R56 Crown Spokes won't fit on R54 Cabrio
 

I have a 2005 Mini Cabrio with 205 45 17 S Lites. I purchased a set of used Crown Spokes from a 2007 R56 (same size tires). I thought they would fit without a problem. However, when I tried to mount them today, the lug nuts extended too far out and the center cap cover would not fit over them. I have not seen this in the forums before. What are my options? My current lug nuts are chrome and pretty long. Are there shorter lug nuts I can buy? Any suggestions?

Thanks

Stock OEM lug bolts should work. Did you keep your original ones?

Whats an R54?

I did not know my lug nuts were not factory. I bought the Mini used with 18,000 miles on it. Where should I buy a set of factory lug nuts? Can I but them locally or do I need to go through the dealer?

Thanks

Need to be careful here... you definitely have aftermarket lugs... you're saying "lug nuts" - do you really have nuts, or bolts? when you remove the "nut", is there a threaded "stud" still attached to the wheel hub, that the "nut" threads onto? If not, you have bolts, not nuts.

On that year model cabrio, you have 12mm lugs. The new wheels you have are drilled for 14mm lugs...

I recommend you contact a dealer and order a set of OEM 12mm lugs if you want those wheels to work... but if you have studs/nuts now instead of bolts, changing back MAY be non-trivial... depending on whether they're siezed...

Wow. I did not know that I might have a non-stock set up. I have studs that protrude from the disk , the wheel rests on the studs and I have chrome "nuts" that screw on to the bolts. The chrome nuts are too long for the center cap on the crown spokes to fit on the wheel. Is this not the factory set up? i definitely don't have the "bolts" that screw into the disk. (I have a 1994 Volvo that has that set up so I know exactly what you mean). If I have aftermarket lugs, can't I just go an auto parts store and buy some 12 X 1.5 mm lug nuts (like the ones that are on there now but shorter)?

Thanks

If you have studs, they're aftermarket. All MINIs come with lug nuts, not studs.

Do *only* the nuts protrude too far? All of the stud sets I've seen are very long... where the stud itself would protrude, even if you had shorter nuts...

Good question. i tried to fit one of the wheels yesterday and it seemed that the stud was not any longer than what I had seen before on other cars. It seemed the problem was the chrome lug nuts that were probably 1" to 1.5" long. Another words, with a shorter wheel nut or lug nut (not lug bolt) the center cap would fit.
Should I consider removing the studs and going back to the stock set up?
Thanks,

*If* you could find shorter nuts with the correct threads, I might be a bit concerned if the current nuts are only 1-1.5" long... much less than that, and you're not engaging a lot of threaded area....

Personally - If I didn't know where those studs came from or what the specs were... I'd go back to a stock bolt, or to a known stud from a known vendor.... especially if I were going to change wheels... but that's just me... losing wheels at speed isn't something I want to make a habit of...

You may have difficulty removing the studs--they are often installed with Loctite Red or equivalent and can only be removed by damaging them. Risky at best.
I have used both short and long after-market nuts, so you might get away without having to remove the studs and using short nuts. I got ones which are open-ended from TSW, which improves your chances of getting in under the cap.

Looks like I need to buy some acorn open lug nuts, 12 X 1.5 :confused: I did not find them on TSW's web site. Does anyone have a recommendation for a vendor? I think I found some on this web site:

http://www.ezaccessory.com/Open_End_...1_5_p/1107.htm

Anyone have any experience with them?

Thanks

Here's the TSW link for their lugnut kits:
http://www.txwerks.com/servlet/Categ...el+Accessories
I use the "tuner" lugs that require the special socket--not a big deal at all and provides a little (!) security against getting your wheels ripped off (well, by someone walking around with a race jack and a 17mm socket...)

Update: I bought the lug nuts from ezaccessory and they arrived today. I used them to mount the Crownspokes and they worked perfect. They were also delivered quickly - I ordered them Tuesday afternoon and they arrived in the mail today. Thanks to all for your input.