Nics,

Really interested in how your install goes and first impressions. I've just placed my order for Swifts. Once the weather improves (like late Mar. early April), I'll get mine installed along with the Koni Yellows, H-sport adj. control arms and H-sport comp. rear s.b.
I'd like to know how you set up the Koni's. I've heard of no mention of cutting bumpstops with these springs or need for spacers. Your car looks to have the R84 rims same as mine.
Cheers Ed

 

I will say beware of your Swift shipment since they are not plain packaged since they are shipped straight from the manufacturer if you order from Evasive. After Evasive and Swift had initiated an investigation with FedEx of where my package went since I did not receive it, within 4 hours of a FedEx rep calling me, a FedEx driver showed up at my house with my original package and said he 'forgot' it on his truck for 7 days.

I figure the FedEx driver tried to steal my springs and Craigslist it or something before getting caught and trying to play it off.


Anyways, I'm going from factory everything with 76k miles on them and just upgrading to Koni Yellows and Swift Springs. I'm pretty pumped and will report back tonight.

 

The picture above gets me excited, I am waiting for my Koni Sports to get here as well and I will be running the same setup so I am definitely looking forward to your review!

I'm rocking stock shocks and Swifts with 55k on everything else and the ride definitely isn't bad, but it does get rough on bad roads and where I live... almost all the roads are bad

Also doing powerflex control arm bushings when I do my Koni install. I can't wait to see how the car handles!

 

Ok I guess I lied when I said "factory everything" above. I am running Powerflex CAB and a BSH street lower mount.

I'll just start off by saying that I am not very good at doing any work on my car except for changing oil. I usually let my mechanic friends do all of the major work required on my car.

Install was interesting, the front struts do not need to have the spring compressed when installing all the parts together, it looked like it was going to be slammed but it was fine. The diagram for the rear strut parts was confusing for new pieces and which pieces to reuse from the factory setup; there is drilling involved for the rear, and do not use air tools to put the nut on the rear struts as it will compress past the 'c ring' clamp thing that would be the 'beveled' on a factory strut, my mechanic had to hand tighten everything for the rears then torqued it before installing into the rear.

I am 25% stiff in the rears (1/4 turn) and I think 25% stiff in the front (1/2 of a full turn). The ride is pretty close to factory setup to me, it's smooth and stable from 0 up to 80+ MPH and lifting/downshifting doesn't feel as unstable anymore. I haven't heard any of the usual creaks or rattles my car usually makes/made since the install. The ride gets 'bouncy' on choppy, crappily put together roads, but not harsh. I'm probably going to try to dial it up to 50% stiff up front and see how that feels.

I don't feel the need for racecar stiffness or be able to take turns at 75 MPH. I probably drive like a granny by most people's standards, but I commute a round trip of 60+ miles a day for my job, so I like my comfort however I like a good spirited drive as well. I feel like this strut/spring setup hit the spot for me, and I just need to fine adjust the stiffness settings on my konis for it to be perfect.

A few notes: I will probably do an alignment in a few weeks and I run Conti DWS at 37psi all around, but I did not have all the tires dialed in at the same psi for my drives today. I'll probably report back in a few weeks after I can find the time to fine tune everything and evaluate the ride. Hope this helps to whoever is reading.

Some bad iphone pics:

 

Nics,

Thanks for the write-up. Sounds like everything came together nicely. Noticed your wheel gap seems considerable more than the "Black Mini" on the Swift Ad. Site. But then again you are on 16" and I think the car in the pic is on 17". I have the same r84 wheels and will be running Conti E.C. DW's 205/50/16. I don't mind it at all as it looks like rubbing will not be a problem. I'm happy to hear that you find the ride comfortable and smooth except on bad roads but bad roads will make any sport suspension feel like garbage.
Could you be a bit more detailed in the needed rear drilling? I'm having my work done professionally but its nice to be forewarned before the mech. starts up the jack-hammer!!!! I think you'll need a stiffer rear sway bar to pull the whole package together and get that alignment asap.
Looking forward to hearing your report in a couple after you get comfortable and dialed in!
Cheers and congrats, you have made my decision to go with the Swifts sit much easier. Ed

 

The factory bump stops, washers, bushings, and other parts have to be reused. The fronts are not a problem (we didn't even trim the bump stops); but the rear, the 'spindle' of the konis are wider, so you have to drill one brass washer and the tophat for each side. Vague instructions are included with the rear konis in the form of a diagram and it does show a picture of a drill bit and correct width.

