I am getting ready to install coilovers on my MINI. I have BC's but they will reduce the wheel/tire to coilover clearance significantly.

The stock front suspension strut tube has an effective diameter at the critical area (where the flat is located) of 1.900" The BC's have 2.360". So the effective clearance reduction is .230 or aprox 6mm. The wheels I am getting have an effective clearance reduction of .120 or 3mm. To make a long story short I cant afford to loose the 6mm of clearance due to the design of the BC coilovers.

My question is:
What coilovers are the closest to the stock setup in regards of the wheel/tire clearance?

I don't care about anything else. The most important thing for me is to find the coilovers that are closest to stock setup in regards of the wheel/tire clearance so I don't have to compromise on my wheel/tire setup.

Thanks

If you have not ordered your wheels, you should investigate options of offset further. Many wheels come in several offsets. With of the rim matters too, as it is the rear clearance value you are interested in. A 30mm offset on a 7 inch rim is not the same clearance as a 30mm offset on an 8 inch rim. You say you already have BCs? Then if look is all you care about, then spacers would be the solution moving the clearance problem to the fender side.

tvrgeek,
Thanks for the input. I do not need to run spacers since I am having the wheels built, I can have any offset I want. I am going with 8" wheels with 235 tires so I need all the room I can get. If all other coilovers reduce the clearance as much as the BC's I'll keep them otherwise they will be for sale and I will get whatever gives me the most clearance. The problem is I don't know what that is, hence this post.

Anyone out there that has installed coilovers please share your experience in regards to front coilover to wheel/tire clearance.

Thanks

I think you will find coilovers with straight springs (not bee hive) give the most clearance --- Such as TSW KWs.

From the pictures, the KW V1's are fat. V2's are standard 60mm. My first choice would be PSS10's. I believe I heard of a space issue even with them.

Before you go for 235's might contact the fine folks at Mach V. I remember a comment Dan tried this and went back to a smaller tire. His experience may be useful.

I actually tried a 245/35R18. Rubbed the strut, so I spaced it out 5mm, and it rubbed the plastic fenders, a lot. That's with stock struts. 235 tires will any coilover will require at least a 5mm spacer in front, maybe thicker.

--Dan
Mach V