured different therefore would cost more, same exact thing with the shocks. 1mm bigger sway bars have more material, therefore are more expensive...and shocks aren't the same thing as dampers, just look it up in the JCW suspension install pdf or someplace else, they're not even close to the same.....not arguing, just discussing."

I used to be in the spring mfg. business and feel qualified to comment on this statement. The most salient factor affecting the rate of a coil spring is the diameter of the wire used. The rate of a spring varies by the fourth power of the wire size. The spring diameter and number of coils also affect the rate, but to a lesser degree. Hence, a spring with a higher rate need not cost much more to make than one with a lower rate. If one spring is cold wound and a stiffer spring require hot coiling, the hot coiled spring will cost more to make. Most automotive suspension springs are hot coiled.

I hope this is useful.

cheers,

Joe s.

 

I work on a NASCAR race team, and we have springs that are cheaper due to their rate and material, and some that are expensive due to their rate and material....some are like a couple hundred dollars, while others are a few thousand dollars.

 

I think you get different springs, shocks, and sways. The price difference is $500 which is a stellar deal, but you need to remember that you're only having to pay for 1 install cost, plus you're basically trading your stock suspension in, i.e. you only come out w/ the SS. If you got the stock suspension and went to buy aftermarket, you'd have to pay the additional install price plus component price w/o being able to trade your stock parts in. My 2 cents.

 

Who cares, just buy it!