Hey Guys,
I posted a couple of months ago while waiting for my car.. and now here I am again.. got my car... got my wheels, got a bunch of great mods, and an overall great car! I decided to go the inexpensive H&R Route to start, even though I was fearfull of ride quality... and now a month or so later... my fears were right... although the H&R's are pretty good for just a spring swap... and the looks are awesome... I guess I am just getting to old for this bouncing around super firm ride... so now I find myself in a dilema... I need a suspension sollution... I am thinking one of the aforementioned coilovers is the call or maybe even the JCW kit? I am really looking to keep the cost down, and I am not going to be tracking the car at all... ocasional spirited canyon runs will the extent of it... really appreciate improved handling characteristics... love the lowered look with my springs, but at this point could almost due with out As I think ride quality is now much higher on my list than I had previously thought! I know there are many threads out there with regard to specific points that I am asking about... and I know there are plenty enthusiasts out there with my same dilema... so I guess what I looking for is anyone with specific experience with any of these options M7, BC, Megan, JCW etc. Especially pertaining to ride quality!
Thanks in Advance!

 

Any of the CO's will give you the ability to adjust your MINI to just the look and comfort you are looking for, so it comes down to cost. The Megan's for the R56 will be ready to ship later this month at about $1100.00. You may also want to think about a set of TSW Springs for the R56. They have come out of testing and are showing the same great ride comfort as the springs we have put on countless R53/52/50's and will cost much less then CO's.

 

I went M7 setup for my R56 JCW and love it. Well worth it, easy to adjust without taking tires off or drilling holes in the car !! I coupled that with a set of Ireland engineering fixed offset top plates and have all that I wanted. There are some folks that even removed the JCW suspension setup and went M7 and very happy with the results. Better ride with no teeth slapping yet still still firm for good or better cornering.

 

TSW springs??? I have read a little bit about them being in development... but isn't that pretty much the same as the H&R's or are you saying that they will accomplish both lowereing and a liveable ride???

 

Thanks for the M7 info... I have head alot of good stuff about that set up, just kind of wincing at the price... but It looks like I may just have to bight the bullet!

 

The BCs could be a GREAT option ...
Especially now that the option 7kg Front and 5kg Rear option springs are avaliable.
You dont HAVE to drill the frame.
Many customers have set the rear and then adjust the fronts to need.
You baseline will be much more consistant as you are not street and tracking back and forth this would suit you quite well.
The BCs also have rear top mounts with a "pillow ball" bearing (not using the oem rubber that will deteriate)
AND Front adjustable camberplates to be able to adjust to your now lower rideheight ...camberplates are also one of the best methods to prevent mushrooming.

 

I spent several months searching and checking and asking questions also. Compared to some of the other stuff that I have seen, it really is a good deal. Been very happy and built mine as a direct replacement so the original units are in box stored. I can always switch back without a fuss. Its bite worth doing I think.

 

The TSW springs are not out yet but should be soon. Check out their thread in this forum. The difference between TSW and H&R is the drop is 1" front and .75" rear on the TSW and 1.5" front and rear on the H&R's. With less drop the suspension can travel further before hitting the bump stop and turning your spine into the shock absorber. They are also linear rate rather than progressive. The rate just doesn't go up fast enough on the progressive springs to stop the suspension from fully compressing.

You have a few potential solutions -

1. Switch to TSW springs... probably will be much better but not perfect. Probably around $200-250
2. Switch shocks to something like Koni Yellows. They are supposed to be out in February 2009. They'll much more effectively keep the car from fully compressing than the OEM shocks and give you a big improvement to handling performance. Probably around $600-700 for the full set
3. Yank your whole setup out and go JCW. With only .4" drop from stock and matched shocks, you shouldn't have the miserable ride problem anymore but won't get the level of performance you can get out of adjustable shocks and/or adjustable coilovers. $985 from Morristown Mini's website. It really is a fair option considering you get springs, shocks, and sway bars.
4. Coilovers. Your best bet is to go with coilovers that do not sacrifice suspension travel as you lower them. I'm not sure if the M7's do but they're easy to reach by phone to confirm. I know the CROSS coilovers would be good, but they are quite expensive.

