I have purchased a 2005 S, Pure Silver Metalic.
Wheels are 17" with 8 spokes.
Right rear rim has a small crack about six inches long and one inch from rim.

Is this a safety concern or just cosmetic?????

 

Depends on whether you consider an unannounced air-out of a tire to be a safety hazard. I suppose run-flats might mitigate the damage, but I'd be getting a new wheel on there ASAP. Actually, the greatest threat to life and limb is probably on the tire changing machine; a friend of mine got a nasty cut on the head when a Ferrari wheel came apart around the rim as you describe. I doubt that any shop would put a new tire on that wheel.

 

I would not use it....if you question it....don't use it. Replace it, or send it out to have it fixed!!

 

Crack or just large scratch?

 

First let me say that I own a '06 MC with 161000 miles and have had no issues that were not easily answered by a search on this forum. THANK YOU!

Now - the question - my knowledge of rims probably ends with Chev steel.

The tires on this '05 MCS are 17" tubeless. The crack seems to be only a scratch and not a crack. Tire is not loosing air.

Did this car originally come with "run flat" tires? There is a jack but no space saver tire as on the MC because of the battery and exhaust location.

 

If it's just a scratch then you've answered your own question.........

 

Yup...a crack and a scratch are very different....
The edges, the ends and how it appears to propagate (grow)...
Just remember...a scratch is cosmetic, but a crack is a safety issue.

And one tip...
Not sure about your car, but my 2005 S, that was delivered to me with runflats came with a jack...
All mini's with rims larger than 15' were delivered with runflats...so non sc car with 16/17 rims, which were std on the s got runflats....all S's get t 16' rims std, 17 optionally... No space for a spare...so all options were runflats.