anyone sporting it? I have read about the system for the R53, but haven't seen anyone post anything about the new setup. I'd like to improve my suspension and will probably start with springs and a sway bar, but am interested to see how these fit in the mix.
-Bryan

 

i think maybe rephile has done it but it could have been someone he talks too. i remember the guy saying he loved it and it did the trick to make the steering more like a r53.

 

found some info here:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=123526

 

I would definitely consider the psrs upgrade for my car, but that's based on others opinions, not personal experienced. It would be really nice to drive an R56 with a set already installed. The parts aren't expensive, but I suspect the labor could be. Has ANYONE driven an R56 with this upgrade?

 

Is there a downside to a PSRS? More road noise transferred into the cabin? More vibration transferred into the steering wheel? Something else? Or, is it just that MINI did something cheap and spongy?

 

Try this thread for my feelings on the PSRS

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ghlight=Quaife

I have approx 3K miles on the car with PSRS now and don't notice any additional noise, vibration etc. I am taking the car to the track this weekend and I am really looking forward to it.

Paul

 

Ryan,

I understand what you are talking about with the feel of steering in the R56. When I managed to kill my '06, I ordered an '07 (with sports suspension and factory LSD) . The first thing I noticed, other than the torque-steer, was the general vagueness in the steering. The Sport button helps considerably in diminishing the feeling that it wants to wander, but the feel still wasn't as "crisp" as I wanted. After much thought and reading what you and others have to say about the steering, I thought that I had to make some changes. So I was up in your vicinity this past weekend and had the PSRS installed (at 9500 miles on the car) and also swapped the sports suspension for Koni coilovers, dropping the car only approximately 3/4". Before I headed home we got the car in the hands of someone who really knew how to align the MINI. During the drive back home, I became convinced that the steering feel is now very nearly as good as that of my "old" R53. I no longer had to engage the "sport" button to get the car to feel like it wasn't wandering around. When I do hit the sports button, it gets even more "solid."

Also the torque-steer seems to be much less, perhaps because of the added caster from the PSRS (we set it to the lesser of the two settings, giving about 3/4 of a degree more caster). If you and I are in the same place one of these days, I would be more than happy to let you take it out and see how well you like the set-up.

Cheers,

Paul

 

I got the Koni coilovers from Outmotoring, you can find them on their website. I purchased them quite awhile ago, just before it turned rotten cold for the winter, so I leapt at the opportunity to get them on while we had everything apart while installing the PSRS. They were put together by Truesports, the main Koni distributer in Ohio. They are adjustable at the top of the strut, ala the yellow Koni Sport model. That is fine on the fronts, but requires taking the rears off the car to access the adjuster. That can be inconvenient, but I set them near the mid-range on the rears before installation, so I can still play with the adjuster on the fronts. I have done similar with adjustables I have used in the past on my classic minis. I think I have hit a good adjustment, so should not have to take them off unless I find it necessary after my first track session in April. They ride firm, but not at all harsh. After one week and approx 400 miles on them, I am quite happy.

We set the PSRS at the lower of the two settings, gaining approx 3/4 degree more caster. The other setting was supposed to give 1.5 degrees of additional caster and I thought that might be more than I wanted. I would say that there is now slightly more effort to steer away from center, and the return to center is stronger. This, alone, seems to improve the steering feel. I have noticed decreased lift on acceleration and less dive on braking. In my view, the overall improvement was worth the $ and sweat (even in the winter in a garage in Detroit).

Fireman asked about the alignment settings: (I also installed Ireland adjustable camber plates up front, and since I was lowering a bit, I used adjustable rear control arms to keep camber in control) I wanted a good street setting on alignment, but a bit off of what is "factory spec." I was concerned with holding inside tire wear to a minimum, as the car is normally driven daily on the street by my significant other.

Front toe out: .05 degree (both sides)
Front camber: -1.5 degrees (with camber plates it was easy to balance side to side.)
Caster: 4.0 degrees (not adjustable other than by removing the PSRS and reinstalling them)

Rear camber: -1.8 (also easy to obtain with adjustable rear arms)
Rear toe: 0

The car turns in like nobody's business, crisp and sharp. Slalom is incredibly smooth in transition.

