i need your advice. i have a 2006 MCSa which has been modded with HDI intake, M7 pulley and M7 exhaust. i want to tweak the suspension next. i don't track the car but do drive aggresively on the street. please suggest the ideal spring/strut combo. i will also be upgrading the rear bar. i don't mind spending the cash for the perfect set-up. thanks in advance.

 

For me it would be a 18mm rear bar & a set of Koni FSD's on stock springs. I'd also replace the runflats with a set of performance tires. Although the stock suspension is pretty good as is, but I'm not an aggressive street driver. This is one of those questions that everyone has their own opinion on.

Edit....Make that a 19mm rear bar.

 

I decided to go for the Megan coilovers and HSport rear bar. I am happy with them. Although i've only had them installed for a couple of weeks. Money no object... I might have considered other pricier alternatives like Bilstein. But not sure about the "perfect" setup.

 

I am very happy with the H-sport springs, H-sport 19 mm rear sway bar, rear camber links and most importantly, my latest addition, Koni FSD shocks. Scott, the owner of Central Coast Coopers in Oxnard, CA (877-885-MINI) has tried a zillion different street set ups on his own MCS and settled with the FSDs with lowering springs. Give Scott a call. He is a MINI owner / enthusiast, SCMM club member and loves to talk MINI suspension. He will even let you drive his car.

 

try a stickier tire first.

 

I didnt know you could lowering springs on the fsd's it specifically says for stock springs

 

A bunch of us in L.A. are running lowering springs with FSDs and the combo works great. They work fine as long as the lowering is no more than 1 inch. Check with Scott at Central Coast Coopers in Oxnard, CA (877-885-MINI) for the whole scoop on this set up.

 

Here's my ideal street setup :

- Good set of tires
- Rear swaybar (19mm should be enough)
- Lowering springs (progressive spring rate)
- Koni shocks

 

...don't forget the camber kit up front and lower rear links.