Hey all... I'm running into a problem you probably don't see very often. I want to get a set of springs for my car, but I'm looking for something with a conservative drop.

I have been looking at the Tein High.Tech's for a while, but they only offer them for the "S." I'm a bit confused at how companies like H-Sport and M7 offer one spring set for both models, but Tein is saying that the Cooper S springs will not work on the Cooper. Anyone have any input on that? I figured that with springs like M7's or H-Sports, you might just get less of a drop on an MC than an MCS because the MC is lighter. Am I correct in that assumption?

Anyway, if anyone has some input I'd appreciate it. Here's the link to the Teins: http://www.tmengineering.net/suspens...make/mini.html

P.S. I'm also planning to upgrade sometime soon to 17 x 7" wheels...

 

I think Tein just put TBA for the MC, so guess if you mail them, they may give you the anser. I will guess it should fit MC too (just my guess).

I was thinking lowering too and was thinking H-Tech too, a conservative set like you said (or Eibach, which everyone says it's good). But heard that like Eibach Pro-kits are progressive spring so they don't have the spring rate, but since H-Tech does have spring rate, so meaning it is not progressive? Is progressive really better?

 

The Cooper and S use the same shape springs, but the rates are different. Well, even the specs are different among Cooper's or S's depending if you have a sunroof or not!

That said, progressive-rate springs are really a band-aid fix to lower the car, get better ride quality, yet avoid some of the shock-killing bottoming out that a linear rate might otherwise present. Linear-rate springs are much better for consistent driving, and you'll typically never find a progressive-rate spring on a race-prepped car.

TEIN's website claims from 0.5" to 1.5" drop from the same spring, which is a bit of a stretch. The H-Sport's will give from a 0.5" to 1.0" drop, depending on model and options. You can probably expect a half inch deveation from advertised drop accordingly (from base Cooper to loaded S). The ALTA springs are advertised to give minimal drop, however sets like the M7, KW, and H&R are much more aggressive on their lowering, and probably should be crossed off your shopping list.

I hope that helped,
Ryan

 

Kilo,
I think your goal is a reasonable one and not unique. Many of us plunge into getting lowering springs on recommendation but don't really have much experience. One option is as your describe, upgrade the suspension with a kit that provides better handling and mild/minimum drop without being too jarring and rough for daily driving and family members.

The Tein High.Tech for the MC looks fine but it isn't quite released yet. When it does come out you have to check out fitment and see if it really works as advertised. The prices look very good.

For a bigger budget the Tein Basic Coil Over also looks very good but there is no price. Coil overs provide maximally adjustable ride height which you control vs springs that are really set to "one design height".

Another good coil over kit is the KW variant 2 (webbmotorsports.com)
KW Variant 2 Coilovers:
"These are the perfect set up for someone who wants the ability to adjust rebound, ride height, and corner balance the car, but does not want spring rates for racing. This is a street system, and the compliance is very good. The KWs lower the car from .75-2". The bodies are made from stainless steel and provide excellent corrosion resistance. These are not recommended for competition use due to the softer spring rates."
Price: $1600

In stock-for a good set of springs for street use with minimal drop, consider:
-Eibach Pro-kit lowers front about 1.2" and rear 1.0" about $209 fits MC and MCS.
-RDR spiderwire sport springs: http://www.mini-works.com/chassis.html
Spiderwire Coilsprings
"We've tested a wide variety of replacement Mini springs and have found that those that lower the car around an inch require some serious realignment to get the specs in line. We offer a set that bumps up the spring rate significantly while lowering the car a modest .6 inches. You WILL feel the benefits of a lower center of gravity, and the stiffer spring rate really firms up the ride, but you will enjoy the added bonus of a much easier alignment. If it's no-holds-barred excitement you're looking for, and you have adjustable rear control arms to allow proper alignment, then we also offer full race springs that lower the car just over one inch. You make the call." $230
- Alta Sport springs (outmotoring.com) http://outmotoring.com/alta_sport_springs.html
For MC drop 1.5" Front and 1.0" rear $180

 

Thanks for all your replies guys, you've given me something to work with.

As far as the H-Sports are concerned, I've considered those, but many people say the ride is very harsh. Any input on that? My car is just a Cooper with not that many factory options except SS+ and DSC, not much else. Those factors would cause it to lower the car less right?

As far as the Tein High.Tech for the Cooper, I emailed them and they said they actually don't plan on making that spring set for the Cooper. Here's the email they sent when I asked them about the High.Tech's for the Cooper. It doesn't help me much, so I called them, but I never heard back. I'll try and call them again this week.

 

I think if you want to know if the H-Tech will fit MC, don't ask TM, send the email to Tein directory ... sales@tein.com. Here is the website for the Tein USA ... http://www.tein.com/ They may know more about the product then TM.

Good Luck.

