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511 Posts
Hi all,
I just wanted to share my great experiences with my shiny new Bilstein PSS9 suspension and the fantastic service I received from Roland and John at GT-Tuning.
Firstly, a little background. I had Spax RSX coilovers on my car from May this year until recently and I found them to be adequate given the modest initial financial outlay. The quality of the components were again befitting of the price and the performance is good on track when the dampeners are racked up hard. What I didn't appreciate, however, was the poor low-speed ride; one would presume that this would be a payoff for great high-speed stability but in all truth the dampeners failed to control the primary ride of the car very well on bumpy A and B roads for instance.It would literally 'bounce' along on the springs. I also like my suspension to have instant 'bite' on turn in; by this I mean the feeling of the struts and springs taking up the roll and weight of the car at almost the instance that the wheel is turned.
Last month I was offered to be the first MINI owner to have AST coilovers fitted to their car by Powerstation in Cheltenham (AST make the Subaru Type-25 suspension). I won't divulge the details here because I don't wish to harm the vendor's reputation, even though they don't specialise in the MINI. The coilovers did not perform as well as the Spax did funnily enough and there was body roll present where there shouldn't have been. Also, the rear struts had their adjusters on TOP of the strut, meaning that my poor MINI had to undergo hole-making surgery so that the adjustment pins could be accessed from within the boot
Following on from my very bad experience with the AST coilovers, I felt very guilty that I had been inadvertently damaging my MINI through the use of cheap suspension components. It was then that I decided enough was enough and I would invest in the best...Bilstein PSS9 coilovers
The decision of who to fit them was a no-brainer on my part. I headed straight down to Dorset to Roland and John at GT tuning without a second's hesitance because I knew, from previous acquaintance, that these guys would do a brilliant job and not treat me like a second-rate citizen (@MD ahem...).
What can I say really other than the fact that their service far exceeded my expectations. Every detail was attended to (which I look for being a perfectionist my self
) and I received great hospitality. The trip to GTT is 300miles for me (round trip) but I have no qualms about traveling that distance many times in the near future to get more things done 
The Bilsteins themselves are phenomenal. I guess I am fortunate enough to have had a few sets of coilovers before to compare them with, not including the stock shocks and Eibach springs I ran for a while 18 months ago. The turn-in is extremely positive and you can really feel the struts and springs taking hold of body composure the second the wheels change direction. There is no understeer (I have BBR gripper suspension mods as well
) and the low-speed ride is firm but never harsh like cheaper units were.
All in all, these are the best coilovers out there, no question. Also as conclusive is the question of whom should fit them.. I cannot recommend GTT more highly for this
Thanks for listening,
Henry
I just wanted to share my great experiences with my shiny new Bilstein PSS9 suspension and the fantastic service I received from Roland and John at GT-Tuning.
Firstly, a little background. I had Spax RSX coilovers on my car from May this year until recently and I found them to be adequate given the modest initial financial outlay. The quality of the components were again befitting of the price and the performance is good on track when the dampeners are racked up hard. What I didn't appreciate, however, was the poor low-speed ride; one would presume that this would be a payoff for great high-speed stability but in all truth the dampeners failed to control the primary ride of the car very well on bumpy A and B roads for instance.It would literally 'bounce' along on the springs. I also like my suspension to have instant 'bite' on turn in; by this I mean the feeling of the struts and springs taking up the roll and weight of the car at almost the instance that the wheel is turned.
Last month I was offered to be the first MINI owner to have AST coilovers fitted to their car by Powerstation in Cheltenham (AST make the Subaru Type-25 suspension). I won't divulge the details here because I don't wish to harm the vendor's reputation, even though they don't specialise in the MINI. The coilovers did not perform as well as the Spax did funnily enough and there was body roll present where there shouldn't have been. Also, the rear struts had their adjusters on TOP of the strut, meaning that my poor MINI had to undergo hole-making surgery so that the adjustment pins could be accessed from within the boot
Following on from my very bad experience with the AST coilovers, I felt very guilty that I had been inadvertently damaging my MINI through the use of cheap suspension components. It was then that I decided enough was enough and I would invest in the best...Bilstein PSS9 coilovers
The decision of who to fit them was a no-brainer on my part. I headed straight down to Dorset to Roland and John at GT tuning without a second's hesitance because I knew, from previous acquaintance, that these guys would do a brilliant job and not treat me like a second-rate citizen (@MD ahem...).
What can I say really other than the fact that their service far exceeded my expectations. Every detail was attended to (which I look for being a perfectionist my self
The Bilsteins themselves are phenomenal. I guess I am fortunate enough to have had a few sets of coilovers before to compare them with, not including the stock shocks and Eibach springs I ran for a while 18 months ago. The turn-in is extremely positive and you can really feel the struts and springs taking hold of body composure the second the wheels change direction. There is no understeer (I have BBR gripper suspension mods as well
All in all, these are the best coilovers out there, no question. Also as conclusive is the question of whom should fit them.. I cannot recommend GTT more highly for this
Thanks for listening,
Henry