I do not have a Mini dealer close by, and test drove one at a dealer about 2 hours away, but I really have not had an opportunity to study the car close up.

I know that when you order the Sport Package, you get larger wheels and run-flats, because there simply is not enough space to fit a 17" spare in the car. My question is this. In the regular Cooper, with 15" wheels and a spare, where is the spare stored? In a car with no spare, what happens to that space? If it is under the rear area floor, is that just empty storage space, or is it used for some other purpose?

 

Joe,
In the Cooper, the spare is located under the boot. In the Cooper S, this space is used for the battery (which in the Cooper is in the engine compartment.

I don't know if you get a spare in a Cooper if your order a car with runflat tires.

Go to www.motoringfile.com and on the right side of the page, scroll down to "FILES" and you can download a .pdf file of the 04 MC & MCS Owner's Manual, and learn all you ever wanted about the cars.
Charlie

 

On a regular Cooper with runflats, I believe that you still get the spare and jack. The spare hangs under the boot floor, just behind the bumper. You get at it just as you do on a minivan, SUV, or pickup. From outside.

There is no spare on an S, not only because you supposedly don't need one (but those many of us MCS owners who have switched to non-runflats may disagree) but also because there's no place to put one. The space under the boot behind the bumper contains the center-exit exhaust...and thus there's no space for a spare. And the well of our boot contains our battery (not that there'd be enough space there for a spare anyway).

 

Joe,
Many MCS owners opt to get rid of the runflats for tires like Yokohama AVS ES-100's for a better ride and better handling.

If you don't have a spare, you can purchase one from Classic MINI in Mentor, OH for less than $100, shipped to you. Contact Brian in Parts bmwparts@classicautocampus.com

"Jerseygirl" (Robyn) makes a great spare tire carrying case to place the spare into and toss into the boot if you go on a long trip. Send her a PM. Also do a search in the MINI TALK Forum on "spare tire" and there's more great information.
Charlie

 

OK, so I downloaded a copy of the 2004 owner's manual, but now I'm confused again.

Who gets a "Mini Mobility System" with repair liquid and compressor? Is this an option? The tools for the "S" are in a separate "Bag", but where is the "mobility system?"

 

Mobility system:
Bottle of slime.
12v compressor.
Nominal cost @ Wal-Mart, O'Reilly's, Autozone, etc.
Haven't used it yet so I figure my bubble will burst upon the first need.
All this stuff fits in the side compartment in the boot with room for other emergency stuff. Without H-K anyway.

 

Spare tires are overrated!! My the spare on my 10 year old Chevy Z71 pickup has NEVER been removed from under the bed. Lack of a spare on my pending MCS doesn't bother me a bit.

 

Then you are very fortunate indeed!

I've personally had 4 flats (that I can remember) and a couple of those were out in remote areas with no cell coverage. I've also been a passenger in a car when it had a severe blowout. There's no way you'd catch me out on a long trip with no spare since I got rid of the runflats.

I hope your luck continues to hold.

 

I tow a trailer........I don't go anywhere without a spare for the truck, a mounted spare for the trailer AND an unmounted tire, also for the trailer. Sheesh...they go regularly (trailer tires do).

The run flats do not bother me, but I have been using my 18" non run flats without a spare (can of goop in the back) and I keep telling myself I am a VSP......

 

[QUOTE=jsun]On a regular Cooper with runflats, I believe that you still get the spare and jack. The spare hangs under the boot floor, just behind the bumper. You get at it just as you do on a minivan, SUV, or pickup. From outside.
[QUOTE]

Yep, all Coopers come with a spare and a jack, runflats or not. All S's come without a spare. MCS=MiniCooperw/oSpare.:smile:


R.E.

 

Is the "mobility kit" with repair parts and compressor an option? If you get it, where does IT go?

 

I once hit a rain filled pot hole with such force that I broke both the rims on the passenger side. Couldn't see the damned thing at night what with the rain and glare and all. Carried two spares around for years afterwards (secretly hoping for a replay? not.) Now my MCS comes with no spare, low profile runflats and most importantly from my perspective: MINI Roadside assistance.

Hello, MINI-Division?

You've got some 'splaining to do!

 

I am sticking to runflats. I have the 16" Dunlop SP5000s from factory. Not having a spare really hasn't bother me much if anything at all and still find the runflat technology both interesting and with an increased margin of safety due to the driveability capabilities of these tires after most of the air has gone out.

I cringe at the idea of having to carry a spare tire in the boot. Firstly, I need all those 5 cubic inches of space at all times and second don't like to carry an object that can potentially become a projectile inside the car on sudden braking.

I am interested in the MINI mobility kit and if it works for runflats I might get it in the future, specially if we plan to take the car on a long roadtrip.

For the time being, runflats for me. At least the 16" Dunlops with 55 profile are easy to live with and provide nice ride quality and handling.