Trying to help someone with installation questions. They have a set of non-S R56 aftermarket coilovers and want to put them on their R56 S. They were told this is not possible. This surprises me. I can't imagine any difference between the suspension components of the two models other than damping, spring rates or ride height. Do the non-S and S suspensions differ in actual dimensions or in the way they mount?

Thanks!
Doc

 

Non S cars and S cars and JCW cars all have the same suspension. Sport springs are optional on all trim levels but the drop is minimal. There is not difference between R56 suspension.

 

Hi there, this is the person in question. The coilovers I tried to install were a set of ST Suspension coilovers, which I needed for a 2010 JCW, but which I later found out were for the base model Coopers. I too am baffled by the thought of the 2 suspensions being radically different, but what else would explain the completely failed install? Nothing mounted up properly, whole pieces were in the wrong place and upon a little searching, I found that there are actually 2 different sets. And they look quite different. One is product # 90250 (base model) and the other is # 90608 (S/JCW). Anything is appreciated, fellas!

 

Maybe the STs you have are for the first gen MINIs?

Whats the product number on your coilovers?

 

The # is 90250. The flanges for the break lines were damaged during the install attempt because of the way they were sitting. Now that I'm temporarily back to stock, Im hoping that a spot weld will fix these damaged flanges.

 

GEMSTER is probably right, you probably bought R53 coilovers. Although IIRC they too can bolt up to an R56. Maybe not a direct swap but it should be close.

 

As others have said, the suspensions for all r56 MINIs are physically identical and interchangeable. From the factory, minor spring rate and damper valving changes exist to accomodate the weight differences in cars with various options. But all the mounting points and fitments are identical for the whole r56 line.

The coilovers that you have that did not fit were either not the right part for an r56 MINI, not installed correctly, or were just a bad design.

 

Between the r53 and r56, the front strut/spring assembly is a direct swap. the rears are slighly different. The only thing you need to install r53 rear suspension on an r56 is a spacer adapter for the lower control arm like this:
http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop..._bushings.html

I have been running r53 Konis on my r56 MINI for years.

 

They're definitely for an R56. Something is amiss.

 

Mystery solved. Turns out they had the front & rears confused. No wonder they would not fit.

 

Get a professional installer.

 

^^^ What he said, lulzSent from my Galaxy Nexus using NAMotoring

 

Yep. I'm trying to be respectful. I wasn't there.