Swaybar/suspension suggestions for my '16 F55? 1st time Mini owner and have adapted my driving style but the dreaded FWD understeer is a beast, especially in the wet. The combination the Dinan Elite module (love traction control) and 18" PZero run flats (hate 'em) make for way too many unwelcome (oh **** not again) adventures upon entry and exit on my favorite mountain roads. To keep everything as firm as possible, I keep in sport mode, PSI (all 4) from 41-44, rotate every 2000 miles but handling and tire wear could be a whole lot more predictable. I realize with so much weight over the front axle, 50/50 BMW-like neutral handling is impossible but hoping for a set-up to get the car to rotate just a little bit better. Solutions? Air pressure? Better tires? Sway bar(s)

Thanks

 

Coilovers, corner balance and add some underbracing. I did all of that to mine and I couldnt be happier.

The weight is distributed evenly and the response is great. I would drive mine in snow and never once had a second of doubt

 

for my 1st gen.. has a bit too much over steer, when throttle lifted too quickly corner balanced

vorslag camber plates -2.8 degree front, rear adj trailing arms -1.8 degree, coilovers allow neg camber, 22 mm rear sway bar, bracing

I imagine you can modify your newer mini with some of above

 

as PAWS stated.. proper alignment will help quite a bit. Most cars are under 'swayed' too.. especially in the rear.

 

What's your budget? You can spend a little or a lot. I would suggest looking at, in this order:

- rear sway bar - great results for around $300; this is one of the best ways to spend money on handling

- coilovers with modest lowering - anywhere from $1000 to $5000, how much do you want to spend? I went with JCW since at the time I was buying they were actually less expensive than the KW-branded ones. (Same parts different label and paint.)

- chassis bracing - $300 or so, makes a very subtle but real difference in turn in but little change in understeer behavior (that I have noticed)

 

Drop the front tire pressures by 5 psi, down to 35-36, leave the rear where you had them, experiment, maybe the car likes them even lower than that, maybe you like putting the rears up at 50 better and the fronts at 40, we don't know.
Add front camber, cheaper than coilovers, offset bushings and a good alignment shop will help keep it in the $200-$300 range, -2 degrees and no toe shouldn't eat any tires, -1.5 if you're nervous about tire wear, keep rear the same as stock, evened out for balance, maybe a touch of toe in for some highway stability. Powerflex need to be lubed every year or two but other than that they work well.
Rear swaybar will help, but might require you to push the car harder to really feel the benefit as it really only improves corner entry turn in balance and isn't much help on corner exit.
Tires will be the biggest improvement by far, until you start driving faster, then you'll be back to square 1.

There aren't many options for camber plates on the 3rd gen Mini