As some may have seen my posting about looking for new struts for my wife's '04 Mini Cooper w/ the standard suspension, I was able to pick up a set of '06 MCS Sport Plus (Or so I was told) Struts/Springs and sucessfully retrofit them with no issues. It's a real pain in the butt to do with nothing but hand tools and jacks, but it's do-able. So if any of the MC guys are looking for alittle more with out spending alot of money on aftermarket stuff, see if you can pick up a Sport Plus set from a MCS owner. Have not had a chance to get it alligned or drive it yet, so will deffinatly follow up in a day or two.

 

Please post a review

 

Isn't there a rear brace or something additional that is needed too?

I have a set of SS+ shocks & struts from my MCS that were removed when I got the JCW suspension... I am interested in retrofitting them to an MC that just has the regular SS. I am still unclear on exactly WHAT additional parts I need to buy to make this happen! I'd rather buy the parts in advance and only have the dealer charge labor to do it (since I'm not mechanically inclined to do it myself).

 

Why do you need an alignment? Did you split the steering knuckle/ball joint?

I've done my 02 MCS and the son's 04 MC (put softer 05 in mine and my old 02 SS+ in his) and haven't had any problems. Mine I did about 33,000 miles ago and his about 3000. I take apart the lower strut pinch fitting and compress the spring, while it on the car, to get the additional clearance needed to remove it as a "unit". We also put my OEM rear sway bar on his MC, it's a bit more time consuming then the install on a MCS, but nothing that can't be overcome!

Edge - Yes to get the entire package, you should also add the rear sway bar from a MCS or of course you can go aftermarket. If you're buying used from a S owner make sure you get the bushings and clamps since the diameter of the bar has increased.

 

The alignment, is deffinatly well off from even befor all of this. Have to hold the wheel like 5* to the left to track straight.

Everything retro-fit the exact same, there is not moddification required. The only difference would be the smaller rear sway bar, but it's not required.

It also seems like the Sport Plus springs have lowered the car about .5 an inch. Drove it around alittle, but not enough to make a full report on it. Gimme a few days and ill have a follow up.

 

I did the very same mod to my wife's '05 MCC the day after New Year's. We didn't get the sport suspension when we specced her MCC so I picked up the full MCS suspension from someone here. Installed it with a 19mm H&R rear sway. Her car feels more solid now and agree that it dropped the car about 1/2". We like the way the car handles now as compared with the MCC stock bits - didn't want to go with aftermarket springs and shocks. Overall

 

Got the car aligned today and drove it around alittle; must say im extremely happy with this conversion. The car just feels so much more soild and very responcive. The only hic-up through all of this that I broke one of the hym-joins on the left front sway bar end link when taking out the origional unit. I did press the joint back together, but it seems that it's just simply broken. So when the car hits bumps, there is a little clunking noise. But all and all, im extremely happy and would say it's worth it to a MC owner looking for just alittle more.