I have a new, '06 Cooper with standard susp. I want a slight drop and more neutral handling w/o ride deterioration. It's my understanding that the newer mini's allow for some camber adjustment, & in choice of springs I'd like to avoid having to go to camber plates or other addt'l hardware to keep even tire wear, etc. After research, I'm looking at either Hsports, M7 or Eibachs for springs, and perhaps an Hsport rear bar. The M7s look great & I understand they ride well, but with that much drop I'm wondering about camber. I'll be running standard (non-rflat) tires in 205/50/16. I'm reading & hearing good things about Steve's clinic for install. Welcome input, particularly from someone who's been there & done that

 

I'm actually in the same boat as you. I have been thinking about the h-sport springs.

And I thinking about doing the webb motorsport rear sway and the m7 understrut system on the car to get that more negative feel to the car.

Also I have heard that caster/camber plates are a good thing. not really sure

 

the rears will have big camber changes, and the fronts won't, which is too bad, because the fronts need it more. Here's my reccomended way to go....

1) Front camber plates. You can drive hard and keep the tread wear even.
2) Rear sway, but don't go too aggressive unless you're a real good driver. If you go to stiff, you'll find the rear stepping out, and you may go ***-backwards. Serious pucker factor!
3) Rear adjustable lower control arms, but I don't know if the new amount of adjustability makes these redundant, I have an 02.
4) lowering springs... But if you drive hard, this will open a new can of worms. If the roads are bad, you may get bottoming issues, as the lowering uses up a bunch of strut motion.

I know this seems all screwy compared to how others have gone. I started with H-Sport springs, then the RDR camber plates, then adjustable rear control arms, then the rear sway, then Ledas, then adjustable end-links. In hindsite, I would have done it the way I wrote above, but this was based only on handling, not on looks.

Matt

 

When your changing your springs you may want to upgrade to the MCS Struts.

I have my 2005 MCS suspension for sale (Struts, Springs and rear sway bar).
It only has ~4000 miles on it.

Make Offer.

David

 

Start w/ the rear sway and Dr Obnxs is correct don't over do it. Whatever bar you get - start with the softest setting or you could get the suprise of your life. Bigger is not necessarily better. I choose the RDR 19mm bar (instead of 22mm bars) and I found that it neutralized the car (using middle setting) - I get nice 4 point drifts when called upon.

 

thanks guys - a little clarification and a few more questions. My '06 does have some rear camber adjustment capability - and I'm not a very hard driver, and I'm leaning toward the Hsports, which I understand drop just 1 inch and have the bump stops. And I'm gonna stay away from a very stiff rear bar - maybe the Hsport sport on mild setting. Finally, when I wear out the OE rubber (interestingly Pirelli 3000E summer tires not Conti all seasons), since I'm surprisingly happy with the appearance of the 15" holeys, finances permitting I'm thinking of BBSRGFs 15X7, which are about 40 offset, and 205/55/15 rubber. I'm hoping that with a mild drop on the hsport progressives, a 19mm rear bar, and that wheel/tire combo, I'll preserve good ride, improve grip and neutrality, and not need any add't'l camber adjustment hardware.

 

I had the H-Sports on my '04 and the ride was fantastic. More comfortable than the stock springs and much better handling. They have a nice drop, about an inch. I'll be doing the same on my '06. Already have the springs, now I'm just waiting for the car to arrive!

 

If you find them going much faster than the rest of the tread, you may want to step up to some camber plates, then call it done!

Matt

 

h-sport is fine, good spring rates, rear is stiffer, h-sport 25 mm comp bar is fine, you can start with the softest setting and move your way up, can also adjust the rear camber on 06s, if you are getting an 05 or an 06. Camber plates are not necessary, yet serves for more professional and serious purposes. Alignment is a must after 100-150 miles, once the springs are installed.