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SuspensionSprings, struts, coilovers, sway-bars, camber plates, and all other modifications to suspension components for Clubman (R55), Cooper and Cooper S (R56), and Cabrio (R57) MINIs.
The older type FSD are junk, i have a set for the R53 brand new and dump it because the design was sucks, sucks because parts is being seperated and when you hit a pot hole even small and turn, the Perch spin. They send me another set from manufacturer and still all came off during UPS shipment so i changed them with stock. If they made a better design i might buy a set for my wifey R55 clubman S
We have the Gold FSDs in stock and ready to ship. And they do still have the lifetime warranty.
I've had nothing but good luck with the FSDs as we even have them on one of our shop cars and actually had a customer in today that has had them on his R55 for 2 years no issue. Our old R55 shop car has had them for 70k and they still ride great and no issue so I would still recommend them.
I was told by my Koni rep the new ones would just be red, but they were the same. But I've seen other vendors saying they are going to be different. Who knows what to believe at this point until we have the new ones ready and can test. But that is a ways off.
I have seen issues with them if you run lowering springs even JCW so as long as you don't do that I think you will be fine.
I installed FSDs 6 years and a bit over 70K ago along with a heavier RSB and they are still doing a fine job of making motoring much more fun. I've read horror stories as per dre-min's comment but based on other's positive experience, it has to be an annomoly...regardless, it's hard to say. Anecdotal evidence is hard to attach to sound value judgments. Way is a stand up resource.
Another FSD lover here. Replaced the stock struts on my R55 at 70k, ran them until I sold the car at 90k. With a rear sway bar but without lowering springs (as lowering is contraindicated with FSB). Install was fine, they were perfect and performed wonderfully.
I had FSDs on my stock ride-height R53 for seven and a half years (>65k miles) before they failed. New England frost heaves and potholes finally did them in. I loved them and Koni replaced all 4 under warranty.
I will be very intrigued to learn what differences, if any, there are between the old FSDs and new new Special Actives….
I just went through all this research. The fsd are being replaced by the special active strut nomenclature. They are largely the same, but are supposed to have minor internal enchancements to increase longevity, and they are red.
I believe I am the first here to have them on a r52. I actually ordered the fsd, and the SAS showed up! I like them a lot, but they have a bit of corner lean setup which I may try and reduce with a fsb later on, but with my summer tires, this car handles almost as well as my zl1! no regrets on the purchase overall. I came from megan coilovers which were too hard for my family. Before that I had stocks shocks (we get the S model shocks on the r52 jcw) and they were blown at 50k miles.
I think they are a perfect setup for a daily sporty driver, and you should go to the yellows if you want that little bit more precision, or lowering capability. Go to coilovers if you track the car, or daily drive and dont mind your car being abused and crashing over road imperfections. I used to *** pucker over potholes, lol.
I installed FSDs 6 years and a bit over 70K ago along with a heavier RSB and they are still doing a fine job of making motoring much more fun. I've read horror stories as per dre-min's comment but based on other's positive experience, it has to be an annomoly...regardless, it's hard to say. Anecdotal evidence is hard to attach to sound value judgments. Way is a stand up resource.
All parts are not created or made equal, mine maybe done on the weekend and workers want to go home early, i had a confirmation from Eric (Helix) saying that Koni FSD perch are not permanently weld to the tube because its serviceable by the manufacturer. I wished i did not delete all the pictures i took.
I admit they are good and based on people's recommendations but mine wasn't and im not going to go against anyone if you chose that product.
This is my other statement:
Lok at WayMotors website...i was brownsing this morning and they have it on stock, i was looking for my R55 S clubman
We found the Koni to ride better than the Bilstein. https://www.waymotorworks.com/bilste...6-r55-r57.html
I’ve had bad experience with Koni, and would prefer to not use them. Even with the lifetime warranty, they won’t cover R&R or return shipping. I have had better experience with the Bilstein, even though they ride a bit stiffer and lack damping adjustments.
Last edited by drea-min; Jun 30, 2018 at 04:13 PM.
Reason: Additional statement
All parts are not created or made equal, mine maybe done on the weekend and workers want to go home early, i had a confirmation from Eric (Helix) saying that Koni FSD perch are not permanently weld to the tube because its serviceable by the manufacturer. I wished i did not delete all the pictures i took.
I admit they are good and based on people's recommendations but mine wasn't and im not going to go against anyone if you chose that product.
This is my other statement:
Lok at WayMotors website...i was brownsing this morning and they have it on stock, i was looking for my R55 S clubman
We found the Koni to ride better than the Bilstein. https://www.waymotorworks.com/bilste...6-r55-r57.html
I’ve had bad experience with Koni, and would prefer to not use them. Even with the lifetime warranty, they won’t cover R&R or return shipping. I have had better experience with the Bilstein, even though they ride a bit stiffer and lack damping adjustments.
Yeah, I choose not to use Koni, but that doesn’t mean I will tell anyone else not to. They still get high praise from many other people.
That said, I think FSD product line is a niche Koni product that no one else provides. A damper that can give better ride control over OEM without sacrificing OEM ride comfort. They do have their limitation, though.
I installed FSDs 6 years and a bit over 70K ago along with a heavier RSB and they are still doing a fine job of making motoring much more fun. I've read horror stories as per dre-min's comment but based on other's positive experience, it has to be an annomoly...regardless, it's hard to say. Anecdotal evidence is hard to attach to sound value judgments. Way is a stand up resource.
anomaly? Well here is the picture, i found the old Koni in the storage.
the white stuff that you see is the white JB weld that i put hoping the tube will held in place and the spring will turn along as a whole but it didn’t, and continue to make noise whenever i hit a small bump or turn rubbing something under, so you to tell the world its ANOMALY.. what turns when you turn the wheel if the perch is/are loose instead of the bearing on the top mount? Rest my care ...
Last edited by drea-min; Jul 9, 2018 at 01:24 PM.
Reason: Mispelled
anomaly? Well here is the picture, i found the old Koni in the storage.
the white stuff that you see is the white JB weld that i put hoping the tube will held in place and the spring will turn along as a whole but it didn’t, and continue to make noise whenever i hit a small bump or turn rubbing something under, so you to tell the world its ANOMALY.. what turns when you turn the wheel if the perch is/are loose instead of the bearing on the top mount? Rest my care ...
no regrets on the purchase overall. I came from megan coilovers which were too hard for my family. Before that I had stocks shocks (we get the S model shocks on the r52 jcw) and they were blown at 50k miles.
