I just traded an early '03 MCS for an '05. Although I'm happy with the extra scoot that the new model has, due to gearing changes and a few extra HP, I'm not so happy with the new sport suspension. I notice a lot more weight transfer off the front wheels under acceleration, and the car doesn't feel as tight in the corners.

Does anyone have any recommendations for getting back the kind of handling that the old sport suspension offered. Are the older type of struts and springs still available from MINI?

Note that I'm not planning to take this car on the track, and I don't want to spend any more than I have to, but I really miss the road feel of the old setup.

 

it should be the same, but all cars are built a bit different. i recomend the h-sport set up. from just springs to sway bars and control arms. it all fits well, but it also cost money. start with springs and see how you like it.

 

Thanks I'll look at them. You may not remember (I'd forgotten), but in mid '03 MINI responded to customer comments about its 'harsh' ride, by softening the sport suspension. I heard this had taken place, but didn't think about it till I took delivery of my '05. I liked the original sport suspension better.

 

I would recomend posting in the marketplace forum that you are looking for 02 or 03 springs, or get new ones from classic. You probably can get some for free if you are patient + shipping from someone who switched to aftermarket parts

 

If I recall they changed the oil in the struts to a lighter weight. The springs and bars were/are the same I believe.

 

I also recall reading that BMW/Mini thinned out the oil in the dampers yielding to complaints about harshness.

 

Yeah, that ring's a bell! I think that just finding some of the original struts, or some after market struts that are like them may do the trick. Thanks!

 

I have an April build '03 and that is, I believe, after the suspension
changes. However, the '04s and '05s are still a lot softer and less
responsive in the turns. I think they must have changed the bushings
and, possibly, the shock valving or oil for those models.

 

Wanda is a March '03 build, and she has the first revised suspension. I believe from Jan. '03 on, the suspension was softened.

I've been in YuccaPatrol's Fall '02-build 2003 MINI, and in sndwave's Aug. '02-build 2002, and theirs have the original tighter sports suspension.

However, I really am more comfy in Wanda's more "civilized" ride. But that's just me. She's been fantastic for the 10,000+ mile roadtrips!


Clover

 

1. "I just traded an early '03 MCS for an '05"
Cooool congrats.

2. "I notice a lot more weight transfer off the front wheels under acceleration, and the car doesn't feel as tight in the corners".

The weight transfer could (note please read all of this, only could maybe) be due to the added power and gearing. That change has you thinking about the cornering more. Did you swap out the tires on your 03 before trading it in? More likely you are on the correct path suspecting the suspension change. But it is worth will to look at everything before spending cash.

3. "Does anyone have any recommendations for getting back the kind of handling that the old sport suspension offered. Are the older type of struts and springs still available from MINI? "

As I recall the change was just with the shock settings. You could likely get everything you want, and more, by going with an aftermarket performance shock. Unless you want to change the springs to lower the car. The down side to going to the stiffer ride would be the car shaking it self appart. I think that MINI changed the settings more to protect the car that to make the ride softer. Autocross both in stock class have not said that the earlier cars have an advantage over the late cars. I understand that there could be a number of reasions that no one hasmentioned a difference in the different year cars.

4. "Note that I'm not planning to take this car on the track, and I don't want to spend any more than I have to, but I really miss the road feel of the old setup".

I think you could do everything you want with tires and shocks. Shocks first then tires when due.
John

 

Yes, that's a possibility. At the moment I'm considering what you suggest, but...
If no difference in handling has surfaced in stock autocross, maybe they successfully softened the ride without really having an impact on handling?? I wonder if its just my perception of the different feel that the car has?

If anyone with autocross experience can confirm that, I guess I can save myself a lot of $$, and just try to get used to the softer feel that the car has.

Thanks!

 

Run stock springs, install a nice set of shocks (Konis, whatever) and the H-sport rear sway bar. Then do tires if need be. That should make for a nice, all around street setup. And it would be excellent for an occasional track day, if you decide to attend one. (you should! The mini is a hoot on the track.)

adding: I would live with the car for a few weeks before doing anything. Then decide.

 

My 03 MCS has a build date of 03/03 and I changed to H-sport springs a long time ago. I have the springs in my garage. I'm going to Vegas and I can give them to you if you are going or I can give them to someone to bring back to you.

If you want them p.m. me and I'll give you my phone number and we can set it up.

Earl

 

Wow, thank you! I think I'm going to follow Monkey_Boy's advice and not go to, or put anyone else to, and trouble untill after I've lived with it a while. I'd also like to hear from any autox'ers if any difference from the earlier '03 MINIs has been noticed at the track.

I'm not sure If its just a matter of 'feel' (although I did *like* the twitchy tight feel of the older suspension). I pushed the '05 into a tight left last night for the first time, accelerating into a turn arrow gone yellow (I know....), it felt pretty good. In fact it felt better when pushed, than it does in more normal driving.

If I decide to take a wrench to it, or if I'm in S. Cal, I'll keep your offer in mind. Thanks again!

 

If you want to think about it and let me know between now and early on 3-2 I can always throw them in and take them to Vegas, give them to someone for you (if you're not going) and you can use them or throw them away.

Earl

 

i feel the same way about the suspension The JCW suspension from what i have heard is basicly the old SS+ suspension MINI of sterling sells the springs for 80.75 each and another 480 for the struts (around 800 for everything) and the JCW only lowers it 10mm that is the rout i am going because i dont want to lower the car.

 

Call the parts department at your dealer or Classic. Have them compare the part number for the early '03 and '05 for springs, shocks, anti-swaybars and bushings. That should tell you which components were changed. Then you can see which parts you need to change. Someone who has done an aftermarket suspension replacement may have all the parts you need.

Please post the results if you do find out the info.

Thanks

 

fromwhat i have been told the early suspension will not fit on an 05 thats why the JCW suspension dosnt work on 04 cars

 

Remember too that new tires take a little while to break in before they will perform. So, the 03 MINI you traded (may have) had well broken in tires, so that your comparison with the new 05 MINI will not be equitable. I know my MINI performed much better after the tires got broken in, and I just have the Continental all seasons. Now it's actually quite good, especially with SS+. :smile:

 

Thanks, but tire grip isn't my problem. I did have a little more slip with the new tires, but that's gotten better. What I miss is that solid sled-like feeling of the older 'harsh' sport suspension. You think the current sport suspension is tight... try driving an early '03 or an '02 with SS. I've been told that the JCW suspension kit duplicates (and mabe even improves on) the early SS. Of course that's about $900 in parts alone.

I'd still be interested to hear if any difference in performance has been noted on the track. It may be that, in spite of a somewhat softer feel, the current SS holds the corners about as well as the earlier version. I think I'm going to drive it through the summer, and then decide if I think its worth spending the bucks on the JCW SS kit.

 

I'm getting the JCW suspension in a month, If you're still curious, I'll let you know how I feel it performs compared to stock.

 

I was told by my Mini tech that when a group of sales and tech folk went driving the standard MSC on a track at a JCW suspension introduction event, the smallest improvement across the spectrum of drivers present was just over 2 seconds with the JCW suspension. From my perspective, assuming the above is true, the JCW suspension makes fast driving very accessible. Did I spell that correctly? Two seconds a lap is huge.

A great car makes normal idiots like me faster with having to work hard.

 

If all goes well with my Leda & camber plate mating in the next few weeks, I'll finally part with my stock suspension (SS, first week '03 - 09/06/02 build week). If interested, let me know...