I've read up on the Koni FSDs, and decided that I'm going to go this way with my new JCW MCS (should be here in a week or so). Based on comments from some other owners, I'm thinking that combining the Koni FSDs with H-Sport springs might be the way to go. The H-Sport's drop the MINI by 1", and include new bump stops (which others have said are about 1" shorter) -- I"m guessing that this allows the shocks to maintain the same travel distance, and should keep the FSDs happy (which aren't recommended for shorter suspension travel).

Some questions:
1) Will this work? Do the H-Sport bump stops really give the shocks full travel?
2) Do I need to worry about camber here at all? I've never lowered a car before, so I'm wondering if a 1" drop will affect the wheel camber angle at all...
3) Do you guys scrape over speed bumps with a 1" drop? I'd like to go for the drop (looks nice), but do worry about it as I have to drive over a few speed bumps every day to/from work...

Other comments/ideas are welcome!

 

Fogot to add this:

4) Will I have any issues with rubbing/etc. running OEM 18" wheels (i.e. the black JCW rims) and runflats? What about when the shocks compress (i.e. going over bumps)?

 

hey blammo, the fsd shocks are suppose to be match with the stock springs because they were design for the stock shock travel and stock spring rates. using shorter bump stops is a neat idea, but h-sports are definitly have higher spring rates than the stock ones i don't know how its going to affect the shock's performance... i know theres this one person running h&r or eibach springs with the fsd shocks... but don't know his name sorry.

 

Hi blammo!! Welcome to the MINI community!

In know you are eager, but I highly recommend you enjoy your new JCW for a brief "break-in" and "get-acquainted" period before you start modding. You may answer some of your own questions through the experience.

In the meantime, recommend you do a search on FSD's here on NAM. Also, look thoroughly into lowering. There is a lot of discussion already here on both subjects.
I just got FSD's and I love 'em, but with stock '04 MCS "sport" springs. I thought and read for months about lowering. In the end, I shared your concern about scraping, so I have NOT lowered my '04 MCS, since I am happy with the handling of the car, and the "look" of 1" lower just doesn't impress me that much. I have about 35000 miles, and have plenty of "favorite" driveways, parking lots, etc., on which I already scrape the bottom of the front bumper cover ; and since it is a daily commuter (not just "driver") I really did not want to have to worry about every little thing that even one inch lower would bring with it.

The other things that kept me out of the lowered bunch was a decision that if I DID decide to lower it, then to make a real visual impact risked a poorer ride than it had already; and that I would need to invest in more than just short springs to make it work right: camber plates and control arms: no minor additional expense.

I have added a 19mm (Alta) rr sway bar; but that and the FSDs are the only suspension mods I've made. I'm considering an m7 USS for "phase 2" suspension mod.

"Maybe some day" camber plates and adjustable control arms and other hot stuff for "phase 3" but that won't be until it's paid for, I'm out of warranty, and I do nothing but auto-x it and take it to H competitions (I will tow it on a trailer behind my '08 or '09 MINI. )

 

Hi MD. I'm not planning to do the suspension right away - probably a month or more after I get the car, at the earliest (must get the finances in order first). I'm also planning to spend some time with my MCS in order to decide if I really want to lower it or not (from the pictures I've seen, I think it would look better, but you never know until you're driving it everyday).

The FSDs, however, I'm definitely planning to do... I'm thinking about lowering also, as the H-Sport springs are only about $200 or so, and I'm guessing installation won't be much more than doing the FSDs alone. And adding the FSDs should improve the ride considerably (as you commented based on your own experience); I'm guessing the stiffer (?) H-Sport springs may just tighten it up a little more, but not to the point where it will be a real rough ride.

Anyway, still thinking about it... will talk with an install shop first (Steve's Auto Clinic in LA) first before making the decision...

 

Blammo,

I have been debating on lowering my car for sometime but am going to keep the stock height on my MCSa. There are just too many dips and driveways I encounter in my daily commute and I wouldn't be able to go up or down without scraping. Anyway, your JCW should ride slightly lower than with the factory Sport Suspension package and with 18" wheels your ride will be fairly stiff already. From what I have read and researched, the FSD's will work with the JCW springs but Koni does not recommend using the FSD's with any springs lower than the JCW.

I too will be adding some FSD's in the near future and Steve's has performed my mods to my MINI. He is very knowledgable, reasonably priced and a really good guy. Give him a call when you are ready.

Good luck and enjoy your new ride.

 

FYI, the H-sports actually might NOT be stiffer.

Unless they have changed the spec, they are progressive rate, as are all of the other lowering springs offered by various aftermarketeers. I don't recall the rates of the various lowering springs, now; but I believe the stock springs are stiffer than most of them, and -- in '04, at least -- the MCS stock springs were linear rather than progressive rate.

 

Hi Mark, you're right in that the H-Sports look like they're progressive springs with a softer damping at the low end. This might (?) actually improve the ride, as the FSDs can better soak up the road impurities (i.e. the small high-frequency waviness on the freeways out here), while providing a stiffer response to high-speed cornering (where the car would start to lean more). That's a theory, anyway...

A major part of my wanting to get FSDs is that I kind of want to stick with runflats -- I'm paying for a brand-new set of 18" ones, and I think it's kind of neat (and safe) to have a car with them... The FSDs seem to improve the ride substantially (to the point where many don't seem to mind the runflats)...

As for lowering, I will definitely drive the car a bit with the stock sport suspension to see if I scrape/etc. over speedbumps and driveways... I still think my MCS would look pretty sweet lowered a little bit (especially with the 18" black wheels), but it will be a daily driver. I guess I could go for the JCW springs (which only drop it 1 cm = <0.5"), but I was thinking that the H-Sports might be better as they still keep the full suspension travel. I guess I will talk it over with Steve when I take my car in to get the lower aero grill installed...

BTW, can anyone comment on the camber issues? Do you have to worry about that when lowering (1" or less)?

 

Steve is a great source for what you need to know. Ask him about these issues. I'll bet the run-flats wouldn't be so bad with the FSDs, but I never ran them at the same time.