I did the same as you with Mach V springs then took them off. It was quite an expensive experiment. It's just not what I was looking for. I just ordered the JCW suspension and it will be here tomorrow and get installed Friday. I will be able to give you some very good feedback by Monday on that option.

Best of luck tinkering with your MINI

 

Thanks for all the sugestions guys... yes please keep me posted on the JCW option! I guess I will waiver a bit more and continue to process all this feedback and maybe finally come to a decision... just want to make sure I get it right this time as all this switching back and forth and wasting of money is really a pain in the "butt" no punn intended and very frustrating! Other than this little issue my mini is dialed in and lookin good!
Thanks!

 

The TSW and H&R springs are apples and oranges. A review of the TSW Spring history that can be found here on NAM will help you understand what makes the TSW springs better then H&R's. I have many customers that have traded up to TSW from the H&R and love the new ride. I trust that the R56 springs will be found to offer the same ride.

 

Are the BC's out for the R56 yet? Is suspension travel always the same regardless of ride height? what is the minimum drop in ride height from stock you can achieve with BC's?

 

I am with Dustin (Autoxcooper.com) on the TSW's. If you're going to change the springs they should be JCW or TSW otherwise save your money and go with coilovers. The TSW's will be much cheaper than the JCW's. The reason I went JCW was not because I think it will the best so much as it will be better than what I have, it doesn't jump me up a class in BMWCCA autocross, and it's more likely to not scare anyone away when I sell the car.

If it weren't for those factors, CROSS coilovers would be my first choice, and TSW springs with Koni Yellows, camber plates, and rear control arms would be my second choice.

I'll let you know if I totally screwed up going JCW on Monday

 

Much appreciated... now I've been reading a bunch on the TSW's and they sound pretty darn good ... looking forward to hearing your take on the JCW's and hopefully the TSW's will be available soon, and by then I should have made up my mind!
Thanks again

 

for 1000 dollars you get springs, struts, and thicker sway bars all working in perfect harmony.


The ride quality is 95% of stock it could not be better for this level of performance. I track, Canyon, and Auto X, my JCW Mini Cooper S regularly and could not be happier.

There is one solution and one only that is truly better than the JCW and that is the JIC Cross Setup. Install that setup and up the size of your front and rear sway bar use the JIC built in adjustment to run 1.5 negative camber up front and you have a super dialed Cooper. The ride quality is also very good probably 90% of stock. This setup with bars and install will cost 3k but if you want the ultimate handling car that will compete with almost anything in handling this is the setup

Do not just buy springs.

 

While I'm happy to see that Derosi is very happy with his JCW setup I have learned that there is no one size fits all suspension setup. Based on the OP's 1st post I wanted to make sure they knew about the TSW springs, because they are not tracking or running AutoX, I still think the TSW springs may give them what they are looking for based on the OP.

 

#1 suspension as ALWAYS a compromise..
From my 40 years in motorcycling and cars
all the way to even modern F1...
No 1 answer to all needs .

YES the R56 units are avaliable ...STD spring rate of 8kg front / 6kg rear and an option of 7kg Front / 5kg rear

Yes ...the travel IS the same regardless of ride height

Maybe your question is MAX drop (lowest ) ..1 1/2 inch

 

I totally agree with you on #1

what is minimum drop? can you run OEM ride height?

maybe you can answer since m7 wouldn't answer my question... why do they run higher spring rates in the back and recommend higher damping rates in the back to their clients as well? That seems contrary to what makes sense to me! Let's theorize

 

You can raise ride height about 1/2 inch. from OEM

some BC users do this in winter for SNOW driving

For Auto x, track and spirited ...(controlled) set up ...I like the stiffer rear springs ...

So much so that I run a special 8 front and 8 rear

with a Hsport comp rear bar on stiff as well

The biggest kick in a FWD car is to get the rear end around

If you'r ON THE gas and looking for rotation stiff rear sway and stiff suspension is the "E ticket"

Motorcycles (dirt ...long distance, MX ,Trials, and street track, stunt, street) / cars ( rally / auto x drag track street) I do prefer a stiffer ride.


compliance is great ...comfort is great ... rotation is FUN

 

If not already mentioned, the KW Variant 1 coilover may be a good solution for you.