Retrofit MC Spare Tire Storage Mechanism
 

Anyone know if it's possible to retrofit the spare tire storage mechanism (underneath the boot area) that fixes the donut to the car and lowers it down? I have a MC with RFTs, and in the place where the donut is stored on MCs with non-RFTs, there's just a hollow plastic space filler (why not utilize that storage space..?!).

I suppose I could check with my dealer... but I'm hoping someone on NAM might have previous experience with this.

Bump! Anyone..? :)

Where are you located? In the US, I thought all MC came with a spare, even if wheels were upgraded to 16" or 17" with RFT.

Do you have something like this (no spare holder): http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...80&hg=51&fg=80
Instead of this (with spare holder): http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...97&hg=51&fg=80
It looks like you can just buy the parts and replace what you have.

Is the "hollow space filler" you speak of the platform that the spare is supposed to sit on...the part that lowers down? If that is what's down there, maybe you are just missing the spare wheel itself for some reason. Inside the boot under the carpet, is there a foam piece holding the jack and other tools?

I'm pretty sure all Coopers are supposed to come with the spare (even with runflats). Maybe you should check with you dealer to see why yours doesn't have one.

My R50 had runflats and came with a spare. You probably just need a new donut.

I'm in Canada - no spare in my Justacooper either. The "hollow space filler" is just an empty plastic tub attached to the floor underneath - like a cheap washtub you'd buy at walmart to wash your dog in. I took mine off to see what's inside - nothing. No spare holder, no mechanism of any kind, just a lot of wasted space.

It would be a good place to carry a "donut" - - I wonder if it IS possible (for a reasonable cost, of course) to retrofit something there?

Any ideas?

ps - - I do have the foam piece with the jack, tools, etc under the trunk floor ....

It is probably just a matter of buying the parts and putting them on. See the realoem links in my post above.

Well I just checked your links (thanks!!). This little item has me a bit concerned about the viability of this project:


04 Hub cover spare wheel 1 41117043350 $5,725.08


What?

I could buy a spare car for that much! Tow it behind the MINI. Get a flat tire on the MINI - hop in your spare car and drive off. Let the roadside assistance guys pick up the MINI and deliver it to your home later.

I hope I'm reading the RealOEM diagram wrong...

I saw that, and it's very odd. That piece (#04 in the diagram) is just a little knob that screws onto the end of the long bolt (#11). Pelican Parts says part #41117043350 is $6.00 and motorwerksbmw says $12.88. The main set of 5 pieces is item #01 part#51716800205 which Pelican Parts has at $64.50 and motorwerksbmw at $85.88.