Hello all, quick question:
I had a 2003 MC and loved it (had to get rid of it because we had a third kid on the way). If only the countryman existed in 2007! I am in the process of making my final decisions on specs for a new countryman. I had the white wheels on my old car, and loved how they looked with the white roof and mirror caps. But they were so hard to keep clean due to the brake dust. Am I a fool for considering the white wheels again? Is the brake dust still as big a problem? I did a quick search and didn't find as many complaints about it as I used to. Somebody talk me into or out of the white wheels!

 

I will say this, my silver wheels looked black after just a couple of days. I now have the gloss black wheels and they look like the anthracite wheels after a couple of days. If you are willing to clean them all the time like I do, I say go for it b.c they look great.

On a side note, my husband has a R56 blue/white and he just got white wheels for it and hasn't put them on yet. I can't wait to see how he feels about cleaning them all the time too b.c I am the one who ends up washing his car most of the time lol.

 

I have white wheels on my R50 and it takes 2-3 days until the brake dust is easily noticeable.

 

I have the black wheel but, after quite a few great reviews, I'm going to give this product a try!

 

I say if you're willing to clean them on a regular basis or if that suggested product works then go for it. I have the black double spoke 18's and they look like a dull antracite color in about a week. I can ride like i have the antracite wheel for a few but don't let it sit too long. The longer it is there the longer it take to remove it.

There are some other product available now that supposedly clean using a chemical reaction, so no scrubbing and spray on then off. May be good to look into.

 

Thanks for the replies! Sounds like whatever I choose, I'm going to be cleaning them all the time, so I might as well go with whatever I like.

 

Q. How much to mud flaps help keep down brake dust or other dirt etc.?

 

I have silver wheels on our 3-week old CM and I love them. Have not cleaned them yet and they look great. I did treat them immediately with ArmorAll Wheel Protectant. This compound helps keep brake dust from sticking to the wheels.

 

Whoa- thanks alot for that Armorall link - thats amazing - even the honey just dropped right off! R

 

Mudflaps help with keeping some of the road dirt off the sides, won't do much for the wheels. I use the Armorall product as well, especially when running the summer gunmetal wheels. Brake dust is still there but pretty much washes off with little effort.

 

Gotcha. My SA advised against silver wheel because he said they would get dirty - but I loved them with the look of the car so I went for it anyway.

 

They all show it... Some more than others. Might as well get what you want and be happy with the look

 

Like it was said, if you don't mind washing your car and wheels frequently you should get what you like best. I have white wheels with white roof and mirrors. White wheels added a nice look to the car. I also have the original JCW wheels and I like them a lot too. Ps: I wash my car a lot!

 

Good for you. Silver wheels RULE.

 

Silver wheels here too. They have stayed pretty clean so far--but I am going to get that wheel protector. I want to avoid the pitting I experienced with my last car that made it harder to keep clean. H/T 52804x4

 

All my BMWs/MINIs have had either white or silver wheels. No matter what you put on them, a thorough cleaning is always necessary. Some products make cleaning faster and easier (as mentioned earlier) and you need to experiment with brushes and cleaning products. Personally, I prefer Griot's wheel cleaner and a toilet cleaning brush.

That being said, my SO wanted the tunnel spokes on her Countryman so we ordered them in anthracite. They are the first wheels I've ever owned that require so little care! I think it is the "dish" design that prevents most of the brake dust from landing on the outside of the wheel. They clean-up with just a swipe of the sponge. Note that I have not treated them with protectant.

The tunnel spoke design is not to everyone's liking, but they do a great job of keeping the brake dust at bay. They come in white, but you might not like the look.



HTH,

 

Have been running white holies on my 05 MC for the past 79000 miles. Run Kleenwheels brake dust covers on the street since new, even ran my first MOTD with them on. Wheels stay clean for weeks. Take them off for track days now. Also, now running EBC Reds now, 2nd sets of pads on the front. And still on the original OEM brake rotors, never warped or turned. Next pad change will need new rotors, will go with OEM rotors. Also, I drive very hard. Have 3 sets of white holies! All are WheelWaxed often.

 

Glad to hear that the "dish" design prevents most of the brake dust from landing outside of the wheel! These are the ones I was considering in white. I was kind of thinking that the design may help, but wasn't sure. I had the "holeys" on my regular MC, and they were coated after just a short drive.

 

White wheels rule !

 

I have the tunnels in black and have experienced the same thing as Koopah. After 15 years of BMW and MINI brake dust cleaning, I'm still shoked that the tunnels hardly show any brake dust. It's to the point that I am wondering if the CM is using a different brake pad compound than other cars.

 

I have the white tunnel spokes by accident. I ordered anthracite but the white do look really good with the Oxford green and white body. I haven't washed my car in two weeks, shame on me, but the wheels still look good. I can tell they are getting dirty but aren't even to the level that I would call them grey yet.

 

We have the White 18" spoke rims, looks great with white top and mirrors. I use Griots BoS wax, and it does a pretty good job of keeping the gunk off. They only need a good cleaning about once a month.

 

Thanks for all the input! I ordered my car today, and went with the white tunnel spokes.

 

Got here late but I"ve had my whites on my '05 MCS now for six years so I would've said go for it! They are a PITA to keep clean but I also have the white roof/mirror caps so it just completes the look.

 

any chance you configured an S and then changed to a non-S? I notice the anthracite are only on the S configurator and the white only on the non-S configurator.