[CARVNIT]

I have read numerous magazines, company advertisement specials, been to innumberable company's websites, but would like some feedback concerning suspension tuning.

Firstly, is it merely marketing when suspension companies -H&R - state that it is foolish to mix and match components. Such as spring, sway bars, and even shocks. I have noticed a lot of people like to mix parts that they think are best are best suited to the application.

Additionally, what truth lies behind companies - Eibach - reporting the values of their springs being engineered for U.S. cars, as they stress the differences between U.S. and European spec vehicles. Plus I live in the U.S. and would like to make the best decision.

I plan to drive the car enthusiastically, but not abuse or "drive it like you hate it." Furthermore my Cooper S is my daily driver so I don't want a noncompliant ride but a liveable one that I can eat up the backroads with and take autocrossing. If you are familiar with that form of motorsport, in other parts of the globe other than the United State. Organizers set up a course with cones and paint in a large flat parking lot and entrants are then timed, one second penalty for each pylone hit. Best time wins.

The ultimate question is can I install springs from one manufacturer and replace the stock sway bars with those from a different manufacturer?

Lastly, any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Fullupo]

hmm, ive never heard that about eibach! im worried now, i was gonna ring up and book my new springs. maybe ill have to rethink......

[stephensmith]

My Cooper S is one of 3 cars I own & autocross: others are a very modified 02' BMW 330ci E46 coupe (a Dinan 3 car) & a somewhat less tweeked 99' Boxster.
-IMO: The Cooper S is great "out of the box" but the stock 17" tire/wheels combo limits the suspension (weight.) First order of business for autocrossing is replacing the 49lb. per-corner set-up w/ something 1/2 the weight. I am using a 17" SSR comp. wheel & SO3' package that works well & is VERY liberating (acceleration/braking/cornering.)
-Next, the stock brakes are good but they are heavy & not up to the demands of aggressive driving & autocrossing. I went w/ a Brembo 355 mm. kit and love it but there are several good kits that cost less.
-The stock spring/strut set-up is pretty damn good once the unsprung weight has been reduced BUT the car needs to be lowered a bit & the spring rate is not ideal for autocrossing. My solution was the H&R spring kit w/ an adjustable rear sway bar and F. strut tower brace from Pro-Mini. This helps a great deal, looks great & works very well w/ the stock struts (very much a daily-drivers car but still good on the track.)
-From 38 years of experience of driving various German cars w/ gobs of performance tuning components I have found that it is not a good idea to mix & match suspension parts unless you have personally driven such a car & know first hand the synergistic relationship between the elements. I have made more than one mistake !.
-Finally, my Cooper S project car is the most rewarding automotive adventure I have had in the past decade. It's a blast to drive & can potentially beat the pants off car's costing much more.
FYI: Other mods are Supersprint cat-back exhaust (sans resonator), a Pro-Mini intake & a soon-to-be Cooper Works Kit. Anyone need a brand new Cooper Works sport exhaust system for a good price? I am keepintg the Supersprint set-up when I install the CW goodies in 2 weeks.

[jasonve]

Suspension wise I personaly have always mixed up things.. the key is to get an adjustable shock type so you can match that to the springs... you can also mix and match swaybars to get the effect you want... the beauty of keeping things as a set (from one company) is there is little to no tuning to do. when you mix it up you are on your own but the results can be better suited to you. From the info I have seen so far H-Sport has the best spring package and light tubular swaybars... I would not opt for a strut brace untill you have done everything else (I am NOT a proponent of strut bars so I am biased)... For track events bigger brakes are advised but for autocross is not needed. Lighter wheels are a must if you have the s-light boat anchors on your car now... the 16" Cooper S wheels are reasonable in weight. I run AK Tires Monza Wheels 16" X 6.5 " at 14 pounds each... a cheap wheel for as light as it is.

Finnaly in autocross the biggest invesment you can make is in the driving.. go to an evolution school or a local novice school and go to as many events as you can... Making lots of Mods to go faster will only mask the problems behind the wheel.... been there done that ....

Good luck with your choices.

[CARVNIT]

Thanks guys for your insight into suspension tuning, I appreciate it. I acknowledge that a huge percentage of the success that occurs in autocrossing is due to driver skill. My brother autocrosses his 1.8T Jetta with Eibach springs, Koni Yellows, and Neuspeed adjustable rear sway bar, and 17" dancing shoes with Falken Azenzis for grip, so like to attend all the events as a spectator. He placed his first podium finish last week with a third in STX and it is his first full season. Plus I hope to enter at least a few times before any mods to my car. Everyone needs a baseline, right? Additionally, I don't think I will be able to hold out much longer than the rest of this summer. My car has just over 1,100 miles on it so I am still breaking it in properly. Also I will have bigger expenses to worry about soon, I just graduated from high school.

Anyways my plans are to gain enhancements in steps, springs first, then strictly summer running gear, next the track guise - special wheels and tires, in addition would be the sway bar setups. Whoa! I will see where I stand from there. That's the short list, but more practical. Even though these MINIs came from the factory quite good I guess for some of us we just can't leave anything alone or be satisfied until it is just the way we like it.

In conclusion keep the input coming, and to those who have so far contributed thanks again.

Good luck to everyone else, CARVNIT

[Fullupo]

I am putting on some kahn 18's, and i have the sports plus suspension on my S. Its going to look to hign wihtout adjustemnts so i was just going to change the springs to eibach and drop it 20mm. I dont know nothing about this sort of thing and was going to just leave it to the garage. If i just change the springs, is this going to completely ruin the balance and geometry of the car etc? Do i need to get the wheels balanced/tracked or anything? sorry for my lack of knowledge. Im only using the car on the road