I posted this in the general information forum yesterday, but I'm told it really belongs here. I've shortened it, since the earlier post was probably way too long.

I recently bought my second Mini S, a 2004 S with 40k on it, from the second owner. The first owner had done a lot of work on the car, but the second owner had no documentation of any of the work and very little idea exactly what had been done.

Among other things, the car came with 16" BBS wheels, Pirelli Nero Zero tires and lowering springs which appear to have dropped it between 1.5" and 2" in the rear and about 1" in the front. The problem is that the car rides like a g-d brick - on smoothe roads its OK, and it seems to handle better than my wife's Mini (although a rear sway bar would probably help), but hit a pot hole or any kind of bump in the road, and it'll just about knock your fillings out.

I've looked under the car (on the ground, since I don't have access to a lift) and I'm fairly certain the shocks are the originals. However, I can't tell what make or size the springs are. They're medium green, and the fronts have white letters on about the third winding saying " 29 313 VA." They also have smaller white letters about two windings further up, but I can't get close enough to make out what they say, even with a magnifying glass. The rear shocks appear to have more windings than the fronts and to be a slightly smaller in diameter, but they have no writting on them that I can see.

So I have two questions: (1) can anyone identify the springs with the information I have, and (2) given that I'd like to keep the car lowered but get a somewhat softer ride and the best possible handling, should I be looking to replace the springs, the shocks, or both?

T.I.A.

Chris Burdett

Mine: CAI (probably a K&N), four additional gauges - boost, oil pressure, voltmeter and water temp., Alta catch can, a 15% or 17% pulley (the guy I bought it from said there wasn't a pulley at all, but Eric at Helix says that it has to be one or the other since it's putting out just over 15 lbs of boost at maximum throttle), heavier ignition wires and a Remus cat-back exhaust.

My wife's 2003: ALTA CAI & tube, Milltek cat-back exhaust, Helix 15% pully and chip, Helix adjustible rear swaybar, and BBS wheels with Goodyear F1s.

 

shorten it once more please..

 

Take a look at the marketplace. Ppl buy lowering springs all the time and want to sell the OEM. I'd just pick up some OEM springs and put it back to stock. The shocks should be fine

 

if you want to keep the current ride height, and want a better ride, get Koni FSD shocks

 

Or just get HSport progressive springs. They sounds like Tein springs.