Anyone on here ordered rims to find that you had to drill out the holes to get the bolts to fit (to mount the tire)?
Just ordered some rims recentley, they arrived today. Rims look great, rubber looks great, problem is i can't install them.
Called the place where i got them and they said the manufacturer (DeCorsa) makes them a little small and they are aware of the problem. He says the rims need to be drilled out 1-2mm.
Is it just me or should i not have been informed of this.
Buddy says he stands behind that the rims will be fine drilled out, even saying he'll cover the cost.
On a side note it would be a HUGE hassle to return these. Got them stateside, i'm in canada.

 

Newer cars have 14mm lugs, 1st Gen Minis have 12mm. With the correct tools, doing the drilling won't harm anything. Without the correct tools......

Matt

 

you can get a stud conversion...

 

That is actually a great idea. Perhaps the kit from texas speed works?

 

+1

http://www.txwerks.com/servlet/Categ...rt=17&total=18

 

Yeah, definitely prefer the stud conversion option. Just doesn't seem right taking a hand drill to a mint set of rims. I'll be ordering soon.

 

Do tell us if this worked for you. Thanks.

 

Pardon the ignorance of one who hasn't picked up his Mini yet but are the wheels hub-centric? My first thought in drilling out lug holes was "holy crap, you're going to ruin the balance!"

 

they are hubcentric but the lugs will center the wheels too, especially if the centering rings on aftermarket wheels are plastic

Some even go without hubcentric rings and say its fine, thus enforcing the fact that it may verywell be important to have those lug holes perfect..

 

the lugs will help in centering the wheel assuming if you take a drill to the holes that you get them exactly right. aftermarket wheels will more than likely not be hubcentric without the correct rings.

 

As a mechanical designer, I suggest if anyone is going to "drill out" rims to fit, have it done at a machine shop, don't do this in your driveway. You can't hold any tolerances with a hand drill. A CNC machine is your best bet as it will drill out holes very accurately and keep the correct bolt hole center. Also, stock studs are meant to withstand the weight of the wheel as well as the car, going with smaller studs is putting alot more stress on small studs and could actually be hazardous. I'd hate to see a good Mini loose a wheel on the freeway at freeway speeds. Just my two cents worth, do what you'd like.

 

So here is another question. Since the 12mm conversion studs are longer do i need anything else to make this work? Can i just put them on and go or do i cut the studs / use a spacer or what? Or is the extra length not a concern?

 

Unless you have a center cap that covers the wheels studs, and the longer studs will prevent you from running the center cap, there's no need to cut the studs to a shorter length. The longer studs are a safer way to go. Besides that, they boost the cool race car factor up a notch or two.

 

Just put them on and go. Umm, well I put them on at like 5pm and waited until next morning for red silicon to set and dry, before I drove.

 

that the same chassis also came with 12mm bolts originally...

Matt