Ok so there are a few threads about the best daily driving spring/shock supsension set up but I'm wondering different...what is the best daily driving coilover on the market?

I owned a MINI a few years ago and miss it, I'm buying another. One of the first things I always do is coilovers. I want to get it right this time around with the new MINI and need to figure out what is going to be the best for me. On my first MINI I had Bilstein PSS9's and hated them. They were overly stiff in my opinion when droped to the point I wanted. I was on and off the phone with Bilstein trying to figure it out. I drive an E46 M3 right now with suspension that is dropped consideribly and feels like OEM BMW. I want the ability to tune them for the few times a year I go to the track but I want something I can turn down and be comfortable on the streets.

Any ideas? I'm willing to spend a good chunk of money if they really are better than others.

Thanks!

 

Don't have a lot of experience in the Mini side of suspension, but my father installed the PSS9 system in his BMW 335I and it was very comfortable to ride in.

 

I would look at the M7 coilovers.
Reasonable price.
Both compression & rebound adjustable.
Alot of cheap coilovers do not feature adjustable damping.

 

I would look at H&R Streets, ST, KW V.1, and possibly the V-Maxx since I have heard they ride very well. Welcome back to the club!

 

When you say compression and rebound adjustable, you should clarify if they are adjusted together or seperately. Big difference.

If you have 1 adjustment, it's arguably better for it to ONLY adjust rebound and not increase compression.

Also, a lot of cheap coilovers that do have adjustable damping have awful damping, no matter how you adjust them. I've also just recently seen a shock dyno where full soft and the middle setting were exactly the same. And it wasn't a good setting either.

Not saying anything about M7 coilovers, just cheap coilovers in general.

Frankly, damping is the most important part of the set-up and I'd take a coilover with good fixed valving than a coilover with 32 clicks of adjustment, where all 32 suck really bad. Just my thoughts.

To the OP, what is your price range?

- Andrew

 

I SO agree with the things you've said. I have had 'lesser' coilovers that felt the same between adjustments. I want something that will work that won't make me waste money.

While I'd rather keep them reasonably priced I don't mind paying money for a good set up. On my M3 the coilovers I have are $3,500 without the additional camber plates I have. While I'd like to spend no where near that (the reason for the MINI is to be more reasonable) I'd still rather buy once at a slightly higher price than buy several 'lesser' coilovers trying to find one that is cheap and works good. I figured I'd need to spend about $2,000 but I'd rather keep it lower IF possible...

 

I don't think you can go wrong with KW or ST for the money. Check out tire rack and see what is available!

 

Does anyone know what the differences are between the KW V1's and the ST's? Are they the same coilovers but just re-branded? I know KW GmbH bought ST, and ST says they model their coilovers after the V1's. Why would a customer pick one over the other then?

I've been saving up for a set of KW V1's since they seem to be a highly rated coilover set for street use. But the ST's seem a little less expensive, which means more money for other suspension mods.

 

They are the same damper, just the KW has the special stainless steel KW body and the ST has a more conventional galvanized steel body. The ST's should still be pretty robust and hold up to weather fine, but the KW's will just never ever rust (and I think the warranty is slightly better).

I think both are good street coilovers for the money....a little conservative/soft but not bad.

If I had 2 grand to spend I'd do a custom set of KW V2 or V3's, or save a little more and do a custom set of AST.

- Andrew

 

Thanks!

 

What about BC racings coils ? Im looking into getting a set of them
. Opinions on them ? Just street use .

 

Who is ST? I have been looking at the H&R streets.

 

Suspension Techniques; a subsidiary of KW Suspensions.

 

I don't think I'd go ST just because they're not stainless. Does anyone know who has KW V3's?

 

WayMotorWorks sells a custom KW V3. I don't have first hand experience with them though.

- drew

 

What is meant by 'custom' V3? Why is the standard version no good?

 

Standard KW's are good, just can be a bit soft or conservative with spring rate and usually run a progressive rear spring. They also might require you to run the car pretty low which may not be what you're going for. You could get custom springs for them but you'd have to do some homework on your own for that one.

The custom sets from Way will have their own unique linear springs all around and valving to match. Definitely better for the track at least though if that's the goal I'd go with AST for the Mini. I think you can pick and choose the spring rate you want but I'm not sure. Something near 5k/5k would be great for an all around fun street car. Again though I have not driven or ridden on any KW for Mini, I just have a lot of experience with them on other cars. The company I work for developed a custom co-branded set for Subaru.

- Andrew

 

How do either the Street or RSS H&R coilovers compare to KW?

 

I have heard good things about the street for a DD car, and I am looking into them right now for myself. RSS from what I understand is heavily dampened, and rides harsh on most roads. KW v.1 and streets from H&R seem like they would be very similar.

 

Who sells the ST coilovers?

 

I just took off a set of beat to death Koni coil-overs that I got from Out Motoring. This was the full $1300.00 set up from Koni not the OM Koni set up.
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...coilovers.html

I have Helix Adj camber plates and rear adj control arms.

I just replacd them with the KW V2 that Waylen sells. They where developed by TSW (Texas speed works) with KW.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/kw-vari...r50-52-53.html

The ride is night and day 1000% better than the Konis and worth every penny of the $1750.00 they cost.

KW Variant 2 Coil-over System for MINI R50, R52, R53 (4/02-11/06). This comes complete with 60mm springs and perches selected specifically for the MINI and also mates up perfectly with TSW 60mm camber plates. Like all KW coil-over systems the strut bodies are all stainless steel with stunning eye appeal.

The Variant 2 coil-over system includes ride height adjustment with single dampening and rebound adjustment for those MINI enthusiasts who want to lower their ride and dramatically increase handling performance for spirited driving, auto-cross and track.

 

Like what Andyroo discussed, I would recommend the AST 5100 coilovers. They are custom valves for the Mini and you can customize the spring rates. Coupled with good camber plates such as vorshlags in the front and special mounts in the back, I would say they are good for both the street and the track. The issue with them is that they are quite pricey but you really get what you pay for in this case.

I would drop the spring rates slightly from my setup from 450 in/lb front and back to prehaps 350 to 400 f and 400 b.

Just completed two full open track days at WGI (3.5 hours per day) with these and it makes the Mini a neutral handling car with great turn in and good in turn control and predictability. Removes the slight Over lifting of the front end during track out WOT that use to cause a slight oversteer condition. And btw, almost no torque steer because of the change in geometry and added control.

 

Great. Where can I find AST coilovers? (NOT ST coilovers, AST...)

 

Vorshlag.com is where I bought mine. It is pretty pricey but worth it to me.

Andyroo has another place to get them. Perhaps you could pm him.

 

Btw, the owner is Terry Fair. He and his wife are quite accomplished racers.