MINI2

BlueCooperR56 · Mar 29th, 2007, 07:28 PM

Hi,

I current;y have an R53 One with 15" alloys.

I've specced my Cooper with Sports Suspension and upgraded to 17" Flame Spokes but am starting to get concerned that the ride will be too firm.
I test drove:
1. Cooper S with 17" Flame Spokes with STANDARD Suspension (dealer didn't have a Cooper with 17" wheels and standard suspension).
2. Cooper with 16" Blasters and SPORTS Suspension.

I went with Sports Suspension after driving the Cooper because I felt more supported in the seat even on a straight road!
I picked the 17" alloys purely for looks

My concerns:
1. The 17" on the Cooper S made the ride quite a bit harsher, I like the soft ride in my One
2. I haven't tried the combination of 17" and sports suspension, will it be much harsher than the Cooper S with Standard Suspension and 17"?

Help, what should I do? I love the look of the 17"s but quite a bit harder than what I'm used to. Will I get used to it? I have sports leather seats if that will make any difference?

Thanks

Paul · Mar 29th, 2007, 07:59 PM

Should be fine. You could always opt for smaller wheels, then go aftermarket if you cant cure your lust for bigger wheels.

AndyParker · Mar 29th, 2007, 08:12 PM

clearly only the opinion of one person and many people dont believe what he syas is worthwhile any way but Clarkson said either go for 16's with sports suspension or 17's without sport suspension.

As Paul said just see how it feels. if you dont like then it will be easy enough to trade down to 16's with the sport suspension

mark-o · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:12 PM

You'll get used to it. Besides, like Andy said swapping wheels is *way* easier than swapping suspension!

-M

BlueCooperR56 · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:14 PM

If I go aftermarket I imagine I'll get stung with the insurance, I'm nearly 22. Insurance people said it wouldn't make any difference to insurance to get them from factory.

BlueCooperR56 · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:16 PM

Thanks for your advise!

BlueCooperR56 · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:16 PM

advice, even! One day I'll learn to spell!

AndyParker · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:25 PM

well u can always swap down to the official mini 16" wheels. i'm sure whoever u found to buy ure 17" ones would have some 16" ones to sell at the same time.

Ive had a modded car since i was 18 (just sold it before my MCS arrives later in April) i always used an insurance company that didnt charge any extra for non-engine mods. I had the car lowered, alloys, exhaust, mirrors and a few other bits and they didnt charge any extra.

At the end of the day run the car for a bit as you've ordered it. if you can't live with how it is then there will be a way around it without having to shell out a wedge of cash

DerekH · Mar 29th, 2007, 09:49 PM

Hi Guys i have just ordered MCS with StandardS and 17" Crown spokes Like good handling but roads not very good in Aberdeenshire, Have a E90 330D Sport and Suspension a bit hard for roads and not so good as my E46 sport so i have ticked Standard. I suppose i could buy Alta sway bars if body roll more on Standard i Have to pay for Sport option £130 as no Chilli Pack

steeve · Mar 30th, 2007, 11:18 AM

Have sports plus 17', on most roads its fine, but on the roads I use to get to work, I find I'm trying to avoid the pot holes, bad repairs and manhole covers. You will get used to it. I also find that cornering really hard on a bumpy surface seems to unsettle the car and it can bounce around quite a bit.

BlueCooperR56 · Mar 30th, 2007, 03:58 PM

Thanks, I'll stick with what I've got then! Appreciate the help!

msh441 · Apr 12th, 2007, 08:54 AM

I have sport suspension with 17" wheels and thought it was a pretty darn good set-up out of the box. Not too rough, but some minor bump steer in the rougher corners. A great do-it-all ride.

I've since lowered the car using some H&R springs. The reduction in suspension travel has greatly reduced the bump steer and the lower car looks great... but it's now pretty stiff up front. Gotta watch out for those pot holes or unmarked construction sites.

mmalc · Apr 12th, 2007, 02:07 PM

Many of us have found that the Koni FSD shocks are a good answer to this problem -- they not only improve the ride, they also improve the handling.

