I've got a late 06 MCS with the larger lugs/bolts.

I can't find any steel wheels that will fit...

Does anyone know of anything?

 

I don't know how many sets of wheels you think you might buy over the course of your car's life, but there are 14mm->12mm conversion studs available at www.txwerks.com.

I got a set for my '06 and have been very happy with them. It really widens your choices when looking for aftermarket wheels.

If these steelies are the only aftermarket wheels you're going to buy, you can take them to a machine shop and have them drilled out a little bit to accept your bolts.

 

Thanks for the info. I am planning on replacing the stock S lites with aftermarket wheels for the summer and have noticed that the 14mm size will limit my choice in wheels.

Is there any reason to keep the 14mm studs?

What is the main driver to upgrade to aftermarket studs for someone who is not concerned with changing the stud size? Is it a strength issue?

If I decide not to do the stud change, would removing 2mm from the diameter of each hole reduce the strength of the wheel enough to create any risk?

 

I can't think of a reason to keep the 14mm bolts - a million MINIs are running around with the older 12mm bolts, and I haven't heard widespread reports of them failing.

Going from lug bolts to studs, even if you don't change the size, makes it very easy to change out wheels. Rather than having to lift the wheel up and get it centered on the hub and then rotating the wheel to get the holes to line up, you just slide it onto the studs and put the nuts on.

Enlarging the wheel holes by 2mm won't cause any problems. Several people here have done it with their alloy wheels, and any potential reduction in strength should be even less of an issue with steel wheels.

From the people I've talked to that have had their wheel holes enlarged by a machinist, having one set of wheels drilled is cheaper than a conversion stud kit, but having two sets drilled would cost more than the conversion.

 

It's not the stud size that's the problem. It's the size of the front brakes.

I had some 15" steelies from my 2003 Cooper. They would go on my 2007 MCS, but they would contact the front brake caliper.

 

Yes, but the original poster has an '06 MCS, so he can use 15" wheels with no problems.

For the R56, you would have to go with larger winter wheels.

 

If that's the case, then there shouldn't be any problems. The steel wheels I had for my 2003 had no problem accepting the 14mm lugs on my 2007. These wheels came through a third party, but I believe they were sourced from TireRack.

Don't "late 06 MCS with the larger lugs/bolts" also have the larger brakes?

 

No, my wife and I each have a 2006 MCSC. Hers is an April build, mine is a September build. Different lug bolts, same brakes.