Hi all,

I just bought a set of H&R lowering springs for my MCS...this became a must-do after I changed to 17"s black wheels. Anyway, called a few shops in the area that I had dealt with before, they are quoting me $350-$400 for installation + alignment.

While I have read some H&R lowering springs installation pdf over here, and a couple handy friends are offering to help, should I take care of installation myself and take it to shops for alignment afterwards so I save about $300? I believe my crew can take care of this installation.

However, read too many posts or threads about vibration after springs installation, if I have a shop to take care of the installation, I at least have someone to yell at and hopefully get the issue fixed. If it's my friends, all I could do is yell at 'em and get nothing.

What do you think?

 

You should try doing the install yourself first. (it's not hard at all). Just go slow and take your time with attention to detail. Also, the likelihood of the install being the cause of your vibration is slim compared the the natural characteristics of your car's reaction to being lowered. At any rate, you'll be able to justify paying the $300 if you decide to pay a shop to "check your work"; kind of a way to save up front and pay later if something goes south.

Best of luck to you.

 

I did the install myself and it is quite simple - believe me. I followed the directions printed from Alta's website and it took me about 2.5 hours to do it. Once you do it you will be happy that you did not pay a shop $400 for the install. It should take a shop (who knows what they are doing) less than 2 hours for the install.

If you have access to a lift then use it. It obvsioulsy makes it much easier.

 

Thanks guys, I did the installation, with a couple of friends on Thursday nite, may be we were super **** and the process costs us 3 hours...but it is a pretty simple installation after all, and this is my first time as well. No clunking noise or vibration issue after installation, and took it for alignment yesterday.

I LOVE the result!! I am no longer driving a Mini-SUV even before its release.

 

Just bumping this thread because its in the right section.

Can you reinstall the springs w/o and impact gun?...just a regular ratchet??

Im going to get a spring compressor (parts store rents them for free), so I figure that would take care of it being hard to get the nut back on...


Also, from your experiences... right after your done, and set the car back down and test it or whatever... Is there a bunch of negative camber? Will i be cool to drive 30 mins (highway) to the dealer to get it aligned or should i find a closer place?... The back tires appear to have some major neg camber in lots of the lowered pics... I dont want to ruin tires

Last..anyone know what the going rate for a dealership alignment is?.. I know i can stop in a NTB or something and get it for like 50 or 60 but its always some punk kid who screws up the wheels with the aligning things... EDIT: called MAG today and they said $129.99...probably that for most other dealerships too.

 

I just installed the Eibach kit on my 09 MCS Saturday and can not believe the difference it makes in ride quality and control. It is the same with the Porsche Caymans here when we lower them. The ride inproves and car rides much less twitchy. The tire slap from the run-flats is all but gone now and it is much smoother on broken pavement.

It took all of 2.5 hours to install and our dealership and without a compressor. These springs are not under that much tension so removing by hand or airgun is event-less. These springs are a must for any Mini, as this is how these cars should have come from the factory.

 

excellent. good to hear

 

I have a quick question. I'm struggling between getting coilovers or springs for my R56. Are you planning on changing out the struts as well? I hear that you pretty much have to at some point, from some people. But others say no. It's not that I would mind spending the extra $$$ on the coilovers as much I just think they'd be overkill for a car that will almost certainly never see a track. Any input?

(Sorry, I'm not trying to hijack this thread.)

 

iwashmycar,

as far as the alignment, you will ber fine to drive for a while. I have not noticed much more negative camber if any at all with the 1" lowering. Its the toe settings that you will need to worry about after lowering and quicker tire wear. I do my own alignments and after installation like the way it drives, not feeling the need to change the alignment setting since the steering wheel is straight ahead and at the limit of the street tires the car feels great. I am going to wait and see how tire wear is before i change anything. I am hard on tires and wear out other parts of the tire before the toe could take affect.

 

MoxieMini

i will not be changing the struts since i am VERY happy with the ride/handling trade-off. I would save your money and just do springs if you are not going to track the car. Coilovers can wear out just as fast as struts, the difference being you can re-build most coilovers for ($100)ea. Nobody can tell you how long your factories will last since it is all condition based. I got 50,000 miles out of my 95' M3 that i did lowering springs on.

It is also not that your struts will just quit working, its usually a slow decline and not noticable until you install a new set and then you are like "Wow" i can't believe how much better it drives now.

For the money you would spend on coilovers, you could buy springs now and the two sets of struts down the road if needed and use that money for other things now.

I personally think coilovers are overkill for daily driving since you usually get pillowball mounts which leads to a harsher ride. Any time you start removing bushings for solid mounts you Will feel more of the road imperfections. Not very pleasurable for street use but needed for serious track use. I tend not to sell my clients coilovers for their streetcars for this reason.

 

Thanks JENGLAND! That was very helpful!

 

yes very...thanks!

 

I have the Mach V springs with the JCW shocks....I love the amount it was lowered, its as low as possible up front but without scraping, and it handles great, and I'm fine with how it rides.

 

With lowering springs, did you notice hitting the bump stops/bottoming out? Moreso going over sharp bumps like speed bumps and pot holes.

 

Yeah, I'm curious about that as well. I'm more or less interested in dropping the car just to get rid of the ugly wheel gap!

 

I haven't noticed it being any worse, i have a sharp driveway and just take it a little slower. All the Minis have a removable lower spoiler under the front of the car that is designed to be as Porsche puts it about theirs "sacrificial". That is what you hear anytime you scrape anything. Nothing to worry about, these cars have such short overhangs anyway.