My wheels. I love them, I really do. But now that I've sold my MCS (which I hope to replace with another within a few months), perhaps it might be time for a change. And that change involves my wheels (see my gallery for more pics):

They're 18" Dare X4s and they're no longer made. In fact, I'm certain I've got the only ones in Canada (perhaps even North America but I'm not sure).

Lately I've been caught up in this new resurgence of interest in black rims. The 18" RacingHart C4s in matte black, for example, is a personal favourite:


I've even started liking the no-nonsense, form-follows-function look of the 17" Team Dynamics Pro Race wheels:


My other option would be to have my X4s painted either gloss or matte black, but I don't know how they'll turn out (photoshop volunteers?). Also, this might reduce their resale value.

Either way, I'm having a tough time deciding. I'm obviously not in a rush, but I'd like to get some opinions.

Should I ebay'em, keep them and pass them on to future progeny, or keep them and paint them black (and pass them on to future progeny)?

 

Anyone? Anyone?

Bueller?

Bueller?

Bueller?

 

I would keep em and spray them matt black! And lower the future car as well...

 

It's just my opinion, but the DS with silver wheels doesn't sing to me. If you get another MINI, what colour will you go?
If you love the wheels, and they are no longer available, keep them. I have my stock wheels in my shed so I can keep my Wasps if I ever swap MINIs, coz I love the look of the anthracite Wasps on a LY/B MINI.

 

The reason why I would consider selling them is because I want to minimize my out-of-pocket expenditure. That said, I would need to sell them for an amount at least equal to the cost of a new set of rims...

...And judging by the number of PMs I've received, I don't think that'll be difficult.

Spraying them black does sound appealing, but again, I would have to look at the cost (because it would likely be cheaper for me to sell them and get new ones).

But if I do go that route, glossy black or matte black?

 

I would be limited to whatever is available in terms of used ones if I go for a 2006 (can't place a new order anymore), so it'd likely be either DS or HB, because those are the most common/popular colours. Dark wheels would look good on either.

 

i'd sell those wheels in the first pict. too damn huge looking for the car.

granted the RH 18's look nice when lowered that much. watchout for
the gap inside the rim between the rim and brake rotor when you run
18's.

 

Those Racing Harts are hot. I would say spray your current wheels matte black, but without the polished lip it isnt as nice. I just sold a set of rims for way under what they were worth to cut my out of pocket expenditure so I know how you are feeling. OK, I changed my mind. I would sell them and get the Racing Harts.

 

Ok, does anyone know of a North American Distributor for RacingHart? The prices on the UK sites are a bit steep.

In the meantime, I've found THE WHEEL...well, it would be the wheel if they weren't available only as a 5 lug 19" ...but they're worth posting:




Gorgeous, methinks. For the curious, they're called 'Nuvo Nero' wheels and they're out of Germany. They're not everybody's cup of tea, and they look heavier than cinderblocks, but they are certainly bad-***.

Kenchan, I see your point; and I've come to realise the relevence of 'rightness' of wheel size on the MINI. With that in mind, the Team Dynamics would be perfect...but I just like the cartoon-like, a-bit-more-show-than-go look lent by a set of 18"ers.

Besides, my ego's a hungry monster that needs a periodic feeding of frivolities. (Hey, at least it doesn't require a slammed Hummer with chrome-pimpstar 26"ers.)

 

I'm a bit outa the loop trhese days on new stuff, so can you tell me what bumber cover this is??

 

Dunno, but check out BondMINI's website, http://www.hosokawa.co.jp/bond-mini/index.html. They're probably somewhere in there, between the lines of Japanese.

 

I would look at powder coating them rather than painting them!

 

Yeah? How much do you think that'd run me? You think they'd look good that way?

And, again, matte or gloss black?



(It doesn't look as though I'm getting any closer to a decision.)

 

If you sell the Dare X4s, let me know. Also, if you decide to keep them, I wouldn't paint them as they look quite nice as is.

 

Thanks!

If I decide to sell them (and right now I'm kinda leaning that way), I'll make an announcement in this and a separate thread. Because of the number of inquiries I've received, in all fairness to everyone (and me ), they would be listed on ebay.

By the way, your handle ("MisterDangerPants") rocks.

 

Hey guys Dare still offers these wheels and I found a couple of distributors on the net that carry's them, I have emailed them to find out if they can get our lug pattern and how much the total would be shipped to the states.

 

Nice......lets us know what happens.

 

Good idea! If you can get a group of 30 or so people together, you might be able to get them to make a run of 4-lug wheels. That's how I got mine -- through a group buy.

It'd also be nice to be able to buy a replacement wheel. When I had them on the MINI I used to avoid potholes like the plague.

 

Why, thank you.

I'll keep my eye out for that group buy!

 

Well, I think I'm going to sell them. Thanks for everyone's input. That said, I'm still not sure what I'm going to get; but it's gonna be something different.

In the meantime, keep an eye out for a thread announcing an ebay listing for these rims sometime this week.

 

It's bond's own design...

 

I suppose they receive enough business in Japan; I can't think of any other reason as to why they haven't posted an English version of their website to attract international buyers. I'm sure they'd receive quite a few interested inquiries.

 

...and powder coat them black, now that I have a vehicle to put them on.

 

WOW!

Those look great. Now get a set of c/o's and drop that thing on the ground. It will look S-E-X!!!

 

Too late, I was going to say keep them the original spray and keep them. You could get big bucks for those rims, especially in the UK as many people want them but very few (only a handful) actually have them. You and another guy on M2 are the only two I've ever seen.

-Cody