I'm hoping to order my MCS this weekend. The 17" rims come with the sport package and look nice but I hear from some that they ride rougher than 16" wheels. What are your recommendations? (I want a good looking car, good package, and not too harsh riding.)

What else would you have ordered different for your MCS? (Alarm? Rear fog light? Arm rest?) Thanks!

 

I test drove the MCS with 17"s and the ride was not too bad. But over time I think they might be a little stiff. So I have mine ordered with 16" wheels, even though I added back all the other options in the sport package. So I could have the 17"s for free.

I actually want the 16" 5-spoke wheels, but they are not offered on the MCS. The stock 16s are not bad though.

 

The ride is not that Rough and in my opinon adds to the ambiance of the car.

I think the 17" wheels make the car handle WILDLY better.

I'd say 17". Its what I am doing. i would even consider 18"

 

the stock 17" S-Lites are very heavy. around 25 LBs per wheel is a bit much for me....the 15" rims on my miata were 12 lbs!

We ordered both cars with 16"s and added the other sport items as well. Of course, the 05 already has aftermarket 16's on it, and the 06 will soon too!

-jac

 

they are heavy... but i still think it handles better. I plan on doing aftermarket, lighter wheels of the 17" persuasion

 

My recommendations based on my ownership experience of two MCS (2004 and now 2005):

1) Get the multifunction steering wheel (MFSW) no matter what.
2) Get the anthracite interior trim
3) Opt for the leatherette over the cloth or priciey leather
4) Get the Harmon Kardon stereo
5) Get the front and rear fog lights, that way you'll have added safety plus a full 6 toggle switch bank in the center console.
6) Get the convenience package. The rain sensing wipers and self dimming rear view mirror are fantastic, plus you get the Homelink remote control buttons for your garage door etc.
7) Stick with the standard 16" V-spoke wheels.

The rest its up to you.

 

Andy, you can achieve a better footprint by simply switching to 205 or 215 size 16" tires, while saving weight and keeping a decent profile (50-55) for ride comfort and better protection against road hazards like potholes etc.

The factory 17's have a low 45 profile, hence they have less protection should you accidentally hit a pothole in the road = bent wheel and damaged tire.

 

Keep the 16"s.

Edit:
Forgot you asked about what I would change. . .

Not a damn thing. My wife would have ordered heated seats.

Pretty simple: LSD, Space Cloth, MFS, Fogs 2x, Anthracite 2x (dash+headliner), chrome innards.

The following is all IMHO:
ASC is plenty intrusive for me so no need for me to add DSC. Didn't want Xenons since it makes the headlights over complicated (auto-leveling, ballasts, etc). No sunroof, didn't want the weight up that high. The leather seemed overpriced and I prefer the way the cloth grips and breathes.

Bottom line is whatever you get you'll have a blast in it.

 

The whole wheel issue is wildly subjective but there are a few key points to keep in mind. Whether 16s or 17s the factory runflat tires deliver a very harsh ride. Changing to non-runflat tires on either the 16s or 17s will improve the ride noticeably. If you want to stick with runflats the 16s will be a tad less harsh. When it comes to looks, well I'll steer clear of that minefield ... but just remember that there are many more choices available than the standard 16 or 17, both from MINI and in the after-market. Some chose based on looks, others decide on weight. Check out the Show Me Your Wheels thread for an idea of just how many choices there are.

 

the S-lites are insanely heavy. You think the car handles good with them, then get rid of all the rotating weight and get back to me

My advice is get the 16's and use the money you save to buy some nice aftermarket wheels.

I've had two MINIs and I got the 16's both times.

 

Get what you like... and GOOD tires!

I happen to LOVE having 18" wheels on my MINIs (my 2005 AND my 2006) with Yokohama Parada Spec-2 (SUMMER performance tires)

I also vote for these:
1) Get the multifunction steering wheel (MFSW) no matter what.
2) Get the anthracite interior trim AND the headliner. WORTH the $200
3) Opt for the leatherette over the cloth or priciey leather
4) Get the Harmon Kardon stereo
5) Get the front and rear fog lights, that way you'll have added safety plus a full 6 toggle switch bank in the center console.
6) Get the convenience package. The rain sensing wipers and self dimming rear view mirror are fantastic, plus you get the Homelink remote control buttons for your garage door etc.
7) Look at aftermarket wheels... Tire Rack has LOTS for little $
8) Get the heated seats. I LOVED them in California, loved them in TX and miss them in Michigan (they are on their way)
9) Check out suspension options. The stock SUCKS. I LOVE the JCW (SOFT) and the H-Sport springs (stiffer)

(thanks C4!)

good luck with the waiting!

 

Don't stress about the tires. I'm amazing how much traffic on NAM focuses on the 17" run flats. They're fine. I drive on rough roads all the time, sure they are stiff, but for a run flat all season tire they do a fine job. The same EXACT tire model on a 16" vs 17" rim is marginally different. Remember, it's only 0.5" difference in distance from the rim to the road. My old Jeep had 15" rims with 33" tires, and the MCS still rides smoother than that thing every did!

