Toyota MR2 AW11.
The coilover guide.
Shop the coiloversKeep the first MR2 responsive without losing the travel an older road car needs. Check the AW11 chassis, choose the actual mount configuration and plan the wheels and alignment together.
The angular MR2 that started the family.
The AW11's compact shape suits a modest drop and wheels with enough tyre sidewall for the road. We'd inspect the existing suspension before deciding how much to change. A tired joint or a seized alignment adjuster needs attention before you can judge a new damper.
Our current AW11 range is one BC Racing C-25 listing with BR RA and RM MH configurations. Those choices have different mounting and damper arrangements. Start with the exact car and intended use, then confirm the selected configuration with the installer.
Toyota introduced the first MR2 in Japan in June 1984. The 1.6-litre AW11 put a twin-cam engine behind the seats and drove the rear wheels. Toyota also sold a 1.5-litre AW10 in Japan; that is a different chassis application and is outside the C-25 listing here.
The UK received its 1.6-litre MR2 in 1985, and Toyota's archive lists UK sales through 1990. BC Racing's AW11 application is labelled 1984–1989. Check the chassis and build date on a later-registered car instead of using its registration year as the kit's model year.
Toyota's Japanese range gained a supercharged version and an optional T-bar roof during the 1986 update. Modified imports and engine-converted cars need their own specification check. The MR2 also has a club-racing history: Toyota's 2018 championship report describes entries from all three generations. That history does not establish which current suspension parts a particular race series permits.
Model history: Toyota: original MR2 launch, June 1984Toyota: first-generation UK archiveToyota: first-generation vehicle historyToyota: MR2 championship anniversary, 2018.
Start with your MR2 AW11.
Confirm the chassis, year and existing suspension before choosing your setup.
First-generation MR2: AW11
BCR-C-25 is the current 1984–1989 AW11 listing, with standard 4 kg/mm front and 6 kg/mm rear springs. Confirm the build date, engine, existing struts and selected BR or RM configuration. For a supercharged import or an engine conversion, ask us to check the exact car before ordering. The AW10, SW20 and ZZW30 need separate applications.
View the AW11 kitWhat do you want
from the car?
Road miles, circuit weekends or a car built around the lap. Start with how you drive.
Think about mount noise and usable suspension travel before deciding on the final drop.
Read the buying advice
BCR-C-25's BR RA option has a pillowball top mount at the front and rubber at the rear. Pillowball mounts can transmit more noise and vibration than compliant rubber mounts. Discuss that trade-off for a road-driven AW11, retain useful travel for bumps and use the supplied instructions for the starting height, preload and damping settings.
- BR RA: front pillowball / rear rubber
- Keep travel for uneven roads
- Check original mounting condition
Compare the two configurations and record a setup you can return to between sessions.
Read the buying advice
The example links to the same C-25 listing. Its RM MH option uses inverted dampers and pillowball top mounts; it should not be treated as the BR option with a different label. Check the chosen parts, adjuster access and likely noise before deciding. Begin track days with a measured alignment and sound tyres, then record changes to damping and tyre pressures.
- RM MH: inverted damper configuration
- Confirm supplied mounts and access
- Keep alignment and setting records
Check the event rules and the complete car specification before choosing springs and damping.
Read the buying advice
The current listing does not establish a bespoke competition package or approval for a named championship. Tell us the car's weight changes, tyres and intended events. We can discuss what needs checking with the installer and kit supplier; changing the spring rate alone cannot establish the right damping or handling balance.
- Provide the complete car specification
- Confirm current event requirements
- Discuss springs and damping together
A coil spring around each rear strut.
The rear spring surrounds the damper on a standard Toyota MR2 AW11.
Component layout only. Mounts, dimensions and adjusters vary by kit.Toyota describes the AW11's rear suspension as a dual-link strut arrangement. The original UK specification lists MacPherson struts and coil springs at both ends. The rear spring surrounds the damper, so the diagram shows a spring-and-damper unit.
Identify the spring platform and the body-length adjuster on the replacement kit before changing either. Their functions differ: follow the exact instructions to establish preload and ride height. Do not copy a number of exposed threads from another car.
The listed 4 kg/mm front and 6 kg/mm rear values describe the supplied springs. They do not directly state the stiffness at the tyres. Keep suspension geometry, tyre characteristics and the intended use in the discussion if considering different rates.
Understand height and preload
Include the inspection in the fitting plan.
The first MR2 is now an older car. Ask the installer to inspect bushes, ball joints, mounting areas and the alignment adjusters before fitting. If parts are worn or seized, include their repair in the job so the final settings can be measured properly.
Toyota's original UK specification used 14-inch wheels with 185/60 tyres. Treat that as historical context, not a replacement-wheel prescription. Give the fitter your actual wheel widths, offsets and tyre sizes, check clearance through suspension movement and steering lock, then measure the alignment at the finished height.
