Sigh, sometimes I feel like an idiot, went back to ECS Tuning where I bought my shocks and struts and found this at the bottom of the product description "not to be used with any lowering springs as advised by Koni ".
Will still post any reply get from Koni.

 

Minimania, ECS tuning, Turner, and
others all say that Koni Special Active
shocks and struts should not be used
with lowering springs on on their pages
for these products for MINIs.

 

Lou - I can’t find that wording on the Koni web site. That wording looks to be a carryover from the older FSD shock. The Koni web site used to be very clear with those; the FSDs were for stock height springs only. I can’t find those words for the new Special Active shocks. It would not be the first time that ECS has had mixed up info on a web page, although I will admit that they are usually pretty good.

Hang in there. Like you said, see what Koni says. If they don’t respond, call ECS, say to them you have been looking for that on the Koni web site and can’t find it. Ask them to show you where on the Koni web page it says that. ECS is usually pretty good about checking into that sort of thing.

 

Google " Koni special active shocks and struts kit- 87451189", then click the ECS Tuning website.

 

Yes, they have that statement for the kit, but not on the pages for the individual shocks.

And then there is this:
https://www.eeuroparts.com/blog/1073...pecial-active/
These guys even suggest pairing these shocks with H&R springs...

I am only trying to say is that one vendor’s listing says one thing and another vendor’s says something else; it is not clear who has the correct information. And, the only place that I would trust to have the facts (the Koni web site), doesn’t say either way. The ECS web page may not be correct. If you don’t hear back from Koni, ask ECS to look into it. They seem to be very willing to do that for people who ask. Just trying to to suggest a way to get to the bottom of this and get what you want.

 

Yes, but if you search the site, you'll find they don't sell any Koni shocks of any type for MINI, or any other maker I searched for.
The suggestion on the link is a quote from Koni's generic statement for the special active shocks and isn't a vehicle specific recommendation.

 

If it comes down to where I can't us lowering springs I may have to rethink this, I may just buy coilovers and then sell my shocks at a loss.
I have an idea on who may want to buy them and he lives just across the street, his daughter just bought a used mini and he himself is a mechanic and could install them himself.

 

Lowering springs are overrated,
especially for our MINIs that have
such limited suspension compression
travel at stock height.
I used Koni Yellows (Sports) on my previous
R50 with stock springs and recommend
that combo heartily. I was never really
happy with lowering springs and Tokico
Illuminas on my old 1982 Rabbit.
I am about to put Koni Yellows on my
current R 55 with stock springs.
If you’re set on lowering, coilovers are the
only good option to retain decent suspension
travel, but you will also have to worry about
ground clearance more than with lowering
springs.

 

Are you just talking about lowering springs or coilovers.

 

See above.
I was editing and addending while you posted.

 

Thanks for the input, I live in Las Vegas and the roads are fairly well maintained here so I don't have to worry about potholes to much, but of course no matter where you live you can get around speed bumps.

 

This. As I wrote above, having tried springs on the Mini, it’s absolutely not a great choice if your roads are crap. In Vegas, it might work OK, though, but overall, I’ve tried springs on several cars (yeah ... one could say I learn by experience. :p) and though the initial lowered look is great, I’ve come to regret it, without fail, every single time.

So going forward, coil overs or nothing for me.

 

If you are going to coilovers, keep in mind that you get what pay for. More expensive ones will have better ride and handling.

There is definitely something to be said for keeping with stock height springs if this is going to be a DD. The optional JCW sports suspension springs (the red ones) could be an option, if you want a some drop. They lower the car 10mm. But they will be suffer than what you have now.

 

Thanks for catching that, it was just not copied over to the individuals, we will fix that

The KONI FSD/ New KONI REDs are not designed to be with lowering springs per KONI (they visit us about once a year for training) for those MINI applications. We have seen people use JCW red springs (about a 10mm) mild lowering and it has not compromised the ride or function. Must be that its so close to the average range of ride height (which can be higher or lower due to the weight and suspension of the car) that strut travel is ok for function.

 

Thanks for the clarification...

My reluctance in “jumping” to that one was in how Koni doesn’t list that information on their web page like they did with the original FSDs and various pieces of conflicting information on other web sites. For Koni to not say anything would imply that you could use them with lowering springs. They even have kits with them and lowering springs. Hence, my confusion.

 

Some KONIs Reds you can run lowering springs, they advised not to on the MINI side of it. I will let them know to update the site, might have just not mentioned it.

 

Here is the reply I got from Koni U.S.A. covering lowering springs for the special active shocks with FSD.

"Thank you for contacting us here at KONI NA. For the MINI Cooper yes we recommend using only the OE springs and factory ride height will the FSD/Special ACTIVE dampers. KONI's patented selective damping feature that smooths out the high frequency impacts from the road surface while improving handling control over lower frequency suspension motions adds another wildcard into the mix and thus requires actual testing to see what works appropriately or not when it comes to lowering. However, the Special Active dampers do not care if you have OE or lowering springs at all, but to work properly you do need to do your best not to allow the car to impact the bump rubbers very often during normal use.

Although it does no damage to the selective damping system, a harsh, high frequency impact into a bump rubber will be seen by the system just like a high frequency road surface impact and it will be in blow-off mode to allow the energy to be un-damped for a smooth ride,. Since normally a bump rubber impact needs more damping control and not less, the car may likely feel under damped when you spike the bump rubbers hard (this will happen more often with the lowered suspension. Because of this, it is very important for proper function for the car to a keep ride height and spring rate combination from allowing too much bump rubber contact. The MINI already having limited suspension travel to begin with, any lowering the car only reduces it even further."







Mason O’Hara

Technical Sales Representative

KONI - an ITT company


So maybe no more than a inch of lowering may work.

 

Interesting response. Sounds like the recommendation is all about not getting into the bumper stops. They say, maybe up to an inch an inch... Not too many springs fit that bill. Already noted the JCW Red springs (10mm drop). These might also work:
https://www.waymotorworks.com/tsw-mi...6-r55-r57.html

Also, these are stiffer than stock, so they might keep you off the bumper stops.

 

Didn’t read every post so sorry if I am repeating something. I have been on fsds for over two years with both jcw springs and wmw tsw springs. I do a lot of autocross and the ride has been good with no issues.

 

How was the ride with the wmw tsw springs?

 

I do like those springs but the lowest quantity you can buy is 55 sets, I do like my mcs but I don't have 54 more of them.

 

I think if you call Way he’ll cut you a deal for maybe 5 or 10 sets.

Really call him for what’s up with that. I would guess that is a mistake.

Actually, I may have a set I might be willing to sell. PM me I interested.

 

This is the response I got from WMW

"Sorry that is how the system has them backordered as we don't have an eta on when they will be finished and back in stock yet."

How do I PM you on this site.

 

Maybe this isnt well known but there is a set of custom bump stops made for MINI Rxx platform that go with the FSD while allowing more travel which should alleviate the problem some. The link is here.

 

Click on my screen name in the upper left of this post. You will get a drop down menu with the option to PM me.