R56 Cooper - susp spring replacement advice

[Orangecurry]

Hi - my son's R56 has suffered a broken spring on the front.

As far as I know, it has standard suspension.. for a Cooper, but it does have the big heavy double glass sunroof.

Do I need special springs? Autodoc for example lists these options confusingly.

And then - are there any makes to choose, or avoid please?

Thanks!

Available today:

Sachs
Febi Bilstein
Lesjofors
or
Monroe
KYB
etc etc

[fox50]

Have done this on my 2014 R58 Cooper,snapped one front then one rear,used Sachs springs from Euro car parts,they list the same ones for Mini one and normally aspirated Cooper,ride height is correct behaves just as before,hope this helps.

[Orangecurry]

Thanks - helpful.

I've been looking at the millions of different springs listed - for non-sport vs sport suspension, and some springs are for sunroof or non-sunroof - not helpful.

The BMW ETK that I can access doesn't tell me either - I might call-in to a dealership and see if they'll give me any info...

I really don't want to get ones that don't match what is on the rear......... and he's got no money so I'll be stumping up.

[CoolHands]

Don’t think I would worry too much, just buy the Sachs and fit. You won’t know any different about sunroof / no sunroof etc

[kev b]

Have you tried “RealOEM” ?

[Orangecurry]

But surely there are different springs, to lower the car (for Sport suspension option) or cope with the heavy sunroof, so I need the 'correct' spring otherwise the front and rear won't be the same - not just look stupid, but will unbalance the car as well.

[Orangecurry]

kev b said:

Have you tried “RealOEM” ?

I think so - hang on...

[Orangecurry]

Orangecurry said:

kev b said:

Have you tried “RealOEM” ?

I think so - hang on...

Yes - it lists for the build month, which is good, but no reference to if it has Sport suspension or allowance for the sunroof.

... and it lists no parts for your car, which is stupid.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=MF32...

[E-bmw]

I could be wrong but I can't see why the sunroof would make a difference.

It won't weigh the difference between an adult/child in one of the 4 seats and they don't list different springs for adults or children in the back.

[CoolHands]

It won’t the only difference is sport or non sport suspension iirc

[Orangecurry]

This is why I'm being cautious (hopefully the link works fully)

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/coil-springs-1...

Sachs list different springs for s/r vs non s/r, AND sports vs non-sports.....

Edited by Orangecurry on Wednesday 22 February 10:58

[E-bmw]

I have followed the link & here are the front options, I have ignored JCW options.

Standard suspension manual with/without sunroof - 1 spring mentioned 313mm length

Sports suspension with a 17 (whatever that is) transmission - 1 spring mentioned 281mm length

Standard suspension auto transmission - 1 spring mentioned 308mm length

Sports suspension manual transmission without sunroof - 1 spring mentioned 274mm length

ETA.
If yours is standard there is only 1 option.

Try other places like CP4L/ECP etc to try to confirm or better still check in a "VIN decoder" to check if it was specified with sports suspension.

Edited by E-bmw on Wednesday 22 February 10:59

[Orangecurry]

Yes - thanks - I think I'm getting confused with the implication that sports suspension cannot have a sunroof.... but it's an assumption. I'll try contacting MINI and see if they'll help with the factory sheet.

[CoolHands]

Put full vin in here. If sport suspension is not mentioned I believe it means it does not have it https://bimmer.work/

[E-bmw]

Orangecurry said:

Yes - thanks - I think I'm getting confused with the implication that sports suspension cannot have a sunroof.... but it's an assumption. I'll try contacting MINI and see if they'll help with the factory sheet.

Like I said google mini vin decoder that will give you 100% full build sheet.

[Orangecurry]

VIN isn't recognised in either place. Does it work for your MINI?

[Orangecurry]

...after wading through seventeen websites that didn't recognise the VIN, this one does:

https://www.mdecoder.com/

[CoolHands]

Strange the one I posted works for both my minis as long as you out the entire thing in.

[Orangecurry]

I did put the whole VIN in - but it wouldn't have it! Thanks though, as it made me persevere until I found one that did work.

That website 'decoder' does list many specific items that are on the car, so it has found the correct and quite detailed info - no mention of sports suspension.

Thanks all.

[CoolHands]

My 09 Cooper s has the panoramic roof and does not have sports suspension, and has the same problem as yours on realoem in that the spring is listed as not available so can’t see the part number. I genuinely think if I was buying new springs (a pair) I would go for the non-sport equivalent and not worry about the roof.