R56 MCS Suspension/Chassis upgrades - best value?

[Complex]

MDifficult said:

I'm just in the process of having the Powerflex lower engine mount insert and purple lower arm bushes put onto my GP2 - my research suggesting these give the biggest bang for the buck.

Pick the car up in the next few days so I'll let you know.

Thanks, would appreciate it.

Given you're in Berkshire, mind me asking who does your work on the GP2? I'm based in Oxford and work in South Ox so a specialist in Berkshire would be ideal.

[MDifficult]

Complex said:

Thanks, would appreciate it.

Given you're in Berkshire, mind me asking who does your work on the GP2? I'm based in Oxford and work in South Ox so a specialist in Berkshire would be ideal.

Will do. It's actually being done by Mulgari in Bracknell but that's because it's in having some other fun stuff done at the same time.

Previously, I've used Grosvenor in Reading for work on my other Mini, found them very good.

[rigga]

Have a 2010 jcw and over the time in my care I've changed the suspension to AP coilovers, adjustable drop links, adjustable rear lower control arms, did have adjustable top mounts on the fronts, but the constant rattle from the spherical bearings did my nut in, so knocked the peg out of the original mount to give some camber and refitted those, also lower engine mount updated, and whilst having the clutch replaced a few months back, I had the subframe mounts changed to the purple one's. Wheels are non standard items with higher profile tyres, now I don't track the car, but even the AP's are better on the road, far less crashy than the jcw items, I'm happy for the money I spent that its an improvement.

[MDifficult]

So just picked up my GP2 with the new engine mount insert and lower arm bushes...

Only driven about 25 miles but the front end feels so much better held together than before (although, my arm bushes were in the process of failing, hence the upgrade). The engine and, interestingly, gearbox feel much firmer and more alive and there’s only slightly more road/engine noise. Well, what I can hear over my new Akrapovic downpipe anyway

If you keep in mind that your arm bushes WILL fail at some point, I would definitely recommend the changes so far. Car’s gone from amazing to perfect

Good luck with your descisions!

[shoestring7]

My 2p: don't waste your money on cheap aftermarket 'coil-overs' aimed at those more interested in slammin than drivin. At 7 years old, 66k miles, your current OE dampers will have been cheap in the first place and are now past their best. So a good quality basic unit like the Koni Sport or Bilstein B7 will be a big improvement, will maintain good drive quality and massively improve body control. Stick with the current springs to save money, maintain wheel travel and decent compliance. It won't present any insurance worries either.

I would also stick with OE for the bushes. I can't remember anyone who drove a new MCS saying "All this needs is some creaky, harsh bushes and it would be really fun to drive".

SS7

[Complex]

Thanks Mdifficult.

Bushes are now frozen on my list of mods to be done.

One thing I was thinking about is wheels. I’m running stock 17s and if I am ever to change them (would be for cosmetic reasons) would going down to 16s be wise? If it could give a little extra margin of comfort it may allow any given suspension setup to be less compromised?

Very few people seem to run 16s on an R56 though. Is there any reason not to run 16s? Slightly more comfort and slightly cheaper tyres doesn’t sound like a bad thing.

[E-bmw]

Depending on your braking set up some don't fit under 16s.

I think it is the 4-pot calipers but check first.

[Complex]

I’m running standard r56 MCS brakes. Don’t really have any aspirations to improve them, they’re more than adequate fme.

One thing I am finding with looking at tyres for 16s is the range is incredibly reduced and the premium performance tyres (P Zero, PS4s, Conti SC) aren’t available at all.

What’s the best R16 195 55 for all round fast road use?

[df76]

Complex said:

I’m running standard r56 MCS brakes. Don’t really have any aspirations to improve them, they’re more than adequate fme.

One thing I am finding with looking at tyres for 16s is the range is incredibly reduced and the premium performance tyres (P Zero, PS4s, Conti SC) aren’t available at all.

What’s the best R16 195 55 for all round fast road use?

Bit of a crap size tbh.. I'd be interested in Vredestein Sportrac 5s. Or, change to 205/50/16s and put some Yoko AD08Rs on.

Standard brakes were ok on the road, but soon ran out after a couple of laps on track. Brembo HP pads and discs (groove and drilled) seemed to have solved that.

[SlimJim16v]

Doing the suspension bushes at the same time as the dampers and/or springs will save very little time or money. Who thought it was a good idea putting them there.

