Before taking delivery of my 2012 JCW I thought I really wanted to lower the car. With the black wheels and JCW aero kit the ride does not look bad, and I have already heard the bottom of the JCW aero kit bumper rub on some driveway curbs. I think the most I would want to lower the car would be 1/2 inch. It does not close the wheel gap a lot but I really think it would be to low for me to comfortably drive on the city streets. Others may be fine with the risk of scraping the bumper...

My biggest motivation for the suspension change is to firm it up. On acceleration and stopping the car really rocks forward and backward a lot.

I need specific suggestions on what I should put on the car. I am coming back full circle to finding a complete JCW suspension because i know it only lowers the car 10mm. Right now I have the standard (non sport) suspension on the car.

I have no problem going aftermarket, I just want to make sure I find a complete combination of springs and shocks that match very well together keeping the car fun to drive and safe. I will likely only do a few Autocrosses a year and not track the car.

I appreciate all your input.

 

Its the holy grail , control, handling, stance and comfort. I used shorter springs, got three out of four.

 

JCW springs lower the car exactly 1/2". I have them on my MCS, and the ride height is ideal IMO. If you choose to go that route, I would forgo the complete JCW suspension kit and just purchase the JCW springs, which any dealer can order seperately. Pair the JCW springs with some Koni Sports or Bilstein dampers instead of the JCW dampers. And skip the marginally larger JCW sway bars, but maybe buy an aftermarket rear sway bar too.

 

Since you're buying a new car, I would go with JCW full monty red spring suspension. If you had to you'll have the ability to complain to the dealer under warrenty about sweaks rattles knocks and all the other things that can go wrong with aftermarket fitments. Just throw it on the loan , and forget about it. Get an stiffer engine mount too, I have a BSH it adds some vibration but helps eliminate the acceleration and stopping rocking you mentioned .

 

For that small of lowering you almost have to go JCW, but the performance is going to be lacking compared to aftermarket. This where you have to decide on YOUR compromises. The TSW springs lower the car 3/4 of an inch. Then NM's lower it more. Each of those can be used with the stock shocks, but some Koni yellows would make them better. The TSW's are the only ones linear rate so they will out perform the others.
For sway bars you def need to go aftermarket, the JCW bar is not near enough.

 

Way,

If I went with the TSW and Koni Yellow route can you comment on the adjustability of the Koni yellows? My fear with getting something that is adjustable is not getting it adjusted to where it will perform best and safely. I know I won't tinker with the settings but I am just concerned about getting the "right" adjustment. Is that difficult? Are they typically set to some standard setting both front and back?

Do you have any mod parties or events around the Midwest coming up anytime this year?

 

The fronts are easy to adjust. The rears you have to remove and disassemble to adjust. But it's not hard to do.

Anyway, I have the TSW springs, Koni yellows, and the Hsport rear bar, and the ride is way better than stock. I adjusted the shocks about 1/2 turn from full soft, and haven't touched it yet. (a year later...lol) I highly recommend that setup.

 

Read Richards Comments, it will be different for each person but this wouldn't be a bad place to start.

 

Well I've just ordered the JCW red springs from England and managed to buy the Koni yellows cheaper in Australia than I would from the US which is very unusual. I'm also adding the Whiteline rear sway fortunately made locally in Melbourne. But looks like I'm going to have to get a camber plate from the US. Probably the IE. When the firmest is complete I'll post up how i feel about it. Amazingly, a local spring maker wouldn't make a spring for my Mini despite wanting two sets.