47 replies to this topic

[Timty]

I'd go for the minispares ones, i bought two new front cones from minisport last year and they have not settled evenly, i stripped them back down to check i havn't done anything daft and all is well!?? I thought that it would take a bit to settle but i've done two thousand miles plus now and they are still uneven!. When i say uneven i mean 1 1/2" ! i had to fit adjustable trumpets to compensate. Not good! as soon as i can they're going in the bin!

[Dan]

Avon have never been the manufacturer, cones have always had Dunlop cast into the side of them!

Each batch of cones is tested by Moulton Developments to guarantee the quality and consistency of each cones is to the exact standard and formula finalised in 1959.

Doesn't say they are genuine. Alex Moulton designed them, I don't know if Moulton Devlopments existed at the time but they are a bicycle manufacturer essentially. They may have told Mini sport how Dr Moulton designed them to be made but that doesn't make the cones they produce genuine. The tools they use are based on Dr Moulton's prototype, not the genuine production tooling. The spec for the cones was changed around a half dozen times over the years, the 1959 spec is outdated.

[Ethel]

What does genuine mean. There's been no Rover to supply spares for half a dozen years. I'd put it in my list of marketing platitudes along with value, luxury, designer...

[[email protected]]

What does genuine mean. There's been no Rover to supply spares for half a dozen years. I'd put it in my list of marketing platitudes along with value, luxury, designer...

Rover never supplied the spares, it was sub contracted to Unipart, and then laterly Xpart. As has been covered before, Xpart are still distribute genuine MG rover parts for both the Mini and the other marques.

[Ethel]

In my day Unipart was just a branch of Austin Rover selling service parts (for other manufacturers too), like any other motor factor. The other stuff was still Rover, even though it came in the same crates on the same lorry. Your dampers would be Unipart & the cones Rover.

Genuine still means nothing on its own - they could mean it's genuinely crap!

[[email protected]]

In my day Unipart was just a branch of Austin Rover selling service parts (for other manufacturers too), like any other motor factor. The other stuff was still Rover, even though it came in the same crates on the same lorry. Your dampers would be Unipart & the cones Rover.

Genuine still means nothing on its own - they could mean it's genuinely crap!

I entirely agree with the branding, but Unipart did all the logisitics, stocking, sourcing and distibution of Rover parts, as Xpart do now.

I agree also that the wording on genuine now leave a lot to be desired in lots of areas

[mininuts]

So then, are these genuine?

http://cgi.ebay.co.u...e=STRK:MEWAX:IT

I wonder how the quality compares with Mini Spares cones and what sort of shelf life they have. The genuine 'new' ebay ones must be at least 10 or 11 years old. I'm in the market for a pair of cones and don't want to be buying any carp

I too am leaning towards the Mini Spares cones, they seem to know their stuff, plus I just don't trust Mini Sport anymore

Simon?

[[email protected]]

The last batch of Rover made cones would have been made at dunlop, for Xpart withing 5-6 years. As you say, they have a shelf life, you'd need to ask Jonspeed how long they have had them

[Cerberus]

Avon have never been the manufacturer, cones have always had Dunlop cast into the side of them!

Each batch of cones is tested by Moulton Developments to guarantee the quality and consistency of each cones is to the exact standard and formula finalised in 1959.

Doesn't say they are genuine. Alex Moulton designed them, I don't know if Moulton Devlopments existed at the time but they are a bicycle manufacturer essentially. They may have told Mini sport how Dr Moulton designed them to be made but that doesn't make the cones they produce genuine. The tools they use are based on Dr Moulton's prototype, not the genuine production tooling. The spec for the cones was changed around a half dozen times over the years, the 1959 spec is outdated.

I'm losing confidence in this forum.

When I was replacing my cones, I was told that Dunlop stopped making them, and Avon took over.


Seems a bit of a rip off when Minisport say :

This product is not only endorsed by Dr Moulton, his knowledge and expertise are very much part of the production methods. You can be safe in the knowledge that you are fitting to your Mini, the most authentic suspension cone available, complete with the guarantee that it has been made from the exact formula required for the suspension to function correctly.

Beware of other inferior suspension cones also on the market, that claim they are something that they are not.

This is the main thread that convinced me that Avon ones were pretty genuine and just as good as the Minispares ones.


Mine seem to be all right so far, so maybe there isn't really much difference between Avon and Minispares ones?


Not wanting to start an argument or anything, some of above might sound aggressive over the internet, just my ranting,

[CooperSport99]

I know this is an old thread but id love it to kick off again.

Ive just fitted some minisport 'genuine' cones to mine and they are causing a hell of a lot of issues. my car looks like its going to take if, and thats with my hi los set to their lowest point on one side and at normal adjustment on the other to compensate!

until i try other cones i cant be sure,

but so far id avoid the minisport ones.

[rally515]

you just need to give them time to "bed themselves in" properly.

[maccers]

I bought a full set of MiniSpares standard rubber cones and genuine hi-los just before Christmas, to replace my year old Mini Tastic coil springs. They are settling down fine with just over 500 miles on them. The front is still set a little high but I've yet to get the whole let plus camber etc set up after they all settle down in a few more hundred miles.

[rally515]

I bought a full set of MiniSpares standard rubber cones and genuine hi-los just before Christmas, to replace my year old Mini Tastic coil springs. They are settling down fine with just over 500 miles on them. The front is still set a little high but I've yet to get the whole let plus camber etc set up after they all settle down in a few more hundred miles.

What did you think of the coils ? any good & whats the wear rate compared to cones ?

Edited by rally515, 12 January 2013 - 09:00 AM.

[Carlos W]

I bought a full set of MiniSpares standard rubber cones and genuine hi-los just before Christmas, to replace my year old Mini Tastic coil springs. They are settling down fine with just over 500 miles on them. The front is still set a little high but I've yet to get the whole let plus camber etc set up after they all settle down in a few more hundred miles.

Why did you decide to go back to cones? Which springs were you running?

[maccers]

I bought the fast road mini tastic ones, they were great, more bouncy/comfy than the rubber ones but I probably did not have the dampers set as firm as they could be. I just decided to go back to the original rubber setup. I replaced the rubber ones when I got the car with the coils, having done very little miles on the original rubbers, so never really experienced what new ones were like. I also upgraded the subframe mounts to solid, and fitted adjustable bottom arms, basically overhauled the front and rear suspension with new everythings..!