Looking at fitting some coilovers as my first mod to my MCS, now the car is rarely driven hard and I doubt I'll ever track it.. but I want to improve the handling. Now I doubt I would be able to tell the difference between any coilovers fitted, I just want a set that I can have fitted, adjusted correctly and then leave without ever adjusting again.

At the moment I'm thinking KW V1 coilovers, is there anything else that is recommended to be fitted at the same time? Top mounts, upgraded ARBs, bushes, rear control arms?

The KW V1 are £690 in the UK, so my budget is $1400. I've been recommended the cross coilovers, but these are almost double the price of the KW V1s and really not worth it to me!

Thanks

George

 

BC's are similar to the cross and cost much less. I sell both and have no bias but the BC Racing coilovers are a tremendous value at $1075. I ship internationally at cost via USPS if that is a concern.

For more info click the coilover picture below:





If you have any questions feel free to contact me and I'll be happy to help you out!

Thanks, Cliff

 

Thanks for your post Cliff, although I like sticking to brands I know... KW, Bilstein and Eibach for example

But.. looking at these and the JIC/Cross they come with the front camber plates too? I guess this gives them an advantage

 

My only advice would be too get a ride in a car with the setup you are thinking about. I didn't do this and made my life a little more interesting (difficult).

I bought Bilstein PSS9's before getting any first hand experience and they rode really rough at the ride height I wanted to use. I thought I wanted the Cross setup, so I got a ride in a car with it setup the way I would use them and I loved it. It was a night and day improvement over the Bilstein's (on the street).

 

the only downside to the crosses is the price. i love the bc's...and even more after my track day yesterday. no regrets at all. if your budget is $1400, i don't see a better alternative. i did my own install, if you don't plan on doing likewise, you need to budget install/labor costs.

 

BC/Megan are budget coilovers as OBX is to budget headers....great bang for the buck. If you want the best though...lay out the dough for Cross/AST, etc. I bought my KW's for $600 used and couldn't be happier with the price vs. performance (how's that for justifying a purchase )

 

How many rear control arms would I need? 4 or 2?

 

I'm running two lower Helix ones. They sometimes make a little bit of noise. Have a word with ThinkMini. They recently fitted some Eibach ones. I think they are SPC ones in the states. They have poly bushings as opposed to rose joints (i think) on the Helix ones, so dont make any noise.

 

i have the new helix "maintenance free" control arms and have no noise.

cooperslad, you only need 2

 

throwing a monkey wrench into the works... have you thought about Koni FSDs and stock springs? They are not adjustable in the traditional sense, but can offer improvement in handling and keeping compliance. The roads I travel vary in condition (from bad to worse) and the FSDs ride far better than stock. And no extra parts to buy since we're at stock height.

 

But I want the car lower

 

Thanks Bhozar , lohen have the Eibach ones on their website, although I got an email tonight from them after I showed intrest in coilovers, the email describes the benefits and suggest other parts I could fit, they didn't even mention rear control arms

I was shocked, they are suspose to be MINI specialists!

 

I have those new ones with the boots on too. Still getting a little noise every now and again. It doesnt bother me at all, but I know CooperSlad, and he will be back and forth between garages if it makes any noise whatsoever! So saving him the problem.

I ran without rear control arms while only using eibach lowering springs for 3 years, 35k miles. No problems. Did a few track days too.

I know ThinkMini sourced the Eibach rear control arms for Mad John for cheaper than Lohen.