Has anyone picked one up yet? Impressions?

 

We just got them in stock last week and installed one on Thursday with some KW coilovers.
After driving it with the new sway bar it has been proven again that the Sway Bar is still the best bang for the buck for the suspension. It gave the F56 more of that sports car feel back and neutral handling we want.

http://www.waymotorworks.com/nm-engi...r-f55-f56.html

 

I just ordered the NM intake from you yesterday Way. I would like to add the sway bar to my order. Best thing to call you tomorrow?

 

GREAT, Also anyone wanting to install one make sure you have a set of female torx sockets as MINI is using them on almost everything now.

 

How was the install? I was looking at the sway while doing my muffler delete and that thing looked buried deep!

 

It's very similar to the R56 bar install. But you do need to remove the springs to get the bar out. You need to take the exhaust loose from the hangers to get the subframe down enough. And don't forget the female torx sockets.

 

I'm still shopping around but one shop quoted $895 labor on rear sway install (!). Now that did not include savings from having control arms etc off already from springs work happening at the same time. But still. It looks very high to me. I was expecting a few hours on top of the other work already happening.

 

I'll second what WMW said on bang for buck. Single best suspension mod for the Mini.
If you are confident with a wrench and have done things like shocks before (which you will need to do one for this install) it is an easy one or two person project. The step by step instructions provided by NM are very complete.
$895 seems high.

 

For $895 labor I'll fly to San Fran and do it in your driveway.

 

Haaaaa. Tempting!
This was an 'embarrassed' quote by someone using a book of rates and hours as a prelim. Given that they'll be doing springs and such at the same time I'm know this is way off. I'm trying to get a sense of what it should be. Or I suppose the more region-proof way would be an hourly estimate from you all, where we don't include the time to get access to it by removing the arms? That way we divorce this from local hourly rates.

I'd love to do this in the driveway. One day. No good resources at the moment.

 

I really want to do this upgrade, but i have never mess with springs and what not...

Dont want to mess up or miss a step and end up having the spring bouncing around.

I am curious to what the labor rate is. Also i would like a shop that is specialized in MINI to perform such task.... Being in Houston, idk any MINI dedicated shops lol.

 

Lolz. I'm going to get in a bidding war with Way for the all-expense trip to the bay. $894!

 

 

What is MVIV?

 

It was/is A Mini Vacation In Vegas (AMVIV actually) that I went to around March 2008 at one of the hotels. A bunch of cool Minis in the parking garage, with mods and the really cool Minis on the roof, a parade down the Strip, an outing to a racetrack nearby. I don't know if they still do it anymore. It was fun.The only other Mini event I did was a small one in Moab Utah which is a really great place to drive the cars.

 

oh interesting!!

 

Let's keep those bids coming! Beer included. Also small children and liberals!

 

I installed my NM rear sway bar today and am quite pleased with the results so far. The install was quick and painless as the instructions are pretty much fool-proof. I adjusted mine to the stiffest setting to start out with and I'm glad I did. The overall ride comfort is barely affected, but man taking those corners is totally different. My cheeks were hurting from smiling so much after the first test-run.

 

I paid for the install; actually my local dealer matched my local suspension and rubber place so I had it done by MINI, got the loaner, etc, so good process. Say goodbye to body roll! Love it.

 

My son helped with my install today. We also installed the NM springs as well as the NM end links. We started with the medium setting, but we think the end links may need to be shortened a bit as they seem to be preloading at stock length. Those are easy changes, except the car is now too low for my floor jack...

Gotta drive some familiar spots over the next few days to get a feel for any further changes. Will also give the car a few days to settle before a new alignment.

Next is new rims (16" MINI) and tires (Michelin Pilot Sport A/S-3). This will be fun!

 

I have both the NM springs and sway. HUGE improvement to both handling and looks. Highly recommend both.

 

Hi JamesDean
nice looking wheels man!

Do you have adaptive dampers? - just looking at the wires around your shock absorber.
And what springs did you put in, are they lower?

Im about 2 weeks away from my new Cooper, with adaptive dampers, but not sports suspension, so wondering about the sway bar option.

cheers

 

Yes mines lowered on NM springs. Did not go with the dampers since you can not lower the car with them. I am sure you can still do the sway all though it might make it more of a pain in the ***.

 

Did you start with the sports suspension or the regular suspension?

 

Regular.. Sport is linear so firmer ride without the bonus of lowering and sway is still shitty so no reason to go with it.