I put FSD's on my 2011mcs w/"Sport Suspension" and it improved the ride and did everything I wanted, except last.

The first set started giving a clunking noise in the fronts after a few months and maybe 1000 miles. The second set is doing the same thing!

They have been in and out of the vehicle so many times trying to figure out what was happening that I am sick of the exercise.

It might have something to do with the Sport Suspension Option that the factory put in. My 2011mcs w/Sport Suspension rides almost an inch higher than my 2009mc w/standard suspension.

Saving my $$$ for some good street coilovers....

 

Just to provide an update on this:

I've put roughly 3000 miles so far and no issues to report (knock on wood). Again, I'm running Koni FSDs and eibach springs.

 

Which Eibach springs are you using?

My "Sport Suspension" springs would not work with the FSD's and that really bummed me because the ride was good, way better than the OEM struts.

 

Eibach...pro kit springs? I'm not sure if they go by a different name...

 

Thanks Cambo Did they change your ride height?

 

no problem! sure did, I got a nice drop...not sure by exactly how much, but that horrid gap is definitely gone.

 

Understood

 

Just a thought....but Koni Yellows do actually ride pretty well and can handle a mild drop. Better than stock IMO.

FSDs may ride slightly better but Yellows give you more flexibility and are pretty durable. Regardless, car looks good cambo!

-Andy

 

I finally mounted koni FSD's on my Clubby S with sport suspension with 28K. Not many miles yet but first impressions is the overall ride quality has improved over stock. I have Conti DWS with short sidewall 35 series tires and before the swap the car would strike a bump harshly and transmit it through the chassis. The FSD's absorbs those same bumps without the harshness but still feel planted on the road. I also mounted a Hotickiss adj rear swaybar which seems to help improve turn in.

For folks that mostly used their mini as a daily driver with some spirited driving in between you can't go wrong with Konis FSD for the street.

 

I am looking forward to your impression/how the FSD's hold up after a few thousand miles. Mine started making a terrible clunking noise up front after a couple of thousand or less. I too had "Sport Suspension" on my 2011 MCS, and I have had 2 sets fail so far, but the ride was great!

 

Hey Smog, yeah I remember referencing you about your issues with FSD's which had me worried but I believe your issues were different based on your daily driving patterns. I haven't heard of anyone else experiencing failures with the factory sport springs. I'll report back my impressions after a few thousand miles.

 

I will be looking forward to how well your FSD's hold up. I first noticed a clunk noise when backing slowly over a small speed bump and the car coming down on the other side of the bump.

Since we had the same year car and if your was ordered with the "Sport Suspension", not the Sport Package then it should be a good comparison.

I sure liked the way the FSD's rode for a daily driver! Much more comfortable than the Bilstien B8's with Swift Spec-R lowering springs, although the Swift's are more of a slot car setup and the cars stays flat!

 

Update: 3k miles later and all is well regarding the Koni FSD. I'd say the ride is slightly even better after the first few hundred miles after the install.
Next on the suspension list is upgrading the oem sway bar endlinks with some adjustable ones and perhaps go with poly front sway bar bushings.

 

Update: I just passed 5k miles on the not-so-new-anymore suspension set up (Koni FSD + Eibach Pro kit)...

Zero issues so far!

 

You guys really have me scratching my head! What the hell is different with my MINI and it's "Sport Suspension" that it keeps eating up the FSD shocks in the front only?

I have had zero problems with the Swift Spec-R lowering springs and the Bilstien B8's so my install techniques is certainly not at fault.

I have 8,000 miles on the setup so far and not a rattle.