I like the Idea of the Koni FSD's balance between comfort and handling, As stated by Redduc on there site they do state

" FSD Shocks


KONl`s latest technology accomplishes the task that has eluded most shock makers until now - great handling + excellent ride quality:

• > Excellent ride quality on all road surfaces
  > Available for most newer cars - more coming
  > Pair with Eibach springs for 1"-1.5" lowering
  > Gold metallic finish shocks
  > Dark metallic gray springs in kits
  > Less expensive than electronic systems
  > Lifetime Warranty
  
  Drive the car you love every day."

that is from the drop downs, MINI, 2008, Cooper S hardtop.



Any reason why you can't use the FSD's with either the H&R's or Ebiach?
That and I want to know if that kit INCLUDES the springs, for the ~$700 it sounds like a good deal.



I want to change up my suspension for better handling and a lower stance but I only have the NON-sport stock suspension on my car so from what i've read i'd have to change the struts correct?
OR can I get the H&R lowering springs and use them on my stock struts and save alot of money, I can get the H&R's for $100 from someone right now.

 

FSD's are great with stock springs....they are not intended to be used with lowering springs for the Mini Cooper. Other cars, maybe, but Koni has said specifically not to use them with lowering springs for this car.

Koni Yellows would be a better choice if you plan on using a lowering spring...

- Andrew

 

after doing some more research i'll forget them,
But what does anyone know about the H&R Sport Cup kit? sounds like its a good choice for improved handling over standard stock suspension and a nice drop in ride height for the visuals.

http://www.altaperformance.com/produ...-Touring-Sport

would a 2 inch drop be too much for our cars (sport cup kit)
or would the 1.5 inch (touring) be better recommend for us?

 

look at eibach prostreet coilovers.made by kw for eibach .

 

2 inches is way too much.

If you want a nice drop and still want the car to handle and ride well....I really think coilovers are the only way to go. The car is literally on the bumpstops at stock ride height with the OEM dampers....even lowering 1 inch is a bad idea IMO. Frankly I wouldn't lower the car at all on stock or aftermarket fixed perch struts, but the TSW springs are a mild drop and seem like they would do well.

The Eibach coilovers are a good option and not too expensive. I'd avoid most of the chinese stuff...the damping and spring quality is poor.

- Andrew

 

Is it really? do you think that set up will mess up the car? I didn't know we're at the bump stops already.
I like that set up because it seems like a good deal, I can get it from tire rack for $550, I'm just trying to stay within a budget.

the Prostreet are twice as much,

Is H&R Chinese? I thought they were German?

what real options do I have with the Standard S suspension?

Like I said before I can get the H&R lowering springs right now for $100, Can I do that on my stock struts? I'm at 16k miles now if that helps

I'm looking to lower the height of the car for visuals but also tighten up the suspension too.

Currently I'm trying to stay within $1500 for my mods. what I've chosen to go with so far is as follows
-DOS CIA (new) $310
-Alta 19mm SB (new) $160
-Alta rear endlinks (new) $105
-Alta catback (barely used, buying from member here unless other wise informed by fellow nam'er) $350 shipped (good price less than 600 miles on it)

and then it would either have been the
-H&R springs (used again from market place, with less than 24 hrs on them as stated by seller) for $100 shipped
or go with the
- H&R Sport cup kit (new) $550 --- I just saw that tire rack doesn't have the touring at all. so I only have one choice really.

 

H&R is german. Their quality is pretty good in general.

You could do the springs on the stock struts, it might not be too bad. The ride isn't that great and it will certainly feel firmer in terms of handling, but there's more to it then that. It will probably lead to some extra understeer and you need some compliance even at the track. I personally wouldn't do it, but i don't mind stock ride height. It's a compromise. I've ridden on them but never driven them. I preferred stock, which i don't really like either.

IMO, the cheap good handling option is: replacement dampers (Bilstein HD, Koni FSD, or Koni Yellow), stock or TSW springs, maybe a 19mm rear swaybar, and maybe fixed IE camber plates. It isn't low, but it will handle and ride well.

OR you do coilovers.

