Question to Koni FSD owners - still happy?

[camini]

Now that the FSD shock dampers have been around for a number of months - are they really that good and proven reliable?
I'm getting anoyed with the comfort of my SS+ cooper on the bad roads around town and cobbles.

Please share your experience.

[mmalc]

Quote: Originally Posted by camini

Now that the FSD shock dampers have been around for a number of months - are they really that good and proven reliable?
I'm getting anoyed with the comfort of my SS+ cooper on the bad roads around town and cobbles.

Yes, I remain happy with mine.

The car is as sprightly as ever, and I still enjoy driving it. I'm not sure how I would have felt at this stage if I were getting as pummelled as I was before I switched...

mmalc

[rkw]

My FSDs were installed in November and I am very happy with them. Bumps are absorbed better yet they get stiff under steady pressure such as cornering. The handling is improved because the tires maintain better contact while going over bumps. Recently while my car was being serviced, I had a loaner for a day that was an S with 17" wheels and non-runflat tires. The bumps felt much sharper, and even on relatively smooth roads small imperfections in the road caused a constant low level shaking or vibration that you feel through the floor and steering wheel. That is typical for a MINI but I had forgotten about that feeling because the FSDs had been smoothing my ride.

[camini]

Thanks for the replies rkw & mmalc - really appreciated.
We went for a test drive with a sparkling 2006 park lane MCS and we couldn't believe how much smoother the ride was compared to my Nov 2002 Cooper..
I'm really looking forward to a smoother ride so I'm going to take the plunge and have these Koni FSD shocks installed.

[Stevie B]

Quote: Originally Posted by camini

Now that the FSD shock dampers have been around for a number of months - are they really that good and proven reliable?
I'm getting anoyed with the comfort of my SS+ cooper on the bad roads around town and cobbles.

Please share your experience.

Sounds like you need FSDs. And with a name and reputation like Koni, you're not tossing your money away like with about everything else. I don't know how many people are planning to take their MINIs to the grave, but I know when it comes to selling it, mine will be far more appealing than all the MINIs without them.

I've had mine since January and they make every minute of driving that much better. I'll soon mount my summer tires back and I can't wait to have a go with normal grip again.

[Bilbo Baggins]

Quote: Originally Posted by camini

Thanks for the replies rkw & mmalc - really appreciated.
We went for a test drive with a sparkling 2006 park lane MCS and we couldn't believe how much smoother the ride was compared to my Nov 2002 Cooper..
I'm really looking forward to a smoother ride so I'm going to take the plunge and have these Koni FSD shocks installed.

I upgraded from an '02 MCS with the original SS+ to an '06 MCS with the SS+ Mk2 and could not believe the change in how it handled the normal road imperfections, expansion joints, and potholes. All without loosing any of the tossibility (is that a word?) and go-kart like handling.

And now they say that the Konis are that much better.

[mmalc]

Quote: Originally Posted by camini

Thanks for the replies rkw & mmalc - really appreciated.
We went for a test drive with a sparkling 2006 park lane MCS and we couldn't believe how much smoother the ride was compared to my Nov 2002 Cooper..

You're welcome.

I took two of the managers from my dealership for a drive in mine shortly after the FSDs were installed. I didn't tell them what I'd had done, just lobbed the keys at them. They were amazed at the difference.

For me, one of the most seemingly trivial but profound differences is that driving over cat's eyes is now more of a sonic than a percussive event. It's great having a car as nimble as the MINI, but the enjoyment is severely constrained if your're wary of changing lanes because your body's going to get pounded when you go over the dividers...

mmalc

[Fuzzydice]

How much do the Koni FSD's cost?

How much installation?

Will replacing my oem MINI shocks with the Koni's FSD's void my warranty?

I'm in Southern California so any local shops people recommend would be great.

I have a new 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible with the 17" Bullet Rims and Run-Flat tires. Frankly, the ride is very harsh. And, I've only gone a 160 miles!

Having owned a Mazda Miata, I'm used to a comfortable ride and go kart like handling.

I thought about changing out the tires, but another MINI2 member referred me to this thread.

All opinions, advice and shared experience truly appreciated.

fuzzydice
2006 Metallic Grey MSCS Black Rally Stripes

[mmalc]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fuzzydice

How much do the Koni FSD's cost?
How much installation?
Will replacing my oem MINI shocks with the Koni's FSD's void my warranty?
[...]
I have a new 2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible with the 17" Bullet Rims and Run-Flat tires. Frankly, the ride is very harsh. And, I've only gone a 160 miles!
Having owned a Mazda Miata, I'm used to a comfortable ride and go kart like handling.
I thought about changing out the tires, but another MINI2 member referred me to this thread.

TireRack.com has the FSDs for $630. Installation takes a couple of hours, so is likely to be a couple of hundred dollars.

My dealer assured me that the warranty would only be "void" on the shocks themselves, unless the shocks could be shown to contribute to any other problem. I don't see this as being an issue, and generally consider myself fairly conservative.

I also owned a Miata before the MINI, liked its handling, and found the MINI too harsh (originally MCS with 17" S-Lites and run-flats). The transformation with the FSDs was remarkable. I would probably have been content with just that change, but wanted an even softer ride and read enough others' suggestions that the smaller, lighter wheel would offer better handling. In general this seems to have been the case (I got nearly-new X-Lites with run-flats for $600 on Craigslist). I now like my MINI's ride...

mmalc

[Fuzzydice]

Quote: Originally Posted by mmalc

TireRack.com has the FSDs for $630. Installation takes a couple of hours, so is likely to be a couple of hundred dollars.

My dealer assured me that the warranty would only be "void" on the shocks themselves, unless the shocks could be shown to contribute to any other problem. I don't see this as being an issue, and generally consider myself fairly conservative.

I also owned a Miata before the MINI, liked its handling, and found the MINI too harsh (originally MCS with 17" S-Lites and run-flats). The transformation with the FSDs was remarkable. I would probably have been content with just that change, but wanted an even softer ride and read enough others' suggestions that the smaller, lighter wheel would offer better handling. In general this seems to have been the case (I got nearly-new X-Lites with run-flats for $600 on Craigslist). I now like my MINI's ride...

mmalc

Thanks for advice. I am seriously considering the KONI FSD's. I was told by other SCMM members (Southern California MINI Maniacs) who've changed the tires alone that the difference is marketable.

It'll be about $900.00 for the Koni KSD's with installation. While Yokahama Tires (traditional non-flat) will run approximately $450.00 with installation.

Hmmm. Things that make you go hmmm.

fuzzydice
2006 MINI Cooper S Convertible Metallic Silver Black Rally Stripes
Los Feliz, CA

[obehave]

Did everyone here use their OEM springs?
Was there any ride height or suspension travel change? Bottoming out to bumps stops, etc.

[leemini5]

I had my FSD installed about a week ago on a 05 mcs. It really smooth out the bumps but it seems a little jittery over smooth roads compared to stock.

[camini]

Jittery on smooth roads - do you mean when taking a turn or when checking for body-roll and such?
Is your impression positive overall -except for the jitter?

Anyway, I've got them on order now, and we are impatient to install them as we are holding our breath almost full time on the pretty bad roads around here.

I will keep the original springs (SS+) - at least I plan to, unless the BMW magicians find a reason not to..
Thanks for the replies!

[MarkW19]

As soon as Koni bring out some new FSDs that can be used with lowering springs, I'll be in there...perhaps

[leemini5]

It just seems a little more bouncy when driving over smooth roads. I do like them overall for soaking up the bumps.