All-in-all, I am really happy with what we did with the suspension. I feel the Koni's make for a good streetable ride if one keeps his eyes open for Michigan and Ohio potholes. On the highway it is a dream. The car drives straight, doesn't wander or tramline on grooved or other weird pavement and is solid!

And, what is neatest about all this??? By reading posts here, paying attention to what folks that I trust are saying, and heeding the inner voice that tells me I want a car that is good on track, comfortable on the road and easy to maintain, I was able to make informed choices to get stuff that helped me meet that goal, as well as fix those niggling slight deficiences that come with the R56's steering (Note: this is not R56 bashing!!!!!) Plus, reading what all is involved with installing the PSRS, I was able to realize that I wasn't going to be able to do this myself in the garage even though I have an intimate knowledge of which end of a wrench means business. Thank you, Ryan and thank you NAM!!!

I don't really miss my 06 JCW R53 anymore, may it rest in peace!

Paul

 

just makes it easier for me when i come back to the thread for reference. Thanks Paul!
Bryan

 

Bryan,

I took the car to the BMWCCA drivers school this weekend at Putnam Park Race Track. While the weather really was poor (rain, drizzle, rain mixed with snow, temperatures in very low 40's) the car was excellent to drive. It was basically neutral, and I could get it to rotate when I wanted to. No noise from the PSRS and it stuck like mad. I did get one nearly dry run and it was awesome (to me). The rest of the runs were on a damp or wet track, and it was fine in the wet as well.

In my two previous MINIS (an 03 and then an 06 JCW) I always felt some squirming under hard braking probably because of the flex of the stock bushings. I felt absolutely none of that this time. It stayed solid on-line all the time under heavy braking. I am officially sold on the PSRS. They are not any fun to install, but they sure give the advertised results!

Paul

 

The next NAM Alliance Magazine will have a detailed Install article on these.

 

From gnatster: "The next NAM Alliance Magazine will have a detailed Install article on these"

If the article is from Chad at Detroittuned, it is probably my car he did it on.

 

Very cool. I think you just sold me on them paul.

 

Thanks for this thread guys! Let me or Jeff know if we can answer any other technical questions not answered here.

 

I have a set sitting on the shelf and can't wait for my installer to get some time to fit me in. That is a job I am not ready to mess with . I have 67,000 miles on my car and apparently my stock ones are shot. I am expecting a nice improvement and will report accordingly.

Randy
M7 Tuning

 

Hey Paul, will you be at the Dragon this May?

 

PSRS will be next mod once my mileage hits the 30K milestone. A future date with Chad awaits.

 

You will love theml!

Ryan, I pm'ed you and we will be at the Dragon -- in Robbinsville -- you know what the car looks like -- just like our previous '03 and 06.

 

Got it, thanks! See ya there.

 

any input on installing them on an R56, being sandwiched between the body & the subframe, it looks like a real bugger to r&r. I've got a hoist, a press, and an alignment rack, but only the occasional evening or Saturday to work on my own stuff.

 

Funny you should ask, just finished editing the article and uploading all the pictures for the next Alliance Magazine How To. Yeah, it looks like a bugger of an R&R, but you seem to have the right bits on hand. Look for publication after MOTD.

 

As you will see from the Alliance magazine article when it comes out, Chad and I had to drop the front subframe to get at the bushing carrier. As I understand it, if one has the "proper BMW/MINI service tool" one can remove the bushing from the carrier without dropping the subframe or unbolting the bushing carrier. We didn't have the tool, which I am led to believe is not cheap, so we dropped the subframe, which is not a trivial. Chad knew what he was doing, I was just a pair of hands that can use a wrench. We got it done in one long day's work.

 

anybody know what the name of the service tool is? i would like to get the psrs on my car when i start my suspension modding. it would be nice to be able to ask my install guys if they have the tool before i decide to do the mod. paulsminis any help with this buddy.

 

Engine 58,

Try a search on "PSRS" and you will find several referenced to the install. I don't know the name of the tool, and I don't remember if any thread has it named. But here is a thread that demonstrates a similar tool --https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63869&highlight=PSRS

Sorry to be too lazy to search all of them, but my time is limited.

Paul

 

will do buddy thank you