I am in a search for a new mini, and every now and then I stumble upon a cooper in the lot, and of course the paper doesnt list official "MINI" options. My question is, how can you tell whether the car has SS+ on it? (assuming it where a cooper, of course.) Is there something distinguishable that you can notice when you look at the susp? I test drove one also, and I couldnt tell whether it had it or not.

Also, what is the mechanical difference between the standard SS and the SS+?

 

Your best bet is to get under the rear of the MC and look at the rear sway bar. If it is 17mm in diameter then it is SS+ and if it is less then you have the normal suspension which includes a smaller diameter rear swaybar.

 

So the only difference in SS and SS+ is the sway bar size?

 

The springs are different inaddition to the sway bar. As to what springs you have will depend upon the options on the car (weight of options such as sunroof will get you stiffer springs). There's a post or two on MINI2 somewhere that discloses the information as to the PN for the springs you'd get with the different options.

 

I believe the springs are different, too.

 

What about shocks? The deal was that if I either bought a MCS or MC I was going to do a sway bar and/or spring upgrade, and the non ss+ sort of throws a kink into things.

 

Springs are different as well. A SS+ MC will have the same hight at the rear bumper as a MCS. That is the SS+ sits lower than the standard sport suspension. I am not sure but think the shocks are different as well. All that said, it would be tough the tell if a car has SS+ unless you know how the MC next to it is equiped. The ride hight is not enough to notice when the car is sitting alone in a lot. Knowing the front or rear sway bar diameter is likely the quickist way of finding out.

There might be a difference in the GWV rating on the tag in the door, anyone know? If there is that would be the best bet. No crawling through the mud.
John

 

dont know if there is more; but the miniusa website says there are different sways and springs.

 

Get the VIN call MINIUSA and ask how the car was equipped from the factory.

 

Sorry I answered only half your question. Looking at the rear bar diameter is an easy check. SS+ is 17mm and SS is 16 mm.

SS in MC vs SS+ in MC-
The parts are different for front sway bar, rear sway bar, struts, and springs.
For part numbers see
http://www.mini2.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52608

Or from Cristo:
"you can look at the sticker on the shocks. SS says Cooper with
part # 31-30-6-759-245 front ...-246 rear
and SS+ says Cooper S with
part #31-30-6-759-247 front ...-248 rear."

 

How important is the strut, and what effect does it have on the cars handeling?

 

When I bought my Cooper, it listed SS+ on the sticker.

 

I emailed MINIUSA on this issue, and they claimed it was only springs and sways. What about the struts?

 

>SS+ is 17mm and SS is 16 mm.

Minihune- can I really tell the difference of one mm diameter difference just by looking at it? :smile:

 

The easiest way is to get either a 16mm or 17mm open end fixed wrench and have it handy. Then when you check the rear bar just put the end of the wrench onto the bar and see if it fits or not and you will know if you have a 16mm rear bar or not.



Another way is to get a cardboard and cut a 17mm open slot out of it and use it like an open ended wrench to measure the rear bar.

 

I just use a caliper.