Any thoughts which would be better?

2006 MSC /wJCW, R99 wheels, Toyo T1R tires...

 

That's a no-brainer. One is smart suspension that knows the difference between cornering and potholes, and can even react to a pothole in a corner. The other is a dumb suspension that can only be set for one dimension (you can substitute the JCW for all other shocks here as well). One has a name and reputation that defies any other suspension make. One will make you forget that your MCS rattles and will make you forget you once avoided every bump and crack on the road. One costs a lot less too, I think?

Here's my before/after with FSDs (scale 1-10; 10=best)

Cornering: before-7 after-9
Ride quality: before-5 after-9

Lowering springs and/or coilovers

Cornering: before-7 after-9
Ride quality: before-5 after-4

 

So you think the koni fsd's ride better than coilovers? I would of thought that coilovers woiuld ride better than just shocks and springs. What coils have you tried?

 

Keep in mind that the Koni FSD's aren't intended to be used with a lowered suspension. If you plan on installing some H-sports or something like that, it may not be the way to go.

 

KW (both) and Bilstein PSS9s. Great on a billiard table smooth road. Where does that exist? Problem is the damping range is biased for cornering. That's not ideal for ride quality. My FSDs also make the MCS handle like it's on rails. Absolutely no diving into corners. Plus, I get to blast over bumps and railroad tracks like I'm in a BMW 3er. Money was not a factor in my decision. I thought long and hard over the Bilsteins or Koni coilovers (best bang for buck). But I hate the standard ride quality so I opted for the FSDs. I knew they'd be great, but they're far better than I expected in both cornering and ride quality. I'm blown away thrilled in one respect, and unhappy in that MINI could have and should be installing these as standard. They would certainly help tire companies sell more runflats.

 

Will the koni fsd's work with the jcw springs?

 

they should work fine, however i do not think that the JCW springs lower the car visible enough, so i say is it worth it?

 

Hello,

I am probably going to go with a JCW suspension package w/o the shocks.
Think the Koni FSD's sound good marketing wise. Has anyone had experience with the FSD on an 07 MCS or other sport car?

Hearing so many bad comments on the sport suspension, not so on JCW.
But do not plan on doing track days. Just want a sweet ride on rogh roads as well performance when needed.

I will ask Koni about the shorter springs w/JCW than stock. If they respond to email.

 

I think that the JCW suspension is pretty good but it is a little firm and does not lower the car as much as some other aftermarket springs. On my 03 MCS I had H&R springs and stock shocks. On my 06 GP and have JCW springs and shocks. The JCW springs (on the GP) appear to have a higher spring rate than my H&R springs. I like the JCW springs/shocks better than the H&R springs and stock shocks. When I talked to Koni, they did not recommend the FSD with the H&R lowering springs, they suggested adjustable Koni yellows when using the shorter springs.

Your posts states JCW suspension vs Koni FSD but it is not clear to me what you are trying to compare. When you state JCW suspension do you mean JCW springs and JCW shocks? When you state Koni FSD, what springs do you plan to use with the shocks? It is the combination of spring rate and shock that is important. Also, you need to consider the type of driving you plan for the car and how low you want the car.

For a daily driver that you want just a little lower, the JCW spring and FSD shocks would work well. I think that the FSD would be fine with the only slightly shorter spring. That would make sense if you already have JCW springs and are just upgading shocks. If you are buying springs, you can probably find equivalent springs at less price.

 

I had the TSW springs with the FSDs and it was a great daily driver setup and even did fairly well at the track.

 

How many miles did you put on that setup? What made you get rid of it? I ask because I'm considering this same setup.

 

Maybe 20K and we went to the Cross because we wanted more performance at the track. I sold the struts to BlimeyCabrio (I think) and someone else bought the springs.

 

Koni FSDs + H-sport springs have been on my 2005 MCS for about two years and they have been awesome.

 

Yep - and I'm still lovin the FSD's - perfect for my needs - about to add TSW springs to drop it a bit and will be golden.