 

Hay Ryan, thanks for the info. So do you know whether Eibach Pro-kit is the only set of spring out there a progressive spring? So Tein is not progressive, right? How about other brands like H&R, M7, Alta and KW, etc., are they also progressive?

 

I think h&r, m7, and alta are progressive. Not sure about teins or kws.

 

The Teins are also progressive springs.

 

Just found this website describing how and what a progressive spring is.

http://www.vfr750.com/modules.php?na...article&sid=22

As that site described ... "Linear springs have a spring rate that is linear across the entire length it can be compressed. They can be easily recognized because the space between each winding is equal.
Progressive springs have a spring rate that increases the more the spring gets compressed. How much it increases depends on the spring. A progressive spring can be recognized by the fact that the space between every winding of the spring is different. It will go to small on one end to large on the other."

Looks like possibly all of the brands of spring for MCS are progressive.

 

Most of the springs I see advertised are progressive. When I lowered my old mustang I had non progressive springs offered via SVO. With koni reds it made for a nice, jarring, ride.

 

I don't know of any spring-only sets for the MINI that are not progressive-rate. You'd have to go coil-over to get back to linear-rate like stock. This is one reason many aftermarket springs will not improve the handling of the MINI.

 

Yeah, I don't know of any either which are not progressive. That's why my only concern has been height for the most part.

 

How much better are the coilovers compared to say springs and konis? If you think you are not going to track the car but occasionally autocross or canyon run it would it be worth the extra expense? Oh, and installation...much easier with coilovers because of entire assemblys will be removed or?

Thanks for putting up with these questions.

 

No, coilovers will be harder to setup because you must corner balance the vehicle after installation. Since there are no adjustments with just a spring set, once you install them correctly, they're good to go. Coilovers are a bit overkill for the street, however I must say a properly setup vehicle (cornerbalanced) will handle much more predictably than any stock or quasi-stock setup.

--->KiLO; another consideration many people forget are spring rates. Even if aftermarket springs are progressive, their spring rates can and do play a significant part in both ride quality and handling. To date H-Sport is still the only manufacturer to use a noticably stiffer spring in back, which reduces understeer. H&R uses straight up stiffer springs front and back, which will improve handling in some situations, however the ride quality is sacrificed. Springs like KW, Tein, and M7 are as soft or softer than stock, and will not improve handling. I'm not sure what the rates are for the ALTA or Spiderwire sets.

 

Ah, forgot about corner balancing. I've seen shops do that. But once it's done, it's done?

 

just wanted to mention that IMO, the M7 springs have improved handling on my car and I'm running on All Season Goodyear runflats. Tires and rims are coming soon .

 

Ok, thanks Rye... so basically what you're saying is that the H-Sports, in your opinion, are the best all around for ride height and handling, but you do sacrifice ride quality?

Thanks for all your replies... :smile:

 

To clarify what may be sfjames2's perspective. Most lowering springs will improve certain aspects of the handling. They will offer reduced body motion under accel, decel, and cornering. They will usually allow higher lateral G's in some (or most) instances. The big differences are the cornering balance, and ride quality. The H-Sport springs provide the best cornering balance becuase the rear spring is so much firmer than stock (or firmer than any other aftermarket spring, for that matter). Based on this, if there were to be a "Spring shootout", I'm confident the H-Sport's would have the lowest track lap time. I'm sure the H-Sport's do not have the best ride squishiness, and that's because of their stiff rear spring. Don't get me wrong, the H-Sport's are still more compliant over smaller bumps than the stock springs, but certaintly not as luxo-barge, as, for example, the KW springs.

A unique ace-in-the-hole with H-Sport, is they are the only spring set to include new, optimised bump stops for the adjustment in ride height. The bump stops are very quality polyurethane, which provide more progressive deceleration than the stock foam bumpstops. Because of this, they are shorter to allow for the stock amount of suspension travel.

--->meanboy: Yes, once you corner-balance your coilover's they're good to go...that is, until a passenger gets on-board, lol.

I hope that helps,
Ryan

 

Ryephile, thanks for the input. Would the M7 or any softer spring benefit with a stiffer rear sway bar setting? I have a 19mm UUC on the softer setting. It should right? thanks

 

--->sfjames2; no doubt your vehicle will handle more neutral (assuming relatively stock setup) if you put the 19mm rear bar on the stiffer (shorter) setting.

Motor-On,
Ryan

 

Thanks Ryan, you've definitely helped out a lot.

 

Well, that's no good!

 

well, you'll corner balance the car to the closest weighting you'll race as possible.

Glad to be of some help. Hopefully you guys can now deduce which spring set is best suited to what you're looking for. If not, ask away; I'll help as much as I can.

 

It sounds like the H-Sports might be the best ones for me... they lower the car the least, and it sounds like they are just as good or better than their competitors.