10 replies to this topic

[Spannerhead]

I've been worried for some time now that the Mini is giving me back ache. When I came back from a 3 day rally in France it was killing me, and now I'm driving it again after a 2 week holiday it's starting to hurt again.

So what do I do? Put up with it or sell it and buy something more easy on the back? ******* off about it to be honest ...... it's not like I'm a geriatric, but I have had a few back problems in the past.

Anybody else suffer with this?

[minimininut]

Oh dear, sorry your back is suffering, I suffer from back ache every now and then but luckily not from mini seats. Have you considered getting some super uber good seats? (Or maybe you have already?!)

[Spannerhead]

I have the standard MPi Cooper seats, which are pretty good, and a lumbar cushion as well, I think it's the suspension that does it to be honest .....

[WiredbyWilson]

Have you been to the doctors to find out what might be causing it - as from there you may be able to adjust your driving position or upgrade the seats?

[Asphalt]

If your car is lowered or the suspension has sagged, the car might be resting on the bump stops. This gives a very harsh ride.

Also many 'sport' shock absorbers are realy hard. The next thing is, that - judging by your avatar - you seem to run 13" wheels. They are wrapped in low profile tyres which have hardly any damping effect. A 10" Mini, in comparison, has a lot of the damping and suspension work done by the tyres, the high sidewalls act as a sort of secondary spring.

So, the very first thing I'd be checking is, if the car rests on the bump stops on the front. If it does, raise the suspension untill you have at least 1" clearance. It's surprising how this can transform a Mini

[nev_payne]

I'm sure I could look after your Mini to aid in your back recovering

I'm one of the taller Mini drivers out there - my head usually rests in the head-lining whilst driving. The one thing that caused back pain was if I slumped forward rather than using the head rest. Keeping the back fairly upright also helped. There's no remorse in Mini comfort especially MPIs.

[Pooky]

I had back problems as soon as I started learning at 17! I had to swap the seats for some buckets ("yeah I need bucket seats and a stage 1 kit Dad, my back's killing me!")

Maybe some seat extensions would help too?

[Spannerhead]

The suspension is all fine, in fact my Mini seems to sit a bit higher than most, it hasn't been lowered and the Koni shocks are all in good condition. The ride doesn't seem particularly hard, if anything it's quite bouncy. I've already spent £200 at the Osteopathy getting it clicked back out, then I get in the Mini again and it locks back up.

Yes, the wheels are the 13 inch variety, so low profiles. But I'm not sure if it's a combination of heavy steering, cramped seating position (I do have my seat all the way back on the rails and angled back so it's resting on the rear side pockets as I'm 6'2"and it does have a steering column lowering block), and old fashioned suspension. The rest of the time I drive around in a super smooth 5 series BMW .....

What I don't want to do is spend time and money trying to sort out the MPi, or sell it and buy an older Mini with 10 inch wheels and fit quality aftermarket seats on extended runner, then find it still gives me back ache.

Cheers for the input guys .....

[nev_payne]

Well, to smooth out the ride no matter how you look at it, you'll have to spend money somewhere:

- Seat cushioning like this? http://tinyurl.com/2ckw3kh
- Greasing up all the suspension joints and possibly replacing bushes with like for like rubber ones.
- Buy into a http://www.minisport...A318490019.html set.
- 10" wheels with the boss kit for adapting to 8.4" brakes. I've personally driven a Cooper Sport with 10" fitted and will vouch for the improvement in ride and the light steering.

At 6ft 2" you're certainly in the taller league. I'm 6ft 8" however so I'm sure there's something that could be done as you have space to play with.

[Spannerhead]

Well, the Mini has gone to a specialist to have the welding done for a new MOT. I'm still going to sell it as the build quality on the MPi is just so appauling, and to make it comforatble I would have to modify it so much it would kill it's value.

So the MPi is going, then I shall buy a nice solid or re-sheeled basic Mini and build a retro cooper rally replica on the cheap and use decent bucket seats and smaller wheels etc so my back should be ok. I can then get classic car insuance which will be MUCH cheaper, and not have to worry about emissions etc at MOT time.

Should have done more research before buying the MPi I suppose!!

Thanks for your feedback guys

[nordattack]

"I've been worried for some time now that the Mini is giving me back ache. When I came back from a 3 day rally in France it was killing me, and now I'm driving it again after a 2 week holiday it's starting to hurt again.

So what do I do? Put up with it or sell it and buy something more easy on the back? ******* off about it to be honest ...... it's not like I'm a geriatric, but I have had a few back problems in the past.

Anybody else suffer with this?"

 

• Can you tell me exactly where in your back you are feeling the pain?
• Is it lower back or upper back?
• What is the pain like?

I am getting bad lower back pain from my new 2016 Mini.

Edited by nordattack, 06 May 2016 - 10:00 PM.