2nd Gen R56 Cooper S Most liked posts in thread: What is the Best Bang for the Buck Mini Mod

This ^

 

....and this. ^

 

H-sport.

Call Helix!

 

The only thing lacking is sufficient negative camber up front; IE fixed camber plates will fix that. I would put IE fixed plates at the top of the list next to practice, practice, practice. Wear out current tires and have fun doing it, then try non-run-flat performance tires.

Your rear bar is 18mm RealOEM.com * BMW R56 Cooper S Stabilizer, rear, it's adequate for the time being. Once you are at a point you understand how to use that tool, choose a bar with Teflon impregnated rubber bushings.

 

I'd do at least one track day before you tint your windows... if you like the track, you might want to wait on the tinting or at least get a lighter tint than you might have started with. On the track, you want to be able to see really really well out of ALL your windows (on both sunny and cloudy days). And as you get into better run groups, you'll probably want to be able to communicate to drivers behind you by tapping on your rearview mirror (so they'll need to be able to see your rearview mirror through your back window).

 

Camber plates are great but for someone starting out lack the easy adjustability of the adjustable rear sway bar. Being able to adjust in and out a bit of under steer helps you to understand what's going on when changes are made. Then as your driving progresses the very next thing would be camber plates. Just my 2 cents as there is always more than one way to skin a cat.

...and yes fixed means that you will have a preset camber with no way to adjust. Then there are adjustable camber plates that allow you to dial in the amount of camber desired such as the Vorshlag Camber Plates. These adjustments require a realignment.

 

Great advise with one caveat, I think. Is it not true that with fixed camber plates you cannot use either better quality springs or coilovers? You basically stick with the OEM springs

 

Not true. Fixed camber plates are compatible with any stock-diameter springs, aka lowering springs. Coilovers are a different animal, and you wouldn't pair fixed camber plates with coilovers.

 

Ben is correct, I've run both the fixed and adjustable plates with TSW springs.

 

Thanks for setting me straight Ben, appreciated

 

You will need an alignment. Adding camber (or taking away really) you mess with the toe, and it WILL need to be corrected. Also, when lowering the rear-subframe to do the sway bar, you will have likely "tweaked" the rear toe as well.

^^ From personal experience.

 

It's actually a smart idea to do those two things at the same time - that'll save you some $$ from having to get an alignment twice.

 

I did not realize you needed an alinement when you add a new sway bar. That could change my plans a bit. Bummer.

Jim

 

A good alignment should include all four wheels. Also I've never had to do a realignment when only a rear sway bar is installed, it doesn't change the alignment settings or the attitude/geometry of the rear suspension other than the resistance of the sway bar itself... 2 cents

 

So the rear subframe that you need to drop in order to change out the rear swaybar isn't going to affect the alignment if it moves out of place? Are there locating pins that maintain the subframe's position?

 

There's only one place for the subframe to go that I have seen, plus you dont remove it totally. Having installed a couple on my car and several others with zero effect on the rear alignment when they eventually were aligned, can't see the need.... 2 cents