I have been searching for a couple weeks now. Either I'm semi-retarded (most likely) or there really is zero to no information on the weights of the F56 stock wheels. Has anyone actually weighed their wheels yet? Or at least know a source that has any listed?

I am debating between painting my 17" Cosmos wheels or buying a set of 17" OZ Racing Superturismo LM (at 19.9/ wheel). A friend of mine who use to be a tech at a BMW/Mini dealership a few years ago advised me to strongly consider keeping the stock wheels. He said there is a lot of R&D into these new wheels, and that the "new forging process" makes them both relatively light and very strong. But I am trying to find hard and fast numbers to decide for myself.

 

I'd be surprised if you're gonna find that information anywhere since they're not in the wheel retailing business. Porsche was one of the few (maybe only) who used to specify weight of their optional wheels, but I don't think even they have done that for the last few years.

I would tend to agree about the forging, but admit that I know nothing specifically about Mini wheels. However, a look through Tire Rack's site at wheels will demonstrate that the great majority of aftermarket wheels aren't forged as quality wheels used to be. Most are (made in China) cast with touch-up machining. These aren't awful, but they won't be as strong as those you get from classic forging processes. You have to reach the $600/wheel level before you get decent manufacturing processes.

It would be interesting to know which Mini wheels are cast and which are forged.

 

Whether forged or cast, cheap or expensive, I've never experienced any failure (crack) on on-road vehicle rims.
Instead, I would be more interested/concerned about the weight just like OP is asking.
Oh, don't forget the weight of tire either. They vary somewhat depending on brands/models even if same size.

 

This says the approximate shipping weight of the 16" loop spoke wheels is 25 pounds. How much is the box and foam?

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-19...-bmw-part.aspx

 

Here's what I just found. It's not exactly hard and fast, because I used Google to translate the site. I searched for part number 36116855109 which is the mini PN for the Cosmos wheel in black. I found this site

http://www.leebmann24.de/scheibenrad...116855109.html

Here is the page redone with Google Translate

http://translate.google.com/translat...en-US:official

It says it's for Mini and the part number is correct

9.9 kilograms converts to 21.8 pounds

 

I don't know why I didn't search for KG!

ETC says the 16" loop spoke wheels are 8.2kg, 18lbs.

http://www.etk.cc/bmw/EN/parts/info/...r/36116855103/

 

Living in SoCal, you probably won't have problems with wheel damage. But here in PA, where the roads mostly look like a lunar landscape, wheel damage is a BIG DEAL. The point I was attempting to make is that for a given weight, and all else equal, an old-school forged wheel is going to be a LOT stronger than a cast wheel. So by all means, buy the lightest cheap cast wheels you can find, but don't expect them to survive more than a week when you drive into conditions such as are routine here.

BTW, the failures aren't cracks, they're big fat dents. Like a big smile in the rim... the wrong way. Though if you whack a 7" deep pothole hard enough you can expect almost anything including fracture of the spoke(s) and loss of the tire. Ask me how I know this.

And while we're on the subject, you raise a very good point about the tire weight. Those miserable run-flats weigh a lot more than ordinary tires, size for size. I'm avoiding those things like Ebola. In fact, it might be to the OP's advantage, since he's buying new wheels anyway, to spend some time @ TireRack and calculate weights for the various wheel/tire combinations that fit the vehicle. There may be a surprise there.

 

Lawnmower3000, I am doing just that right now.

It looks like I would cut 3lbs/corner by ditching the stock shoes and going with the LM's and a 215/45R17 Dunlop Direzza ZII. Or 4lbs/corner with the Michelin Pilot Super Sport. That's also a slight increase in tire width for a little more traction on my autocross days (and the occasional open track day).

 

Heh.... Just put a set of those on the Porsche. They are AWESOME tires. Smooth, quiet, glued-to-road, very little weight to balance, perfectly round, no flat-spotting. The car practically drives itself. The nicest summer tires I've ever had, and not by just a little bit. No winter driving here though...