I'm looking to return my '04 MINI suspension back to stock (mostly). If you have any stock pieces of the following, let me know:
- springs (front and rear)
- bump stops (all 4)
- front top hats
If you have any of these lying around let me know. I would say we could do a swap (my parts [Helix camber plates, TSW V3 springs] for your stock), but you would either have to drive to my place near Charlotte for the swap or have a place with tools in Clemson I could use.
veeeerrrryyy tempting i assure you.
whats the ride quality like vs stock?
I put this stuff in over a year ago, so it's hard for me to remember what the stock felt like. I do remember not feeling much difference when I put it in (ride quality, that is). I've driven from Clemson to Raleigh (about 5 hour drive) before only stopping half way for gas and was fine. That said, I do have non-run flat tires and 13lb wheels so that does help ride quality some.
It's really a combination of several reasons I'm looking to replace this stuff:
1) My shocks have nearly 70k miles on them and I feel like they probably need replacing. The ones I want (KONI FSD) need stock springs to work correctly (or so KONI says - I don't want to use slightly lower springs and blow them prematurely and then have KONI deny the warranty saying it was due to me using them incorrectly)
2) my daily commute (now that I've moved from Clemson) is: drive 1/2 mile to interstate from my apartment, drive 23 miles on interstate, drive 1/2 mile to work. Repeat to go home. I really have no need for this stuff now and since I don't take the MINI autocrossing any more (I've got my Miata for that and track use) I'd rather get the shocks I want.
3) I've heard that added camber increases tire wear. I haven't seen any real evidence of this on my setup (considering my driving style it helped prevent uneven wear of the outside edge of tread), but if I don't need the added camber I don't see the reason to potentially wear my tires more.
As far as camber goes SunnyD has -2.3 in the front and -3.1 in the back and tires wear very evenly. It's toe that kills tires...and not taking corners fast
are the camber plates adjustable? i would be game for the springs i think... and possibly the camber plates as they might be necessary with my 7.5 wide et35 wheels
oh, and if i was to do this, how would not this coming weekend, but the one after sound for ya?
I would definitely be down for the springs Rob. I would like the the camber plates, but I would have to fix my mushroomed strut tower first. Do you want a Stock Rear sway too. I have the R50 one at home, and I have the R53 that I bought from you on my R50.
if i remember correctly the spring rates are slightly different on the r50 vs the r53 and with those koni fsd'd you HAVE to have the stock r53 springs or you risk damaging the valves at the bottom, which if damaged and you send them back to koni, they will check, and they will refuse your claim. you would have to check with the dealer though as having the sport suspension package or several other features affects the spring rates of your stockers.
from real oem "The choice of proper coil springs depends on the options installed on your vehicle. Refer to your local BMW dealer for details."
101101, hawg can take the springs, I think I'm going to just stick to stock for now. i really just need to get everything else on my car fixed first before i upgrade it. plus my tires wear way to fast as it is...