(I searched the archives for this first.) I bought an early 05 MC back in August (6100 mi.) 2 weeks ago I rotated the wheels myself @ 9200 mi. The wheels are white 16" 5 spoke with center caps & runflats. Strange part: Every wheel has one black lug bolt and 3 yellow lug bolts!?!? I don't think the wheels have been removed before, but not sure. Has anyone seen this before and why?

 

The gold are standard for the wheels with center caps, the black for exposed bolts (i.e. S-lites). I'm guessing the car originally came with OEM wheel locks, and someone swapped them out for regular bolts, and they had the black ones lying around.

 

Thanks for the reply, I bet your right. Maybe they swapped the locks with another MINI that had black bolts? I wonder if it would be mechanically better to have all four of the black ones on one wheel. They seem to be a different metal and design than the yellow ones. This all may sound silly, but I've never had a car with lug bolts before. (I gradually criss cross torqued them to 88.5, re-torqued after I drove it some.)

 

They are the same metal, just a different coating. Lug bolts are becoming more common. I think it is both a safety and cost thing.

Studs stretch and wear out over time, and are not easy to replace. Bolts, obviously are very simple to replace.

In manufacturing, you can buy two pieces (stud and nut) or a single bolt...

 

I agree with Keith. The yellow ones are gold cad plated an inexpensive but durable plating and one was removed for wheel locks. A set of wheel locks would be cheap insurance for your tires and wheels and solve your two color dilema