I also know some people drill into the panel of their car for easy adjustment for settings but I opted to not do that for now since I figure once I dial it in, it'll be permanent.

Edit: I feel that the car is more stable at high speed turns than factory. It tends to lean less (I guess it would be less body roll), and the rear end is pretty predictable. I'm not understeering as badly anymore, but it's still there if I really push hard. I will probably add a rear sway and call it done with the suspension aspect of my car unless it really affects my alignment, ala control arms or camber plates or whatever.

 

Nics,

I'd read somewhere that mods were needed to install the Koni shocks.
Thanks for the clear and concise drilling required on the rear. Hope all goes to plan. Get the stiffer rear s.b. and adj.control arms before your alignment.
Then you can enjoy the Swifts / Koni potential......imo.

 

I'm probably going to get an hsport 19mm rear sway in a few weeks, when my wallet has recovered, haha.

Just posting up this picture for people who were worried about scrapping, or whatever. I had to have Discount Tire fix a tire that they had mounted incorrectly, that my mechanic pointed out, and I cleared their lifts just fine.



I checked tire pressures, etc, and I was running way too low. I pumped everything back up to 37psi, and it rides like a dream, better than brand new off the factory ramps. I had tried 50% stiff in the front and while it was awesome on smooth roads and turn ins at high speeds were amazingly easy, it got really harsh on bad roads and made my car creak too much. So with that, I'm probably going to stay at 25%/25% and evaluate it over the next few weeks. All that's left for now is an alignment.

 

Nice write-up Nics!

It sounds like a slightly more aggressive version of my set-up (Koni + Tein H-tech). I probably would have gone with the Swifts if they were out when I was shopping....main difference is just that the Swifts are firmer. The drop looks just about perfect.

I've added a 19mm rear sway, adj. rear control arms, and IE Fixed Camber plates to my set-up. I'd highly recommend all of the above, especially the front plates. I get better tire wear and I feel like the beefier strut mount makes bigger bumps feel like they are dealt with a little better. Handling obviously was a huge improvement.

Now that the Tein H-techs are no longer available I think these Swifts are the springs to get. Everything else just doesn't seem that good.

- Andrew

 

Andyroo,

I've been considering IE fixed camber plates for my suspension mods, now only a month away! Doing Swifts, Koni Sports, Rear control arms and sway bar but have read on vendor sites that IE fixed camber plates are not recommended for use with lowering springs. Reason they state is too much front camber with lowering springs eg. greater than -1.5. I'd be interested in your comments.\Ed

 

Just a correction that should read -1.25 and the info is on Way's site.
Cheers, Ed

 

I think I ended up with around -1.7, which is just about perfect for my daily driver. Most end up around there, maybe a hair more or less. I run -1.3 degrees in the rear (most run too much back there IMO). My tire wear is even. No reason not to run the plates unless your commute has you sitting on the highway for a loooong time and you don't turn or you want something more aggressive. Stock top mounts are junk and the car has way too little camber stock up front.

Here's my long thread on my set-up, which is very similar to what you're planning on:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-and-more.html

- Andrew

 

1500+ miles on my suspension later:

I don't know if the suspension settled or if I adapted to the firmness, but it seems like it's not as jolting as it was initially. When I got an alignment, by the track junkies over at Texas Track Works, they digged the 25%/25% set up. However when I had to take my car to my mechanic to find an oil leak, he hated it saying it was too firm. So just for fun, I set the fronts only to full soft. I imagine if my rears were set to full soft, it would ride like an E46 3'er.

