This is a pain to search on (everything in here associated with MS is related to the struts/coils/etc.) so I'm posting it.

I've got a stock 8. I plan on adding the full MS kit and lowering my 8. I'm just wondering how much lower the MS front bumper sits than stock and what people with the kit have been able to lower their 8 while still being able to drive over speedbumps/random crap on the road. I'm probably going to go with Tein and have read accounts of some people being able to navigate speed bumps with the s-tech drop and some people recommending the h-tech drop to manage it. But of course no one mentions if they have kits/lips when they discuss it.

Obviously there are other options out there - including me getting adjustable coilovers, not getting the MS kit, or not dropping the car at all - so I'm just trying to get a better understanding before moving forward.

 

I don't remember what the actual numbers were, but I have the full Mazdaspeed suspension AND the Mazdaspeed bodykit and do not have any issues with going over speed bumps, parking garages, etc. It's not that much lower than stock which is nice and I'm surprised that I never bottom out. (I had a Honda Prelude on coilovers and it could bottom out every once in a while even though it seemed about the same height as my RX-8).

Just be careful while parking though. Might not be an issue with the regular front nose, but the MS front noise + MS suspension doesn't clear those parking bump stops.

 

Yeah. It's one of the considerations for whether or not I get it. The other whether or not I'll do autoX or just track events after this year Pretty sure if I want to do AutoX the MS bumper won't like eating cones. Not that the MS is a good choice for track since it adds a decent amount of weight but I like the look and I won't be competing at track events - just participating in schools/race education,

Anyway the MS springs seem to give a .8 in lowering while the h-tech go 1.0f, .3b so if people are able to run with MS springs and the MS body then 1/5 of an inch more of a drop shouldn't be a problem. S-techs give another .4 in. up front which means more than half an inch then the MS. That is probably approaching speed-bump/bottoming out issues.

Thanks. If anyone else out there has htechs (or even stechs) and the MS front bumper let me know if you have issues. And I'll keep looking for how much lower the MS bumper sits than the stock bumper.

 

If it's not raining on Saturday for the race at Mid-Ohio, you can check my car out and gauge for yourself. I'm lowered on Tein S-Tech. I did an AutoX event this past weekend, and had no issues.

 

Did you manage to kill any cones?

so ur lowered with the ms bodykit? Weathers supposed to be good this weekend so I'll definitely check yours out.

 

I have a lowered MS body kit and Tein Coil Over's. I have to be very careful entering plazas and parking ramps now and have slightly touched (given I'm going dead slow) several times. In fact I now avoid certain plaza entrances where its happened. I have had to make a radical change in my driving habits. Speed bumps are virtually a no-go. Lastly, I actually had my coil overs raised because my anxiety and blood pressure were rising inversely proportional to my ride height. It was easier to just raise it a cm.

 

I have the MS bumper and am lowered on konis and racing beat springs - which combined should be about the same as the MS drop. I have bottomed out a handful of times and in most circumstances need to make a concerted effort not to. Speed bumps aren't too bad, it's steep driveways that I have to watch out for.
It's actually a very livable set up as long as you remain constantly aware of what you're driving and how you should be driving it.

Edit: if I recall correctly, the MS bumper is about an inch lower than stock

 

It will change your driving style . I was going to drop mine , but I will be scrapping most of the times. The only advantage I have is that my car is not my daily driver. So when I use the 8 , I pretty much know where I'm going so then I'll be fine .

Another thing is that I avoid those friking speed bumps . When I drive the 8 I stay on the big streets, no side streets , never know what to expect. And if you get snow and thats your DD , them good luck.........................

 

MS bumper lowered on tein stech = 4.18 inches of clearance... careful going over speed bumps and such but otherwise no real problems with scraping.

 

Great. That's exactly what I was looking for even if I don't get a chance to see it for myself on RAs car on Saturday. Muchas Gracias.

 

my 2 cents, the s-techs really compliment the ms body kit, though the front is kinda low and you do have to navigate differently than before (keep an eye out for debris, potholes, etc), but the car looks like a million bucks with them.

 

LOL...no cones killed, fortunately. I did take a DNF coming too fast into a slalom, and missed the last set of cones. It was either DNF or potential torn bumper.

I am lowered and MS kit. As mentioned above, definitely will need to change your driving habits.

 

i have konis and S-techs with a replica MS front bumper and i have to be careful when i go into certain parking lots and such. it bad enough to where i am looking for a different kit that isnt as low. the MS scrapes like crazy...