I am considering replacing my OEM shocks with Koni FSDs. I currently have H-sport springs. I have talked with two people with the FSD / H-sport set up and they both love it; better handling and less jarring over small bumps. Any comments about this combo or Koni FSDs with stock shocks would be appreciated.

 

I'll be able to comment on FSDs with stock springs in a few days. Just need to find the time to install...

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=68426

 

I’ve used stock springs over FSDs and have spent 25,000 miles on H-Sports over stock struts. I enjoyed the H-Sports in the beginning but grew to dislike them over time; way too much contact with the bump stops after the 10,000 mile mark. The FSDs are a firm ride overall and in some ways a bit excessive compared to stock rates. As the marketing says they do handle sharp movements amazingly well but the firmness makes itself known over smooth highway cruising. The struts are well matched to the stock springs and will provide the best compromise for daily performance; I highly recommend that combo. I’m now using stiffer springs that give up some of the comfort characteristics but excel at performance during that 5% of the time I’m pushing limits on the street.

 

Installed Koni FSDs (w/ stock springs) on my 05 MCSC last weekend.
While I was at it: Repaired passenger side strut tower mushrooming, added M7 strut brace, rotated runflats front to back.

Impressions of the FSDs: Broken pavement and slightly raised manhole covers now cause a “thump” rather than the crashing sound/sensation with the stock struts. Washboard surfaces like a road that has been ribbed in preparation for repaving used to make the whole car shake – now it’s remarkably quiet and composed. Deep potholes are taken slightly better but not a huge difference here. High speed cornering is about the same. Highway tracking seems a bit better. Overall they have provided a measure of comfort gain I was looking for. Still likely to go with non runflats when the originals wear out.

 

I would be especially interested in hearing from anyone with Koni FSD's who can compare ride and handling with and without 19mm or 22mm rear swaybar on a Cooper S.

 

I agree with everything MassMini said, I put mine on a few days ago. I don't have a sway bar though, & am also using stock springs, so can't help you guys there...

 

I thought the FSDs were very soft on bumpy roads? Are you talking about the yellows?

 

I agree totally. I had my FSD on 05 mcs with stock springs for several months now and the only thing I don't like about it is the firmness over smooth roads.

 

I honestly haven't noticed that issue at all with mine. My experience has been uniformally positive (FSDs with stock springs and 19mm rear sway)

 

More impressions: (FSDs installed for 6 days) Last night I drove a dirt/gravel road (entrance to playing fields) which I used to dread for the shaking and noise it would cause. With the FSDs it was a night and day difference.

 

Sounds like these are becoming a love 'em or hate 'em kind of item.

 

I don't know how you arrived at that conclusion. The only less than completely positive comment is that the FSD is stiff over smooth roads. Actually some people would like that for the handling. It is quite remarkable that the FSD will do that yet be soft over bumps. My experience is overwhelmingly positive and it is hard for me to imagine someone preferring stock.

 

It's just my opinion. Take it or leave it. I'm guessing you'll leave it.

I will be getting these sometime in the near future. I look forward to loving them.

 

this makes me

 

My comments were observations and not meant as negative feedback, firmness is a characteristic. There is a difference between hard and harsh. I know it’s difficult to fathom how a strut can be compliant over sharp bumps and non-compliant over dips in the road but these struts are not conventional. As I said, I highly recommend the FSDs with stock springs combo.

I’m using the Konis with JCW springs now and have given up on micro analyzing its performance; I’m “in love” so objectivity is no longer relevant. If the stock spring period was the courtship, the JCW spring combo is the honeymoon for me.

 

yeah, I think you're the one I saw that the FSD+JCW spring combo. Sounds righteous.

 

I'm not saying the FSDs are bad, they soak up the bumps really well. It is just my observation they were more firm (bouncy) compared to stock when driving on smooth roads.

 

We've got a set of FSD's in the garage for a car we haven't even bought yet.

 

Someone told me that with FSD's you can't have aftermarket springs... is that true?

 

...which is the original point of this thread. Anyone using FSDs with H-sport springs

 

>> Yes I am using H-Sport Springs and FSD's. Both were installed by a BMW/MINI Tech and the combo is very good. Big difference between this set up and the stock set up. Better ride and great handling on the street.

>> MINIMAX

 

Anyone know if these FSDs fit an early '02
Nevermind. Koni says the cutoff is March '02. I made it by 2 months.

 

Mini 02-06 Cooper, Cooper S (production date on or after 3/02)

For models with sway bar attached to strut body. FSD kit must be used with stock height suspension.

http://www.koni-na.com/products.cfm

I'd be willing to bet you could make them work if you updated the sway bar end links. Personally I haven't used them I am running Koni Sports.

 

Thanks.
I definitely plan on staying stock height or at most using the JCW springs.