Right now with full soft up front and 25% in the rear (mostly due to my own laziness and lack of funds), it rides alright. I believe the settings are causing understeer under high speeds, and if I set it full soft in the rear, it'd be closer to neutral steering.

So if anyone who was going after this set up wanted a nice comfy ride, I would say go full soft. If you wanted a track junkie style set up, start off at 25%/25%.

I compared comfort quality with my mechanic's R53, and all I know is that he has JCW springs with factory sport (non-JCW) shocks, 18" rims, and 19mm sway. I would say his is more comfy than mine but more bouncy and uncontrollable. Mine feels like a gokart/race car compared to his. I figure when I put on 17" rims, I will have to dial it all to full soft to maintain some comfort, but I won't know until I get there.

My alignment when I did it were set for daily driving and tire saving. I ended up with -0.3 & -0.4 camber in the front, with -2.0 and -2.0 camber in the rear. Apparently he couldn't get any closer to factory settings in the rear (I imagine factory settings in the rear is as close to 0 as possible).

Hope this helps, I'll try to answer any questions if anyone has any.

 

Andrew,
Thanks for the response. I'll continue my research on the subject. I'd like to get all my suspension work done at one time for obvious reasons. Camber plates are the last piece of the puzzle.

Nics,
Thanks for the updates. I'm a month away from my install and your information will help immensely in my initial set-up. Keep them coming!

 

I would like to add for what it is worth, I agree with andyroo about the fixed plates allowing the car to deal with hits a little more solidly. I noticed this after installing only the plates on a stock setup - so the effect was all plates

e

 

hmmm. My understanding is there is no additional negative camber gain in the front when just lowering due to the strut. Front camber plates are needed to get any increase. The fixed plates add what they add. The rear is a different story. Adjustable arms should be installed to bring the rear camber to at least stock if not less.

With IE fixed plates and stock springs, my MINI runs -1.8 on both front wheels. When the R&D budget becomes reality, swift springs and koni's for sure.

 

If anyone is looking for Swift R53 springs, we have 7 left at our group buy price!

 

^ what is the GB price? I am interested. PM me please

 

2500+ miles later: Seems like the koni's softened up a tad. Tire pressures are still at 37psi on the dot, at all 4 corners.

I let my friend drive my car for his opinion, and he commented that it is very close to coilover territory in terms of spring rates, response, and feel. Comparing my ride to his R53 with TSW [v2, I believe] springs with factory struts, he said it would be too stiff for his wife's daily commute and said he was happy with how his wife's car rode with the TSW's. The only thing he desired from the Swift springs would be the even drop all around as he dislikes the reverse rake on his wife's car, especially with IE fixed camber plates installed.

 

Thanks for the update. I'm a little over a week away from my suspension install and looking forward to it but with some trepidation.

I've decided to add a set of Vorshlag camber plates to assist with the final set-up. So, along with the Swifts, Koni Sports, H-Sport Comp. sway bar and H-Sport rear control arms, new Conti DW tires and an alignment, I think I have all the bases covered.

Did you stay with the 25% stiff settings on front and back? I've been thinking I will start with the sway bar on its softest setting and will probably start with the Koni's on 25% because of your feed-back. Although the idea of using the Konis on their softest setting might also be a way to go as they are stiffer than the stock set-up. Any comments on this Nics or anyone else?
As for camber, close to -2.0 front and 1.3 - 1.5 rear will probably be my starting point...again any comments from this community would be accepted. I will also be listening closely to my installer and trying to find the best compromise between day to day comfort and superior handling.

I'll post a first impression next week, hopefully followed with lots of and and possibly a couple of !!

