I see a lot of guys going with NM springs, but I wanted a more "level" drop, as in same drop front and rear since I think the F56S already has a kinda ***-high stinkbug look, LOL. I went with the H&R springs on my 2018 R56S, and really like them. Car looks great, wheel gap noticeably less. I also added 15mm wheel spacers from ECS front and rear, might have to go to 20MM on the rear. What are you all running for camber angles on the F56S? I drive the twisties for my daily commute, so have my 2011 R56S set up at 1.0 negative front and 1.5 negative rear. Tire wear is manageable, especially with proper rotations front to rear. I only get 10-12k miles out of a set of four tires on my 2011 due to my hard driving and crappy/abrasive roads, so pretty much expect this on my 2018 as well. (It doesn't seem to matter if I run mid-priced tires or expensive, they all get chewed up pretty much by 10-12k miles!) I will be adding a larger rear swaybar to the 2018 at some point soon. So, alignment specs for best handling and even tire wear while "driving like I stole it" on 2-lane blacktop mountain twisties? Thanks in advance!

 

Much depends on budget of course.

My effort to turn my F56 into the best handling road-legal Mini in New England is all in the Gollum IV thread.

The twisted tale that ultimately took me from an initial effort constrained by SCCA D Street regulations all the way to the current Street Touring Ultra version begins HERE.

The trigger that got me to JCW Pro Coils is described starting HERE. Truly a drunkards walk...

I hope you are amused by the tales, and can find something useful in the account.

Cheers,

Charie

 

Im running H&R springs too, also went with H&R sway bars Front and Rear!!! 27mm front 25mm rear.
If you want to go that route, I have an extra H&R 27mm front bar, hardly used for sale, you can mate with the NM 25mm rear.
I bought a pair it to install them on a friends car, but he was fine with just rear bar.

 

Thanks for the offer, but I think I want to do only the rear for now, see how that works. I left the stock front bar, only upgraded the rear, on my 2011 MCS, and it handles great! But....how difficult is it to do the front? I heard they are a pain in the a$$. Also, did you find the bigger front bar to be a worthwhile improvement?

Chris

P.S. I remember coming to your place to pick up some parts for my 2011, but don't remember what I got. LOL. Now we each have Moonwalk Gray F56S'. Go figure. My wife had a Moonwalk Gray loaner 2021 F56S JCW while her 2013 R57 was in for warranty work. Fell in love with that color. Found my 2018 when we picked her 2013 up after the warranty work. Not a JCW, but still a blast!

 

You bought the roof racks from my totaled 2013.

I had just the rear H&R 22mm bar on my 2013, and was great, the 2017 is a fat pig compared.
I went with a rear, but didn't feel balanced as just the rear on a 2013.
So I went with both.
Valencia Mini gave me a great price to install the front, I went for it!!

If you decide you want the front, Im going to San Diego for my daughters Navy rank promotion in September. We can meet in Oceanside.

 

That's right! My memory lately....ugh. Yeah, the F series definitely got bigger. And I miss the MINI quirks, like the big center-mounted speedometer and the window switch location. But I still have my 2011, so there's that. Congratulations to your daughter. I may be interested by then...if I get the rear on and it's not enough.