I am rarely, if ever going to track my car, but I want to enjoy "enhanced" street driving. I was just going to go with springs at first, but I have never been one to half *** things.

That being said, I don't want to spend a fortune either.

Keeping in mind I am not going to race or track my car, which coilover setup will provide the best street driveability while enhancing handling capabilities?

H&R seems the least expensive, and JIC/CROSS seems like the most expensive (and perhaps bes). M7 sounds cool because it's very easily adjustable in the field and they market the unit to people in my exact situation. Still, I don't trust it being made in Korea. Then there are others in between.

Which one is best for my application?

Also, what is a fair installation price for coilovers (including alignment, but NO corner balancing)? I paid over $750 to install my 996TT coilovers, but that included corner balancing.

 

there are MANY options...
The BC BR series r56 shoud be available ANY TIME NOW.

Ride height adjustable, 30 way compression / reboud adjustable, and front camberplates STD. The 8k and 6k spring rate will be a great set up for the R56.
If mounted using the through the frame method it is a 30 second adjustment time for all 4 ... AND you don't have to lay on the ground.

Under $1,100 shipped to you

 

And where might one find the BC setup?

 

Even though I just got married and have 2 holes in each pocket, I am buying these coilovers off of you once I get the chance. I was deeply impressed with your write up about these coilovers in the R53 section and hope you'll have the time to install them for me since you're local. Will us r56 peeps be able to choose spring rates too like the r53ers did?

 

Yes spring options and revalving can be requested.
Not sure of the avaliable options yet.

I am excited as the 8 and 6 springrate suits the R56 better for "all around " setup

Happy to do an install.

 

Damn...was checking out the KW V1's but looks like I'll have to pick these up instead.

 

KW V1 are for stock-like comfort and suspension travel, and BC's are race-oriented coilovers will full tunability at the expense of pothole comfort. They couldn't be further apart in terms of application.

 

Noob question; what is this BC BR series you speak of?

 

lol...I originally wanted the V3's but couldn't justify the price difference.

 

I have to disagree ...at least a bit... with the correct spring rate, and adjusted correctly thes are not UN-bearable on the street. YES they are stiffer, do have lese travel ... but not out of place for spirited street use.
Not quite as far apart in terms of application as mentioned.

I have a couple of posts on info and "how -to"

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=93463

also check us out at www.WyvernMini.com

 

BC Racing (parent company for many aftermarket coilover company's) have their own series of coilovers named br series. They are available for many makes and models.

BC BR Series Coilovers for the R50-53 Mini



Click the link to view all the technical details regarding the current version for the r50-r53 MINI's. The R56 version will be very similar.

 

Gracias amigo

 

Just to clarify, I have a set of BC coilovers with Swift springs on my R53, which is street-driven. They are infinitely more comfortable than lowering springs on Koni Yellows, which is simply a bad solution for anyone that doesn't have the pleasure of glass-smooth roads. The BC's are excellent pieces for the price, and will definitely suit most aggressive drivers needs. If you don't have the bread to get the Cross's, the BC's are a choice you don't have to be ashamed of at all [or I wouldn't have kept them on my car!] The KW's on the other hand are more sporty touring; they do not improve the handling over stock, but that's also not the point of them.

 

What would be the most comfiest spring rates that could be had for the BC's on an r56? Would something like 7K in the fronts and 6K in the rears with the proper setup be just as comfy as the KW V1s?

 

I drove a R56 with a modified set of the R53 units.
Because if the extra weight it was much closer to a stock "like" ride.
Firmer but not as drasticly different as the same units on a R53.
FIRMER, much less roll.
Please also remember I have even stiffer than STD spring rates on my R53

They will not be a cushy / comfy as OEM ...no matter what you do.

But a good all round compromise.

 

I thought the r56 was lighter than the r53. Am I reading this wrong?

http://www.motoringfile.com/2006/08/...pecifications/
R56 MCS: 2651lbs (EU Unladen Weight)
R53 MCS: 2672lbs (EU Unladen Weight)

 

Now I'm even more confused than ever. I have garnered from this thread:

1. KW V1 will ride stiffer but not improve handling performance (seems odd to me????)

2. BC BR is primarily designed for the racetrack, but can be dumbed down to spirited street use. Will this require a special order spring rate?

3. What about M7 and H&R?

 

KW V1 are comfy and slammed
BC are flexible with track in mind [I run 7kg/mm front and 5kg/mm rear on my 2300 pound R53, run proportionally stiffer springs on heavier [stock] MINIs]
Cross are the same but with more expensive dampers
H&R - umm I've only heard they're low and very firm and increase understeer with their overly stiff front springs.
M7 - everyone that has them says they're great, but they are only preload and damping adjustment, not as flexible as BC or Cross.

 

Thanks for this. I can't really afford Cross, and I have heard a few negatives about the H&R setup, so I am probably down to KW V1, KW V2, BC BR, or M7. Considering I will NOT track my car ever, nor do I want my car slammed to the ground, which one of the above will be the right choice?

 

I'd say you've narrowed your choices down to M7, BC, or KW V2. Of that lot my recommendation is to get BCs and put a set of Swift springs on them, if for no other reason than you can precisely determine where your ride height is within the suspension stroke with the combination of preload and length adjustments. The M7 and KW's can't do that like the BC and Cross can. The main reason I recommend Swift springs over the included BC springs is they are a more precise spring rate and greater suspension stroke before spring bind than what come with the BCs. When I first installed my BC's on my R53, they came with 8kg/mm front and rear spring rates. The car felt "meh". I installed a set of Swift springs in 7kg/mm front and 5kg/mm rear. The handling balance is perfectly neutral in high speed sweepers and you can actually feel the quality spring motion. It's tough to describe; it's the difference in how a Casio [stock BC springs] feels on your wrist versus a TAG Heuer [Swift springs]. That combo brought the BC's in my experience from being put up for sale to staying on my car.

 

within the same price range, the JCW suspension should be an option as well. I haven't read any NAM user reviews on it here though. Either those that have it are being very quiet about it or no one is buying it because it is rather expensive for a basic enhancement. The only opinion I've heard was 'better than stock but not worth the price'.

I've been torn on which way to go so your thread has been very educational to me. I am definitely in need of a better suspension for autocross/track use but my car is a daily driver so it can't be too uncomfortable. I also don't want to mutilate it to the point that when I go to sell it I need to put everything back to stock to get anything for it.

The BC's are on my radar. I just need a test ride before I invest.