There have been a lot of questions surrounding the optional 2007 Sport Suspension on MotoringFile in the last few months. Specifically what components are involved in the option . Is it simply an anti-sway bar or is it an entire different set of springs etc? Well you can wait no longer. As we mentioned yesterday buried deep within our 2007 MINI Q&A Answers article yesterday the sport suspension is indeed made up of thicker sways and different springs vs the standard suspension.
And based on our time in the stock 2007 suspension, most of you not worried about ride quality (and most probably aren’t if you’re considering a MINI) should probably opt for it.
This link from RealOEM shows that the rear bar is 17mm is standard and 18mm is on the sport suspension.
<a href="http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=MF73&mospid=50031&btnr=33_1358&hg=33&fg=45" rel="nofollow ugc">http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=MF73&mospid=50031&btnr=33_1358&hg=33&fg=45</a>
I was hoping it would be even bigger. But from what I have read it doesn’t understeer as bad as the R53.
Both front and rear bars appear to be 1mm larger. This makes the front bar about 9% stiffer and the rear bar about 12% stiffer, assuming the same attachment points and that stiffness is proportional to area. I would assume the springs are increased by at least the same amount. Also the part #s for the struts are different.
I was hoping for a rear sway bar of 19″-22″ similar to the aftermarket. Will there be a different suspension for the “hypersport” package? How about for the jcw?
Hmmm.. my current JCW has the R-Sport 25.5MM rear sway bar.
Sorry meant H-Sport 22mm from Helix – it makes a HUGE improvement in the handling.
>I was hoping for a rear sway bar of 19″-22″ similar to the aftermarket. Will there be a different suspension for the “hypersport†package? How about for the jcw?
You’ll never see that from MINI due to the threat of litigation from the wonderful US market. MINI has to set up the handling on the conservative side.
The Hypersport package only has the hideous “MINI” aero kit and the same optional Sport Suspension you can get a la carte.
I figured as much Gabe. Kurt I had the 22″ on my ’05 JCW and the improvement is amazing…. Especially for about $120
I’d definitely recommend an aftermarket sway. For all those interested; there are quite a few MotoringFile sponsors that sell some great rear sway bars – definitely check them out.
I see on realoem.com that the front R56 bar is
21.5 front/16 rear for the regular MC and
23.5 front/18 rear for the Sport Suspension MC
and
22.5 front/17 rear for the regular MCS and
23.5 front/18 rear fotr the Sport Suspension MCS
As far as the struts, they actually list different
struts for the MC base vs. the MCS base,
but the MC and MCS with Sport Suspension both have the
same part listing for the struts.
That’s good info Cristo and confirms what MINI was saying in the initial press releases that all 3 were different. With the MC being a bit lighter and softer to begin with the Sports Suspension would be a much more significant change from it’s base level.
That’s what I figured. Kurt I had the 22″ sway on my ’05 JCW and it was an amazing improvement in handling.
So what’s the downside to the thicker sway bars? Why wouldn’t they make them standard if it’s so much of an improvement?
<blockquote>J.Melrose Feb 14th, 2007 Link
So what’s the downside to the thicker sway bars? Why wouldn’t they make them standard if it’s so much of an improvement?
</blockquote>
oversteer. and people who don’t know how to handle it.
Not to pick nits, but don’t you guys mean 22mm not 22 inches? I think a 22″ bar would have some clearence issues.
I’d be inclined to go with the standard suspension, due to the rough roads in my area, and change rear (and possibly also the front) anti-roll bar.
The downside with using larger anti-roll bars is that they reduce the independence of the left and right suspensions at each end. If just one side experiences a bump or hole, the sway bar will resist the wheel/tire from reacting without effecting the opposite side. However, when freeway expansion joints are traversed with the left and right at the same time, anti-roll bars have little negative effect.
can someone tell me how exactly the struts are different?
e.g. strut towers are different? strut assemblies are different? etc?