Lowering changes more than the appearance of your MINI. It also affects handling, suspension travel and ground clearance. With suitable lowering springs, a sports suspension kit or adjustable coilovers, the MINI can be set up for more direct and stable handling. The suspension, wheels, intended ride height and vehicle use must all work together.

Lowering springs, sports suspension or coilovers?

The right option depends on how low you want your MINI to sit and how you use it. A vehicle used mainly for everyday driving has different requirements from a sportingly driven MINI or a car intended for track use.

Lowering springs

Lowering springs are a relatively straightforward way to achieve a moderate reduction in ride height. The existing shock absorbers remain in place, provided their condition and the selected amount of lowering allow this.

• Suitable for a subtle to sporty ride height
• Can reduce body movement when cornering
• The condition of the standard shock absorbers is checked before installation
• Ride comfort and suspension travel change depending on the springs selected

Sports suspension

A sports suspension kit combines springs and shock absorbers designed to work together. It is a suitable option when you want a lower ride height and firmer, more controlled handling without regularly changing the vehicle height afterwards.

• Matched combination of springs and shock absorbers
• Can provide more direct turn-in and reduce body movement
• Fixed ride height depending on the suspension kit selected
• Suitable for everyday driving and sporty road use

Coilover suspension

Coilover suspension allows the ride height to be adjusted within the technically and legally permitted range. We set up the suspension to suit the wheel and tyre combination, required ground clearance and intended vehicle use.

• Adjustable ride height within the intended adjustment range
• Setup for everyday driving, sporty road use or track use is possible
• Wheel size, tyres and existing modifications are taken into account
• Changing the ride height later requires another inspection and may require a new wheel alignment

Suspension from Bilstein, KW, ST and H&R

We install suspension components from manufacturers including Bilstein, KW, ST and H&R. The suitable manufacturer and suspension kit depend on the MINI model, MINI model, desired ride height, intended use and available budget. Not every version is suitable for every model generation or wheel and tyre combination.

We generally use suspension kits and components from our own range or our suppliers. Customer-supplied parts are only installed by prior agreement and must be complete, technically suitable and in good condition. We cannot provide a general assurance regarding the suitability or possible hidden defects of externally purchased parts.

What we inspect during installation

When removing the existing suspension, we inspect the accessible surrounding components. Reinstalling worn parts without checking them would be technically unsound and could affect the handling, noise levels and subsequent wheel alignment.

• Strut mounts and fixings: Visual and functional inspection of the components accessible during the work
• Anti-roll-bar links and suspension joints: Inspection for noticeable play or damage
• Protective boots and bump stops: Inspection for wear and damage
• Wheel clearance: Inspection of the wheel and tyre combination at the selected ride height
• Suspension setup: Adjustment of the ride height after installation where permitted by the selected suspension system

Additional parts and labour costs apply if worn or damaged components need to be replaced. We carry out this work after discussing it with you.

Wheel alignment after lowering

After installation, the wheel geometry must be checked and adjusted. The changed ride height can affect the toe and other alignment values. Without a subsequent alignment, the vehicle may handle unpredictably, the steering wheel may sit off-centre and the tyres may wear unevenly.

The required wheel alignment is included when planning the work. We adjust the available settings according to the manufacturer’s specifications or the technically possible vehicle configuration. Not every alignment value can be adjusted as standard on every MINI.

Approval and vehicle documents

Depending on the suspension installed, the selected ride height and other modifications to the MINI, an inspection and registration may be required. The necessary documentation and permitted adjustment range of the suspension must be observed.

We can arrange the required registration by prior agreement. Whether this is possible depends on the selected combination of suspension, vehicle, wheels, tyres and other modifications. The intended setup should therefore be checked before the components are ordered.

Time required and costs

You should normally allow approximately six hours for installing and setting up a lowering solution. The actual time required depends on the MINI, the suspension selected, the condition of the existing components and the accessibility of the fixings.

Because lowering springs, sports suspension kits and coilovers vary considerably in price and installation work, we do not state a fixed package price. Wheel alignment, any requested registration and replacement parts that may be required are included in the individual calculation.

Request lowering for your MINI

Please include the complete vehicle identification number, mileage, fitted wheel and tyre combination and desired ride height in your appointment request. Also tell us whether you already have a particular suspension kit in mind and whether registration should be arranged. This allows us to check which solution is suitable for your MINI.