Looking into lowering the car some time in the future and I'm thinking Eibach springs. The only thing thats getting to me is what I've heard about using lowering springs with standard shocks, that it will cause them to wear quicker. Is this something really worth worrying about in the long run?

One other thing is the ride at the moment with standard suspension has always been fairly harsh and crashy, the harshness I don't mind and actually like it, but its not like a good harshness it feels really crashy and not very solid. Will changing the springs give it a better 'quality' sort of harshness and ride? Thanks

The shocks will wear quicker, something to do with the reduced range over while the shock will be operating with the shorter spring. Depending upon how old your shocks are it should be fine for like 40k miles I would say - I changed out my springs and standard shocks after 50k miles (springs were added by previous owner) and the ride now is so much better, although Im now on JCW suspension...

Lowering springs will make things harsher, depending upon how low you go will dictate how bad it will be....I got my new suspension because I was fed up with the ride with 40mm springs...

If you dont like that standard suspension then lowering on the same shocks will make it alot worse...

Plus point is that on a good road it will corner nice and flat and it will also look ace, miss how mine used to look...
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt229/Keano04JCW/SDC16184.jpg

When you say "was fed up with the ride on 40mm springs" are you referring to the eibach spring and standard damper setup? I thought the eibachs were 20-30mm drop? My MINI has 51k on the clock now so would it be wise to replace the shocks with some more OEM items?

Yes - stock shocks and eibach springs. The ride quality was rubbish before - even avoided cat eyes in the road!!! My springs were made by eibach sold by AC Schnitzer. One of the front springs had snapped!!! From my experience I would be looking to change the shocks if i were you - but thats just me... I suspect that my springs had started to sag/shocks were nackered hence the lower ride height - unless ACS got eibach to make lowere springs just for them?

I would have a look to see how much some uprated shocks would be if you do decide to change the shocks as they may not be much more than replacement OEM items...

Here are my old springs:
http://i614.photobucket.com/albums/tt229/Keano04JCW/IMG_6391.jpg

Didn't have a problem with my previous Cooper on Eibachs and standard dampers. Had done 63k on this set up by the time I sold her. Handling was much better than the standard set up, and never had a problem with the ride quality.