So a friend shared a horror story of getting a flat, and having 3 guys be unable to get her "donut spare" out from under her car. Now she didn't own a MINI, but it got me thinking. I'm working toward my 4th winter with my MINI and I've never even tried to get the spare out!

So I jacked her up, and began loosening the spare. Well about a pound of sand came our (undoubtedly from the 3 years of winter sanding around here). Must have worked itself inside the cover while plowing through the snow.

Anyway, I got stuck on getting the cover off. Everything in the MINI tool kit and I cound not find the 5/16th wrench I needed to get the cover off. Am I missing something?

Anyway, since I had the tire off, it seemed like a good time to detail the wheel and polish up the metal pieces. (OCD fever, I guess)

Good thing to do at least once when you have a comfortable spot and some spare time. At least I know what I'm in for when it's 98 degrees or -20. Just glad I added a 5/16th socket for that cover!

 

I never even looked at mine. I have a Slime road repair kit I'm gonna use instead should I need it. *Knocks on wood* It's a small portable compressor and the goo for the tire.

 

I've used the spare twice now (once in the R50, once in the R56), the procedure's pretty mush the same in both. Both times I could get it out of its hiding place by reading the manual and following the steps as given. My tool kit did have all the requisite tools though. If you're missing something you should talk to your dealer about it.

 

Good your hear the tools are supposed to be intact. I'll stop by the dealer and get that squared away. Glad I got it cleaned out and made sure that all the nuts and bolts moved freely. Motor on.

 

I just posted pictures of the toolkit in another thread https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...postcount=1347. The toolkit the MCS is coming with these days doesn't seem to have the wrench.

 

Makes sense as the R56 MCS doesn't have a spare, much less a space for one, unless you count the boot. Not sure what year/model you have but perhaps you got the wrong toolkit?