All,

New to the forum and new to Mini. But have really enjoyed my first two months of ownership. I have a 2008 MCS currently running stock 17" wheels without runflats and with TPMS sensors installed.

I want to get a set of dedicated wheels and snow tires. I'd like to go with a set of the 16" OEM wheels because they are cheap on the used market. The tires are also cheaper and the extra side wall will be helpful in Chicago, where I'm afraid I might loose the car in a pothole.

My question is can pre-2007 wheels be fitted with an appropriate TPMS sensors?


Thanks!
BLG

 

I believe they can, but I'm not 100% positive. What wheels are you thinking of going with?

 

I see TWO issues....
Gen2 "S"'s have the same size brake calipers as a gen1 JCW BBK KIT....SO only a couple of the 16' rims will clear them...
Next, the size of the lug bolt holes changed in 2006 to 14mm...prior was 12mm....could drill them I guess...

 

I haven't made a choice on a wheel yet. But this post on another forum does a pretty good job of outlining what wheels will work.

http://www.mini2.com/forum/faq.php?f...factory_wheels

But I still can't find anything definitive on TPMS compatibility.

 

They should fit (the sensors).....
Remember...the r52 in the last year of production (2008...gen1 still) DID HAVE tpms on the rim, but a different frequency, just like the gen2 cars...the change was by date due to government mandates...as opposed to by model year...
The gen 1 indirect system did not meet the governments requiments that were phased in....so the cabrio was updated in 2008 (last year of production before the gen2 redesign was introduced) to a system like the gen2...incidentally, some (first few months) early gen2 cars had the same system gen1 cars had....

 

Actually... Does not list WHICH if the 16' fit over the bigger calipers of the gen1 bbk/gen2 S.(unless in missed it...good info, shame some of the links are dead on it).....edit...
See the listing....the r84 x-light is the most common...does not fit...most of the ones listed are newer...
If I recall right...only TWO of the gen1 OEM 16' rims clear the bigger calipers......but ALL OF the OEM rims can use TPM sensors....key is the valve stem location....edit...yes..7 of the 16 inch rims will fit in total...but MOST of them are gen2 rims...op is looking for older, aka cheap gen1 rims...

 

There are adapters available that will relocate the sensors a bit to hold them off the lip of the wheel, which has to have a square (flat) recess in it to properly handle TPMS. They look like right angle adapters and the pictures I've seen look like they hold the TPMS pretty firmly in place. They're fairly cheap, so they're worth giving a try. There's also the TPMS that strap mount to the inside circumference of the wheel.

 

Actually there are 7 16" OEM wheels which fit ...

Wheel Considerations (Brake Size) - The MINI Wiki

 

The older wheels can be fitted with TPMS but a longer sensor attaching screw is required. I ran into this with some R90 rims from my '05 MCS that I wanted to use on my wife's '07. The stock length screws that attach the sensor to the valve stem were too short. I've forgotten the manufacturer of the sensors but I found various length screws were available. I recall them being available from BMW as well.


As for the bolt holes I used a 9/16" construction reamer I got from Wholesale Tool. I cost ~$16. It's a helically tapered reamer ending in a straight reamer and is normally used to align 2 or more misaligned holes in sheet metal. Since it's tapered it's self-aligning so a drill press or mill isn't needed. Just turn it slowly with a 1/2" drill using a lubricant. The hole will be just over 14MM but slightly smaller than the 14mm wheel holes. The bolts are a little more difficult to align but not a big problem.

 

Well I still want to go with 16" wheels. But I found some R91's in (17") that I think I can get for $200. They have a lot of curb rash, but for winter wheels who cares.

They are almost cheap enough to make buying the more expensive tires worth it.

 

At one point s-lights...aka s-heavies could be had for almost nothing...they are s 17 size...look pretty good...was one of the most popular rims....very heavy...and strong...so decent winter rim.

 

I have two sets of 1st gen wheels fit, on my R55 and R56s. Both scored for $cheap on eBay.

R93 5-spoke rocket (15") for snows on the Club
R84 X-lite V-spoke (16") for summer on the S. (Put shows on the original rims)

The TPMS tire rack sells work fine. Oddly the first place I took the V-spokes (NTB) had trouble with them sealing, but the second place had no trouble at all. So make sure you have a good tire guy.

 

Have 2015 MC, and want to switch to non-run flat tires. Can I do this and keep the stock rims? Or will the car throw a code? Looking to switch to Michelin Pilots.....
Thanks.

 

Yup...
90+% of folks have.
Same rims....
Same sensors...

 

Thanks..