[C5 PHL]

Alrite need a bit of advice, have been given a set of Eibach springs, n im in 2 minds weather 2 get them fitted or nt??? Example, drive quality n the cars looks????

[ScottyBoy]

Most people will go with Eibach as there a very good quality spring, they only drop the car around 30mm the drive quality will be a bit stiff to standard but handling will improve even though you are not fitting coil overs! anymore than 30mm then the best bet is to go with a full set of coilovers but as said there is alot of MINI owners with these fitted and have no problems regreats at all

basically

handling will improve

drivability will be fine depending on what your personel thoughts on the stiffness is!

and the car will look a whole lot better IMO

Scot

[scrob]

They transform the car, looks a lot better and handles better with no noticable loss in comfort!

[nylo]

Try a search, Chris, there's loads of info on Eibachs and feedback on them

[PmP]

Probably the best setup to go for if you want to retain a comfortable ride and lower the car about an inch. Improves the looks ten fold.

I went for eibach coilovers and they seem to sit lower still. Cant comment on how they compare comfort wise to just the springs, as never been in a mini with the springs fitted on the move.

What model are you fitting them to?

[minigolf]

Quote: Originally Posted by scrob (original)

...and handles better with no noticable loss in comfort!

That's not entirely true. I thought that too after getting my Eibachs fitted. "Hey, this is no different in ride quality compared to stock ... cool!". But then a few months later I got an overnight test drive in a JCW MCS from my local dealer, it was like driving around in a Rolls Royce comparatively.

Also, on smooth, good roads, yes, the handling does improve noticeably. Especially through open sweeping corners, the car just feels so much more planted to the ground. However, in my experience, on rougher, severe undulating roads the car can tend to skip about a bit due to the shorter suspension travel. Not a huge drama if you're used to it and expecting it, but it could surprise someone who has just had the springs fitted.

I've had mine for about 18 months now and I still love them. Despite the misgivings I posted above, for me, the benefits outweigh the negatives. I reckon the lower, squatter stance gives the MINI a superb agressive look.

Get them fitted, and make sure you line up two full four wheel alignments with the shop that fits them for you. One alignment after fitting and another in a few hundred miles just to make sure everything is aligned as it should be.

Enjoy!

[nylo]

Think Chris actually went for Koni FSDs plus the Eibachs after having spoken to him briefly a few days ago. He'd only just had it done though, so didn't get much feedback on them...

[minigolf]

Nice. Well, when you get some feedback, I'd love to hear it.

[sam_a156]

Quote: Originally Posted by minigolf (original)

That's not entirely true. I thought that too after getting my Eibachs fitted. "Hey, this is no different in ride quality compared to stock ... cool!". But then a few months later I got an overnight test drive in a JCW MCS from my local dealer, it was like driving around in a Rolls Royce comparatively.

:

Hi minigolf,

Could you elaborate a bit on that?

Was that a MCSW with JCW suspension...? And how did that compare to the Eibach setup you have?

AFAIK, the JCW suspension only lowers the car about 1cm, but I have understood that it does improve the handling over standard MCS setup - better of the rough stuff and improved cornering.

Cheers,
Sam

[minigolf]

Sorry if I misled you Sam, the JCW MCS I test drove was running standard Cooper S suspension, which in Australia was the Sports+ IIRC. It certainly wasn't on the JCW suspension though.

As for differences in handling between that and Eibachs, to me, in daily driving you barely notice it, unless going over bumpy sections of road, in which case the stock set up rides more comfortably. As I said though, on nice smooth open corners is where I notice the best improvement with the Eibachs, it's no night and day difference though, just a subtle improvement. IMO the best attribute from the Eibachs lowering springs is the more aggressive stance they give the car.



Cheers Liam