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paul's s · May 11th, 2007, 07:32 PM

Any cooper s owner's out there with the "regular" suspension and 16" wheels on their R56 ? How do you like this suspension? I have read some good reviews of this suspension. Is the regular suspension better than that of the R53? I would like to order a new car, but am confused with the different suspensions available from mini, and don't want to be disappointed with my new car. I would like a good handling car of course, but I don't want a rough ride. I read a review from honestjohn.com on the 2007 cooper s. He preferred the 16" wheels and the sport suspension or the non-sport suspension and the 17" wheels. I will be using the car as a daily driver on the poor roads of Los Angeles, CA. What is the best compromise of ride and handling?

All the best, Paul

DaiB · May 11th, 2007, 07:36 PM

16's will look a bit small on the new S. I would go 17's & standard suspension.

Avantone · May 11th, 2007, 07:53 PM

The consensus is (generally) either 16" with Sport Suspension, or 17" without.

I think it's a very personal thing though depending on how you drive, where you drive and what the roads are like.

I'd ring round your local dealers, find some demonstrators with and without, get some miles in with both setups and see what you can live with.

You never know you may like 18's with SS

Avantone

(17" without)

jon423 · May 11th, 2007, 08:11 PM

We have the Cooper S with 16" wheels and sport suspension. Ride is firm enough! The roads we drive on would rival those of any third world country and we live in Princeton, New Jersey. Am almost ready to wish I had opted for the ordinary suspension. Take it on the turnpike and all is well. Problem is I do too much local road driving. Guess there are trade- offs. If you have decent roads near you...go for the sport set-up.

Trust this confuses you some more.

jon

AndyParker · May 11th, 2007, 08:15 PM

i've got 16" wheels and standard suspension. Have to say the ride is pretty firm. Not quite as firm as my old car which had 17"s and lowered 40mm.
After having my old car and the cooper s as it is i'm really happy with it. 16"s dont look tiny, ride isnt too firm or too soft. Wouldnt want it much harder.
Did also read an article tho which said 16"s with sport suspension or 17"s without. I'd go and test drive a few of the options. All down to personal taste

KenL · May 11th, 2007, 08:18 PM

I tested both 17" with SS and 16" without. In my opinion the sports suspension with the bigger tyres was too harsh. I was coming from a Golf though with 15" tyres.

I went with 16" & standard suspension and am very happy with the results. It is a very comfortable drive but still great fun.

mister.t · May 11th, 2007, 09:35 PM

We're on std susp and on 17s. Albeit Cooper, but the ride is OK for what it is. Choppy when the tough gets going though.

LizzyG · May 11th, 2007, 09:39 PM

I've got a cooper, not a cooper S, but I've got 16" wheels and sports suspension. I think the ride is perfect, my previous car nearly shook my teeth out LOL!

But I don't know if the Cooper S has firmer suspension as standard c/w the cooper anyway?

paul's s · May 11th, 2007, 10:20 PM

Thanks everyone for your experiences and responses. I had an '05 cooper s with the 16" wheels and the regular suspension. I believe the SS was standard with the 17" wheels in the R53. I was unhappy with the '05 cooper s and the 16" wheels, I thought there was too much lean in the corners, but the ride was pretty good. So, I went with an aftermarket suspension, which made the ride too harsh for my city driving.

That's why I am curious about the R56 and the standard suspension with the 16" wheels. It sounds like to me, BMW has improved the suspension with the standard suspension on the R56 with the 16" wheels, right?? Is it safe to say that the handling has improved on the R56 with the 16" wheels vs. the R53 and the 16" wheels?

I would venture to say its all about ride harshness. The 17" wheels have a 45 series tire with the standard suspension. The 16" wheels have a 55 series tire also with the standard suspension. Add the sport suspension with the 16" wheels, and you get a ride with similar harshness as the 17" wheels and regular suspension??

Avantone · May 11th, 2007, 10:26 PM

Quote: Originally Posted by paul's s (original)

I would venture to say its all about ride harshness.

The run-flats are also a consideration.

