North American Motoring

Mini Cooper 2001-2006: Suspension Modifications

There are many different suspension modifications you can make to your 1st Gen Mini Cooper, but how do you know which one(s) to do?

By Jeffrey Smith - June 24, 2016

This article applies to the 1st Gen Mini Cooper (2001-2006).

Are you looking for ways to make your 1st Gen MINI Cooper stand out from the crowd? Perhaps you aren't necessarily looking for power upgrades yet but would like to start improving the handling. There are many different avenues you can take to make your car feel like you are riding on rails or simply make the ride more comfortable. Where do you start, and how can you achieve that feeling you are looking for? Read on for various suspension modifications to help you discover what it is you want.

Lowering your Mini is one of the more popular upgrades made to the suspension of your beloved.
Figure 1. Lowering your Mini is one of the more popular upgrades made to the suspension of your beloved.

Suspension Modifications

Suspension modifications are some of the more expensive jobs you can have a pro do which is a shame because they are also some of the easiest to do on your own. The most difficult aspect is simply having the muscle to get old parts off and put new ones on. The suspension not only takes a beating, but is also largely unprotected from the nasty stuff on the road today, which causes rust and grime to really make them nearly permanently mounted. The only special tool you may need is a spring compressor, which can be rented or borrowed, and a liberal amount of elbow grease and PB Blaster.

Rear Swaybar Upgrade

Figure 2. Adding a rear swaybar will greatly enhance your handling

DIY Cost – $200

Professional Cost – $450 - $500

Skill Level – Easy; There are no special tools needed, just time and elbow grease.

Swapping out your stock rear swaybar with a high performance version will make an amazing difference in the way your Cooper handles the twisties. If you didn't know any better, you'd think you got into the wrong car. This will make your steering so responsive, you will think you are in a high performance muscle car. Many owners lament the fact that they did not do this modification the day they purchased their MINI. This mod will take about three hours to complete on your own, but it is pretty straightforward and relatively easy to do.

Coilovers

Figure 3. Coilovers will make a big difference in the ride and handling of your MINI.

DIY Cost – $1,000 - $2,700

Professional Cost – $2,500 - $5,000

Skill Level – Moderate; This job requires the use of a spring compression tool which is potentially dangerous.

Coilovers can greatly enhance the ride feel and handling of your Cooper. While a swaybar will make a very large difference in handling, the coilovers will greatly enhance the ride feel and, to a slightly less degree, the handling characteristics. If you get an adjustable set, you can really tune her in to get that soft or stiff ride feel that you've been looking for.

Front Control Arm Bushings

Figure 4. Front control arm bushings will let you barrel into turns.

DIY Cost – $75 - $100

Professional Cost – $1,000 or more

Skill Level – Easy; Requires a lot of elbow grease.

Front control arm bushings will tighten up the front end and make the steering more responsive, but will also add a bit of harshness to the ride. This does allow you to take turns and corners much faster than you ever though you could. Add a rear swaybar to this mix and you'll have a car that's track ready and waiting for your heavy foot.

Shocks and Struts

Figure 5. Shocks and struts can be done relatively inexpensively and will add a world of difference.

DIY Cost – $200 and up

Professional Cost – $500 - $1,500

Skill Level – Easy; No special tools are required.

Upgrading your shocks and struts is a fast and easy way to really enhance your MINI's ride. You can also use lowering springs with your struts in order to get the drop you are looking for. With a veritable cornucopia of brands, you are able to pay a little or pay a lot for your shocks and struts. This allows anyone on a tight budget to still create some magic with their MINI.

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