Hey all...1st post... I am veteran performance enthusiast and an avid modifier... and a soon to be 1st time 08 MCS owner... it's on the way, which gives me a few weeks to fill my garage with all the necessary mods, for immediate install!
I already have most of list accounted for but I am still undecided on the suspension... First let me state that I do appreciate a vehicle that handles well and there are plenty of turns in my neighborhood, so improved cornering is high on my list... second I plan on running 18's, and would like to have minimal wheel gap... and third, but probably almost as important as 1 and 2, I prefer minimal ride quality sacrafice! This Mini will most probably never see a track, but will be a spirted daily driver with ocasional canyon runs...
Originally was thinking just some H&R's, but after reading a bunch of posts I am now seriously doubting my #3, ride quallity...
This leads me toward some entry level coilovers, as track time is not in my future, I ruled out the super top end... kind of leaning toward the KW V1...
so here are my questions:
Q1... any other proven more comfortable springs keep in mind will need at least 1"ish drop... or should I just scrap this idea altogether?
Q2... first I have read posts of people r56's having kw v1... who sells them, can't find them anywhere?
second, what other alternatives would you guys sugest for an entry coilover?
Thanks in advance!

 

'Street' Coilover Brands for the R56: H&R, M7, KW, BC (any day now), CROSS and probably others I can't think of. If you want to adjust damping to your liking, the H%R and KW v1 don't have that feature.

You definitely want something with height adjustability that doesn't reduce suspension travel like springs alone would, so I agree, unless you went with the JCW suspension kit, but then you wouldn't have as much drop as you are looking for and it sounds like you're already keen on the value of an integrated setup with coilovers.

You can get KW's V1-V3's at Mini Madness, H&R from Alta or several others, M7 from M7 or 1fastmini, and BC from Wyvern Mini.

If you are in the LA area, you could contact Peter at M7 and ask for a test ride in their M7 equipped R56 to see you like that. You could also very likely find other suspension modded R56's through the local BMWCCA chapter.

 

By the way, welcome to NAM and the MINI community. You're going to love it here!

 

I too am going though this very issue right now. Although I have the clubman, I have the sport suspension and I definitely dont want the ride to be any more harsh than it is. I am willing to pay about ~$1000 for a set of coilovers, just wondering which set will provide about 1.25" drop, and maintain the stock comfort?

what do you guys think would be best?

 

Thanks for the great insights and the Welcome... can't wait to get my car and get it all dialed in... I'll be sure to post updates!
Thanks

 

I see the words 'more comfortable than stock' thrown around too much to believe it... and ended up buying lowering springs on that premise only to be totally disappointed and remove them a month later. My failed experiment left me almost $1K poorer and still stuck with the sport suspension, and has made me feel very adamant that the feeling of 'as comfortable as stock' is very subjective and I won't invest further without a test drive. All of these coilover kits are intended to be performance upgrades which generally is achieved by higher spring rates and damping characteristics, hence harsher ride. You may find that some street coilovers improve ride quality because the car feels more stable and balanced. From what I have read the H&R street coilovers and KW V1's are both geared towards street driving with adjustable height settings and livable comfort.

I'm torn between JCW and fully adjustable coilovers at the moment. I just know I want to do something...

 

yes, I am thinking either the H&R street or the V1's, but I don't think either are available for the clubman yet..

 

dropped the hammer for the M7 coilovers today.. cant wait!!!

 

Good choice - I did the same - now all I have to do is wait for Alta to ship them out.

Will you install them yourself?

 

no, will have an alignment done as I would recommend. I have most of my work done at dynocomp, they know what they are doing and do alignments the old fashion way which they think is the best way.

 

from what I gather I think I will be the first clubman with the M7's

 

I can't recommend the cross coilovers enough. Extremely good handling, adjustable drop without losing suspension travel, adjustable dampening, ride quality different but not worse than sports suspension, includes camber plates!

If you have the cash for them then do it right the first time and have no regrets.

 

i love my M7 coilovers!! Over 15,000 miles including track days!! Great ride and performance

 

I am lucky to get these, my wife was very nice to allow me a VERY early Christmas present. I am sure the cross coilovers are probably the best, but I figure these are much better than what I have, and since my ultimate goal was only aesthetics (wanted to lower the car), I think this was the most I was going to be able to spend.