Friends won't ride with me!

[Tz Mini]

I have read many posts about the sport suspension and run flat tires. No one seems to describe their ride to be as extremely jarring as mine. I have a 2010 Clubman S with 17" wheels and RFT. Each crack in the pavement and manhole cover is so jarring that you feel as though you are banging the rims of your wheels - not to mention the potholes. I've had the car since June and am just now taking it to dealer - reason being, is that my girlfriend just bought a 2009 Cooper S (not a Clubman) equipped exactly like mine as I described above and it doesn't ride nearly as roughly as mine. I read a post once that said maybe the shipping blocks (chocks?) were left in.......does anyone have any insight? I want to be fully informed before I take it to dealer next week - thanks!

[Smooth Criminal]

So your Clubman has the optional sports suspension?

[dlpruk]

My Countryman with Sports Suspension and 17in wheels + Bridgestone Duellers rides notably BETTER than my Clubman did on standard suspension, 16in wheels and non-RFTs.

Go figure!

[Angib]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tz Mini (original)

I read a post once that said maybe the shipping blocks (chocks?) were left in.......

I've seen that on an American Mini forum - as this forum has mainly British membership, it probably isn't the best place to ask. Try:
Motoring Alliance :: MINI Cooper Forums
MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

[Keano]

If it still has the shipping blocks in you should be able to see them and the ride height will be massivley high !! It should be pretty obvious if they are causing your issues....

[element140]

I have run flats on the back, and standard tyres on the front of my 2002 cooper (with sports +)
I have been loaning a 2005 cooper (which I think has sports +) with non runflats (both on 17s) and i'd consider the ride in mine to be quite jarring in comparison. I'm going to replace the tyres on mine to standards in an effort to get a more comfortable ride

[MINI Sales Man]

All MINIs do come with shipping blocks when transported to a dealer but these are removed when the car is given its pre delivery inspection. They are fitted to the front wheels, you would be able to see them by simply looking at the suspension under the front wheels. PM the reg of your car and I'll check what suspension you have.

[element140]

I've just had my car back from the garage, they replaced all 4 tires under warranty due to uneven wear caused by bad tracking.
As I said previously, I had runflats on the back, which have now been replaced with standard tires (probably due to cost, which is fine by me because I don't like runflats at all) and new standard tires on the front. Although the tires on the front weren't runflat, they were 40mm(?) in height as apposed to 45 on the rear - the ride is now faultless, smooth and not jarring at all

[dlpruk]

Quote: Originally Posted by element140 (original)

I've just had my car back from the garage, they replaced all 4 tires under warranty due to uneven wear caused by bad tracking.
As I said previously, I had runflats on the back, which have now been replaced with standard tires (probably due to cost, which is fine by me because I don't like runflats at all) and new standard tires on the front. Although the tires on the front weren't runflat, they were 40mm(?) in height as apposed to 45 on the rear - the ride is now faultless, smooth and not jarring at all

How on earth did your car acquire 40-section (percent BTW, not mm) ROF tires on one end and standard 45s on the other?

If your mention of a warranty implies that the garage accepted some responsibility, I think you have every right to insist on a MINI Mobility System as well - but don't be put-off by tales of ROF harshness because current versions from Bridgestone (and others) are a vast improvement on the first ones.

[element140]

Quote: Originally Posted by dlpruk (original)

How on earth did your car acquire 40-section (percent BTW, not mm) ROF tires on one end and standard 45s on the other?

If your mention of a warranty implies that the garage accepted some responsibility, I think you have every right to insist on a MINI Mobility System as well - but don't be put-off by tales of ROF harshness because current versions from Bridgestone (and others) are a vast improvement on the first ones.

Thanks for the info re the size. Not sure how it ended up with tires like that, just how it came from the garage (I hadn't noticed until a few months after purchase)