May 11th, 2007, 07:32 PM	#1
paul's s MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Local Time: 12:14 AM Posts: 5 Offline	Cooper S owners with regular suspension & 16" wheels Any cooper s owner's out there with the "regular" suspension and 16" wheels on their R56 ? How do you like this suspension? I have read some good reviews of this suspension. Is the regular suspension better than that of the R53? I would like to order a new car, but am confused with the different suspensions available from mini, and don't want to be disappointed with my new car. I would like a good handling car of course, but I don't want a rough ride. I read a review from honestjohn.com on the 2007 cooper s. He preferred the 16" wheels and the sport suspension or the non-sport suspension and the 17" wheels. I will be using the car as a daily driver on the poor roads of Los Angeles, CA. What is the best compromise of ride and handling? All the best, Paul

May 11th, 2007, 08:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
jon423 MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2006 Local Time: 03:14 AM Posts: 18 Offline	Some more on sports suspension We have the Cooper S with 16" wheels and sport suspension. Ride is firm enough! The roads we drive on would rival those of any third world country and we live in Princeton, New Jersey. Am almost ready to wish I had opted for the ordinary suspension. Take it on the turnpike and all is well. Problem is I do too much local road driving. Guess there are trade- offs. If you have decent roads near you...go for the sport set-up. Trust this confuses you some more. jon

May 11th, 2007, 08:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
KenL MINI2 Master Join Date: May 2002 Location: Edinburgh Local Time: 07:14 AM Posts: 5,105 Offline	I tested both 17" with SS and 16" without. In my opinion the sports suspension with the bigger tyres was too harsh. I was coming from a Golf though with 15" tyres. I went with 16" & standard suspension and am very happy with the results. It is a very comfortable drive but still great fun. Red/Black R56 Cooper

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May 11th, 2007, 07:36 PM	#2 (permalink)
DaiB MINI2 Regular Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Wales Local Time: 08:14 AM Posts: 126 Offline	16's will look a bit small on the new S. I would go 17's & standard suspension.

May 11th, 2007, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
Avantone R56 Cooper S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, UK Local Time: 07:14 AM Posts: 79 Offline	The consensus is (generally) either 16" with Sport Suspension, or 17" without. I think it's a very personal thing though depending on how you drive, where you drive and what the roads are like. I'd ring round your local dealers, find some demonstrators with and without, get some miles in with both setups and see what you can live with. You never know you may like 18's with SS Avantone (17" without)

May 11th, 2007, 08:15 PM	#5 (permalink)
AndyParker MINI2 on order! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cardiff Local Time: 08:14 AM Posts: 118 Offline	i've got 16" wheels and standard suspension. Have to say the ride is pretty firm. Not quite as firm as my old car which had 17"s and lowered 40mm. After having my old car and the cooper s as it is i'm really happy with it. 16"s dont look tiny, ride isnt too firm or too soft. Wouldnt want it much harder. Did also read an article tho which said 16"s with sport suspension or 17"s without. I'd go and test drive a few of the options. All down to personal taste

May 11th, 2007, 09:35 PM	#7 (permalink)
mister.t 5 days!! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nowhere exciting Local Time: 07:14 AM Posts: 6,328 Offline	We're on std susp and on 17s. Albeit Cooper, but the ride is OK for what it is. Choppy when the tough gets going though.

May 11th, 2007, 09:39 PM	#8 (permalink)
LizzyG MINI2 Senior Join Date: Mar 2007 Local Time: 08:14 AM Posts: 385 Offline	I've got a cooper, not a cooper S, but I've got 16" wheels and sports suspension. I think the ride is perfect, my previous car nearly shook my teeth out LOL! But I don't know if the Cooper S has firmer suspension as standard c/w the cooper anyway?

May 11th, 2007, 10:20 PM	#9 (permalink)
paul's s MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Jan 2006 Local Time: 12:14 AM Posts: 5 Offline	Thanks everyone for your experiences and responses. I had an '05 cooper s with the 16" wheels and the regular suspension. I believe the SS was standard with the 17" wheels in the R53. I was unhappy with the '05 cooper s and the 16" wheels, I thought there was too much lean in the corners, but the ride was pretty good. So, I went with an aftermarket suspension, which made the ride too harsh for my city driving. That's why I am curious about the R56 and the standard suspension with the 16" wheels. It sounds like to me, BMW has improved the suspension with the standard suspension on the R56 with the 16" wheels, right?? Is it safe to say that the handling has improved on the R56 with the 16" wheels vs. the R53 and the 16" wheels? I would venture to say its all about ride harshness. The 17" wheels have a 45 series tire with the standard suspension. The 16" wheels have a 55 series tire also with the standard suspension. Add the sport suspension with the 16" wheels, and you get a ride with similar harshness as the 17" wheels and regular suspension??

May 11th, 2007, 10:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Avantone R56 Cooper S Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London, UK Local Time: 07:14 AM Posts: 79 Offline	Quote: Originally Posted by paul's s (original) I would venture to say its all about ride harshness. The run-flats are also a consideration.

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