2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: Mini Newbie - Please make sense of engine mods

Let me chime in with a obeservation I have made several times in threads like this.

All valid points about where to add power

What about suspension? Power is cool and MINI's have a pretty good stock suspension but so much of our cars fun is in the handling.

Address suspension and then add power so you can enjoy that power is what I did and don't regret it

 

Springs and rear sway bar. If you're not going to track the car (or even if you want track occasionally) and you still want it to be livable on a daily basis, that's about all you need.

I'm running TSW/WMW springs & 19mm sway bar ... easy DIY install and <$500.

 

Agree with YesIFit

Rear Sway Bar (Way would be a good recommendation source). I have a JCW one that works well but in retrospect would have done a little beefier one

I too have the TSW Springs and I like them allot. Only regret here is not getting coilovers so I could lower the car a bit more. That convenience would cost me about $1K more than what I have so it's pretty low on the Mod List.

The above would put a big smile on your face.

Other considerations

-Adjustable Camber Plates

-Front Sway Bar , expensive to install and there is a debate as to their value. I have the JCW one and noticed a immediate improvement

-Variant on the front sway bar would be the TSW cross brace (Way carries them now). Much lower on the install cost, 4 bolts

-Rear Control Arms

 

yes, about 1 to 1.5 in

Not sure on that but it makes the rear end more stable or less squirrelly in tight turns, adjustable means you can adjust the degree of stiffness

No worries, we all have asked this and similar questions, thats what MA is about

 

It will improve handling as it is a higher quality steel and design than OEM and yes it does look cooler!, Check out my garage to get a idea

 

I'm not a fan of lowering stock dampers much

as you will be riding on the bump stops much sooner. My recipe is a bit different.

Fixed front camber plates.
19mm rear bar.
These two help address the factory understeer approaching neutral from the safe side.


Good tires and wheels.
This drops unsprung weight so the wheels can better follow the road, drops rotational mass so you can use a bit more of your power moving forward instead of spinning heavy parts around thier center, and the tires will increase overall traction increasing adhesion limits in all turning situations.

Driver training.
Bolt-ons or fixing one car up can make that car perform better. Improved skill makes all cars you drive perform better. Most under-rated performance aid there is.

After this, it gets expensive fast.

On the R53, if you lower more, you're going to need a lot more spring or bar because you start to move the roll center down and the roll couple increases. This increases the twisting torque on the car in turns. Don't know if it's the same on the R56, but I'd guess that it is.

Get a book on handling, or work with a good suspension shop. Even if you don't become an expert (and very few on the internet are, I'm surely not, it's just I know that!) you will learn the concepts so you can have an intelligent conversation with the person who is helping you with your set-up.

another thing that is true but not often admitted is the stock chassis set up is better than most know how to take advantage of. With good mods it's better than all but the very best of drivers I've known. My car is capable of much, much more than I ever can get out of it. Probably will be for a long, long time.

Matt

 

Call me at the shop, an R56 Quicktune is $450, R53 is $225, R50 is $250

WAY
317.201.8670

 

Best value and fit, JCW rear anti-sway bar BMW OEM Part 33556782723 - Stabilizer, rear Genuine OEM Parts available from DDM and OEM Teflon impregnated bushings (never need lube) BMW OEM Part 33556772788 - Stabilizer rubber mounting Genuine OEM Parts available from DDM two required.

Looks and track tested handling http://www.motoringalliance.com/forums/suspension/2585-abf-megamini-127-spec-springs-r56.html

 

Wow!

The JCW bar is just under $61. Keith, do you know it's diameter?

Matt