Bilsteins are on there way, so that ship has sailed.

My goal is to improve the quality of the ride. Less suspension crashing, less bounce. Kind of thinking now that I probably should have just started with a quality set of springs, but too late for that.

I really don't want to have to take the suspension apart more than once, and really don't want to pay for two alignments, so hoping to hit the magic combo on the first attempt.

I know technically you aren't supposed to use lowering springs with the bilstein HD's, but also know a lot of people are doing it and I haven't heard of any failures yet. So I am thinking of joining the party, but with what?

So throwing out wheel gap, auto x times, and solely looking at daily driver comfort...should I stay with the stock MCS springs, TSW's? JCW?, NM, Eibach, or....

One last question if anyone wants to chime in. Apparently the bumpstops don't fit with the bilsteins due to the shaft diameter. So you just don't use them? Seems like they would be necessary, unless i don't really understand what they do.

Thanks,
TREX

 

The bilstein struts have internal bumpstops, as for the rear shocks, I think the shop reused my bumpstops, I don't remember.

I've been using bilstein HDs with NM springs for about 10,000 miles now in San Francisco. The ride is firm and really controlled, slightly uncomfortable on rough roads but then again I've ridden in my buddy's tacoma pickup with off-road suspension and it's just as harsh on those roads. On smoother roads the ride is great.

 

Thanks Barnoun,

Good to know on the NM springs. Firm and controlled sounds good, but uncomfortable doesn't.

Was the ride quality better with the stock shocks and springs on the crummy roads?

 

Someone should measure the rates of the JCW springs. With the minimal drop I bet they're great but you gotta know the spring rates.

- andrew

 

First change I did to the car was get rid of the run-flats, this gave a huge reduction in harshness. With run-flats the ride was unbearable for me, even on smoother roads.

After this I installed the NM springs but left the stock shocks. Handling improved but the car would still bottom occasionally and take a bit to recover after bumps. Installing the bilsteins "tightened" the suspension so the car stabilizes really quickly after bumps and transitions, and bottoms out only on the biggest bumps. Ride quality was not better with the stock suspension on crummy roads, the car just felt like it was "loose" and not in control.

Realize I also use high pressures in the front, 38psi, and 33psi in the rears with falken ze-912 tires. If I drop front pressures to 33psi all harshness is eliminated.

 

Well, I decided to go with the TSW's after hours of reading. Primarily chose these over the NM's because they don't lower the car as much. Seemed like a tie as far as which spring provided the best ride.

Still no word for bavauto on a ship date for my HD's, so it is going to be awhile before I post a review.

I'm trying to resists the urge to upgrade the sway bar at the same time. I am sure resistance is futile. The eibach 19mm is only about $100, so it would be the cheapest farkle yet.....

TREX

 

TSWs + Bilstein HDs will be brilliant. Loosen the pin in the strut tops and push the struts in for more front camber. Don't bother with the rear sway unless you feel you're understeering.

 

TREX, looking forward to your finding once you get the HDs and TSWs installed. I am considering the same upgrades. I thought I wanted the NMs, but I reconsidered due to the increased drop (already scraped my aerokit a bit on some of the steep drives I have to go over). I recently got off the run-flats which has decreased the harshness a lot, and I don't want to bring any back when I do the shocks and springs.

 

I'll post my opinion, and even more importantly.....my wife's.

TREX

 

I'd like to hear your wife's opinion of the new shocks, I'm probably going to order up a set of the sports when Bilstein (and Koni) do their usual spring sales. I'd get the cheaper HD's, but I really want to reclaim some of the suspension travel. I'd just hate to blow a bunch of money on the shocks and then get an earful of "it doesn't feel any different to me"

 

Will do. Still waiting on the Bilsteins. No word yet on a ship date. It will be a few weeks yet at least. TSW springs came the other day, so as soon as Bilstein gets of the snide I'll be in business.

trex

 

I'm rather confused with the Bilstein HD vs. the Sport models.