Probably good doing suspension and engine bushes together though.

Geometry should be no more than about £100 max.

I've read those suspension bushes are practically a service item, they last such a short time. So polybushes will last much longer.

[E-bmw]

I went up to 205/55/16 & went with Dunlop Sport Max RT, they are currently around £57.00/corner.

Uniroyal Rainsport 3 are a bit cheaper for the same size.

You should find that size actually makes the speedo more accurate also.

[MDifficult]

SlimJim16v said:

I've read those suspension bushes are practically a service item, they last such a short time. So polybushes will last much longer.

That was my understanding and view too. Stifly sprung R56s are hard on their front suspension components and on GP2s the front oil-filled arm bushes seem to commonly fail at 30-40k miles or less. I’ve swapped to poly both for the improvement in feel but also safe in the knowledge they’ll last forever.

[mon the fish]

You don't need to polybush your whole car, but the lower arm bushes are a must.

BMW are notorious for this - our Z4 is the same, the lower arm 'lollipops' were shot at 40k

[MDifficult]

mon the fish said:

You don't need to polybush your whole car, but the lower arm bushes are a must.

BMW are notorious for this - our Z4 is the same, the lower arm 'lollipops' were shot at 40k

Yup, total cack:

[Complex]

E-bmw said:

I went up to 205/55/16 & went with Dunlop Sport Max RT, they are currently around £57.00/corner.

Uniroyal Rainsport 3 are a bit cheaper for the same size.

You should find that size actually makes the speedo more accurate also.

Thanks E bmw and others who've had input, really appreciated it:

Update:

I will be buying a set of 16 inch Sparco Assetto Garas, they are both less boring and more importantly over 2.5kg per corner lighter than my chunky stock crown spokes:
https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/view-wh...

Available in offset 37 or 42 - if it makes a difference, which is preferable?

Planning to put PS4s on as they appear to be available in 205 55 16, though not 205 50 16.

As for bushes:

http://www.lohen.co.uk/shop/gen-2-mini/chassis/bus...

PFF5-201 - Front Wishbone Rear Bush
PFF5-206 - Lower Engine Mount Small
PFF5-207 - Lower Engine Mount Large Bush Insert
PFR5-1103 - Rear Trailing Arm Front Bush
PFR5-115 - Rear Shock Top Mounting Bush

Each of the bushes in the above pack seem to have been mentioned independently of one another (I have no knowledge of suspension components so if different words have been used to describe the same bush area, let me know!).

Then geometry set by Lohen, coilovers can wait for the time being pending the outcome of the above.

[E-bmw]

CarsOrBikes said:

a geometry check is essential after any change, aim for rear -1.5 and front -2 degrees, this will change the car,

I will be getting my geo set up this time home & was aiming for similar figures with having adjustable camber.

I was also going to go for dead ahead toe front & rear unless there evidence to the contrary for these cars.

[steve-5snwi]

How about these ?

https://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/view-wh...

i'm thinking of swapping my td 1.2's for these.

I'm running et38 and as mentioned above it does move them out of the arches. Have you looked at Tein coilovers, they are around £500 and you can get them adjustable for firmness.

[E-bmw]

Although, I think with the Tein coilovers you do need to drop the rears to adjust the damping, that is what put me off.

[Complex]

Assetto Garas are now ordered in 16 inch and will be fitted with PS4s in the larger profiled 205 55 R16. Hoping this will increase the comfort too.

Then will be up to Lohen for polybushing and geo and will take it from there.

Current thoughts on a next stage would be Meister R coilovers which seem to give the best level of adjustability and quality for the money. Unsure whether I need the adjustable top mounts they come with though for purely road use. If not then I'd opt for ST XAs.

[mon the fish]

Complex said:

Assetto Garas are now ordered in 16 inch and will be fitted with PS4s in the larger profiled 205 55 R16. Hoping this will increase the comfort too.

Then will be up to Lohen for polybushing and geo and will take it from there.

Current thoughts on a next stage would be Meister R coilovers which seem to give the best level of adjustability and quality for the money. Unsure whether I need the adjustable top mounts they come with though for purely road use. If not then I'd opt for ST XAs.

I run them, and the ability to add a decent amount of negative camber is well worth it IMO. Turn in is amazing now.

You need to drill a couple of holes in the chassis above the shocks for the rear remote damper adjusters, but once done nice and easy to play with the damper settings