i had cross coilovers on my daily driver for the past year (proper uk country back roads too) and i found it was much nicer than stock, ive driven and done a number of mates minis with various coilover and spring options

my findings were

springs no matter the brand were usually very crashy
KW v1 - brilliant on the road but not for track work
KW v2 all things to all men, the adjust dampers really make it, imo this is the best road coilover for the mini period
KW v3 - worth the cost if you plan on some track fun and demand the nth degree of set up
JIC Magic / cross competition - i loved these on my DD so much control half of the people that drove my car love it half thought it was un drivable,
BC with swift spings a good number of folk in the uk run these on their daily drivers and find them perfect

 

KW vs. AST is the new Koni vs. Bilstein.

I've absolutely despised every set of JIC/Cross's I've ever been on, though I have not touched them on the Mini platform.

- Andrew

 

I got my directly from AST-USA. Brian over there is quite helpful and built one heck of a set-up. Spring rate can vary from track to track. 400-500 front , 600-700 rear.
AST is releasing A 3000 Level shock which will be the same quality but at a lower price point. I think they are aiming to go after the Bilstein HD and Koni Sport market with it.

Picture of mine...

 

Pretty shocks, the 5000's are very nice. Brian is a good guy.

The 3000's are going to be fixed perch right?

- Andrew

 

I like the cross coilover... let's say my wife did not complain about the ride...
That is a good sign...

 

ive never been on AST but ive heard great things about them, in the UK the bang for buck is firmly in KWs court esp the inox coat as our salty roads eat coilovers alive, my JICs while amazing were eaten within 2 years on the road, a mates KW V2 that went on at the same time were spotless when i took them off two years later (nearly 3 scottish winters) worth of salt and grime too and they cleaned up as new with some soapy water

 

I do like both KW and AST. I started more with KW and have a bit more experience with them. They definitely have a great finish. I think there are advantages to both. AST is nice to work with for putting together a customized set-up.

- drew

 

I take it you find split rates beneficial?

The main downside for KW is their springs. They sag quickly and take uneven sets across different springs. The photo below shows tire rub on the wheel well liner even though the KW is adjusted all the way to the top.

 

Not sure about the 3000's. I just ordered some 5200's for one of the Racecar's. I'll ask Brian about them next time we talk.

 

Their progressive springs really do suck, and sometimes they spec pretty crappy rates for the off the shelf stuff. They do have decent quality linear springs, which i think is what TSW uses for their custom sets.

But yeah their progressive stuff is junk.

- drew

 

Loose = Fast....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96ICh-xmfqw
(not so much in that Video... I was screwin around on the cool down lap)

 

My apologies to the OP and others interested in street use only for taking this further off topic. I can read some details into the video; but what spring rate combo helped you get this loose?

As for AST 3000s, there's not a working prototype for the MINI yet.

 

Yes sorry to the original OP. I'd have to go through my notes but I think I was running Rear Tow out at the time. I'm used to running 1/2 inch or more Rear tow out on the Showroom stock cars just to make em turn (that and 50-60psi in the rear). I think I was playing with something like 3/16's out that weekend and I knew Josh had a Camera in the car so it was more playing around then anything. The thing that amazed me the most about the AST's is how for almost lack of better words abrupt the turn in was. I've messed around with a lot of set ups on different cars and I've never had anything that was that responsive... at least not out of the box. I monkeyed with some Koni DA's on car's past and the Moton's on the 911 and S2000 trying to get that kind of response out of them and just never did. You can see it in the video, even though I'm goofing off watch how quick the car transitions on initial turn in.
That's one of the reason's we just sold a set of $8000 Moton Triples off the S2000 race car to put a set of AST 5200's on it. Don't get me wrong the Moton's are a great shock. But my opinion is the AST's are every bit as good at a fraction of the price.

 

Why change at all? The OEM set-up is very good.

 

Tellin ya, try the TSW springs on OEM shocks first. t will be more controlled, have a smoother ride, and give a modest drop.

 

what planet do you live on its awful

 

My 2004 MCS DD has about 87000 on it. I got rid of the run-flats first. Then added Alta 19mm rear anti-sway with Koni FSDs all-around at about 30000. None have failed in the ensuing 50K+. I added SPC adjustable camber plates and H-sport adjustable lower control arms to adjust camber in front and rear. I have been most recently running Kumho Ecsta ASX All-Season 17x7.5. I have never changed out the OEM springs, as I did not want to lower the car on the street, and the FSDs work best at OEM height. The ride is much improved over the OEM. The car corners with very little roll. Most recent item added that effected handling is the Quaife LSD, which improved turn-in considerably. Together with the increased camber in the front has the car cornering extremely well, and delivering a ride much improved over the OEM.

 

Markldriskill, your car is set-up almost exactly like my 02 R53, which sees several track days/year. I absolutely love the way the car feels at this point. The only mod I was considering is the Quaife LSD, but the cost of the part and the relatively difficult installation has kept me from doing it. Would you say that it improves turn ins enough to be worth the $$ investment? Thanks, and I apologize for going a little off topic here. Do you track your car?

 

veggivet - I recommend you chat with other persons who ARE tracking their cars before you decide to invest -- or not -- in the Quaife. I have never tracked the car, but want to -- on that day when I no longer depend on it as a DD. I'm part way there, as it is now fully paid for!!

When I DO eventually prep the car for track days, it is my intention to replace the FSDs and OEM springs with whatever then seems to be the best coilover or strut-and-spring combination setup, and maybe with the addition of strut tower braces, front and rear -- by that time, the car will have aged, and I fully expect the additional stiffieningg of the body for the track will be helpful. We'll see.

That said, I noticed a very significant difference with the Quaife, particularly in that the car turns in much better in spirited driving.

I only added the Quaife at an "opportunity" that was presented with the tranny being pulled and clutch work being done, so that "ONLY" the cost of the Quaife LSD was required.

I love my car at this point on the street, and do not want to change a thing as far as the suspension goes. Next step is a BBK on the front (very soon)! After that, MORE POWER!

 

BBK is a very good idea...you can never have too much stopping power on the track. . In a way, I hope I never get the 'opportunity' that you had for your LSD install.

Thanks again for your input, and have fun on the track when you get there.