Ok, so I have had H-sport springs, and a H-sport comp. rear bar on my '05 cooper s for about 2 months now. The car handles great, however going over uneven roads or large bumps is a real pain sometimes . Can anyone recommend a more comfortable spring? I looking for someone who has actually had the springs they will recommend on their car for a while. I've read good things about Eibach Pro Kit and M7 springs. My mechanic recommended the H-sport springs. I drive in the city a lot, and will not do any track days. I just wanted a better handling car, but not such a poor ride over bumps, etc.

Thanks guys.:smile:

 

I had the H-Sport springs and comp bar also. I am now using TEIN H-tech springs and a smaller sway bar. The TEIN H springs lower the car about ¾ inch when fully settled, so these are not radical lowering springs. Plenty of suspension travel means less bottoming and in my case no bottoming over the same roads that used to max out the H-Sports. The ride is not compromised too much in performance and you don’t have to pucker your behind when you see rough stuff coming your way. The smaller bar is more appropriate for the high-speed sweepers and twisties I encounter daily and it also provides some measure of ride comfort over un-even surfaces. I don’t do the city much, but the TEIN H springs work well there also.

 

You have several options to smooth out your ride.
While changing springs to Eibach or M7, Tein or Alta springs is an option you can also just change your tires or your alignment.

Some things to consider-
Rear bar- put it to the softest adjustable setting.
Tires- if you have runflats consider getting non runflats. If you must keep the runflats then you might have to change springs. Look for springs that give about 3/4th " drop. What size are your rims? Tires that have at least 45 series sidewalls are going to be smoother than 40 series or less. So for 17" rims a 215/45-17 isn't bad. Some tires are much smoother than others for ride quality. Consider Bridgestone potenza Pole position S-03 if you can which gives both great performance and an excellent ride for street use.

Alignment- since you have lowered your car did you also do a four wheel alignment? If you didn't then you can do it and set the specs to factory settings and get a much smoother ride. Limit rear camber to about -1.6 degrees but without lower rear control arms you will not be able to set it.
If you have H-sport rear springs and no adjustable rear control arms then it is likely that your rear camber is about -2.0 to -2.4 degrees which will add to the rougher ride. Then if you change springs if the rear camber is still quite negative the ride still might be rough but less so. Normal stock rear camber is about -1.0 to -1.8 degrees.

Tire pressure- run your tires at slightly lower pressures if you can. More like 32 psi rather than 37 psi and that might also help with ride smoothness.

Tire age- as tires get old the rubber gets hard and ride quality suffers so if you tires are old that doesn't help. Runflats are hard riding from the start.

Hope this helps.

 

I have looking into H-Tech too, Just wonder whether it bounces alot? How about other brand, will they bounce? Remember saw some of the ricy cars out there bounce alot even on a normal flat road, I don't want that special effect happens on my car. :D

 

My shocks are late 02 build date with stiffer dampening rates combined with a 60lb vehicle weight reduction over base MCS plus much lighter wheels. I would describe the ride as lively, but not bouncy. The H-Sports give a stable, solid, slightly jolting ride.

 

That bouncing is most likely from cut springs, or springs that were not meant for their car. You will not find that your Mini bounces much on any springs...atleast not like the rice cars that bounce like pogo sticks

The tein springs are great....the H-tech are generally meant for performance while the S-tech are for looks (more lowering) and comfort (soft ride)

 

i have the eibachs with the softer dunlop run flats and the "stiffer" older dampers. after the springs settled in, it rides softer than the stock springs with pirelli run flats. they aren't too bad even over speed bumps. they may even be softer than the stick springs over small bumps.

 

hello there, I think you'd like m7's. I've had them on my car for 6 months or so now and love them. My MINI S sits pretty low, but never bottomed out on me. There is some scraping of the lower plastic lip during hard braking, but no big deal to me.M7's handle bad roads with ease. Big bumps make the car jump, but not bounce very much at all. If you can wait and are in Vegas in March, I'd be glad to take you for a ride. good luck


oh and Handling.....