I have an '07 MCS and was going to start doing some mods to it. I was wondering which suspension mod would be the best to start with: Rear Sway Bar or Lowering Springs? Also b/t the rear sway bars which one would you recommend: M7's or Alta's or another? And between the Springs can you just get the JCW or do you have to get the whole JCW suspension kit? Thanks a lot! Any advice would be helpful!

 

Alta 19mm rear sway bar.

 

Better than the 21?

 

if you would not go to track usually, I think 19mm is good enough.

cos 22mm is a little bit harder for daliy use.... I think.

further, If I was you, I would definitely go for whole set of suspension.

the driving feeling is much better than lower springs, and I would recommend you to go for KW V2 or V3 coilovers.

They are perfect fit and driving control on MCS R56. I fitted KW V3 on my R56.

 

thanks for your two cents!

 

Do you have run flats? If so, the first suspension mod is to ditch the run flats and lose the weight. It's unsprung weight which you can't manage...then do a rear bar upgrade.

 

19mm H-sport Rear sway bar!

 

I have the 19mm ALTA rear bar and love it. Purchased a set of Eibach springs yesterday and will be having them installed this week.

 

There it is. The other mods will follow. That's the best to start with.

 

Curious, what springs were you thinking of using?

 

buy a used rear sway bar. $100 shipped Alta 22mm.
my car can turn 90degrees at 45 without a hint of a roll. its amazing!

 

Suspension works as a total package, get both springs and sway bars...then shocks.

 

I tend to agree with the general consensus above. The ALTA (or most) rear bars will make the largest improvement in handling attitude. BUT I also stress the importance of springs (ESPECIALLY ON THE R56!!!!) to bring down the roll center of the car. The OEM tires are pretty good, but a nice set of non-run flat rubber in a slightly stickier compound makes a world of difference!

LEt me know how I can help further!

 

...and get that CG as low as possible.

 

Rear sway bar, tires and springs are the most common and will bring the car into a level of performance that is higher than most drivers skill. Springs are doubly good because they also improve the looks of the car (in my opinion). As far as the springs I would stay away from the JCW (only because of cost) as you can use the money saved and get the rear sway bar AND springs in the aftermarket.

Thats my take.

 

Thanks everybody for your input. Will either springs or sway bar void the warranty?

 

That's why I'm afraid to get a rear sway. Figure, I would push the car to the limits and not know it until it's too late. First, I need some driving instruction.

 

Would also be interested to hear this answer!


What springs do ya'll recommend and does lowing the car put any undue stress on the other components of the suspension? I come from the truck world and have always gone the other way when it came to suspension. So basically I know nothing...

 

I'm with LoadToad, my past indicated that if you upped the stiffness of the rear sway bar, then you had better up the stiffness of the front swaybar also. My past is entirely in GMC/Chevy full size trucks, which don't come with rear swaybars. All the upgrades that put a rear swaybar on those trucks also dramatically increase the size of the front swaybar.

 

A larger front sway bar is not recommended on most MINIs.

In this application, a larger rear sway bar decreases understeer and balances the chassis. Increasing the stiffness of the front sway bar would cause the opposite; understeer would be increased and you would be back where you started.

There are others here who can elaborate further on this...they will chime in shortly.

 

Not unless a problem can be directly attributed to the aftermarket part you added. This is protected by the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

 

A swaybar will not have warranty implications, except possibly the swaybar endlinks.

Lowering springs can certainly have warranty implications. THey will shorten the life of the shocks. By how much is hard to say, but lowering springs will. Head to the dealer with blown shocks and lowering springs, and there's a good chance the blown shocks will not be covered.

 

thanks

 

I suggest you read the exploits of Per Schroeder at Grassroots Motorsports in their G Stock 07 MCS. They keep the car stock and get it to handle by messing with good shocks, tires and wheels. Doing that and getting some good driving experience will probably be best in long term without a bunch of money.

Stock the cars are pretty darn great to begin with. This comes from a guy with Cross coilovers and Alta 22mm rear bar, OMP under strut brace.

http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/new...mini-cooper-s/

 

Thanks for the reply. I have thirty years experience in full size GM pickups. I've also used an Audi Coupe GT and a 1984 5 liter Trans Am as my daily driver. The Audi, my Parents 71 Pinto, a 72 Vega GT, a 76 Mustang II (2.3.L) all pushed in a corner. All my trucks, and the Trans Am were easier to steer with my right foot than with the wheel. I really like being able to romp on the accelerator to get control back than with the brakes. (I also race sailboats and bicycles). What do I need to do to my 07 Justa with sport suspension to free the back end up?