What would be involved in taking a 2006 Cooper S from the factory installed sport suspension back to the stock suspension? Curious as I have a friend who was talked into getting the sport suspension by her boyfriend... now she finds the ride to stiff.

Any Advice?

 

Change tires to softer sidewalls.

 

If you want to go back to full stock then, shocks, springs and F&R sway bars to answer your question about what is involved.

There are some choices that you may have if your objective is to make the ride a little more compliant:
1. Full stock
2. You can just change the shocks and springs and leave the sway bars.
3. Just change the shocks (perhaps aftermarket such as Koni FSDs).
4. As mentioned, non RFT with softer sidewalls or higher sidewalls (aspect ratio).

 

First thing to do is non runflats. Mine with standard S springs and the tires in my sig installed last week is a Cadillac compared to runflats. Now we no longer focus on avoiding every little bump, since the tires absorb so much. Hit a big dip or bump and you still know it.

I went Koni FSD's first from recommendations here, and found little difference in comfort level. That you can do next along with standard springs, but even the standard springs are plenty stiff we think.

 

Get rid of the runflats and get rid of the 17 inch wheels if you have them.

The OEM shocks are really bad.

EDIT: You have a 2006 1st generation. So get Koni FSDs. I'm not sure what the sport suspension consisted of for a 2006, but either way, the OEM shocks are poopy.

- Andrew

 

Just do the shocks. Bilstein HD's or Koni FSD's. You can live with the bars and springs. Even the tires are not as significant as the shocks. Do NOT, repeat, do NOT put on the stock MINI MCS shocks.