I just placed my order for BC Racing ZC16 coilovers for my 2012 Mini Countryman S (not all4) and I am super excited to install them when they get in.

I was just wondering how far I should lower / can lower the car. I use it as a daily driver but also like taking it out in the bends on the weekend. I was thinking possibly 2 inches all around, would this be a good idea? Should I go lower? Thanks!

 

First, how bad/good are your local streets? Second, how stiff do you like your ride?

 

I live in the Corvallis area during the year where we have decent roads with not too many bumps. Live in the Portland area during the summer with some hills and some bad roads but I can avoid these.

Secondly, I like my ride pretty stiff but I also daily this car. I read a forum on here with someone saying they had the settings 7 from the softest and liked it. I am thinking about trying something near this setting.

 

Drop it to where you can still drive and get away with small bumps and potholes. Stiffness is where you will be checking/trying/readjusting/testing

 

I find parking garages to be my #1 hangup - the steep entrances here around DC can cause it to highside something awful. Speedbumps are then #2 and potholes #3. They actually pave the roads out here, so potholes are a very distant 3rd, but, when I lived in SE Michigan, I'd have to readjust my rearview mirror once a week due to getting jarred.