I was about to hit 30k miles and was buying new tires tomorrow after I did the maintenance at the dealer. However, on my way to work today, the sidewall on one tire blew out. Yes, it does sound like a gun. So I was stuck in the middle of nowhere on a rural highway.

Mini Roadside Assistance sent out a wrecker, but would only tow me to the nearest dealer instead of to a tire shop. So 70 miles later, I get to the dealer and they have no non-runflats and only one runflat for my car. What kind of a dealer doesn't have tires? I told the wrecker driver not to unload my car. He took me across the freeway to a Discount Tire store.

Now I'm the proud owner of four new 60k mile rated tires for less than the rf's would have cost. I called Morristown Mini from my dealer's showroom for a quote on a spare for my Clubman S shipped to me. Still a bit pricey, so I might shop around. Does it really cost $60 to mount the tire on the rim?

I was going to get rid of the RF's anyway, but having a blowout which prevented me from driving even to the nearest down sealed the deal.

 

Update:
I ended up ordering the spare from my local dealer. They were cheaper than Morristown, which surprised me. I am impressed with the difference in ride and noise level with the non-RF's. Much quieter and gone are the bone jarring feelings every time you hit a pothole or bump, especially since I have lowering springs on my car. Wish I had made the change 20 thousand miles ago.

 

"What kind of a dealer doesn't have tires?"

The one that can't compete with the Discount Tire store across the street.

 

If you are in the market for a used spare tire (50 mile type), try a MINI salvage yard. I got my MINI spare tire and mounting bracket for less than $100.

http://www.usedminicooperparts.com/

 

Gold mine thank you!

 

First thing I did after getting the MCCS was swap out the factory RFTs. I replacement them with Potenza RE96AS Pole Position 205/55WR16 for slightly taller sidewall and even better compliance. I like the gokart handling, but not at the expense of a punishing ride. The Bridgestone turned out to be a great compromise.

One reason I like the Clubman is the ability to carry a spare. I agree boneyards are a good source for OEM spares. Make sure you get one from a late model MINI though. You don't want to buy a tired old spare with aged rubber. Also, make sure the spare will fit over your brakes.

 

I have the run flat tires on 17" rims, and I haven't noticed a harsh ride?! It seems to be about the same as my Volvo's ride, which is pretty good!

Dave

 

Perception is all relative. I never used to mind a stiff ride in my colleges days. Lowered my VW GTI, swapped in fat anti-roll bars, polyurethane bushings, racing motor mounts and the whole 9 yards.

But over the years, I've been "softened" by piloting minivans, and cushy SUVs, not a mention a wonderful Ford E-150 Chateau, which you don't so much "drive" it, as "steer" it around like a great big land yacht. With those, turn-in response is measured in fortnight per furlong.

I do like driving the Clubman S. My other car now is a Hyundai Veracruz Limited, and everytime I switch to driving the MINI to work always brings a big ol' grin to my face... until I hit that first set of washboard warning strips at the end of an offramp... BBLLLLRRRRRRTTTTTT!!!!!! @#$%^&*!

 

Mind you, I didn't really mind the rougher ride; I expect that out of a small sports car, but with these tires, there are much fewer times where the features of a big city road with some deterioration feel like you went over a speed bump too fast. And it is definitely quieter on the freeway.

 

Just had my dealer swap out my run-flats with Conti DWS Extreems. What a difference. Quiet and smooth. The car still handles great but I don't get beat up any more and I can finally hear the radio without turning it up all the way. After 1400 miles on the run-flats all I can say is never again. Got the space-saver spare. All good now. only issue was had to put on the 205/50/16 instead of the 195/55/16.

 

What kind of roads are you guys driving on? I don't think the runflats feel rough or noisy at all!

Dave

 

Chip seal and rough roads after this winter

 

OK, I finally got my spare from the dealer today. Terrible service. I was supposed to pick it up on the run. They didn't even have it mounted on the rim. An hour later, they said I was good to go. I looked in the back and they had just put it under the deck in the storage compartment above the tools. It was just jammed into that space tightly with no room for all the stuff I usually keep under there.

I went back in and asked the SA where the spare belongs. She said they had trouble fitting it in an S. B.S. Then she tried to tell me that normally I would have to crawl under the car on a justa to lower the spare. B.S. again. So I went to the floor model justa and showed her the spare wheel well under the tools in the back. She said a Clubman S didn't have that space. I took her to my car and showed her it did. She said the tire wouldn't fit there. So I showed her it did. All I wanted at that point was the bolt and locking nut that held it in place.

She said they didn't have that part and I would have to wait for it to come in on order. I was about to blow a gasket. I had already wasted an hour and a half on this, not to mention the drive out there. I wouldn't leave so they stripped the parts out of a Clubman on the lot and set me up.

It was like nobody in the dealership had ever looked at the cars to see how they worked, and then made up answers to cover. What really ticked me off was that I had asked when I ordered the spare if it came with everything I needed to secure it and was assured I was good to go.

Enough of my rant. I'll think long and hard before going back to the dealer for anything. I had planned on doing the Stage 1 upgrade this summer, but not so sure now.

 

Next time, just spend a bit of time and do your homework on realoem.com to get all the part numbers you need. I normally just print out the pages with the part numbers and take it to the parts counter. I don't bother to ask for advice and clarification. Just pick up the parts and figure them out at home.

FWIW, here's the page you needed for the spare "emergency" wheel:

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...=36&fg=10&hl=3

I found it under the non-S Clubman category, which probably explains why your dealer parts dept had a tough time finding the part numbers for your Clubman S.

One thing your dealer did state correctly was regarding the location of the spare wheel for a non-S Cooper. It is mounted under the "trunk floor". You release and lower it from inside the trunk area.

 

Just started noticing a lot more noice from the runflats - got 26,000 miles in them. Also getting a thwamp, thwamp, thwamp from the right side rear area - ride is about the same, harsh at times. It is very loud in the cabin, depends on condition of the road. Took a golf trip to Egg Harbor, NJ on Rt 40, that road has ALL sorts of surfaces! Got great gas mileage, 33.6, avg speed 46mph, 300 miles. Sunday traffic on South bound I95 SUCKS!
Any chance anyone has had the thwamp, thwamp, thwamp...in the right rear? Not sure if it a tire balancing issue or something else?

 

You didn't hear about the sink hole on the NJ TPKE.

 

No, Marylanders tend to not pay attention to anything north of the Mason-Dixon!

 

Anyone have the link for ordering the different foam insert that goes in the rear with the spare?

Found it.

Here's the thread. https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...pare-tire.html

Here's the parts list:

Spare wheel/tire mounted, and balanced $225
71106778759 Trunk tray, emergency wheel $35.21
36106782325 Mounting screw, spare wheel (M8X56) $1.09
36106781466 Spare wheel retainer $3.19

Here's the post with pics that shows you how everything will fit in the back of a Clubman S
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...78-post15.html

 

I ordered the above tire/tray because I just switched from 16" RF's (they lasted 34000 miles) to 17" 205/45R/17 Yokohama Avid ENVigor, and topped them off with Focal F16 Gunmetal wheels. First impressions better ride not as much road noise.

 

Can anyone tell me where you can get the spare for $225 and the other parts as listed at those prices. Best price I can find is $260 for the tire/wheel, and $45 for the tray. I assume I can get the jack and such from usedminiparts..they have no spares, (S Clubman), and of course not the insert. Thanks!