Hello! As the title suggests, I have recently picked up an 09 MCS and I had a couple questions. I'm wondering how the TPMS works. I currently have the 16 alloy wheels on my car and my uncle gave me a set of 17s. So a couple things. First, am I able to transfer the TPMS from the 16s over to the 17s, and second, I'm wondering what kind of tires I should buy for the 17s. I want something that's sporty, grippy, and, not as important, kinda aggressive looking (something like the Toyo Proxes R888 with the "V" treads) but streetable and around $400. Dimensions are 215/55/17. And lastly, for those who upgraded the hot side boost tube, how was that experience? Were you able to do it yourself? Thank you very much in advance!

 

That size tire is way too tall for your car

Stock fitment is 205/45-17 ... plus size would be 215/45-17 or 215/40-17.

 

ahhh thank you! I'll be on the look out for those then

 

I was able to easily transfer the TPMS/valve stem assemblies from my original 16" alloys to my new aftermarket 16" alloys, so I think you will be OK in that respect. Just be sure to re-assemble them exactly as they came apart so that you have a good tight seal on the rubber surfaces to the wheels. And make sure the "new" rims are clean and not corroded where the valve stems go through and seal.

 

Congrats on your new car!
TPMS is just a sensor (one in each wheel) in the valve step that transmits pressure (and sometimes temp) information to the radio inside your car at 433 Mhz.
You can reuse them as you replace tires, or move them to other wheels.

Yes.

First, the 17" sizes you want are:
205/45-17 (stock)
215/45-17 (many more selections)

Explore your choices here: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...ting=S&tab=All

Your $400 budget ceiling just locked you out of all high-performance summer tires, included R888's. Consider raising it to $750 or higher if you want to go for the top of the line Michelin PSS.

Never go cheap on tires, unless you are destitute. It's the one item that connects your car to the road, and will make the biggest difference in car's handling.

Yes, you can DIY upgrade many things on these cars.
Very few of them will offer much of a performance improvement without also loading more aggressive DME tuning. Hot side boost tubes and cold-air intakes fall into this category.

AccessPORT made popular upgrade tune kits (you can also use the them to scan for and reset fault codes), but they had discontinued R56 support a year or two ago. You may still be able to find used kits here: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...f11-4-5-6-7-8/

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Thank you for all the replies guys! These are really helpful!

 

Is there anything (basic or not) that I should know in order to keep my car in best condition possible? Tips or helpful knowledge from past experiences?

 

Always use 91 octane fuel or higher. Check your engine oil at every fuel fill-up. Or at least every other one. Learn how to properly read the oil level on the dipstick. It can be tricky! DO NOT trust your MINI to tell you when to change engine oil and filter. Do it every 5k, and use the proper oil and a MINI Genuine oil filter cartridge. I run Mobil1 0w40, but not sure if that is recommended for the N14 engine. Keep an eye on all fluid levels, especially engine oil and coolant. Pay attention to your "usual" parking spot, and observe any drops or puddles of fluid. If yours is a manual trans, keep your foot OFF of the clutch pedal unless you are shifting. Idle at stoplights in nuetral, foot off the clutch, and on the brake. Don't "short-shift". Running the engine up in the revs a bit seems to help keep the valves cleaner, from what others have said. And don't bother downshifting when slowing down. Just use the brakes. Brake pads are much more affordable than clutch jobs! And downshifting does not seem to do much to slow the MINI, at least in my 2011 MCS. I am sure others will chime in with more suggestions, and maybe even shoot down one or two of my ideas. Stay tuned-in here, as a LOT of knowledge is available, and most members know A LOT more than I do. Still learning. Have fun, and Motor On!