H&R
Eibach
Cross

Hope that helps some

 

KW have springs avaliable now.

 

So question... My R56 S w/ sport suspension rides like a damn hillbilly chevy w/a 14in lift and 44 inch mud tires. If lowering my car will blow the shocks cant I just buy dropped shocks? OR ARE we talking the whole set up.

 

There are different concerns going on at the same time.

Ride height- do you want to be lower or same as stock.
Ride quality for street use- do you want more comfort or are you willing to compromise some comfort for better cornering.
Performance- is this a priority that you are willing to trade off vs comfort
Looks- is ride height important or not.

You can't generally change shocks for ride height adjustment. You can add lowering springs or upgrade the whole suspension like the JCW kit or a coilover kit.

On the older R50/R53 you could add Koni FSD shocks to help with both cornering and comfort.

You can always add upgraded shocks with lowering springs rather than just lowering springs. Using runflats makes the ride less comfortable. Try letting a little air pressure out.

 

Our prototypes should be on the way to us this week... They will maintain the factory bias as far as rates go (one reason the R56 handles BETTER out of the box than the R50/R53 platform), be linear and cold wound, and we're going for a 1" drop up front and 3/4" drop in the rear... More info to come after we thrash the incoming protos!

I am amazed that MINI made a BIG change to spring rates and free lengths to the R56 platform - when I initially drove the car, I noted just how much less understeer there was from the factory and the spring rates don't lie!

 

Interesting... you're dropping the back LESS than the front! Like many, I'm looking to eliminate some torque steer while preserving the basic comfort level of my daily driver '08 MCS with sport suspension. Oddly, I found that in stock form the new MCS has less understeer than my '05 did.

Just my .02,

Your mileage may vary.....

 

I am just a few hundred miles into an 08 S and agree with your understeer observation. My 06 had understeer that I corrected with rsb and adj camber plates, shocks and some playing with springs. I will drive it more and do a track day before I do more than swap out the tires.
I am surprised there is so much suspension modification going on based on my initial impressions. Also, this may explain why there are so few dedicated parts available.

 

Ya I left you little info, What I meant was to lower the car with springs like Eibach Pros, then change the shocks as well to shorter ones. Would this cause any extra wear on any other componets?

 

I have the H&R springs on the cooperS r56....but I'm not happy about the look...the drop is not the same in the front and in the rear. my rear il a lot higher than the front ....anybody with my same problem???

 

Mine isnt quite that high in the rear but there is a difference. I'm very satisfied with the look of my H&R springs

 

Can't wait to have an option a little less radical than the H&R for my daily driver.

 

I was worried about the ride comfort and the scrapping issue, but I really don't have an issue with it. I would definitely do it again

 

anybody know why there is such a difference from the front and rear of pw/b one?

thinking about getting h&r's soon and I don't want that :P

 

Got to disagree ... it is not the fact that the springs lower the car that the shocks go bad fast ... if the rate and travel is the same (just shorter) all would be the same ...(unless just bottoming out and crazy low) ... it is the fact that the springs have different rates and travel that allow the shock to move in a shorter area that will harm the shock.

Still looking for info on OEM spring rates, very surprised that OEM #s and even #s for aftermarket are not known or have a WIDE range... and what was the formula to convert lbs/in to Kg ???

A stiffer spring rate will be over "sprung to shocks" you really dont feel it on compression, but you will on rebound.
The shock valveing is too free flowing (soft / fast) for the stiffer spring.

 

I did a search and cant find a thing. Anyone familiar with these? It looks like they are available.



B&G S2 Sport Springs - 08.1.178
Lowers - Front: 1in / Rear: 1in
Progressive Rate


#08.1.159 Fits these 2008 Mini Cooper Trims:

2008 Cooper 4 Cyl 1.6L Base FWD
2008 Cooper 4 Cyl 1.6L Clubman FWD
2008 Cooper 4 Cyl 1.6L S FWD
2008 Cooper 4 Cyl 1.6L S Clubman FWD

 

Hmmmm... good point!... but most (if not all) aftermarket lowering springs have different rates thus wearing out the stock shocks a wee bit faster... as for the stock spring rates, I've been trying to find those out for awhile, and MINI USA themselves seem to want to avoid my inquiries....

 

I just put on H&R springs on my MCS over the weekend, it rides a little rougher, but the performance is great in addition to my 19mm sway. Has anyone found an after market shock to compliment an 07 MCS with H&R Springs?

 

Heres another spring option...

http://www.namotorsports.net/detail....rt_cd/NM558856

I am finding it difficult to get quotes for suspension to be shipped to Aus - anyone here had a good deal with. I have been talking to an Australian distributor re: the product above - has anyone fitted these springs yet? (knowing that they have only just been released...)

 

Anyone know about KW spings (for R56) ?

From Lohen site:

Ideal for road use, these springs lower the MINI slighty more than Eibach. With this in mind, not only will they look lower you will also notice a sportier ride than the Eibach springs, however they will give a slighty harder ride

So, they lower bit more than eibach?

 

I decided to go for the above springs - They arrived yesterday and I have an appointment booked in at the suspension shop Wednesday next week. I will post photos of before and after the install (the drop is 1.2")

 

1 lbs/in = 0.179 kg/cm
1 kg/cm = 5.588 lbs/in

1 lbs/in = 0.0179 kg/mm
1kg/mm = 55.88 lbs/in

 

Umm.... quite a few Wed's have come on gone.

 

a

 

Hi All,
After having installed the NAM springs a couple of months ago, I must say that I am extremely satisfied with them. The ride quality is only marginally worse (passengers notice it - I don't... However it may be in their mind.. I am also still on runflats), turn in to corners feels a whole lot tighter (even less body roll), and the ride height is just right - the 17" wheels now fit the wheel arches perfectly. See below for some before and after shots - I tried to get the angle the same but unfortunately the photos were taken at different times of the day. The springs may have settled a touch more (attached photos were taken within a couple of days and only a handful of Kms)

 

any1 here tried VOGTLAND springs? how low can they go?