I’m ready to pull the trigger on a 2021 JCW - Iconic trim, enigmatic black, grey leather interior, DDC, driver assist, and either 17 or 18 inch wheels (still figuring out the pros and cons of each). I could use some help from the forum regarding wheels/tires and price negation.

 

Bigger wheels usually equals harsher ride.

 

Price negotiation - let them see you shopping for it at the dealership and then go home. The current climate has you in complete control, they will be knocking down your door to get you to buy one.

My F56S came with 17's, currently have 16s with winter tires and it rides better. No way would I want 18s.

 

Bear in mind the current Configurator is for model year 2020 which is no longer in production, and there have been changes for 2021. Specifically I could not order the larger central screen in the Signature model without going for the Iconic, and the screen directly in front of the driver has been changed. Your MA should have knowledge of the changes. Patience will also be necessary since the Oxford plant is closed until some time in April (can’t remember when - it’s posted on NAM somewhere). My new 2021 just nearly made it onto the ship before the shutdown. Good luck and welcome to NAM!

 

I'd get 18" since they look nicer and I don't really care about soft rides. But if you have lots of potholes on your roads, you may have to be more careful since they'll be easier to bend/break.

And Minnie.theMoocher stated, realize that you have the power at this point in time. In a "normal" time, people will say 10% off MSRP is normally where you want to be. If you get more than 10% off, then it's good. Again, that is for "normal" times and supposedly, dealerships are desperate now. I'm not sure what that equates to. Also, if there are several dealerships in a reasonable range, get a few different opinions because it'll be useful to negotiate. I've never bought a custom ordered car before (I was going to, but MINI stopped importing manual transmissions at the time), but I heard that you can still negotiate the price as if it's a normal car. It may be more difficult (since they typically would like to move their inventory) or it could be the same/easier (since it's a guaranteed sale w/o having to dedicate space). I really don't know that process. But make sure you talk about the price before you actually order the car and put down a down payment!

 

Flip the stock runflats to regular tires and that helps the ride a bunch with larger wheels.