[TheBigNewt]

I'm quoting a post by Ryephile here. He measured his suspension travel when he did a spring change and was unpleasantly surprised at the results. I don't think he'd mind using his measurements/comments here:
While I was installing my H&R springs this weekend I took some suspension travel measurements. The results are shocking, and totally contradict the MINI-corporate rumor of the R56 having more suspension travel versus the R53. As an inital note, the front struts and rear shocks of the R56 look, install, and feel all but idential to the R53's shocks. There are just some very minor mounting point tweaks [front strut mounts, front springs a smaller diameter, rear shock mounting point is like the GP].

I measured from the axle of both ends of the car to the bottom of the wheel arch apex. This suspension-to-body reference allows me to easily see shock position during ride height, full droop, free compression travel [until touching the bumpstop], and full compression with bumpstop fully compressed.

Front Axle to arch apex:
Droop: 17.4"
Stock ride height: 14.3"
To bumpstop contact: 14.1"
Full Compression: 12.4"

Total front travel: 5.0"
Free uptravel: 0.2"
Total uptravel: 1.9"
Downtravel: 3.1"


Rear Axle to arch apex:
Droop: 17.0"
Stock ride height: 14.4"
To bumpstop contact: 13.4"
Full Compression: 12.4"

Total rear travel: 4.6"
Free uptravel: 1.0"
Total uptravel: 2.0"
Downtravel: 2.6"


These results are SCARY! This means that lowering the R56 AT ALL will mean no free uptravel, riding on bumpstops "Miata-style". For me, this means that the R56 has not a smidge more travel than the R53, and I'll be lobbying for proper short-body coilovers to become available on the market ASAP. The suspension links will probably handle more travel, but right now the shocks are too long for a lowered MINI.

Cheers,
Ryan

[Impulsive]

This is a concern for me as I want to lower (have to, really) but wanted to do it via springs as it's the most inexpensive way to do it. If I was guaranteed that all suspension components were fine 5 years from now I'd go ahead and do it but reading that analysis scares me.