I just picked up a nice used R53 mini S with 87,000 miles on it.....and it desperately needs new shocks on it.

I would love to put a set of Koni FSD shocks on it....I just don't really want to dish out $700+ for shocks right now. I'm looking for another option that will get me by for awhile. I noticed that Monroe makes some Sensatrac shocks for Mini's...and it looks like the complete sets go for under $300. Had anyone tried these? Are they decent?

I also saw some STAGG shocks on ebay that were around $200 a set....I wonder if those would be better or worse than the Monroes?

Like I said...just trying to find a cheap option to get by right now......I've got some other maintenance items that need some attention....and I don't really want to dump all of my funds into shocks right now.

Thanks for the help!!

 

Mine need to be replaced too... I wonder if the Monroes would be good enough because they are only $270 or so for 4 of them because of a $25 rebate deal going on right now...

The Koni's are SOOOO tempting, but I am poor.

Anybody with insight on this would be very helpful and much appreciated!

 

I've also seen some on ebay going for $200 a set.....but I can't remember the brand. I wonder if those would be worth it to try? I would love some nice Koni's or coileovers....but it's hard to justify $700+ for shocks on a car that is nothing but a daily driver.

 

You are asking for opinions.
Monroes for the Miata are considered by most much worse than the originals and will only last 30,000 miles.. I do not know, but my thought is, if a shop is going to charge you labor, then I would get the good stuff.. (Koni's are the good stuff)

There are other great brands out there, but my belief is Monroe is not one of them..
If the Miata is a different Monroe experience than the Mini, I can not answer that question, but I would not put Monroe's on my Miata.

Here are some options for your Mini and prices..

http://www.partsgeek.com/mmparts/str...ni/cooper.html

bilsteins struts for the Neon ACR (American Club Racer) were great!!!
KYB's (adjustables) were also very good..

Price, value and enjoyment are all tied together. You have to find your price-point to enjoy your level of performance. Sometimes paying more does not give you more. Find your price point and find your level of enjoyment. There is always something better. Just enjoy what you are able to afford.

Monroe's are only one part of the price you will pay, so pick the package that works for you.

If you are asking my vote. I vote no.
If it fits your price and enjoyment level, I say go for it, but don't expect Koni's high level of performance. Just realize, you need to be sure footed for your safety. Do not compromise your safety needlessly.

Do not buy cheap struts and then spend $1,000.00 on your go fast, more HP, super tuning, mega power, ultra racing, thrill seeking, straight line, 1/4 mile, asphalt burning, fuel wasting habit. Do the suspension to your level of enjoyment.. Build it to take you to the future with style and grace..

But, what do I know...

 

Quote (edited)
"Do not buy cheap struts and then spend $1,000.00 on your go fast, more HP, super tuning, mega power, ultra racing, thrill seeking, straight line, 1/4 mile, asphalt burning, fuel wasting habit. Do the suspension to your level of enjoyment.. Build it to take you to the future with style and grace.."

Awesome..... that was the best part

 

if its daily driven and nothing more
.. yes.

 

I wonder if the V-Maxx coilovers for $600 would be a better "price point" as far as money spent vs actual value? At least that way I would get some new shocks....AND have the ability to lower the car a little if I wanted too. Bur for $600...I'm not sure they would that good of quality either.

As far as labor goes...I would install them myself. I hate having a shop work on any car I own, unless I physically can't do it myself.

 

My logic is the other way around

 

I bought the Konis. My dad has a miata and he bought Monroes and has no trouble - but he is also 72, so he doesn't drive as spirited as I do.

I can't afford the Konis per se, but I am making an investment in this car now rather than giving it up and getting another car (not knowing what it needs). Im at 105000 miles. Hopefully I can get another 100k.

 

run from them. you'd be better served searching the classifieds for some low mileage OEM takeoffs.

 

This is not financial advice:

I look at it from a financial perspective. You can spend $700 now or $1000 in the long run. What's a reasonable time frame: 2-3 years? Would you have accrued $300 in interest on the $400 difference in that time?

You'll get by for a while, but it's unlikely you'll be happy with them. My vote is to get the stuff you want now.

 

Well, I figure that the car still has the factory shocks on it and it's almost 9 years old with almost 90,000 miles on it. It rides rough, but will $700 make it ride $700 better? I guess that's the big question......

 

My personal opinion: dampers are one of the most underappreciated components in a vehicle. In most cases, a good set will improve handling (performance), braking (safety), and ride quality (comfort). Monroes might help over very old and tired dampers, but I wouldn't lump them into the "good" category.

I can't speak for your finances, but if the price difference won't kill you, I feel they're worth the jump.

 

Just get the KONIs!

It used to be that there was no el cheapo (both quality and price) suspension options for the MINI, now it seems like you can get sub par type struts at WallyMart or fleaBay for the MINI. Remember you get what you pay for.

 

I bought the Konis and had them installed on monday/tuesday... They are pretty darn good. Now obviously I didn't get the monroes so I can't compare their performance to each other, but here is what I do know.

My car used to lose contact with the road when I would hit a bump. That would affect braking and steering. If I went over humps in the road, steering would become unpredictable. When slowing down quickly, the steering wheel would jerk left and right. When shifting, the front end would actually tip forward a bit...

All of those things are gone, and in addition, you don't feel the bumps NEARLY as much and those bumps that you do feel are not HEARD nearly as much. A simple crack in the road no longer makes my dash rattle.

 

for $200 more you can get a quality coilover setup.

 

I can not speak for you but when I installed a set of Koni Sport shocks the difference was very surprising. I was expecting a firmer ride but what I got was a much more refined ride, quieter, smoother, and better through the curves as well. The damping of the Sport nicely matched the stock springs. Much better than the stock shocks.

Best $700 I have spent on the car. Even the wife noticed, and liked, the change the first time she drove it.

 

Just my opinion, but I think cutting corners on car parts is nuts, especially if you spend time in it every day. $200 shocks are going to perform like $200 shocks, I imagine. I'd either save up a little longer or keep an eye out for stock take-offs on the marketplace.

I'll be selling my stock setup soon, about 30,000 miles on it, when I put my ST Coilovers on in the spring. They do come up now and again here. I thought about just going with springs to stiffen it up, but ended up biting the bullet and just doing it right the first time.

"Buy nice, or buy twice!"

 

I would definetly buy the more expensive shocks or a set of oem pulloffs. I DO NOT like coilovers, to much of a pain in the *** to setup, ride is ****, camber setup was a pain in the ***. Unless you are racing and consistantly need to adjust your suspension for the track conditions then coilovers are worthless. If you want the lowered look and feel just get a good set of matched shocks/struts and spring combo. I have had both on my audi S4. I had H&R coilovers and H&R springs and shock/strut combo. The spring /shock/strut rode better, only had to do one alignment, tires lasted way longer... Just my 2c... Spend the money, this car is worth it.

 

Sounds like you haven't had a good quality coilover kit or one that did more than you needed.

 

here you go:
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t/21750/cat/22