HI all --

When I originally ordered my MCS, I liked the looks of the R105 black 18" wheels to complement the mellow yellow / black combination. The price, however, is a bit steep - $2450 in the configurator + dealer install charge. After looking around online a little, I found some similar styled wheels for a fraction of the cost, plus the weight reduction is significant - 23 lbs for the R105s. I can easily shave 5 lbs off with cheaper wheels with a similar look. I've got a few of questions:

1) tire pressure monitoring - My dealership contact said that the tire pressure monitoring is based on wheel speed, not through special valve-stems like on other systems. If this is the case, is it correct that I will not have issues with the TPMS with standard aftermarket rims?

2) run flat - I don't know how the run flat works on the coopers ... can someone fill me in? Are the wheels special, or just the tires, or is it a combination of both? If I opt for a non-runflat option, I realize that I'll need a special spare. I'm not against runflats, I just want to keep my options open.

3) 17" vs 18" - Anyone have any experience with 18" rims on an MCS? I realize that the steering stops need to be adjusted to keep the wheels from rubbing, but I would like some real-world advise from MCS owners. Road feel, harshness, tirewear, etc.

4) The R105s come equipped with 205 40 r18 tires. Anyone know what brand of tires come on these? The dealer said Dunlops, but not always.

5) Wheel offset - The R105 offset isn't specified, and I doubt I can find it out from Mini. The aftermarket rims have 37mm offset for 18x7" and 42mm for 17x7. I'd hate to order these without knowing whether they will fit correctly on my MCS. What is a reasonable offset for the MCS for 17 or 18" rims?

Thanks all for any advise or comments!

Jeff