Suspension Brakes Most liked posts in thread: JCW Aftersale Suspension opinions/thoughts

My MINI is a 1st gen R53. I went from a very high mileage stock suspension with a 19mm H-Sport rear bar & IE fixed camber plates to the JCW suspension. I also added adjustable rear arms so I could get the rear camber in check. I love the JCW suspension it is everything I want & doesn't beat the carp out of me.

My reasoning for going with the JCW suspension rather than a mix of aftermarket parts was the fact I wanted it right the first time. I did not want to go through several sets of springs & shocks to get my car where I wanted to be. I only had enough money to do this once. I also reasoned the JCW folks & MINI did development on the package since it was sold & installed through dealers.

So what I've got is a MINI that makes me smile & handles really well. My recommendation would be to put a rear sway-bar on & see how your wife likes that before you add a complete suspension. I'm not sure about what the R56 JCW suspension has. You may want to look closer at it before committing your $$$.

 

If you do decide to go with the JCW suspension in the future contact Steven at eMINIparts.com. He can give you a nice discount & can answer your questions about the JCW stuff.

 

Read a review or wrangle a test drive of a GP2. I have a R53, so I'm not an expert on the newer MINIs; but the R53 GP was basically a Cooper S with the JCW engine, brakes, and suspension. (It had a slightly different intercooler, wheels, and trim). Maybe the GP2 was also a Cooper JCW with similar JCW upgrades to the brakes and suspension and the unique trim.

My R53 has the JCW engine, brakes, and suspension. The only non OEM bits are Power Flex bushings and an R Speed adjustable rear sway bar. I'd bet a dollar to a doughnut that your wife would love it as much as I do. It's very firm riding and instantly responsive. (That said, there is zero doubt in my mind that a well modded R53 like Dave's or several others on here would beat mine to a bloody pulp in ANY sort of race or contest.)

I have an earlier version of what you're proposing to build, and I'm very happy with it. Most likely, an R56 with similar upgrades would be comparable. Someone more knowledgeable than me will chime in soon with a better response.

BTW, Welcome to the best MINI forum on the 'net!!

 

H-Sport 25mm Competition Rear Sway Bar and I'll bet she will be delighted. Start out on the lightest setting and adjust it upwards until she smiles.

 

Here's one more vote for changing the rear sway bay before you do anything else. I installed an NM Engineering 22mm Adjustable Rear Sway Bar - particularly liked the billet aluminum sway bar clamps, graphite-impregnated urethane bushings and 4 settings.

The bar absolutely transformed the handling - no more understeer and easy-to-control oversteer on demand. It also took care of the body lean and sharpened the steering response. It's now what an R56 JCW should have been from the factory.

 

I think your misinterpreting the smooth in the aftermarket set ups. It's not soft, it's smooth like no rocking action like a boat, better handling smooth not softer riding smooth.
I originally had the JCW suspension in my 06 and it was fine until Swift came out with springs for MINI, now I have Swift springs with JCW struts, bigger sway bar in rear, plus Adjustable camber plates in front and adjustable arms in rear, it is very smooth, ie tight and certainly not soft.

 

You could easily buy a better after market set up cheaper, polyurethane bushes, uprated rear anti roll bar, coilovers or springs....

 

^ I've been running this bar for probably 135k miles. Just works. Did have to replace a worn-out set of urethane bushings after about 120k miles because I didn't lube them enough. My bad.

 

The GP2 has brakes from the BMW 1M. Suspension is adjustable coilovers.

MotoringFile » Archive » JCW GP Interior & Final Specs Revealed

MotoringFile » Archive » MotoringFile First Drive: 2013 MINI JCW GP

 

Yep... rear sway bar is the quickest way to add go-kart-i-ness. It's possible that alone will give your wife what she's looking for... feels like it stiffens up everything, even though it really doesn't, because of the way it makes the rear suspension less independent.

 

Add one more vote for changing the rear Anti-Sway bar to a larger 3 setting adjustable one from Hotchkis. (Only $221.00)

Time for an M\A Vendor & Sponsor link from Helix: MINI Cooper Rear Swaybar by Hotchkis