Why do you think you are gaining suspension travel with the Sport setup?

I read they are recommended for cars with lowering springs but I'm not sure how they acheive more travel. Can anyone explain his to me?

 

The sports use a shorter piston so the shocks don't bottom out/run up against the bump stop as soon as they would with the longer HD's. This is esp important on the Bilsteins because they use an internal bump-stop up front, so you can't just cut it in half. Even with traditional shocks/struts, cutting or removing the bump stop to gain a bit more travel usually means the piston instead bottoms out internally damaging the valving and seals.

The valving is supposedly the same in both the HD and SP models, so ride quality should be the same with either. There might be some minor difference as pressure will be a bit lower with the car at rest on lowering springs with the Sports vs. the HD's (no 1-2 inches of additional pre-load, which may be why some people are sitting 1/4" higher with the HD's installed).

 

Different people will tell you different things about the valving differences between HD and Sport. I believe that they are not the same or that it is model specific.

- Andrew

 

I'm just going by what I've been informed by the reps at Bavarian Auto and Turner Motorsports, both said for the Mini the valving is the same.

 

Yes, the Bilstein website describes the Sport model this way,


"Bilstein Sport Shocks offer a firmer ride quality than standard Heavy Duty (HD) shocks, these are designed for lowered vehicles and sport applications. For the performance minded driver, Sport shocks deliver absolute mastery of the road surface."

Soo... it's really interesting that they would charge such a premium for a shorter piston model.

However, they are on sale! Still +$250 over the HD model.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-21...-set-of-4.aspx

 

Got my bilstein sports for 769 shipped from Bavauto last month (Feb). No sale price was mentioned.

 

If you decide to go with the eibach sway, make sure you buy a set of bushings, as the ones they ship with it are not the right size, and are in fact for the front. They tried to manufacturer a set for me which took 3 weeks, and ended up being incorrect size still, as they made them the oem 17mm diameter. I ended up with the zerk fitting set from way for 30$. Worked out fine.

 

And if you do get Bilstein Sports, measure everything about them before you put them on (compared to stock).

- Andrew

 

That took almost 2 months, but my HD's finally shipped yesterday. So, hopefully in the next couple weeks I'll get them installed. TSW's, Bilstein HD's, motoring paradise here I come.

 

Well, the ol boy is in the shop getting his new legs today. That was a long wait. Hope it is worth the time and expense.

On a side note, the loaner they gave me was a nice 2010 MCS with a manaul transmission. Sure wish the wife could drive a manual. I like auto's for the cars I drive my daily slog in, but manuals are so much more responsive and fun. I should try using the paddles more.

TREX

 

 

Trex1200r,

We are all awaiting your report, especially your wife's opinion. If I do springs it will be TSW, but I'm still on the fence about staying with the stock springs.
I want better handling, but don't want to **** off wife with a harder ride than my base MCS suspension.

 

MINI didn't finish with my car yesterday, so am still waiting to pick it up. Maybe this afternoon. They finished the suspension install late in the day, but I am also getting a gasoline smell that they couldn't track down. They smell it, but can't find it.

Maybe the wife will take it on errands this weekend and I'll either get an ear full, I can't tell any difference, or you ruined my car. Pray for me.

p.s. I was thinking the manual transmission made the car feel like it had a lot more power, but turns out they gave me a 2011 MCS. So either it is the extra ponies, the manual transmission, or a combo of both, but definately more huevos availalble. They probably do that on purpose so you start thinking about uprgrading. Bastardo's. I still love mine though, it will be many years before I think about putting it out to pasture.

 

It'll probably turn out to be a leaking high pressure fuel pump, that's where my mysterious gas smell was coming from..

& the earful from the wife.. I'm so thankful Jan was eventually able to remove the CEL from my aftermarket downpipe, my ear still has a bit of a red glow to it.