After much research I am leaning towards buying the Koni FSD Damper Set to replace my OE for my 2005 MINI Cooper S.

Was wondering if anyone has used these make of shocks and what they thought of them. I can buy them for $703.00 off Amazon with shipping included.

http://www.koni-na.com/fsd.cfm

 

Hi...put the FSD set in my 2005 R53 a few months ago, along with Powerflex LCA bushings and new tires. For a daily driver that gets some spirited use they will be just fine, for a track car or serious autocrossing I would get something stiffer.

I run 16" wheels , 17's or bigger would have an impact too.I like the way the FSD's take out a bit of the harshness of the ride.

Mad Gepetto

 

I think you will like them on a non lowered daily driver...made my car ride better than new, definitely more wife friendly on bumpy stretches of road. Handling seemed a bit better (made the swap at 45,000 miles or so, OEMS were still OK)...
But do not try to use them with lowering springs...they will fail and leak...

 

+1 on the FSD struts. Also, strongly consider adding a stiffer adjustable RSB while you're at it, 19 or 22 MM, the best handling mod you can make for the money.
These guys have a good price on FSD's if you're interested.
http://www.motoringwerks.com/c-631-m...uspension.aspx

 

Yeah...look around, Amazon is not always the best...
Got mine from helix in Philly...similar situation...most placers were within $100 of each other, but it did vary....and getting them from a mini specialist might payoff if you need to ask a question or have an issue...heck, you might be able to save a $$ AND get them from a vendor!!

 

Thanks all for the quick info!

I will order these from MotoringWorks for $635.00 and save some money vs $703.00 from Amazon.

Thanks again for your help!!!

Buggy

 

It appears that my front strut assembly is ready to replace after 6.5 years and 70k miles. I started to get a real rattle on the bumpy snow ridges and found out that I need the strut assemblies and the strut mount and the sway bar link. I've always been keen on the Koni FSD shocks, so it looks like the time to do that.
I have an R55 with sport suspension, 2008 and original stock underneath. What else should I do while I'm under there? Should I do the rears too? (I notice that Way Motor Works like to sell them as a set of 4 anyway. Anything else I can do to optimize this MINI? I have the Pilot Super Sport tires in the summer. I'm into the bends, as most of us are. Any advice would be appreciated from the forum.

 

MotoringWerks just posted a thread about a sale on FSD's.
For dang sure add a stiffer and adjustable rear sway bar.

 

We use and sell the FSD's all the time and if you aren't lowering the car they are an ideal choice and give you a great ride with a lifetime warranty.

We keep them in stock
http://www.waymotorworks.com/koni-fsd-shocks.html

and like others said it is ideal to install a rear sway bar to improve handling as half the work is done when you have the rear shocks out.
http://www.waymotorworks.com/h-sport...-sway-bar.html

 

Thanks for the feedback. I already have a set of 4 Koni FSDs in my shopping cart at Way Motor Works. My independent mechanic shop on prescribed front struts, but I would think that doing all four makes long term sense, especially if I want to see what the new shocks' design has to do with future performance.
Do I need to consider a new sway bar if my Mini came with the sport suspension? Did I get an anti-sway bar with that package? Even if I did, is there a reason to change it here?
What about replacing the ball joints? Mine are functional ,but quite rusty after 6.5 rough
winters. I want to keep this car another ten years and I love the handling, so I'm trying to optimize this painfully expensive mid-life crisis for my Mini. The folks at NAM always seem to speak wisely :-)

 

ALL MINIs come with a rear sway bar, we are just saying to put a bigger rear sway bar on to ruduce the understeer or push as some call it.

If the ball joints aren't loose don't worry about them till they are, they have shown to be pretty good quality. I have a car in the shop right now with 167k on it and they are fine.

 

Thanks, Way. I will be ordering those Konis :-)

So the sport suspension has the same sway bar as the regular suspension. I thought that was one of the differences. I am going to hunt down those differences...
And looking for whatever else I should do while my Mini is being redone underneath.

 

Since you have a Clubman you prob just have a 17mm rear sway bar. 99% of MINIs have the 17mm bar.