The ST kit has 5 year warranty and the KW has a Limited Lifetime. The price is cheaper for the ST kit as well. About $980 or so shipped from me.

 

I do

 

Are you a vendor?

I don't mind spending a little more IF it is worth it. If there isn't going to be a night and day difference between the AST and the KW V3 or Cross' then I'd probably opt for a slightly cheaper option. I wish there were hardcore MINI guys around here where I could feel some of these setups!

 

They are finishing up adding us as a vendor today. The V3s by KW are flippin' awesome. I haven't seen a kit that is as good. Let me know if I can get you a price.

 

Are the compression and rebound adjustments different with the V3's or are they combined through one ****?

 

ast's being pricey is an understatement. Ohlins are cheaper.... and they are damn expensive...

 

KW V1, love them to death

 

Two adjustment ***** for dampening for each shock.

FYI, it is not so easy or necessary to have so many alternatives to dial in a street suspension. If you are only streeting the car, I would not go with anything more than perhaps KW V2.

 

As previously mentioned, I had dual adjustable, compression and rebound with separate *****, coilovers on my M3. They were quite costly at $3,400 and were SUPREME on the street. I was able to fine tune the suspension for street setup that all those who drove in it were speechless on how well it drove. It essentially drove like OEM BMW but I was dropped pretty dang low, probably too low.

I understand dual adjustment isn't necessary per se, but it can make for a better tuned setup. It will be tracked several times a year but mostly street. If I can achieve a better ride out of a dual adjustable coilover then I'd prefer dual...

 

Just curious, when do you adjust the compression versus the rebound? How does the car behavior change when you do? What about ride height adjustment? What does that do to rebound and compression? Tire pressures? Front and rear sway bar rates? Camber? Toe? Is the adjustment different for the front versus the back? For compression, rebound, ride height, tire pressures etc. What do all these adjustments, in combination, do to your cars handing wrt the street and track?

What is optimal setup for one corner is not optimal for another so all is a compromise ... Just really curious when and how you know how to adjust yours based on all the parameters.

 

http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main...products_id=41

Precision data collection!

 

I'm not sure what you're getting at here. I take it as you're trying to prove me that I'm dumb and don't know anything about adjustments with regards to suspension. There is no 'this is the perfect way to set up a street suspension'. The point I was making was that I was able to dial in my dual adjustments to make the car drive very nice on the street. Do I know what rebound, compression, camber settings, toe settings, caster settings, or tire pressures I was running? Absolutely I do. I know exactly what they were set at. Yet it isn't relative here. I in no way was saying I knew that if you did this or this it would ride great on the street. Only saying that you don't have to be a suspension specialist to see benefits and differences in dual adjustments....

Not exactly sure why this was posted. I don't get it.

 

I am still trying to find out what suspension parameters you are running and how you got there. Sorry, not trying to say you are dumb.

I still think you can easily get to almost the same spot without rebound and compression adjustability but want to find out more.

 

Coil overs are for performance, and adjustability. I don't understand why someone would expect them to be "all arounders". Individual rebound and compression adjustment is to change a cars cornering character, not it's response to potholes.... This is all blasphemy. BLASPHEMY I say!

In all seriousness, to get a coil over to feel somewhat comfortable on the street, you've got to spend serious money on a good set, and even more getting it set up correctly for the application(make sure you tell them it's potholes and speed bumps)

My honest opinion is to get a good set of springs and koni yellows and give up on hard parking

 

The thing is for the Mini there aren't many "good sets of springs" since there is so little travel to work with on the OEM fitment shocks. The NM's seem okay but drop too much IMO. Even stock doesn't have enough travel.

- Andrew

 

Swift, h sport, h&r, tsw, eibach, how many options do you need?

Granted the stock setup doesn't allow for travel, but that doesn't completely negate comfort.

 

I need to replace my stock setup, I was looking into getting a set of koni yellows and pairing it with TSW springs. Any one have experience with this combo and/or have any other suggestions? I'm just everyday street driving, nothing crazy.

 

Several owners run this, a few of them run it at the track, and all have raved about the setup. The Koni Yellows and TSW springs provide:

• Adjustable dampening
• a properly lowered height for the Mini(around an inch)
• a cleaned up appearance over stock
• a much better ride, firmer but better (rides like a much sportier car now)
• quality components for the price of budget coils (not saying budget coils are bad, just saying that Koni and TSW are both top notch

I have TSW springs that will be mounted with Koni Yellows this Wednesday. I chose the TSW because it was linear, providing better feedback than a progressive rate spring. If I were looking at a different spring, I would probably equip with the new Swift offering since I know they make a classy setup that is a true upgrade as well.

I have heard good things about the H&R, just never got a chance to try them. I prefer the TSW to the H-Sport. The one spring I was disappointed with was the Tein S.Tech. the car felt off balance with the Tein, but after driving a car with TSW you would understand. Feedback on the TSW spring is razor sharp, and they ride well with OEM shocks. I should know, I have run them for a while on OEM hardware.

Really, it is all about what you want to do. H&R will lower the car a bit further, TSW was the best bang for buck, and Swift is around $350 for a spring. Konis will handle any spring you throw at them.

 

Currently I'm sitting on a set of Mini Madness springs with the factory shocks and poly bushings. I'm wanting to go to something less punishing. I've been debating swapping out for coil overs. Personally, I don't like how low my car sits right now. I get nervous around any kind of road construction. I was thinking about the Megan's. Any thoughts?

 

I would try a set of TSW springs to be honest. Not as low as the Madness springs, tuned for your OEM shocks, and the ride is great! You won't be disappointed

 

I'm curious how well my shocks have held up to 40K worth of miles with these Mini Madness coils.

 

Konis with Tein H-tech (what i have) will defintely ride better than Megans. Megans are not a comfort coilover if that's what you're asking. Megans are cheap and some people like them, but I'm not one of them. Short on travel with poor valving and stiff rates. Not a recipe for good ride quality. With my set-up you don't have much travel but you get more street friendly rates and much better valving. The handling with the few other mods I have is still awesome for the street.

I got my Konis used and the Teins are dirt cheap new, so for me it was less than a set of cheapo coilovers.

- Andrew

 

I think you would be surprised at how well your OEM shocks have held up. After nearly 50k on TSW springs my shocks were absolutely fine. Figured I would just reppace them with the konis since I had the option. However, the ride on OEM shocks was a bit more tolerable for everyday driving.

 

Well, I swapped on the Koeing wheels and Dunlop Z101's the original owner gave me in place of the runflats. I think we're in business! So much better.

 

Sometimes that is all you need to do, ditch the run flats. They are heavy and the grip is poor at best. Those Dunlop tires are supposed to be a good all around summer tire. Which konig wheel do you have? Depending on that info, konig wheels can also be much lighter than OEM wheel offerings. I know my Fliks weigh nearly 9 pounds less than s-lites (per wheel). That 36 pounds of weight makes a bit of difference in steering feel.

Seriously, adding a modest spring would probably achieve what you are after. I have heard good things about h.tech springs, but the TSW springs I have first hand experience and they are great top of the line springs.