New Koni FSD's and Springs in my '05MCS
Real World Test of Koni FSD (by BMWCCA)
Question to Koni FSD owners - still happy?

mmalc

Mar 29th, 2007, 07:28 PM	#1
BlueCooperR56 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reading Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 93 Offline	Sports Suspension + 17" Alloys...Help Hi, I current;y have an R53 One with 15" alloys. I've specced my Cooper with Sports Suspension and upgraded to 17" Flame Spokes but am starting to get concerned that the ride will be too firm. I test drove: 1. Cooper S with 17" Flame Spokes with STANDARD Suspension (dealer didn't have a Cooper with 17" wheels and standard suspension). 2. Cooper with 16" Blasters and SPORTS Suspension. I went with Sports Suspension after driving the Cooper because I felt more supported in the seat even on a straight road! I picked the 17" alloys purely for looks My concerns: 1. The 17" on the Cooper S made the ride quite a bit harsher, I like the soft ride in my One 2. I haven't tried the combination of 17" and sports suspension, will it be much harsher than the Cooper S with Standard Suspension and 17"? Help, what should I do? I love the look of the 17"s but quite a bit harder than what I'm used to. Will I get used to it? I have sports leather seats if that will make any difference? Thanks

Apr 12th, 2007, 08:54 AM	#12 (permalink)
msh441 MINI2 Senior Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Pacific NW Local Time: 09:15 AM Posts: 439 Offline	I have sport suspension with 17" wheels and thought it was a pretty darn good set-up out of the box. Not too rough, but some minor bump steer in the rougher corners. A great do-it-all ride. I've since lowered the car using some H&R springs. The reduction in suspension travel has greatly reduced the bump steer and the lower car looks great... but it's now pretty stiff up front. Gotta watch out for those pot holes or unmarked construction sites. Founding member of R56 Anonymous: "Hello. My name is Mike. I'm a driving enthusiast... and I still like the R56"

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Mar 29th, 2007, 07:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
Paul Trained Monkey My Classifieds Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Bedfordshire Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 40,555 Offline	Should be fine. You could always opt for smaller wheels, then go aftermarket if you cant cure your lust for bigger wheels.

Mar 29th, 2007, 08:12 PM	#3 (permalink)
AndyParker MINI2 on order! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cardiff Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 118 Offline	clearly only the opinion of one person and many people dont believe what he syas is worthwhile any way but Clarkson said either go for 16's with sports suspension or 17's without sport suspension. As Paul said just see how it feels. if you dont like then it will be easy enough to trade down to 16's with the sport suspension

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:12 PM	#4 (permalink)
mark-o MINI2 4 ME Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Calgary, AB Local Time: 09:15 AM Posts: 295 Offline	You'll get used to it. Besides, like Andy said swapping wheels is way easier than swapping suspension! -M

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:14 PM	#5 (permalink)
BlueCooperR56 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reading Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 93 Offline	If I go aftermarket I imagine I'll get stung with the insurance, I'm nearly 22. Insurance people said it wouldn't make any difference to insurance to get them from factory.

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:16 PM	#6 (permalink)
BlueCooperR56 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reading Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 93 Offline	Thanks for your advise!

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:16 PM	#7 (permalink)
BlueCooperR56 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reading Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 93 Offline	advice, even! One day I'll learn to spell!

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:25 PM	#8 (permalink)
AndyParker MINI2 on order! Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cardiff Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 118 Offline	well u can always swap down to the official mini 16" wheels. i'm sure whoever u found to buy ure 17" ones would have some 16" ones to sell at the same time. Ive had a modded car since i was 18 (just sold it before my MCS arrives later in April) i always used an insurance company that didnt charge any extra for non-engine mods. I had the car lowered, alloys, exhaust, mirrors and a few other bits and they didnt charge any extra. At the end of the day run the car for a bit as you've ordered it. if you can't live with how it is then there will be a way around it without having to shell out a wedge of cash

Mar 29th, 2007, 09:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
DerekH MINI2 Master Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Fraserburgh Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 827 Offline	Hi Guys i have just ordered MCS with StandardS and 17" Crown spokes Like good handling but roads not very good in Aberdeenshire, Have a E90 330D Sport and Suspension a bit hard for roads and not so good as my E46 sport so i have ticked Standard. I suppose i could buy Alta sway bars if body roll more on Standard i Have to pay for Sport option £130 as no Chilli Pack

Mar 30th, 2007, 11:18 AM	#10 (permalink)
steeve Steeve My Classifieds Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Far Corfe Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 275 Offline	Have sports plus 17', on most roads its fine, but on the roads I use to get to work, I find I'm trying to avoid the pot holes, bad repairs and manhole covers. You will get used to it. I also find that cornering really hard on a bumpy surface seems to unsettle the car and it can bounce around quite a bit.

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Mar 30th, 2007, 03:58 PM	#11 (permalink)
BlueCooperR56 MINI2 Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Reading Local Time: 05:15 PM Posts: 93 Offline	Thanks, I'll stick with what I've got then! Appreciate the help!

Apr 12th, 2007, 02:07 PM	#13 (permalink)
mmalc MINI2 newcomer Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bay Area, California Local Time: 09:15 AM Posts: 210 Offline	Many of us have found that the Koni FSD shocks are a good answer to this problem -- they not only improve the ride, they also improve the handling. New Koni FSD's and Springs in my '05MCS Real World Test of Koni FSD (by BMWCCA) Question to Koni FSD owners - still happy? mmalc