I'm toying with the idea of getting 18" rims for my 03 Cooper S and I have some questons:

1. Has anyone done this already and do they like the ride better than the 17" run flats that came with the car

2. Which styles did you guys/gals pick? (post picks if you have em )

3. Do you know any website where I can browse styles and prices?

Sorry for the noobie type questions.

 

I love mine! Check my Gallery for some pics. I got mine sent to me from The Tire Rack. Everything about the Tire Rack was great except the balancing was a little off, but the Tire Rack had me take them to a local shop and paid for the balancing for me.

18" Montegi Racing

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...w%2 FMach+Lip

Happy Hunting!

 

Hey Supercliff - There is a forum for this topic under Mini's in General - Tires, Wheels, & Brakes
I expect a moderator will move it but now you will know where to look.

 

Hey Thanks!

 

Nothing but 18's: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=90326

 

Be sure to get some M7 strut tower reinforcement plates while you are at it.

 

Nabeshin,

Sorry, I a bit new to all this. What are M7 strut tower reinforcement plates for and how will they help?

 

The M7 plates prevent strut tower mushrooming, a problem that can aflict cars with narrow sidewall tires and or stiffer springs. Odds are, if you had the factory 17s and runflats for any length of time your towers may already be mushroomed. The suspension wasn't even designed for runflats.

There are tons of threads about mushrooming. Basically one nasty pot hole can bottom out the damper and push it up with such force that it deforms the metal of the strut tower. Cars with 15 inch rims have big tires that help absorb unavoidable pot holes. Your 18 inch rims and narrow sidewall tires will be very vulnerable to such pot holes. The plates are cheap and are added insurance against something that will occur if you do go with 18s.

 

Nabeshin,

Thanks for that bit of info. Do you happen to know a link to where I can order the M7?

Can I see if the metal of the strut tower is deformed without taking out the struts?

 

You can find the plates here, or you could get the strut brace instead, it includes the reinforcement plates plus a bar.
<http://m7tuning.com/main.m7/store>

If the tower doesn't look deformed, you can tell by touch. Compair left and right sides. Both sides may be mushroomed.

Perform a search on "mushrooming" there is alot of information about spotting this and ways to cure it.