So i have heard every possibile scenario. "the MCS will be lowered more", the "MC is lowered more by springs".."they are both the same".

So what is the truth? When you put the same set of springs on an MCS and on an MC do they lower the same amount? People have stated that the weight difference, and difference in weight placement will change the amount. Is this true?

I know that my friends cooper S was lower on h-sport springs than my MC was on H&R's which shouldn't make sense since the h-sports are the less agressive lowering number. Does that back up the fact that the MCS will be lowered more than an MC?

Most companies post different "after" heights for each model too, although some say the MC is lower while others say the MCS is lower.

I'm just curious to see what is going to happen when i transfer my MC's springs onto the new MCS that i ordered. Sorry it this was discussed elsewhere, i tried a search.

 

From what i understand, the suspension mounting locations are essentially the same between both cars. The differences is, how much the car drops from what it started at.

just for example, not hard numbers here:

MC = stock height
MCS stock height is MC - 1/2"

So if you get a spring 1" drop spring, it will bring the MC down 1" where as a MCS will only come down .5 using the same spring.

Those who know, am I udnerstanding this correctly?

 

Or could it be that since the MCS starts out a half inch lower, and they both drop an inch, the MCS is obviously still a half inch lower?

 

Well i have an example.

I have seen a MCS with h-sports and it looked rather low. The rear tire was right up in the wheel well. I saw H-sports on an MC and there was a pretty big tire gap.

Although what you guys are saying is what i have heard as well.

 

maybe I'm just seeing things.....but the MCS looks like it has way less space in the wheel well...

But this is JeffC's (M|U) MC with h-sports and 17s


HEre is Konky's (M|U) MCS with h-sports and 17s

 

I'm with you, it's different.

My MC with 15's lowered on h-sports.

 

DiD you are running close to stock spec tires right?

The above theory also doesnt make sense with the fact that many companies say that the MCS lowers MORE than the MC. If the MCS starts lower, it will lower less if the springs lower both cars to the same height.

 

Correct, they are 205/55 R15 which is very close to the stock diameter (not undersized like your 205/50 R15)

 

Hmmm... so when they say this are they referring to the MC without the SS+ or with it? Given the same springs, presumably the MCS, as it is heavier would wind up a slightly lower than an MC due to higher sprung weight although compared to a stock MC the overall drop with be less. Of course a loaded up MC might drop to a ride height below a no option MCS. The difference in the MC versus MCS h-sport pix suggests something else may be going on, are the springs the same or different?

If they are the same, there may be another explanation. I was just re-reading Herb Adams Suspension book the other day and one of the things he mentions is that springs take some time to break in and that the ride height on a new install of springs can be as much as an inch higher than after a month or two of use. Perhaps one car is a very recent install versus one thats been installed for a while. Adams actually suggests that if you're lowering your car for street use, the best thing to do to achieve the precise ride height you want is to cut the stock springs, as they're already broken in and won't drop further over time.

 

I knowticed that the springs that came on our MC with the standard suspension packages was about a 1/2 inch taller than the Sport Plus springs that I replaced them off an MCS. Accordingly our MC has been dropped alittle, and would guess around a half inch with out any actualy measurments. So I would think that both the MC and MCS will lower to the same hieght, just the MCS' drop is less dramatic.

 

My guess is that the lowering will be different between MC, MCS, MCC and MCSC depending on the springs used (i.e., the spring constant), the shocks installed (each model has different stock shocks) and the vehicle weight (each has a different curb weight with the cabrios being slightly heavier). All the drops I see quoted are for the MCS.

Your mileage may vary?