MF Garage: The F56 Sport Suspension Has Made Believers Out of Us

When speccing our Cooper S we had originally planned to have the Sport Suspension optioned, hoping to properly compare the most hardcore factory Cooper S to all the sporting MINIs that came before it. Then last second we decided we’d be better off going with the variable dampers since that’s what many of you would likely be more curious about. However as luck would have it, an ordering snafu produced a Sport Suspension shod Cooper S just as we had originally intended. And after two weeks and 1500 miles we’re pretty pleased with the happy accident.
Let’s get a couple things straight before we speak about the various suspension options on the MINI. First, let’s call the standard suspension stiffness level “0.” According to MINI, the variable dampers default at about 10% less stiff than the standard suspension and can be electronically altered to be 10% stiffer. The optional sport suspension we got on our car (which is not electronically variable) is a full 30% stiffer than stock. This makes it by far and away the most aggressive option from the factory available to MINI owners. In fact MINI felt it was so aggressive that they made it the stock suspension on the 2015 JCW.
On our car accidentally shod with 16” wheels and tires it gives the car pleasantly aggressive dynamics without creating a ride that’s unbearable. It’s an interesting combination that gives us good body control and confidence at the limit without being unsettled by broken payment mid-corner. The downside with the small wheels however is the reduction of that knife-edge feel of precious that a set of 17” or 18” wheels and good tires can give you. There’s a sense that the entire set-up is slightly dulled by the larger sideway and narrower 195 mm width.
After a couple weeks with our car we’d recommend the sport suspension for those looking for the ultimate enthusiast choice. But it can only really pay off with 17” or 18” wheels with wider tires. The combination allows for a feel and a performance that’s more akin to the R56 and even the R53.
But why the sport suspension over the variable dampers? For us it allows a more sporting experience that feels right on a MINI. Truthfully we’d call the variable dampers the ultimate choice if they had the ability to match the sport suspension, going from -10% all the way to +30%. But they don’t quite have that range and therefore feel a bit more compromised than we’d want.
16 Comments
<p>Drove the sport suspension back-to-back with the adaptive suspension on an autocross course set up by MINI Canada and no contest. However, the adaptive suspension has the advantage of turning it from upstanding citizen to hooligan at the touch of a button/slide/toggle/whatever, but I’d just be slapping it into sport mode every time like I do now anyway.</p>
<p>I’ve heard the sport suspension is standard on the upcoming JCW, but the standard suspension is a no-cost option. Is that correct? Also, is the Dynamic Damper Control optional on the full JCW? Would that make it +/- 10% from the 30% stiffer sport suspension? MI roads don’t mix well with sport suspension.</p>
<p>You are correct Matt, the factory JCW will come as standard with the same sports suspension which is a $500 option on Cooper/S models (unless included with the JCW Exterior kit). The non-sport suspension is a no-cost option. The Dynamic Dampers have not been modified for the factory JCW from the Cooper/S models so the +/-10% described is the difference in stiffness from the non-sport suspension instead of from the sports suspension. If one wants to go even more extreme, similar to how the R53/R56 offered a JCW suspension (non-adjustable non-coilover), the F56 will have the option of the JCW Pro adjustable coilovers. So there are basically three factory options (standard, sport and dynamic) for suspension which are the same (aside from minor tuning for weight/features) across the Cooper, Cooper S, and factory JCW and there is the dealership-installed aftermarket JCW Pro Suspension which are adjustable coilovers. Hope that is helpful. Although previous R53 and R56 have crashed over winter pavement and potholes, the F56 has additional suspension travel, a different design of the rear suspension with detached springs from the struts, and was designed with stiff run-flat tires in mind, so the F56 with sports suspension should ride better than any previous gen car with the sports suspension.</p>
<p>Presumably the opposite is true then, i.e. the standard suspension should be specified if going with 16 inch wheel?</p>
<p>So Gabe, when you say the “performance that’s more akin to the R56 and even the R53,” are you comparing it to the R56 and R53 with standard suspension or sport? I have an R56 and I know the F56 is definitely more cushy.</p>
<p>“broken payment” … “feel of precious” … “larger sideway” … you dictate your articles, don’t you, Gabe? =)</p>
<p>This is awesome. So when you tracking this beast?</p>
<p>I would say that the F56 sport suspension is comparable with the R56 JCW suspension kit, and the F56 JCW Pro Suspension is comparable with the R56 GP coilover suspension (adjustable too)</p>
<p>Been saying that for almost a year now. My F56 Sport suspension is better than my R56 sport suspension.</p>
<p>Just catching up on some reading on here and listening to your interview with Chris etc. Great info, but have questions.</p>
<p>My plan is to get a F56 JCW when they come available. My current 2011 R56 S will be going to my wife so we will be a 2 Mini (plus an old Pathfinder) family.</p>
<p>I live in NH, so roads are mixed with some being terrible and others smooth as glass. I do not drive a whole lot because I work from home so when I do drive the Mini it is mostly for long trips, Mini gatherings, etc. I would not say that I drive aggressively, but do like to have fun in the twisties and such.</p>
<p>With all that said, I see that the standard suspension will be a no cost option on the JCW and I am trying to figure out what to do. I was originally thinking going with the sport suspension and adjustable dampers, but am wondering if for my driving style I would be better off with the standard suspension and AD.</p>
<p>I am also confused by your comments “so the +/-10% described is the difference in stiffness from the non-sport suspension instead of from the sports suspension.”. Does this mean in sport it would be 40% stiffer than stock?</p>
<p>I need to get to a dealership and drive a current car with the sport suspension and see if it would work for me I guess, but feedback would certainly be appreciated.</p>
<p>Sport suspension is 40% stiffer than the adjustable dampers in its normal position and 20% in sport. It’s 30% stiffer than the stock suspension on the Cooper S which is a no cost option on the JCW</p>
<p>Thanks for the explanation Gabe, it is much appreciated. Still have some time to think through my options, but the more I think about it I think the sport suspension will be the way to go and just ditch the runflats at the first opportunity. I think that will make the ride good enough as my “daily driver”. As I said, I don’t drive much. I have a 4 year old hardtop S with 22k miles on it.</p>
<p>Plan on ordering whenever they start taking the orders. Can’t wait until it is on the site so I can start configuring.</p>
<p>I think you’re spot on IMHO.</p>
<p>That’s exactly what I have done with my MINI cars, but I went up one size from 205x45x17 to 215’s. That helped with the speedometer error as well as helped the ride.</p>
<p>I’ve done the same.</p>
<p>I’ve ditched the runflats on both minis I owned but never went up in size. My current one has 16’s, but my first one had 17’s which I replaced, and it helped a lot. Got rid of that car due to death rattle. Good to know I could go up in size like that and that it will help the ride.</p>