I bought an 02 Cooper for my wife back in July.

2 Owners ago, it was lowered. The springs look like a reasonable brand, but I haven't been able to find any markings. He didn't put the adjustable arms on though. He also left the stock shocks. They look good and still have pressure, but I suspect they'll fail eventually due to being strung low.

The owner after him didn't know anything about cars and just drove it until the belts were showing and sold the car because she couldn't afford to put tires on it.

My wife wanted a cooper and because of the tires, etc... I got a really good deal on it.

I immediately ordered and installed the adjustable arms and new tires. That significantly improved everything on the car. It handles like it's on a rail and after 6k miles, the tires aren't showing any unusual wear.

However, as my spouse would say, "it's really bumpy". Basically, the shocks don't work worth a **** anymore. They're in good shape, I just think they're compressed too much and don't offer much in the way of ride comfort in this configuration.

I've been struggling with what to do from here and I'm kind of at a loss.

I could probably get a set of stock springs from one of you for next to nothing and put it back to stock height.

Or, I could put some different shocks on it and hope they smooth out the ride.

My spouse isn't much of a performance driver, but she does like that "it can turn so fast!" I wouldn't be opposed to leaving it lowered, I just want to improve the ride.


Thoughts?

 

I really like bilstein shocks, I have them on my lowered E30 and so far they have been great for the last 3 years.
I find them to be a nice riding durable shock.

 

Bilstein Sport or Koni Yellow shocks will be best if you want to stay lowered,
but they work well with stock springs also, and ride will be better if not lowered.
Bilsteins will be a bit firmer than Koni Yellows, and Koni Yellows are adjustable, too.

Best option for a good comfortable but adequately firm ride would be a set of Koni FSD shocks on stock springs.
Don't try to run FSDs with lowered springs.

 

Good advise. Also: in my experience, yellows are a stiffer ride than stock. FSDs have a similar ride to stock, and last well. Despite what Koni recommends, I have seen plenty of cars on FSDs and moderate lowering springs that are perform well and last long.

 

Looks like $566 for Koni yellows or $735 for FSDs


Anybody got their stock springs and/or shocks/struts they want to sell me?

 

I think we have some extra stock spring sets lying around. If you buy the FSDs from us, I'll throw in the springs--just pay for the shipping. I'm at home now, so let me just be sure we have them at the shop tomorrow before I promise something that I can't deliver.

 

I do have my stock springs since I lowered on H&R's. pm me and maybe we can work something out...

Where did you find Koni yellows for $566? I've only found them as low as $715... And maybe a question for Helix - can you dial the Koni's back for a *slightly* softer ride?

 

I found my koni yellows on full soft to ride a tiny bit better than stock and I have mild drop springs with cut bumpstops. But yes, stock springs + fsds is the way to go for ride quality. I prefer the yellows but both are nice.

I don't really like the stock shocks and dislike almost every lowering spring made for this car.

- andrew

 

I'm trying to avoid spending $800 more on this car. Ideally, I'd love to buy the stock set from somebody that's modified theirs.

But, it doesn't seem like anybody wants to sell their stock stuff.

 

I've got several wrecked MINI's so we could prob come up with a used set of shocks and springs. Just let me look on Monday for you.

 

Way - I offered mine to nhtshot, but just realized that he has an '02 and mine is an '08. That won't work, will it?

 

If she likes the cornering and handling, remember that stock/oem Mini's still offer that. It will corner fast on oem components. Your tire selection can aid in the cornering too.

 

I have my stock shocks and springs (2006 Cooper.) that I'd love to get out of my closet. I had a shop install the coilovers and they just put all the stock stuff in a box for me...They have about 30,000 miles on them. If you want to go that route, send me a PM and I'll clean them up and take a photo and make sure everything is there.

Fair warning, I live in Canada so shipping will likely be a bit pricier than someone who's in the US (assuming that's where you are.)

Cheers
Dan

 

PM sent

 

Nice post, @mountainhorse ! Especially explaining why FSDs should not be used with lowering springs – something which Koni does a poor job of communicating. (Or maybe it's because the folks writing the marketing copy fear scaring off buyers by going too technical?)

I had FSD's on my un-lowered R55, along with a stiffer rear sway bar. They really improved handling and did not reduce comfort – if anything, they improved comfort.

On my F55, I went with the JCW Pro Suspension option. Those are rebranded KW v1 kit. There isn't much price difference between them and KW, so I went for the shiny red "JWC" ones ;-) I love them, but they are still a bit harsher than the FSDs were.