Any word????

Ignore my post - I saw MassMini's response. I must be getting sun fever.

 

So what did he (MassMini) say? Last I saw, MassMini was going to post back after installing the FSDs with the stock springs?

Please ignore my post. I must be getting sun fever. My appologies for the mix-up.

 

Highly recommend losing the runflats - losing the runflats in my opinion is the single most effective fix for ride harshness.

 

I already had rear, lower camber control arms and had the rear camber set at -1.9 deg. The installation of the FSDs today seemed to change the front tow a bit. Scott recommended that I wait about 500 miles for everything to settle. After that I probably will have my alignment checked.

 

Non-runflats have multiple benefits, but for ride harshness alone I feel that the FSDs have greater effect.

 

I can't speak to the FSDs because I am still running the o.e.m. Delphi shocks. But, I do have experience with the runflats (and losing them): My MCSa came from the factory with the 17 inch runflats. The ride harshness was just too much - after a short ride, my neck would spasm from a whiplash injury sustained in a previous lifetime. I was on the verge of selling the car due to the ride harshness. As a last resort, I called Alex at Tirerack and he suggested replacing the runflats with non-runflats, dropping an inch in the wheel size and going to a slightly taller cross section (/45 -> /55). Since I was going to get new wheels, I figured what the hey, lets try the SSRs. When the tires arrived and I mounted them, just pulling out of the garage, I could notice an immediate improvement in ride harshness. There is a seam between the level of the garage floor and the driveway that is about 1/2 of an inch - going over that seam with the runflats would start the neck spasming. With the non-runflats the seam was a non-issue.

Maybe the ultimate ride harshness solution would be Koni FSDs & non-runflat tires in 16 inch size????

 

I did both -- put on FSDs, as well as non-runflats (215-45/17). *MASSIVE* difference. I think it's worth making both changes. I didn't get to drive the car a whole lot between putting the FSDs on and putting the non runflats on, but my impression is that the FSDs make the most difference on potholes, bumps, bad roads etc. with the improvement on smooth roads being more subtle, while putting on the non runflats softened out the ride over smooth roads as well.

 

This is really good feedback! A set of FSDs may be in the near future for me as well. Would you say that the FSDs solved the ride bump that occurs when you go over an expansion joint that has "shifted" (more likely, it was installed wrong in the first place, but that is another matter) to the degree that the joint creates about a 3/4" - 1" bump on an otherwise smooth road? There are a number these joints in my neck of the woods and that is the only complaint that remains for me. The tire swap has made the expansion joint bumps tolerable; but if it is possible, I would like to have that become a non-issue too.

 

Well, I use the FSDs with 15 inch SSR wheels and non-runflat tires (runflats not available in 15" anyway). I have high performance summer tires (Michelin Exalto PE2). If I wanted to even further smooth the ride, I could use lower performance all-season touring tires (softer sidewalls).

I agree with MrT-Man's description. The greatest effect of the FSDs is in handling road bumps and potholes, and that includes expansion joints. The FSDs greatly reduce the sharpness of the jolt when you hit a bump or pothole. They should give you a very nice improvement for expansion joints. An added bonus is that the car handles better while going over bumps and road imperfections.

 

Did anyone who installed FSD's, install m7's UCS as well? Do you think that this would help additonally or its not necessay.

 

It's a bit tricky for me to fully isolate the FSD effect vs. non-runflat effect because, again, I took off the runflats very shortly after getting the FSDs installed... but yeah, my impression is that the FSDs would smoothen out expansion joint bumps. I mean it's not going to turn the Mini into a Buick, but overall with both changes the ride went from being crazy harsh to very satisfactory -- much more akin to what a typical sporty car is like.

 

I installed the M7 USS after I already had the FSDs for several months. The USS made a nice improvement in my convertible's handling, but I would say that it did not change the ride quality significantly.

 

I had KONI FSDs installed w/ Hsport springs by Central Coast Coopers in Oxnard, CA on Saturday and had the wheels aligned today at EF1 Motorsports in Signal Hill, CA.

This is the best mod I have done so far (..OK maybe tied with the 15% pulley). The car feels more like a junior BMW M3 now, it is no longer harsh over uneven roads and handles significiantly better.

If you want more info - I can't stop talking about the FSDs send me a PM and I'll give you my phone #

 

I'm sure hoping so.

My OEM struts will EOL ASAP so SYLA POS Delphis I'm going FSD & JCW.

 

There is a very long way to go before the MINI becomes a Buick.... Personally, I don't think it is physicall possible (to turn a MINI into a Buick). But what I am most interested in is being able to tune the MINI's suspension into something that is the best of both worlds - excellent handling without ride harshness. I was able to do that in a past lifetime with a GTI; I would like to repeat the experience with the MINI. It really sounds like the last step is to add the FSDs. Any idea who has the best price on a set of FSDs?

 

Presumably your alignment was set to stock specs for Toe and Camber?

 

I had the toe and camber set to:

1. Front camber:

 

Alignment:

Front camber -0.7 deg
Front toe +0.17 deg
Rear camber -1.9 deg
Rear toe +0.22 deg

All within specs with rear camber on the aggressive end (stock specs: -1.4 to -2.1)

 

...WTF..LOL..please spell out the acronyms so us old dudes know what you're talking about

 

...I am under the impression that the FSDs cannot - should not - be used with lowering springs. I've seen a few use the FSDs with the JCW springs, but I would place the H-Sports in a true lowering spring category.

 

quoted myself so you can read it

 

Koni recommends the FSD's for use with the stock springs only. That's the way I'm running mine.

While the initial performance may be ok with h-sports, I am quite curious to see the effect of 25,000+ miles on that set-up.

 

I am running FSD's now with stock springs on my 03 MCS. The ride is much better with no sacrifice in anything except my wallet and a long weekend. I think they are also slightly quieter although I mixed other mods so it is hard to tell. I was already on non-runflats, but very short ones 16" 40 series. BTW 16" 40 series non runflats ride better than 17" 45 series runflats and are much lighter and cheaper.
Wes

 

Koni mentioned that the FSD / spring combo should be OK as long as the springs don't drop the car more than one inch. The FSD / H-sport drops the car less than 1 inch and by using the shorter Hsport bump stops you regain most of the OEM strut travel. Scott at Central Coast Coopers has had this set-up for over 12,000 miles and going strong. The ride and handling is so improved that I would have still done this even if only good for 15-20,000 miles - YES - IT IS THAT AMAZING. Give Scott a call at Central Coast Coopers (877-855-MINI). He is far more knowledgeable about this than I am and he will let you drive his car.