The S-lites are heavy. Big deal. Leave your passenger at home, 'bout the same difference! Seriously, though, they are heavier, but I have yet to see anyone post a scientific analysis that demonstrates a significant difference. One thing about them is that they seem tough. I banged into a curb the other day and took a big huge chunk of aluminum off one, and shaved some off the edge of the RIM. It may be heavy, but it did NOT bend a bit. It looks bad (my mistake) but it functionally it's fine. I'm sure if I had some $200 rims that were 12# each I'd have been pretty upset. As it was I was just like "oh well, they're cheap no big deal".

 

Go to your dealer and take test drive in one with 17" wheels. Get out and get right into one with 16"ers and try that out for size. Compare and decide for yourself.

 

Thanks all for the quick response, particularly on the wheels. Good to know about weight and ride quality. I'll be sure to compare them at the dealer before my final decision.

Thanks also for other recommendations. On other accessories, I'm curious if you folks have ordered the armrest or if that interfers with shifting. Also, does one need the alarm or does the Mini include any kind of security w/o the alarm package?

I'm wondering about the seats, too. There is only one cloth package available with the MCS and it doesn't suit my interior choice (hyper blue). I hate to spend the extra $ on leather but I don't want to stick to "leatherette". Is leatherette too cold/hot in winter/summer and if so, is leather any better?

Thx,
Mark

 

harshness is personal, i like my car a little harsh, if you don't like it get some nice tires, you will see the difference, 'cause your car is going to run better. Both 16s and 17s with runflats are outrageous compared to non-RFs. I do not like the 16s, because the car looks weak unless it is a wider rim and wider tire with a suspension mod, in this case the standard 16s look kinda small, but again it is very personal. You make the decision.

Ant. headliner and rear fog are two things that i would definetely get if i was ordering another one today.

Cheers

 

Also... lsd and dsc.
If you are into performance, do not do the Slites.
Everyone on this site who is serious into performace does not recommend them.

BTW... where do you live.
You may want the winter package, and winter wheels/tires.

 

I have 17" summer and 16" winter. The 16" ride is a little softer but my MCS handles much better with the 17" summer tires. If you have a sensitive rear end or your partner is driving it get the 16"

 

You make your passengers ride on the wheels?
I can't remember the ratio of unsprung weight to sprung weight—4:1?

Is that right?

 

I've had the Sports Pkg w/17's on both my 03 and 05. I had a chance to drive the car w/16's and liked it. I am planning on getting some aftermarket 18's so it didn't make sense to get the 17's. I just got everything from the SP Pkg DSC/Xenon/Fogs and put the remainder of the $$ towards the LSD. Now my car sits on the other side of the pond waiting for shipping.

 

The MINI alarm is only designed to protect against theft of items inside the car. The car itself is very hard to steal as it uses a chip inside the keys. I've never heard of anybody having their MINI stolen unless it was either towed or they left the keys in the ignition.

As for the seats, I went with leatherette. It's a very good fake leather and feels almost as good as the real thing. For the summer, I place a white towel down the middle to keep my back from sweating too much. Except for the lack of breathing, it's perfect!

 

Okay, it sounds like the alarm is a waste since the key has a chip. Saves me $300.

Sounds like leatherette works just fine, check.

Sounds like the convenience package (rain sensor, garage opener, etc.) is in.

Sounds like rear fog is in.

I'm planning on the sport package, the premium package, and hyper blue interior with chrome accents. And the wheels -- I'll let you know! [IMG]images/smilies/thumb-up.gif[/IMG]

Only problem will be waiting for it to come in. [IMG]images/smilies/frown.gif[/IMG]

(I'll have to check out the armrest, too.)

Thanks for the replies -- you guys are great!

 

If you really like the look of the 17" over the 16", and want to keep your runflats, you can put in Koni FSD shocks ($6-700 at tire rack?) which supposedly softens the ride a lot while not sacrificing any of the Mini's tight handling. Thinking about getting this done myself...

 

This is good advice... the blank space is the one thing that i'd do differently about my Mini. I'd think 2x about the Harmon Kardon System... There's a decent amount of engine noise (this is a good thing) that in my opinion makes any sound system suffer so I wouldn't spend the extra money. Put that dough towards a sweet home system!

 

no- the arm rest doesn't interfere with shifting for me one bit

 

This is what I love about MINIs. As Leo Mckern (playing the head of the sect trying to slice off Ringo's finger) said to a man of the cloth after bumping into him during a melee under a table in Hard Days Night, "I'm sure we can agree to differ."

1) Buttons on a steering wheel that aren't for shifting or overtaking, arent for me.
2)
3) Like the leather, like the smell, probably not worth it, but like the smell. mmmm...
4) HK? No way. LSD is the way.
5) Fogs smogs. I like not having the full toggle, means never having to fumble to shut off the ASC. Wanna see, get the Xenons, wanna be seen, get a Ferrari.
6) Auto dimming mirrors. Who invented this. Its hard enough to see and judge distance at night...gee, I got an idea lets make it harder to see! Wanted the rain sensors, can't stand the mirrors.
7)

so as we all know theres about as many opinions as there are MINIS. The fact that the car can accomodate that is a real part of its charm.

You don't say where you live. Here in the snowbelt, it always makes sense to have to two sets of wheels. My plan, drive the 16" runflats this winter, buy 17" wheels (done) to be installed this spring. Throw away the runflats, buy some blizzaks for the 16s for next winter.