i am looking at a complete kit on ebay, taken off a 03 S. The seller says it will only fit a JCW, but that doesn't make sense to me. Surely JCW shocks and springs would fit any R53 without issue? You could order them as a dealer fit option if I remeber rightly?
I love my JCW suspension and have had it for about a year. Its firmer than the stock when needed, but more forgiving on the big bumps. It seems counter intuitive, but that's my experience.
I don't know how true this is but I remember reading that the specific spring rate for the JCW spring provided from factory was dependent on your car's specs, e.g. sunroof, etc.
i've heard that swift is producing lowering springs for the stock struts now. if true, that's what i'd do. they totally transformed my bc coilovers. once you're used to linear springs, you wont want to ride progressive springs ever again. i'd give swift a call. Swift Springs USA
BTW, I believe the TSW springs are 217lbs/in in the front and 200lbs/in in the rear. And the drop was about 3/4" in the front and 7/8" in the back. I think the sport springs are 173lbs/in front and back.
I am sure there is some range of JCW springs rates based on your VIN (i.e. vehicle weight), but not sure what that range might be, I would guess it is a little softer than the TSW springs, and the 10mm drop sounds familiar.
With regards to the shocks, i'd be wary of buying 8 year old shocks from an 03 S used. The OEM shocks were never that great anyway....Koni Yellows are nice.
This is what happened to me as well. I wanted to check the price on a new JCW kit and had to give my VIN number. Then I had to go through a long list of options with the spares guy as I had made changes to my car since ordering, but it even included the type of radio and CD changer!
