I'm not really happy with the springs on one of our MINIs, and have been shopping for a replacement set. I do not want to go the coilover route at this point, especially after ponying up for a set of Koni yellows.

In my perusing of the R55/56/57-related intarwebs, I find a lot of conjecture, but very little data.

So... does anyone know what the spring rates are for the various available springs, including the stock units?

I'm most interested in the following:
Stock S (non-sport)
NM Engineering Alpha
Eibach Pro-Kit

I realize some (all?) of these are progressive.

Anything you can provide will be helpful - I'm finding this search to be pretty goddamn frustrating.

 

It has been widely reported that the stock springs vary depending on what factory-installed options the car has. So give your vin number to a dealer and ask.

 

Alright, I can do that. Thanks

Now... about the others...

 

Alright, so I spoke with a friendly guy over at NM-Eng and he told me the following:

NM Engineering RS Alpha
F: 200lb/in
R: 290-300lb/in

They're progressive but the "softer" coils are basically dead coils.

They recommend using approx 2/3 of the factory bump stop.

 

Called Eibach. P/N 5706.140 (08-11 Clubman) is as follows:

F: 171lb/in
R: 246-297lb/in

lowers
F 1.1"
R 0.9"

 

Also remember with the limited suspension travel and the fact that the bumpstops are essentially always engaged, ALL springs will behave progressively.

Nice of NM to release their rates.

- drew

 

Understood

Just called back on the Eibach Pro-Kit 5705.140 (cooper specific)

F: 171lb/in @ 1.2" drop
R: progressive 166-240lb/in @ 1.2" drop

It's interesting how much higher the rates are for the rear for the clubman-specific springs. Not terribly surprising though.

 

Just called H&R, and they won't release their spring rates for their sport springs.

 

^ and that's lame.

- andrew

 

Agreed. I don't really want to lower the car that much anyhow...

 

2010 front Justa springs had a linear (non-progressive) rate of 125 lbs/in when I recently put them on my spring tester.

DOC

 

Thanks, Doc.

Did you get a chance to do the rears as well?

 

No, and I don't plan to. I doubt in this application that one could tell much of a difference in ride. Maybe in autocross turns you might notice a small difference with slightly less understeer on turn in. However, I have a BIG rear swaybar that I can adjust to make the car oversteer, if I want to.

Very happy, BTW with the ride/handling now with Bilstein HDs and Yoko ENVigors.

DOC