I have had my 04 plate MCS with 210hp JCW engine upgrade for a week now.

The car has sport suspension plus with eibach pro kit springs fitted around 3000 miles ago. I am coming from a clio 182 which I owned from new and that handled like a precision tool in comparision, although a bit wallowy once it passed the 50k mile mark.

My MCS has new dunlop sp01 runflats all round on 18" JCW rims. The car does handle well, but to be fair the front tends to wash wide fairly easily if pushed through the roundabouts. Its not bad by any means and easily predictable and controllable, but compared to my clio, its is a blunt knife.

What can I do to improve the handling without going all out to coilovers. After doing a bit of research, I have gathered that spacers on the front will assist, but to what degree? Also are the SS+ shockers pants with Eibachs?

The car is miles faster through the gears than my old clio was, but feel the car is overpowered for the handling capabilities it currently has.

Any help much appreciated.

swap to non run flats will help, what mileage on your current shocks?

41k on current shocks, they are not bouncy, or crashy, but seem to have minimal travel. mabye this is to do with the -30mm of the eibach.

i presumed due to the progressive nature of eibachs, they should stop the shockers bottoming out over hard bumps and potholes.

to be fair, i think the clio handled a lot better... so a bit disappointed in the mcs as everyone raves about go kart handling. the feel of a kart is there, but it just cant seem to generate any sort of cornering force.

i was on stock cup set up suspension with the clio with michelin pe2 tyres

1. Get rid of the runflats.
2. Fit camber plates and get some more neg camber in the front.
3. Get a good wheel alignment and perhaps dial a little of the camber out of the back and get rid of some of the toe-in at the front.


Someone here will probably tell you to get a bigger rear sway bar, but you can achieve better results with the camber plates and playing with the alignment settings. Front Strut brace wouldn't hurt in improving the turn-in slightly too.

sounds like good advice matey ^^^ looking to sort the handling and braking issues at the next service, which unfortunately is in 13k miles time according to my indicator. Not going to take it to BMW though... specialists with mini performance knowledge is the way forward!

Any more advice more than welcome!

I would also advise you to ditch the 18's. Big rims look nice but the smaller rim has a more precise turn in.

Brilliant advice. I put 18" on my Works and whilst it looked good it didn't do the handling any favours.
Also are the SS+ shockers pants with Eibachs?
They were put on for looks not handling. If you've the money I'd get the JCW suspension. It's expensive but it's excellent. I had it on my GP and I was amazed at the difference it made. Even with 18" wheel+runflats the car handled like it was on rails.

as stated in another thread, i had the geo set up properly yesterday and it has made the world of difference to the handling and feel of the car.

the steering is lighter, turn in miles more precise and you can now point it at an apex and catapault through it. if anything I will keep these eibachs and mabye get FSD's to complement them or Koni Yellow ADJ is they are available.

I dont really think coils are necessary for street driving, but a good shock spring combo with bushes and decent geo should more than be enough. Perhaps a rear roll bar upgrade as well.

Ditch the runflats, the difference in handling (and ride) is night/day ;)

1) ditch the runflats
2) get the 3 GTT strutbraces

I've got these, as well as the JCW suspension on my GP and its perfect handling, the only thing is the occasional bit of tramlining and to solve that I'd have to then:

3) swap to smaller wheels if you are still not happy

Also, if it hasn't already been done, get the rear bushes of the front wishbones changed.

as stated in another thread, i had the geo set up properly yesterday and it has made the world of difference to the handling and feel of the car.

the steering is lighter, turn in miles more precise and you can now point it at an apex and catapault through it. if anything I will keep these eibachs and mabye get FSD's to complement them or Koni Yellow ADJ is they are available.

I dont really think coils are necessary for street driving, but a good shock spring combo with bushes and decent geo should more than be enough. Perhaps a rear roll bar upgrade as well.

Did you do anything further than the geometry check/change?

Ive got the same set up that you had and get bad tyre wear (despit full 4 wheel hunter alignment) - am contemplating getting JCW springs to replace my eibachs...

How do you tell if the shocks are on their way out? Ive had 30mm eibachs springs on with18" R95s for 2 years + so am getting the bushes changed soon but could the shocks need changing?

All input appreciated :)

I find it odd with your clio remark, ours handles like a boat in comparison with the JCW... The clio is bar far the worse handling car. did you mod the clio suspension?

Any how the first thing is lose the run flats and it will feel and handle like a different car, mine used to slide on round abouts too but when I changed to the toyos I have a different drive.

The mini does handle like it is on rails but a very different driving style need to be adopted. the clio suspension is better planned ahead and I find the mini is better tight at speed. I think if you change the tread and see what you think - run flats take too much feel from the drive and do not perform

I now have michelin pilot sport 2 tyres now and the car does feel better although I think the shockers are nackard. my clio 182 had the standard set up with the factory cup pack, but that had 16's as standard. The clio felt like it glided over the road, wheras the mini seems to hit into every bump.

Looking at what others have said about FSD'ds it seems like these will be the next step. After this I will look into some poly bushes and then a 19mm rear roll bar.

Should have it sorted then hopefully.

I now have michelin pilot sport 2 tyres now and the car does feel better although I think the shockers are nackard. my clio 182 had the standard set up with the factory cup pack, but that had 16's as standard. The clio felt like it glided over the road, wheras the mini seems to hit into every bump.

Looking at what others have said about FSD'ds it seems like these will be the next step. After this I will look into some poly bushes and then a 19mm rear roll bar.

Should have it sorted then hopefully.


Newbie question alert: how do you tell if the shocks are gone? :redface: Im getting bushes sorted soon but not sure if having large wheels and 30mm springs on for 4 years will mean that the shocks are getting tired too...

shockers wil be bouncing around like buggery and the car will not feel safe.

I recon my shocks are shot from what you say then - kinda always thought it was just 'cos of the low ride height...

I now have michelin pilot sport 2 tyres now and the car does feel better although I think the shockers are nackard. my clio 182 had the standard set up with the factory cup pack, but that had 16's as standard. The clio felt like it glided over the road, wheras the mini seems to hit into every bump.

Looking at what others have said about FSD'ds it seems like these will be the next step. After this I will look into some poly bushes and then a 19mm rear roll bar.

Should have it sorted then hopefully.

Get some lightweight 16's new bushes
front upper and lower strut braces(magic)
and some nice coilovers:cool:

then it will be sorted

Im replacing my stock shocks and eibachs springs and getting the JCW suspension kit. Im also changing the wishbone bushes to superflex at the same time :)

Im hoping for a big improvement in handling/ride... The eibach springs look great but the ride is terrible on all but the smoothest roads in all honesty - this may be due to their age perhaps...???

Im also hoping that understeer will be reduced as this is more prominent than I was expecting on the MINI - any comments?

(Ive got 18" runflats and JCW strut brace fitted BTW)