Apparently at the Prestige MINI dealer's body shop, they'll refinish wheels for $150.00 each... is this expensive {or worth it?} to rid wheels of curb rash, scratches, etc?

Am I better off just buying new, lighter weight wheels? My problem is I don't know what's good or bad in the wheel department. Everything I look at on TireRack {that I like} is pretty expensive... and I LIKE the look of the S-Lites!

Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

I would not put that much money into a heavy wheel. You can get nice rims for that price. Beware of light rims too. They are a double-edged sword. Yes, they are light and improve acceleration and such but, they also take damage more easily than the S-Heavies. Don't limit yourself to Tire Rack in shopping for rims. I found the perfect rims, for me, at Alta and I caught them on sale to boot.

 

Local powdercoaters can typically redo a wheel for about $100 each. You could also get a set of new rims and keep your scratched SLites for snow rims/tires. I like the Rota RB for a "classic" look, lighter than stock, and a good value at about $140-$150 each. From one of the vendors: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...e-in-17-a.html

 

Rota RB? Lighter than the S-lite and on a little more than the cost to refinish all 4 for a set of 17's.




Actually, 17's can be had for the same price here: http://www.jlbmotorsports.com/rims/rota-list.html#RB

 

probably not worth it... on mine i bent one, and got some new rims...sold my other 3 and even the bent one and got almost all the money back i spent on new rims. and it looks like 100 times better

 

Looking at TireRack or other etailers you can get one cool looking set of wheels for $150/ea.

Really like what you got? Blast em'

That's why they call it "miniification'.....

 

That's about what I was I quoted to get my Team Dynamics touched up a little. IMO, it's not worth it when I can get a brand new rim for $180ish.

 

Thanks for all of your input, gents. It's appreciated! I'm agreeing with you on going with new, lighter weight wheels and the Rota RBs look great.

 

Dave I have 4 S-Lites in my garage that you can pick through them. Replace your damaged wheels with any of these and the cost is pretty good. (free)

 

Thanks Jeff! I'll see you on the 22nd.

 

I think it's a little high myself, my brother took his set in to Fast Forward Wheels and they quoted him $450 on the whole set, curb rash fixed, minor bends and fully finished!!!! I think this was a cash price though...

 

I had a set of Rota RB 16x7 and damaged them in an accident. I replaced them with Rota Slipstream 16x7 which are easier to clean and lighter than the RB.



BTW, a 16x7 wheel will take a 205/50-16 or 205/55-16 tire which has a wider tread than the 195 tread that comes with factory 16x6.5 wheels.

 

I need new tires and was thinking of getting my wheels repainted then discovered this wonder thread.

So I have a Cooper S with the 17" wheels.

What specs should I be getting, Lug, offset and hub size??

 

for an r53 i guess you can get away with an et35-42 or so, 4X100, and i forget the hub size [edit: 56.15mm]. I know if you get em from a place like TireRack they give you whatever size hub rings you need to make the rims work on the Mini.

 

dave,
I'd probably spend the $600 on other wheels that are actually by petter. Another idea: simply repaint them so they are simply good enough. I don't try too hard to keep the wheels absolutely perfect because they receive some abuse when used normally.
billie