Here are some pics after a 20 mile drive to work and some time to settle. I'm very happy w/ the ride height (though I'm at the top of the KW adjustability). It has been too low for my tastes since I put 'em on and this brings the height back to where I like it... a sporty stance without being slammed.
MINI didn't even have the bushings in the parts list until this year. We tried to get a set for a car cause he put them in the trash on accident. so we went with another aftermarket bushing that worked, but the Powerflex ones are much nicer. Chad Detroit Tuned
When I went to the dealership, the bushings weren't in the parts diagrams... only as a part of the entire upper strut mount. On the helper spring question: I am running the TSW-spec KW springs that include helpers. The helpers just help keep the spring aligned at full droop... in my application, they are almost always fully compressed. You can see 'em here: http://www.focusoa.com/MINI/b3.JPG
Aaron (agranger) now you have a useful set of spare rear upper mounts; they will come in handy some day. I sent off a spare set long ago and have regretted it many times. FYI for rubber bushing options: Lemforder with the numbers removed 2005 MINI Cooper S L4 1.6L > Suspension > Shocks > ES#1981541 Shock Mount - Rear - Left - W01331666016 KYB brand 2002-2008 Mini Cooper Strut Mount Bushing – KYB W0133-1796251 - Rear
Thanks for all the concerns about my KW springs but they are fine. They are not sagging at all as they are less than a year old. The rear top bushings are shot they are the origional one that came with the car 70k ago. I was going to get the AST mounts but they are not available. Keith checked for me and even checked with Vorshlag. I have already looked at the three bolts holding the front trailing arm bushings in place and they are ok. I checked them in my garage and even went to my buddies shop and put the car up on the lift and we checked them by backing them out and re-torqued them again without any problems. I have isolated the squeek to the top of the rear shock. I can make it happen at will when the car is on the lift with the tire off. Or by rolling over any speed bump slooooooowly. I am going with new OEM rear stock plates or just bushings for now so I can drive to and run the Dragon without any squeeks. I may end up getting Vorshlag to make me a custom set for my KW V2 (TSW/WMW version) coilovers in the future. FYI~ Keith (K-Huevo) has been a great help in getting me all the information I need to get the parts I need. Thanks everyone for all the ideas and help. This is what M/A is all about and what the NAM-less site lacks.
I've got an old, massive suitcase that I was going to throw away, but wound up repurposing to become an old MINI part storage bin. That sucker is almost overflowing, but I've gone back to it more than once to remedy a problem that I've had with an aftermarket part or with a friends car. I hate to be a pack-rat, but you never know when you might need a MINI part!
Keith, i think i have a spare set actually. PM me your address and ill send them your way. Least i can do for your kindness a couple of years ago.
By accident, I just found the oem style foam bushings at autopartsway.ca ($12.23 per side). No need to buy the entire mount from bmw. 2007 Mini Cooper Shock Mount in Canada - Canada 2007 Mini Cooper Shock Mount
:cornut: Correct me if I err but I'm sure that I remember reading recently that with the US economy so down, that Canadian dollars are equal to or more valuable than US dollars; Yes?:frown2: Jason
Alas as the US continues to print dollars to save us from ourselves; Monopoly money may soon have a higher value on the world market.....
Almost exactly 1:1 as of noon 3/8/2012. Canadian dollar vis-a-vis selected currencies All thanks to the greed/stupidity of US Bankers and the US Politicians that set them Free.
Eh... too much information. I'd rather just make a sweeping uninformed generalization to draw to a humerous conclusion. Really... it worked for Jerry Seinfeld for years and still seems to do well for Fox News!
by the way, I just installed the cheap replacement bushings yesterday and they fit perfectly. They are 3mm taller than the old ones but also a little firmer. The old ones were probably compressed a bit from age, though not as bad as the ones in the op.