 

I left the front at 0% stiff and the rears at 25% stiff. I could dial it to 25% stiff in the front again, but I've grown accustomed to have it set at soft. My plan is to go to full soft all around as I plan on upgrading to 17" rims and everybody has said that 17" will ride rougher than 16". I just haven't had time to go see my mechanic to have him drop the rears to re-adjust everything, and I've been hesitating to pay for another alignment, but that's just me not having the funds.

I did get a 19mm h&r rear sway installed a while back and it only has two adjustment holes, for soft and stiff, and even though it was left at soft, with the struts at 0%/25%, the car feels neutral.

I've had passengers in my car since the suspension drop, and the only complaint I had was when going over speed bumps too quickly, and that was my own fault because I forgot to slow down for it.

I don't have any front camber plates and that is probably why I feel the car jolt over extreme bumps (think of 3 sets of consecutive rail road tracks), but I just slow down on awful roads, and even then I'm still doing the speed limit and not crawling along, so it's not a big deal to me.

If I was doing initial set up again, I would just leave the koni's at all soft and then adjust to preference after 1000 miles. I only started off at 25% stiff because I felt like I was heading into unknown territory as all the Swift reviews I've read were either putting their springs on factory struts or putting them on megan coilovers, and I hated how the factory struts were feeling 'uncontrolled' on bumps.

I actually liked it at 25% all around on 16" wheels. But if you are trying to compare Swifts to something in the MINI world, the springs are definitely stiffer than JCW and TSW springs on factory struts and will feel rougher, and two different spring owners immediately said the Swifts were too stiff for their tastes.

If you like the track oriented feeling of handling, start with 25% all around, but if you are wanting a soft ride, do 0%.

I guess I should throw in the fact that I learned how to drive with an E30 BMW, and have owned an E46 BMW previously, and that probably does affect my preference for handling and tolerance for a rough ride.

Hopefully I didn't confuse you with what I wrote since I feel like I contradicted myself on some things but I honestly did fall in love with my car again after the upgrades.

 

Great review Nics!



Right now we have swift lowering springs on our project Mini and we will be doing some experimenting with Sway Bars. The mini having the wheelbase it does, an upgraded swaybar will make a huge difference. The springs themselves increase the rates in the rear over the front, so I agree with you about putting them on the softest setup initially. We went for something similar with a swaybar with slightly finer adjustments. Ill post up our findings with time.
Again very informative review!

 

My suspension install is complete! I started my plan in the dead of winter and it was a long wait. Fortunately, I had the time to read lots of posts and gain from the experience of other Nam members. Thanks all!

Swift springs, Koni Yellows, H-Sport Comp 22mm. rear sway bar, H-Sport Adj. rear control arms, Vorshlag camber plates and a new set of Continental Extreme Contact DW make up my new set-up.

Install was straight forward with the exception of the need to cut away a little material to allow for full camber adjustment if ever desired. Right now my alignment is set at -2 degrees front, -1.8 degrees rear. Rear sway bar is set on its softest setting. Koni's are at 25% firm front and rear. Tire pressure set @ 36 psi.

My worries about a stiff, rock hard uncomfortable ride was gone after my first couple hundred yards. In fact I would have to say it seems as if the ride is just as before with the exception of major road bumps, railway crossing etc. where you do feel the firmer settings. But nothing to worry about and I don't feel the need to soften up the Koni's.

I have yet to really push on this setting but did try a few moves that would have given understeer and tire squeal before and now I just track! Really quite amazing. It will be interesting to find the limit!

The drop was less than expected but then again that wasn't a priority. My car sits at 24 13/16 front and back measured from ground to wheel arch. It has a perfect (for me) level look front to back.

I'm a very happy camper now! The mod fix has me satisfied for now. By the way, I also added a ATI 2% crank pulley and a GP intercooler so the motor wouldn't feel neglected!
So all in all its a !
Ed

 

Pics in my gallery. Will try to post once I figure it out!

 

Looking good Eggburp. Glad my reviews/info steered you into a direction that made you happy.