Ok so i bought an R56 off the lot and made a HUGE mistake missing some major options...namely the sport suspension. I am coming from an R53 and if this new car doesn't have as tight a suspension im gonna be really really disappointed.

So my questions are:
what are my options, will the regular suspension cut it?

if it wont, whats a reasonable alternative? Anything cheap and effective?

Sorry if this has been asked before but searching didn't turn up anything terribly useful.

 

juts drop it and put on a sway bar. I went with the Mach V springs and the H&R 19mm bar. It is way stiffer than my uncles r53 S and handles much better. im have the non sport suspension.

 

Ghosthound is right - you should be fine with the suggested springs and rear sway bar.

 

+1.

I went with Eibach springs (stiffer yet) and an ALTA 19mm bar. Couldn't be happier!

 

Missing the factory sport suspension is hardly a "HUGE" mistake! On the racetrack, the stock R56 with standard suspension and a set of H&R springs will hang with a GP, no kidding, I've done it. You'll need sticky tires [like Hoosier's], because with street tires the R56 will understeer.

 

I feel that after driving an R53 for 4 years, not having it will suck. Maybe thats just me.

So you think a full coilover setup isnt worth it? I was thinking about going with the JCW suspension. But i might try something cheaper first, thanks for your guys' input

 

if i was going to get coilovers i wouldnt go for the JCW.

Its not that coilovers arent worth it, its just that you can make do with the stock suspension just fine with a set of springs and RSB. I went with the Mach V springs because the eibachs were OOS and Mach V Dan posts here frequently so if there was ever a problem customer support is just a pm away.

I went for the H&R bar because they feature squeak/lube free bushings and they are a very reputable company... not to mention fastmini sells them so it was easy to make 1 purchase.

The way my suspension is now, the car looks mean, it handles superbly, and it makes the R53 S's ride feel mushy!

Good luck with whatever you chose!

 

I got the sport suspension with my car because it felt tighter with the stock wheels and run flats.

First mod was new light after-market wheels and gummy all season tires. I immediately noticed that the body roll was now terrible with the wheels holding the road so much more effectively.

On goes an Alta 22mm sway bar and Mach V springs. Body roll is now virtually unnoticeable in the rear end and only apparent in the front end during very hard cornering. I did not like the effect the lowering springs had on my setup. I scraped the front diffuser on every little dip and bump, the shock rebound no longer felt right, and dips at high speed on the freeway would cause the suspension to hit the bump stops and my internal organs to compress like an accordion. Most others on NAM don't feel the same way about the lowering springs so I think it's more of my own subjective opinion in conjunction with the road conditions I drive every day.

In hindsight, I never would have wasted the money on the sport suspension as it seems to do absolutely nothing for the vehicles handling performance and just encourages more interior rattles. I think an after-market 19mm rear sway and strut tower bar would have been perfect for me, and if I didn't have to maintain stock ride height due to the rough dirt roads I frequent I would have had the full JCW suspension installed.

BTW, if you do decide to go with springs as other NAM'ers have suggested, I have these slightly used Mach V's just sitting in the box here that I've just not gotten around to listing on the forums.

Definitely drive around a bit and I think the right choice will reveal itself

 

i wish i would have waited just a few weeks... i could have bought your springs off you