My 2005 MCS JCW only has 25k miles and I'm finally ditching the original run-flat tires. Does anyone know the correct lugnut torque spec for these 1st gen cars/wheels? Only thing I can find in the manual is 88.5 ft lb for the steel spare. Same for the aluminum wheels? Also some dealers have told me that Mini used to recommend 88.5 but now retroactively recommends 100 fl lbs. Any truth to this?

Also, what is the best tire pressure to run in my new Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+??

Thanks!

 

81.5 lb/ft per haynes

it went up when they changed the bolt diameter later in life . . .

pressure is determined by tire size ...... but 33 and 33 is a good place to start as it covers most factory size tires for MINI GEN1

p.s. owner's manual page 128 https://www.minimania.com/pdfile/200...IAllModels.pdf

As soon as possible, have the secure seating of the lug bolts, tightening torque 88.5 lb ft / 120 Nm, checked using a calibrated torque wrench. Otherwise, a wheel coming loose can lead to a severe accident

page 98 is the tire size/pressure chart

 

Have you been driving around on 14 year old tires??

 

Each time I rotate tires at 5k miles, what you should do also, I take it out for a run around the bypass at highway speed. Upon return to the garage I recheck the torque. Every time I get a little slack on a few bolts. Keep that in mind. The Capt. is spot on.

 

Ha! Yes... if you call it driving. The car is almost 15 years old but only has 25,xxx miles. It's just a fair weather car so it doesn't rack up many miles. Only driven in nice, dry weather when there's safe parking at the destination, lol.

I ended up having the tech tighten them at 90 ft lbs. Seems like that was a common number I kept reading about online and from at least one Mini dealership I called. They said the original spec was 88 but later on Mini changed it (retroactively) to 100. That seemed a bit excessive to me. Didn't want to warp the rotors.

The old tires looked fine but I wanted to get them replaced because of their age. I thought about keeping them just for collector purposes but the tech removing them tore 3 of the 4 sidewalls getting them off. Kinda glad he did. Don't have to second guess that decision now. The new tires did make the car ride a bit better. I have the JCW springs, too, incidentally. Not night and day but definitely noticeably smoother. Now the car doesn't crash so hard over every break in the pavement. Seems to be an improvement from what I can tell so far.

 

The higher torque settings are for the R56 and up models....They have a larger size wheel bolt. ( Its actually 96 ft lbs so they rounded it up )
So the person who told you at the dealership that MINI was recommending 100ft lbs on 1st Gen wheel bolts is a dufuss.
So dont bother asking them for info like that again....

 

Hopefully 90 (rather than 88.5) won't be a problem. I suspect the torque wrench they used probably isn't that pin-point accurate. Or do others disagree?

 

That's were I set mine. A pound and a half one way or the other can make all the difference in a heated discussion over a cup of coffee or a can of cheap beer...or a car forum.