Bilstein  B8 8112 ZoneControl CR

The stock OEM Mini and Cooper S Springs and Shocks are not great, and even worse when I made the mistake of ordering my new Mini S with the Optional HD Supension for hard charging spirited driving on the mountain and canyon roads around my home outside Los Angeles. I initially installed H&R Sport Lowering Spings to get the cars' ride height down, but used with the original OEM HD Shocks the ride was horrible and bone jarring especially on the broken and terrible streets in Southern California, and high speed cornering was not not very confidence inspiring.

My buddy with a similar Gen 2 Mini Cooper S who also drives hard and autocrosses it, had installed Bilsteins with H&R springs, and when I drove his car I was blown away how much better it road and handled. I'm just mad at myself for waiting so long to order the Bilsteins, for my car.

I ordered the firmest setting Bisteins the B8 PERFORMANCE PLUS STRUT for all four corners. You want to order these B8 "Nurburging Ring" Bilsteins which is a short shock sturt designed to work with lowered springs. And being a little shorter they are also lighter. The Bilsteisn for the Mini are offered in 3 designs, the first 2 B4 and B6 for stock spring, and the B8s for lowered springs.

The rears Bilsteins came in the next day from Tire Rack, but I was told the fronts would be backordered for about a month which I was OK with as I had already put off buying them for years, anyway. Then, I wento ahead and installed just the new rear B8S, and with just changing those 2 rear shocks struts alone, the handling and ride quality was so much improved!

Changing your Mini to Bilsteins is a must in my mind, be it just for sedate street driving, and certainly for hard charging back roads, autocross and track days. And Tire Tack always has grat service, the best parts at the lowest prices. Thank You!

P.S. All Gens of the Minis have the same suspension & brakes, so if you move to a newer model, you can always switch them to your new car.

bought these to replace shotty coil overs. Paired with Eibach springs gives the same performance as coil overs, a little higher than I like (much lower than stock though) but not as hard as the previous coil overs on uneven or bumpy roads.

Great overall combo/package. Love the Bilstein B8's along with the H&R lowering springs. Fantastic overall ride