I am looking to slightly lower my MCS and put on some 18" rims. I would also like to know if anyone has any experiece with the equipment and if they know of any quality shops in the San Diego area to purchase and/or install the equipment. Your thoughts and help are much appreciated!

I am thinking about getting the following:

Eibach Pro Kit Spring Set

Motegi Touge 18x7.5 +45 Offset 25lbs
Yokohama Prado Spec-2
Thoughts? Concerns? Please help. I've been giving myself a headache trying to decide.

Here's my current ride: 2005 MCS 17" Rims

Help!

 

although very popluar in Europe, eibach, itself as a brand could not establish a steady reputation in North American Mini market. Keep in mind, some of different brands are simply using Eibach products and de-badging those, and Eibach is a well known and good company. 18", i love them, nothing looks as nice as 18s, tire choice is important, if you are keeping stock shocks, 215/35/18 is the way to go, and it will still rub depending on the offset of the rim on heavy spirited rides when you take a deep dip, nothing major, very minor, a 5 minute dremmelling will make everything alright, and cosmetically the area you shave will not even be visible. Yoko Pradas, never used them, but heard good things about them. Go 18s, good luck

 

Thanks for the info. I never realized how difficult a decision this is!

 

Just wanted to say that if you do go with it, I think it will look badass!

 

Thanks! I found this picture somewhere. This is the look I am hoping for:

 

that is a big guy in that MCS, are you sure its got springs

 

LOL! I could probably save some money. I'll have to go on that McDonalds diet!

 

Just my personal opinion but after getting my MCS last year I looked at what most people were using as far as springs and found out that H-sport springs are used more than any other so I went with them. Thought about getting M7 springs but I wanted more performance out of my set up, although they are used by many Nam members as well. Two months ago I bought some 17" Motegi FF7s and put some Goodyear F1-GS-D3 215/45/17's on them. Right off the bat I had a small problem with rubbing in the rears. A week later I new what I really wanted to have was a set of 18's and bought a set that had a 42 offset and put some Pirelli Zero Neros 215/35/18's on them. I have had no rubbing what so ever carving thru the local back roads putting a very heavy load on the springs and even with three passengers still have had no rubbing. With tires there are some very aggressive rubber compounds and tred patterns but the down side for every day driving is that they are very noisy and don't last very long(from what I've read) so in my case of wanting the best of all worlds ie:good performance,good looks and long lifeand quiet, I went for the set up I have now. I plan to buy a set of 16 inch rims and tires for track use and canyon carving. Bottom line is, read as many post as you can about what people like and why they like it. For me,I have just the right set up. I live in SD and use Lut's tires on Market street. They installed my springs and did my alignment. They have been doing all my work for years and I'm very happy with them. Ask for Mike. Good luck with what ever you do .

 

Thanks for the response! So in your opinion, if I got the 18" Motegi's and the Pirelli Zero Neros 215/35/18's do you think I'd experience any rubbing? The Motegi Touge's list a +45 offset.

Market Street huh? I'd have to go armed!

Thanks again.

 

If the Motegi's are a +45 off set you will have more room then I have. Mine are Enkie J10s with a +42 off set and with the Pirelli's I don't rub at all. With the springs, the camber is changed in the back (not the front) making the wheel tilt in at the top of the wheel tucking it in just right. All lowering springs will do this although there are products to change that as well. Here are a couple of shots of the wheels. I don't think this show's the effects very well but It might give you an idea of how it will look with H-sports. They say M7 springs drop the car 1.3 inches as apposed to 1" for the H-sports. They have a little bit softer ride though. I wanted a spring that was more sport oriented. No guns needed for Lut's..........Maybe a knife LOL.

 

That looks just like I want! I really like that look. I almost bought a pepper white. Your info and pics were very helpful. I'm afraid to tweak my "baby" too much.

So I know a ballpark price and so I don't get taken... what is a reasonable price for the installation of the springs? Thanks again!

A knife huh? LOL!

 

When they installed the springs I also had them do an alignment as well(very inportant). I think is was some where around $300.00 maybe a little less. I would call around for sure to get different prices. I went with Lut's because they are very close to me and I have gone to them for years now and I can trust them to do a great job. They have a guy named Terry that does the work and he is very good.

 

Paulie thank you very much for the help. You've made my life much easier! Enjoy the weekend.

 

when you do any type of lowering it is highly recommended to drive the car as is for 100-150 miles before the alignment

 

Is that so it can settle in? Scuderia, I just checked out your gallery and the ride looks great. What springs did you use?

 

correct h-sports, used to be on those pics.

 

Here is the finished product! I would like to thank pauliekeys for the suggestions and referring me to a great shop: Lutz Tires in San Diego.

I went with the Eibach Pro-Kit and added in the Koni shocks. I got incredible service and advice from ASI (www.shox.com)! They gave me a package deal on the springs and shocks.

During the install, I only had one problem, the shop accidentally gave me the wrong shocks. This was determined by the mechanic at Lutz. ASI, where I purchased the shocks, took time out of their day to drive about 20 miles to deliver the correct shocks to the shop. Very cool!

I highly recommend Lutz and ASI (www.shox.com). Here are the before and after pics:

Oh, as soon as I get my 17" S-Lites cleaned, I'll be posting them for sale. They are Pirelli run-flats with only 5,200 miles on them.

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