Ask MF: Suspension Options

Sections: Ask MotoringFile | R56 (Hatch) Jul 31st, 2007 14 Comments

This one in from MF reader, WRR listener Chris W.

I am planning on purchasing an R56 sometime in the next year and have been pondering my suspension choices. I would like the car to sit a little lower, and I believe to achieve that I would need aftermarket springs. Would you pass on the sport and/or JCW suspension and add aftermarket lowering springs and swaybars, or would you do a combination of factory and aftermarket parts?

I think I would hold off and wait to see what the JCW kit will do, especially after seeing it at MINI United. I know there are those of you out there that have some great opinions too. So, lets here them!

Written By: DB

http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

I would personally test drive an MCS with the soon to be released JCW suspension. If you want something that slightly lowers the car yet retains the everyday drivability of the stock set-up, it would likely be the best choice. However if you want something a bit more aggressive, there are a number of aftermarket solutions available from MF advertisers I’d recommend.
Preston

I think that Eibach has a superior setup for lowering springs and sway bars. The drop is 1.0″ in the front and 1.2″ in the rear. This makes the R56 look more level and less raked. The sway bars are 19mm adjustable in the rear and 26mm in the front. The springs are lifetime-warranty as well.
lavardera

How do those Eibach sways compare to the stock/sport/JCW sway sizes?

I like the rake!
scott

Well what about the JCW shocks, how different are they from stock, and how much will they increase handling?
ken

What is the impact on suspension travel with the aftermarket lowering springs? Will they be running on the bump stops?
http://www.lifeofben.com Ben

I’m in the same boat here…can’t decide to go “cheap” (H&R) or OEM (JCW suspension). I’m totally happy with the abilities of the standard suspension on my R56, so I’m mainly looking to improve the look of the car by getting rid of some wheel gap.

My wife is dead-set against me lowering the car a bunch (1.5″ w/ the H&R springs is really pushing it), but the JCW only drops the car 0.4″, right? Would that even be visually noticeable?
Preston

The stock sway bar is 17mm, sport suspension sway bar is 18mm, and I don’t know the size of the JCW sway bar.

The JCW kit lowers the car 1cm or .4″, H&R springs lower the car 3.8cm or 1.5″ and Eibach springs lower the car 2.5cm or 1.0″. If money wasn’t an issue, I would go JCW.
greg

Preston. I recall reading awhile back that the JCW rear sway is 18.5″. From the specs I saw I’m not certain how big of an improvement the JCW suspension will be over the sport. I’ll waiting for reviews to come in for comparision. I hope it’s a BIG difference because the price will be much higher and because the SS while a big improvement over the standard suspension, is not as tight and “go carty” as the R53. Not that I want to open THAT can of worms as I am a fan of both cars. But the “feel” of the MCS even with SS is a bit dissapointing.

I hope the JCWS restores the razor sharp handling. If so it will be worth every penny.
msh441

When pushed, the MINI Sport Suspension on H&R’s is about as tight and “go-karty” as I’ve driven in any generation MINI. $500 for SS + $220 for springs… it’s a highly economical choise, too when compared to the $1350 JCW kit + $500 for springs + install $$$. If you’re pushing the $2000 mark for suspension I would expect a coilover set that had fully adjustable ride height and dampning.
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

$1350 JCW kit + $500 for springs + install $$$

FYI – the MSRP is $875 – not $1350
http://www.lifeofben.com Ben

Newbie question here….if I were to throw a set of H&R or Eibach springs on my R56, is there anything else that needs to be done? Will aftermarket springs reduce the life of any of the OEM suspension components?

And where are you guys seeing Eibach springs for the R56? I don’t see them on eibach.com….
scott

The $500 sport suspension isn’t(i would think and hope) gonna have shocks nearly as good as the JCW ones, plus the sway bars are bigger and since sway bar stiffness increases exponentially when the bar gets bigger they’ll be much stiffer…plus combine that with the new H&R springs, should handle AWESOME!! Gabe, how’s my assessment?
scott

By the way, my all new R56 JCW suspension will be on my car next wednesday!!!
http://stylizedfacts.com/coruscation/autos/mini/ Coruscation

Any love for the PSS-9 by Bilstein ?

← White Roof Radio #172 R56 JCW Kit Stage 1 Update →

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