The H&R kit at that price is pretty good...even for just the dampers. Someone here got it and posted a review, not sure if he liked it. I think the username was KevinC.

EDIT: this is all just my experience, i'm sure people will disagree with me.

- Andrew

 

I can only assume that we can't have it both ways. its either comfort or handling when it comes down to it I assume.
I looked up kevinC and he did get them, the touring not the sport though.
I just measured it and yea 2" would be way to much the outer fender would be level with the top of the tire.

Ok, so can I go with just the H&R lowering springs for the time being on my stock struts and be ok? or should I expect them to fail soon after?

Will it handle and ride worse than stock?
Im asking you because you (Andrew and James) because you seem to have a pretty good understanding of this stuff.

I'd figure I can go with that for a little while and save up some more money for a coil over set when the time comes.

 

You can have it both ways actually...it just costs more. Really good dampers with good valving will give you good handling and good ride quality. You can get the car down a bit too. Coilovers usually add a lot of travel which helps, and good spring rates with good valving to match works really nicely.

Some time attack and auto-x set-ups I've been in with really high spring rates actually ride much better than a lot of JDM and cheap chinese coilovers with spring rates half as high (even the really popular ones). The dampers in this case are pretty darn expensive, but even entry level KW's will bring a bit of comfort, handling, and looks.

The H&R's on stock struts at best will handle the same as stock. The ride quality will be okay, worse then stock but might not be too bad for you.

For 100 bucks + the cost of an alignment, it could be worth trying. Your call there.

- Andrew

 

i'll think about it, I think I might just buy them because they are so cheap right now.

 

If you're going to stay with stock shocks, get TSW springs only. The rest are rubbish. Don't put H&R on stock shocks.

If you want to lower more than 1", and maintain/improve handling, you have to go coilovers IMO. As andy said, we're quite travel-compromised.

For $1500,

DOS CAI
Any 19mm swaybar
Adjustable Endlinks, I'd go with powergrid/TSW. Great quality.
ALTA exhaust I would have said no, but you're getting a good deal I spose

You've got another $800 odd to spend. I would DEFINITELY get some adjustable camber plates (~250). Set the front to 1.5-2 deg neg camber, set the rear to 1 deg, and start with the rear bar on full soft, then move up depending on whether or not you want more rotation. A quality alignment and camber plate install will set you back around $200. So that leaves you with $350. Get some Dunlop Direzza Start Spec Z1s, or some ALTA PSRS/Powerflex Lower Control arm bushes (depending on how aggressive you are. Spherical bearings are the way to go, but the PSRS are a lot of effort. You have to weld them onto the arm, and loctite the set screws)

 

FSD's with lowering springs for the R56 is about the only thing that would make me change the stock suspension at this point. Coils seem to make the car stiffer (fine with me but not my wife). I am convinced springs without shocks are cosmetic and shocks and springs don't work as well as coils.

Are you listening Koni?

 

Thanks for the tips and info, I knew I heard that the stock struts were no good for anything.
I think for now I will just start off with the exhaust and work my way up from there to the sway bar/end links and then on to the suspension over the spring. I think I will end up going for the coil over route eventually but I'm just going to have to save up for a good one. I might as well not cheap out on my Mini. Though the exhaust is a deal and if I don't like it at least I didn't spend twice as much as I would have originally buying it on my own.

 

What do you guys think about the H&R RSS or standard Coil overs? They are both < 1400. I am curious because it seems like they would be a decent performance oriented mid budget option.

 

To make the standard ones truly performance oriented, get custom springs to go with them. The damper and valving are good, but the springs they come with are junk. I really want to try this as I think it could be really awesome.

Not sure on the RSS version.

- Andrew

 

From what I have read they are stiffer and provide a more performance oriented feel. That being said they are a little rougher as expected with the increase in stiffness. They seem like a good option I was just curious why no one ever brings them in the which coil over to get debate.

 

From what I have read they are stiffer and provide a more performance oriented feel. That being said they are a little rougher as expected with the increase in stiffness. They seem like a good option I was just curious why no one ever brings them in the which coil over to get debate.