Right...after seeing countless threads dotted about the place, and having numerous PMs stating "I've heard you use FK coilovers...what do you reckon?," I've finally decided to do a little write up on these coilovers as a reference for anyone who bloody well asks :lol:
A little bit of background as to how I bought mine...
Being a mod on here, and having a car that had been slowly changing after its MINI2 days, I (understandably) received a lot of abuse for having wheelgap :lol: Coilovers were something I'd always wanted, but being at Uni I didn't want to fork out a ridiculous amount for some nice KWs, or even the MeisterRs after a few good reviews on them.
I was given the opportunity to purchase the FKs from a well known member on here, brand new, as he'd been offered a more expensive set at a good price.
The day had come!!
To this day, I am very happy the height my car sits at - however my opinion of the coilovers has dwindled. Please read on
The Price
Obviously, these are about the cheapest coilovers for the Gen 1 Mini (I don't know if they're available for Gen 2 yet) that I've come across.
With the general price seeming to be about the £219 mark, they are a popular 'first rung on the ladder.'
Comparison
The Good
The Bad
The Verdict
After running these coilovers since August 2010; two thirds of a year, I would say to anyone considering buying these as a long term thing:
Don't.
If you're not buying coilovers as a long term thing:
Don't.
Stick the abuse a little longer about how your car has wheelgap and save up for the right set. Over the summer, a few little ventures will hopefully see me back in some money, which will allow me to purchase a full set up (of as yet undecided coilovers) with camber plates, adjustable dampers, rear control arms etc, the lot.
IF, on the other hand, you really can withstand the crashy ride on bumpy roads, or if you live in an area that has relatively good roads (where the dampers DO handle surprisingly well), then yeah - give them a go.
Considering many sets of coilovers are at least double the price, they could well make you very happy if you can put up with the crashyness when you decide to take the car down the back roads. Thankfully for me, I live in Milton Keynes where we have plenty of concrete and a couple of roundabouts here and there, on relatively well tarmacced roads. They do me just fine about town, but let me down when I really want to open it up on the back roads.
A little bit of background as to how I bought mine...
Being a mod on here, and having a car that had been slowly changing after its MINI2 days, I (understandably) received a lot of abuse for having wheelgap :lol: Coilovers were something I'd always wanted, but being at Uni I didn't want to fork out a ridiculous amount for some nice KWs, or even the MeisterRs after a few good reviews on them.
I was given the opportunity to purchase the FKs from a well known member on here, brand new, as he'd been offered a more expensive set at a good price.
The day had come!!
To this day, I am very happy the height my car sits at - however my opinion of the coilovers has dwindled. Please read on
The Price
Obviously, these are about the cheapest coilovers for the Gen 1 Mini (I don't know if they're available for Gen 2 yet) that I've come across.
With the general price seeming to be about the £219 mark, they are a popular 'first rung on the ladder.'
Comparison
The Good
- They're a cheap alternative for those without the funds to buy fully adjustable coilovers - as long as you can live with the consequences (see 'The Bad').
- As long as you live in an area with very flat roads, they handle a lot better than stock and eliminate a lot of body roll.
- They lower the car quite significantly. I've still not measured the exact amount - but it's a fist lol on the front wound right down, the rears can go a lot lower.
Running 205/40/17 tyres:
![Image]()
The Bad
- The dampers are non adjustable.
- They don't allow you to change the camber as standard.
- Without fitting rear control arms, you experience inner tyre wear.
- The dampers are VERY soft as standard - which leads to a very crashy ride on bumpy roads...
- ...which equals unwelcome levels of scraping - a lot more than usual.
- From memory, there is no stopper for the height adjuster.
The Verdict
After running these coilovers since August 2010; two thirds of a year, I would say to anyone considering buying these as a long term thing:
Don't.
If you're not buying coilovers as a long term thing:
Don't.
Stick the abuse a little longer about how your car has wheelgap and save up for the right set. Over the summer, a few little ventures will hopefully see me back in some money, which will allow me to purchase a full set up (of as yet undecided coilovers) with camber plates, adjustable dampers, rear control arms etc, the lot.
IF, on the other hand, you really can withstand the crashy ride on bumpy roads, or if you live in an area that has relatively good roads (where the dampers DO handle surprisingly well), then yeah - give them a go.
Considering many sets of coilovers are at least double the price, they could well make you very happy if you can put up with the crashyness when you decide to take the car down the back roads. Thankfully for me, I live in Milton Keynes where we have plenty of concrete and a couple of roundabouts here and there, on relatively well tarmacced roads. They do me just fine about town, but let me down when I really want to open it up on the back roads.
