I'm sure this question has been asked many times, but I thought I'd ask anyway :D. I'm a week away from ordering my Mini and I'm undecided. In pictures, the R56 looks like the wheel gap is too much, but in person, it doesn't look too bad and sometimes I actually like the look as it is. Maybe I should stop looking at pictures, but I can't stop myself. Y'all have such cool looking cars!!!

So I'm getting a CR/B with the JCW package. Yep, I know what some will say about that package. Anyway, I'm debating whether to lower it or not. I know the pros and cons. But I was just curious to see how many in the NAMO community have their lowered.

 

I haven't lowered my R50 yet, but I plan to. I think the MINI looks better lowered and I'd like to get rid of some body roll too.

 

Lowered and I love the improvement in both looks and handling.

 

IMO, the R53 can get by w/out lowering, but the R56's wheel gap is just ridiculous. My mod wish list includes some coilovers, hopefully soon.

sooper_cooper, your ride is so damn nice I've been meaning to compliment you but kept forgetting. Those rota rb's are on my short list, I just love that classic style.

 

Thanks silhouette, I appreciate it!
And you're dead on with your statement about R53 vs R56 wheel gap. For some reason Mini really jacked up the ride height on the R56, or at least the appearance of it. Lowering the R56 makes a huge difference in how it looks after all that wheel gap is gone.

 

Sooper_Cooper: yes, your car is really great looking. I love the look of your car...it almost makes me want a black car. But, I already have one (Cadillac CTS) and I've sworn off Black for future cars.

Keep the comments coming, I want to hear more!

 

H&R Sport Springs when mine arrives.

 

Nm Engineering Springs. Simply awesome.

 

The R53 is lower from the factory. I think MINI raised the ride height a bit to try and improve the ride quality.

I would like to lower mine but with the way Richmond roads are thats asking for A LOT of headaches and $$.

 

If you're looking to lower just a little, take a look at way motor works and TSW springs. They lower the car only about 1 inch but the improvement in looks is along the lines of a R53 and makes the car handle much better. I think a really great option seems to be the VMAXX coilovers too if its going to be a daily driver. I think those struts are made for the lowered springs, or H&R has a set for around the same 700ish dollars.

 

At $700, if you're only looking to drop slightly, then Id be looking at the JCW kit. For $900 from Morristown Mini, you get the shocks, springs, rear swaybar and front swaybar. And you know it was all designed to work together.

 

I have no cost in mind for lowering. I'll spend whatever it takes to do it right. I just like doing things right. I was originally thinking NM springs with Koni yellows. I think the look is AWESOME, but then again, I don't want really low. I just want to eliminate some gap.

I am really interested in the TSW springs but I've read where they squeek unless you pound out the inner fenders. I'm not comfortable pounding out anything on the car. Do you know if TSW has addressed that?

I looked at the JCW kit, but I heard that rides really really firm. I don't want that at all. I will have 215/45 Continental DWS from day 1, but I still don't want a harsh ride.

This will be solely a daily driver.

 

I couldn't agree more. Sooper cooper nailed it.

 

I ordered the JCW suspension when I bought my car. It performed really well but to me it still left a little bit too much wheel gap. That's subjective, of course, but for my taste I wanted to eliminate the wheel gap.
The improvement in handling I got after installing the TSW KW V2 was beyond what I imagined. And since they're adjustable you an set the ride height where you want it.

Plus as a bonus it made the car look a lot better too!

Thankfully there are a lot of good options out there for the R56 so I'm sure you'll find the setup the fits your needs at the right price for you.

 

SLAM IT!!



That's an H&R touring cup kit, a screaming bargain at $600 on sale 2 Christmases ago. If I were doing it again today, I'd go with NM springs and Bilstein Sports, now that the latter finally exists for the R56. I'm not thrilled with the handling with the cup kit, though ride quality is vastly better than on the incredibly horrendous stock "sport" suspension and its cheesy Delphi (yes, THAT Delphi) shocks.

 

Nope...

 

I haven't heard a single squeak with the TSW springs with over 5k on them.

 

I'm lowered with coilovers. Made the car look awesome and handles much better.

 

Mach V springs....purely for looks and originally to rid the horrible floaty feeling the R56 has at high speeds. Handles fine, but after 52k miles....the stock shocks are for sure shot, the car rides like crap.......but oh well at least it still looks good Coilover's are in my future...

 

I haven't lowered my R55 yet, but hopefully it will be in the cards for this summer. I'm leaning towards the KW V1's or the H&R street coilovers with Hotchkis camber links.

 

SLAM IT IS RIGHT!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/inakamike/5498051430/http://www.flickr.com/photos/inakamike/5498051430/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/inakamike/, on Flickr

Come on, you only live once.

 

R56's really do NEED to be lowered. Mine came with the sport suspension and H&R springs, and it looks really good, almost no wheel gap. Coilovers are still in the near future though, the springs aren't as even as I'd like them to be.

OLD pic :

 

Oakland, your car is gorgeous. That is all.

 

Lowered 1" with TSW springs and love it. It makes the large gap seem normal and with all the rough roads it still leaves good amount of suspension travel.

 

KW is the best ... i run 15mm spacers front and back