Wheels and tyre sidewalls
A larger wheel changes the available tyre choices and clearance around the suspension. Check the complete wheel and tyre combination at the intended height, including front steering lock. A wheel that clears while the car is parked may need further checking through movement.
Original parts and previous repairs
Establish what is currently fitted before ordering replacements. Give the installer details of previous suspension changes and repairs around the mounting areas, and confirm which original hardware the kit instructions require.
Superchargers and engine conversions
A factory supercharged import and a converted car need their specifications recorded accurately. Include engine and gearbox changes when discussing the kit and springs; the generic AW11 label does not settle every modified-car application.
Track preparation
Agree a plan for tyres, braking and cooling alongside suspension work. Check the current rules for the intended event before buying parts for a competition build. Keep a written setup so each change can be assessed against the previous one.
The current MR2 AW11 range.
See the controls and hardware in the listed kit.
C-25 is BC Racing's AW11 application. Our BCR-C-25 listing has BR RA with front pillowball/rear rubber mounts and RM MH with inverted dampers and pillowball mounts. Standard springs are 4 kg/mm front and 6 kg/mm rear. Check the selected option and actual supplied hardware before fitting.
View BC Racing MR2 AW11 kitsFind your MR2 AW11 coilovers.
Prices include UK VAT. Choose an application and brand, then open a kit for its current options and availability.
1 listing
Match the engine, body style and axle-load limits on the product page before ordering.
![BC Racing Coilovers - Toyota Mr2 (84-89) [AW11]](/images/09cf8cd191b679-480.webp)
BC Racing · BCR-C-25
BC Racing Coilovers - Toyota Mr2 (84-89) [AW11]
First-generation MR2: AW11
All MR2 AW11 kit links and part numbers
Before you order.
Identify your car
Confirm AW11, the actual build date and market; describe any supercharger or engine conversion.
Match the kit
Match BCR-C-25 and the selected BR RA or RM MH configuration to the car and intended use.
Check what’s included
Check the supplied mounts, springs and fittings, plus the original parts the kit instructions require.
Check your modifications
Provide wheel width, offset and tyre size for clearance checks at steering lock and through movement.
Plan fitting
Allow for inspection and repairs, then fitting and alignment at the chosen height; keep the starting settings.
See what the adjustments do.
Damping adjustment explained
What combined, two-way and three-way controls change.
Ride height and spring preload
Understand the two adjustments before choosing a lowering range.
What spring rate tells you
Compare force and movement, read the units and choose a spring with the damper in mind.
Alignment after changing ride height
Set the intended height, check the geometry and keep a useful record of the result.
Questions about Toyota MR2 AW11 coilovers.
Check the details before choosing your kit.
Which coilover kit is listed for the MR2 AW11?
The current listing is BC Racing BCR-C-25 for the 1984–1989 AW11. It has BR RA and RM MH configurations, with standard 4 kg/mm front / 6 kg/mm rear springs. Check the selected option and exact car before ordering.
What is the difference between BR RA and RM MH?
The listed BR RA configuration has front pillowball and rear rubber top mounts. RM MH uses inverted dampers with pillowball top mounts. Confirm the chosen configuration, supplied parts and adjustment access; they are not simply interchangeable mount labels.
Does the AW11 have a separate rear spring?
The standard AW11 has a coil spring around each rear damper. Toyota describes its rear suspension as a dual-link strut arrangement, and the original UK specification lists MacPherson struts with coil springs. Follow the replacement kit's instructions for mounting, preload and height.
My AW11 was registered in 1990. How should I check fitment?
Toyota's archive lists UK first-generation MR2 sales from 1985 to 1990, while BC Racing's C-25 application is labelled 1984–1989. Confirm the chassis and actual build date with us before ordering. The first registration date alone does not settle the application.
Can I order the same kit for a supercharged or converted AW11?
Ask us to check the exact specification first. Record the chassis, build date, market and engine or gearbox changes. The listing's AW11 label does not establish a bespoke spring and damper specification for every modified car.
Will pillowball mounts change the feel on the road?
Pillowball mounts can transmit more noise and vibration than compliant rubber mounts. The BR RA option has front pillowball/rear rubber mounts, while RM MH has pillowball mounts. Consider that arrangement alongside the intended road use and confirm the actual supplied parts.
Is the listed kit approved for an MR2 racing championship?
The current product listing does not establish approval for a named championship. Check the current event regulations and discuss the full car specification before choosing competition parts. Historical MR2 racing coverage is not a current eligibility certificate.
Do I need alignment after fitting AW11 coilovers?
Plan an alignment check after setting the final ride height and settling the suspension. Inspect worn joints and seized adjusters first, check wheel and tyre clearance, and retain the alignment printout with the starting damping settings.
Let’s talk suspension.
Tell us about your AW11's engine, existing suspension, wheel sizes and intended use. We can help check the C-25 configuration and the details the fitter will need.