R56 MCS need 16", R56 JCW need 17" alloys. You have to be careful that the wheels fit over the front brakes or you might have a problem.

I have 15" winter wheels/tires on my R56 MC and I find them a little too squishy compared to the lower profile 16" summer wheels. But I also have non run-flat winter tires which exaggerates the handling difference. IMO 16" size looks better on the R56 MINIs.

 

As far as I'm aware - 15" wheels won't fit on the R56s for the most part. There are a few out there that will just sneak past the brakes...but without doing a search I don't know specifically which wheels these are. You're just better off going with a good set of 16" wheels...

 

I'm so glad I don't have to switch wheels in the Winter.

 

Me too, I don't drive it in the winter!

Dave

 

I'm starting to think that I should move back down to Florida - at least for the winter. I don't know what it is, but I'm getting increasingly more tired of winter as every year goes by...

 

Me three. Hell's Forge, AZ rarely gets rain, much less snow....

C ya,
Dutch

 

I feel the same way about AZ summers.

It's so hot here in the summer, even Satan summers somewhere else!

To keep on topic--yesterday, I drove it like I stole it all the way home from work, then this morning, I took a more relaxed drive on the way to work again.

C ya,
Dutch

 

The rainy season has already started in the Bay Area. So in preparation I installed new wipers front and back, applied some rainX wax, checked all the weather stripping and rotated my tires. I also adjusted my rear sway bar to the least stiff setting.

 

I thought about not driving mine in the winter since I have my truck but as far as I know it doesn't snow every day here and sometimes theres only a light covering that I'm sure the MINI could handle (minus summer tires), I'll save the truck for those heavy downfalls... the perfect snowboarding days. =D

 

I just changed mine a couple months ago in preparation for AZ's "rainy season". They're already getting hard, and are almost dried up, but this storm rolling in this week will likely be it until the new year. Luckily (considering the unavailability of the proper part here) I modded my rear wiper to accept a standard old-school wiper refill (remember them?). I have to get a longer one and shorten it (snip with the cutoff wheel on my Dremel, then add a touch of black silicone to each end to keep the rubber part from falling out), but the kit comes with two for $6, which makes it hurt less that I get to use it twice, maybe three times, before its rubber bit dries up and hardens into a useless appendage....

C ya,
Dutch (aka McGuyver )

 

I don't know... it's not so bad. It's sorta like getting a new car. Different wheels really change a car, ya know!

 

Yea, looking forward to getting my Mini some winter shoes. Swapping out my 16" run flats for some really cool 17" black rims and winter tires for a great look and peace of mind..

 

They are not calling for any rain (upstate NY) for the next week so gave the Bumble Bee a bubble bath and a complete detail. Wash, wax, tire shine, Black Wow, Rain X, vacuum, and leather treatment. Enjoyed the drive to work today.

 

Nyaah, keep the 16" rims for snows, sell the runflats on Craigslist or in the Market on NAM, and use the 17" cool rims for the rest of the year! You'll want that additional sidewall in winter, provides more flex (better traction) and gives a tad more pothole protection... that saidm, I run 215/45/17 iPikes on Pace alloys in winter - which is what I did for my Mini, cleaned them off and got them ready... won't put ;em on until Thanksgiving unless snow is forecast, though.

 

Upgraded to Brisk Silver DR15YS spark plugs. Wow! Didn't expect it would make that much of a difference. I hope they don't wear out too fast...

 

packed her up for campwerks :D

 

Seafoam treatment, followed by brisk drive. Then a wash/detail to remove the bug juice and guts. Very productive day off. What can we get into next?

 

Actually it wasnt today but last Friday, but upgraded front speakers to Boston Acoustics SE 35 3.5" mids and M&K 6.5 mid-bass's. Wow, what a huge difference, now my MP3 player is actually useful, and I'm running the MP3 EQ on "bypass" not rock or pop. I took many pics if I can figure out how to upload the dang'd things. NAM doesnt seem to like my photos. I think 4s would fit with any or much "clearancing" so next time I'll go 4s, as in Boston SE45s or equivalent. May do JL Audio next time.

 

This weekend mounting up twin 7" intercooler pusher fans, have the controls and power wiring/relays already preinstalled, just need to pull the bumper and saddle up. Pix and results to follow. Yes, this is turning into a Frankenstein, maybe I am hardcore after all.

 

We are fianlly getting some nice weather in eastern Pa so I washed my Clubaman and waxed the uderside of the bonnet. Tuesday I replaced the rear rotors and pads, Napa premium and Akebono ceramic respectively. Left side went well, right side caliper was a pia. Took a huge effort to get the piston to retract. Definately going to buy the piston tool kit next chance I get.
Bought this '08 a few months back to replace a WRX which was assinated by an Explorer, I miss the power but the mileage and Smileage I get now more than makes up for the lack of horses.

 

Drove to Niagara Falls, USA (ugh... is all of Niagara Falls USA as ugly as the neighborhoods I drove through? - no flames! hehe ) to pick up my new wheels and winter tires... Enkei Imola 17" silver wheels with Pirelli 210 winters which look pretty awesome BTW. Funny picking up winter gear and that is was unusually HOT outside today - like mid summer hot. Spoke to a bunch of very serious border guards.

Impressed a number of passer-bys by filling our MINI with four wheels with trires mounted, bunch of gear/deliveries, me, my wife AND our dog. Dropped off the new wheels at our dealership and looks like my JCW will be in Production next week if I am lucky.

Also picked up a bunch of Amazon stuff, some new xenon match city light bulbs and my favorite... Hoen yellow fog bulbs for the new JCW.

Spent the rest of the day driving around Niagara-On-The-Lake, Canada, looking at wineries, picking the right pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving, etc.


Enkei Winter Wheels Delivery. Niagara USA by walk0080, on Flickr



Enkei Winter Wheels Delivery. Niagara USA by walk0080, on Flickr

 

Great looking wheels, walk...

I washed mine, was all ready to take one of my girls to a basketball camp and found out the whole family was going - had to jump in the Suburban and there's no fun there.

So took a picture and put it back in the garage.

 

Well, 4-1/2 hrs later, I know all about how to pull off the front of a MINI, found out that the inventor of plastic push-rivets or whatever those devil spawned inventions are called, should be waterboarded, and the fan idea was less effective than I had hoped. But Edison tried over 1900 materials before perfecting a usable light bulb, so it doesnt always go zippy.
And it isnt a real auto project unless its been baptized in blood, so I gouged the back of my left hand about a 2" line at the wrist, dang those A/C condensor fins are little razors.
BTW, WTF is up with inserting images? grrrrrrrrrrrrr

 

+1 I made the pleasant discovery today that Lowes has a large assortment of push rivets, including the right size to replace the one for my hood shield that this butterfingers dropped into God knows where.

 

I changed the spark plugs...but more importantly I made a co-pilot for the car.

Since it is October, I felt a scarecrow would be fitting.

Still a work in progress, but it's getting there! I still need to make the pumpkin scarier