My front passenger wheelwell has some cracks in it on the front side and the back side. I run Enkei 17x7s with appropriately sized BF Goodrich tyres. The dealer isn't covering the wheel arch under warranty because they are blaming the aftermarket wheels and tyres on the cracks. Does this sound like it's the cause or should I pursue the issue further? The weird thing is that these very wheels are the same wheels that my boss ran on his R53 JCW for a couple of years to no detriment. I'm the second owner and to my knowledge the previous owner ran only the stock 5-stars with run-flats.

Thanks!

 

Is your suspension stock? What is the overall offset of the wheels (with spacers if you're using them)? What "appropriate" size are the tires? Are you sure that the damage occurred since you bought it?

Unless failure of a stock suspension component led to the tire/wheel arch contact, this does not sound like a warranty issue to me.

If the damage is limited to the plastic trim pieces, they are vary easy to replace.

 

I am running 17x7 Enkeis' as well. Offset is -48 in the rear, and -43 in front with a spacer. I am lowered on coilovers and had to trim both front and rear wheel wells. My font is so lowered that it actually srapes on the inside of the hood, and the rear hits the body of the car over high speed bumps.

The fronts are very easy to trim with a dremel without removing them, and the rear should be removed to make the dremeling easier and safer.

 

It's not the trim pieces but rather the wheel well on the left and right hand sides of the tire. My tires are BFG G-Force 205/45R-17. MINI itself has sold 18'' wheels... why would these wheels and tires cause damage?

 

what's the offset?

 

A quick look at the interwebs indicates that the offset is 42. No spacers or lowered suspension.

 

This sounds strange indeed. Can you post a picture of the damage? Im not sure what you mean by:

 

http://gallery.me.com/brendannystedt...o1242406013791