1st Gen R53 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Koni FSD and spring combo

  1. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #2 BlimeyCabrio, Dec 18, 2015
    If you go lower than OEM on FSDs, they WILL fail prematurely. I know this from personal experience. If you want to lower, you need different dampers.
     
  2. Razone23

    Razone23 Active Member

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    #8 Razone23, Dec 18, 2015

    I thought of the yellows prior to the FSD, but I payed near to nothing for the FSD, I do like the lowered look I got now, but if I can add a bit of just a bit of comfort to my drive. Then FSD it is.
     
  3. Motoring Magic

    Motoring Magic New Member
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    #3 Motoring Magic, Dec 18, 2015
    OTOH

    I personally ran a set of FSDs with H&R springs for 97000 miles-no failures or issues. HOWEVER I live in a warm climate with reasonably smooth roadways. That same set of FSDs and springs are hanging at the shop waiting to go on my sons 03 R50. I have sold and installed more than 200 sets of FSDs with more than 50 sets on lowered cars-in this region there have been zero failures. You WILL NOT get the full shock travel thus full benefit of them but they WILL work.
     
  4. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #4 BlimeyCabrio, Dec 18, 2015
    Mine worked for about 80k miles. But they were shot after that.
     
  5. fishmonger

    fishmonger Well-Known Member

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    #5 fishmonger, Dec 18, 2015
    I also read somewhere the FSDs should go with stock ride height. However, on my dark gray Mini, which I bought with FSD and lowering springs, the lowering springs and the Hotchkis camber plate spring seats failed prematurely, not the Koni FSD shocks. Go figger.

    [​IMG]cracked spring

    [​IMG]failed spring seat

    30k miles on those parts, mild winter use in St. Louis before I bought it.
     
  6. MCS02

    MCS02 Moderator
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    #6 MCS02, Dec 18, 2015
    My car is lowered, I have Koni Yellows and really like them.
     
  7. Razone23

    Razone23 Active Member

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    #7 Razone23, Dec 18, 2015

    I never thought of going lower, but it sounds like regardless of OEM or my HR that have over 6 years. I should go to OEM in order to keep everything in perspective.
     
  8. Razone23

    Razone23 Active Member

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    #9 Razone23, Dec 18, 2015
    If anyone has a good set of factory springs for sale. Let me know. Thanks for the comments.