Joey's Cooper Thread; Suspension Thoughts

[Joey D]

Sounds perfect. JOEY. DO THIS.

You'll save on fuel and we all know how much you love your Cooper's already-epic fuel economy...

Except when I get rims I want them in black to match the car better.

 

[buickgnx88]

That's why you buy a $5 can of spray paint and "customize" your new rims.

 

[Rotary Junkie]

They also have the Hanabis in bronze...

 

[Joey D]

If and when I get rims I want to find some with both form and function to them, I am in no rush considering I can get steelies for about $20 a wheel for the time being. I'm waiting for the next Cooper meet so I can swap some rims onto my car and see how they look.

 

[Omnis]

Except when I get rims I want them in black to match the car better.

Gross. Cody's rims would look great.

 

[Joey D]

Black with a chrome lip would match my car perfectly considering the top is black and has chrome everywhere. I'm still in the process of photoshopping some various rims.

 

[CDailey]

Don't mind Omnis. He has a thing against black wheels.

The wheels Azuremen posted are nice. 👍

 

[Smallhorses]

What you need Joey are a set of these in about 16":

And pleeeeease don't go for stretched tyres, you'll look like a plonker.

Those are nice wheels, very much like "minilites"

I'd have to say for a nostalgic and authentically Mini-esqe look, that you should inquire about a set of 15x7 "minilites" which you can find here:
http://www.minilitewheels.us/default.aspx

They look pretty cool on that new Mini, but there's no pricing info on the website, you have to submit a form for a quote.

 

[Robin]

May have been posted but what you want is the Mini GP special editions alloy wheels... those things are out of this world!

Robin

 

[benzoboy]

OMG LOLZ WUT U NEED IZ TWENNY FO INCH SPINNAZ!!!!111!!!!onez!!! MA MAN AT WEZT COWST CUZTUMS CAN HIT U UP PLAYA!!!!!11!!!eleven!

But seriously, the GP Works rims sound like a sweet idea at first. But I wouldn't have thought that they would work on a Mini of Joey's colour. Plus, you'd probably be labelled as a wannabe ricer. Who knows?

IMO, a good set of Volk Racing CE28N's can look good on most cars.

Chances are, they might be expensive as hell though.

 

[Joey D]

Minilites are really really really expensive per the guys on the MINI forum. I've never actually looked into them all that much so I really can't make an accurate comment.

Mini GP wheels are really hard to get a hold of, although there are knock offs out there. I think they look awesome but I don't think I would put them on my car since I would be afraid of the "ricer" thing.

Those Volk's look nice, but as you've said they are probably expensive. I have about $2,000 right now and some of it is going for winter tires, but I think the rest of it will be put on my car loan. As much as I want rims and I know I can afford them it seems like a better use of money to pay the car off as quickly as possible.

 

[ROAD_DOGG33J]

May have been posted but what you want is the Mini GP special editions alloy wheels... those things are out of this world!

Robin

Wow...those are pretty ugly. I would expect something like that on a VW.

 

[Robin]

OMG LOLZ WUT U NEED IZ TWENNY FO INCH SPINNAZ!!!!111!!!!onez!!! MA MAN AT WEZT COWST CUZTUMS CAN HIT U UP PLAYA!!!!!11!!!eleven!

But seriously, the GP Works rims sound like a sweet idea at first. But I wouldn't have thought that they would work on a Mini of Joey's colour. Plus, you'd probably be labelled as a wannabe ricer. Who knows?

There 18" actually...

Since when do those alloys not match the colour of Joey's car?, they would be a perfect match because Black often looks better with lighter colours especially this light champagne / tan colour. Yeah they may look slightly over the top but VW and Alfa's have crazy wheels and I think normal multispoke wheels are kinda boring... If I ever bought new alloys they would have to be anodized black or gunmetal with the aluminum milled away in places to create the effect that the GP alloys do.

Robin

 

[Joey D]

The GP rims would look good on my car, I agree, but I can not justify the price if I was able to find them. Although as I've said they make knock off but they are still expensive at £339.57 a piece (I haven't found a US retailer). And that's what $650 USD?

 

[homeforsummer]

Just been searching for various black rims on MINIs. Black suits any other colour, so you can be sure any of these would suit yours.

Minilite-style (probably my favourite):

Mini "Sidewalk" special edition wheels (not sure of the weight but they'd look fantastic, assume they're 16")

And more Minilite-style, but these are bigger and I know you're wanting no more than 16":

Finally, even the standard Mini 17" Cooper S wheels look good painted black (normally I hate those wheels):

 

[Robin]

The GP rims would look good on my car, I agree, but I can not justify the price if I was able to find them. Although as I've said they make knock off but they are still expensive at £339.57 a piece (I haven't found a US retailer). And that's what $650 USD?

Yeah they are really expensive but only worth it if you stumble across them for maybe a cheaper / more reasonable price, like second hand or reclaimed of a scrapped mini. I guess it America parts would be a lot harder to find, in salvage yards here you can pick up lots of alloys from write off cars including Mini's.

The next option down retaining the Black anodized route would be the ones homeforsummer posted, the sidewalk edition alloys.

Just out of interest are you set on having Mini branded alloys or would you be open to any brand because you can get similar ones for a lot less.

Robin

 

[benzoboy]

Looking at the picture of those black Minilites (The originals) I'm undecided between those and black CE28Ns...

But, if you're really unoriginal, go for the TE37s...

Decisions, decisions...

Can't wait until I get my own car.

EDIT: We both seem to agree that they're expensive. So maybe you can search for knock-offs? Who knows.

 

[hemisport15]

How about some Enkei rims?

They come in black, silver, or this special brilliant coating (that's what they call it).
And they are not too expensive. Here is a good site if your shopping for wheels and tires, I already recomended it to someone else, they have a large selection and you can see the rims on the car before you buy them.

 

[buickgnx88]

How 'bout these bad boys?

 

[Perfect Balance]

Looking at the picture of those black Minilites (The originals) I'm undecided between those and black CE28Ns...

But, if you're really unoriginal, go for the TE37s...

Decisions, decisions...

Can't wait until I get my own car.

EDIT: We both seem to agree that they're expensive. So maybe you can search for knock-offs? Who knows.

Has it not been made very obvious that he is not looking to spend 600 bucks a wheel?

Stop with the Volks already.

 

[benzoboy]

Like I said, he can search for knock-offs.

If that's his thing, I'm not too sure.

 

[buickgnx88]

Hmm knock-off's...how about some Minilite style knock-off's with knock-off's (hubs)?

 

[Gil]

I don't know how you feel about bright silver.
But the O.Z. Superturismo GT's look good.

 

[Robin]

Wolfrace do some nice looking stuff for quite cheap... around the £70 per alloy mark. Depends on how bling you want to go but I thought these where a happy medium..

Ive configured the link for the mini so all these wheels will fit it...

http://www.wolfrace.com/?A=wtdr&wheel_model=&manufacturer_id=Manu_Mini._BMW&drd_upstep_id=10483

Robin

 

[Joey D]

Just been searching for various black rims on MINIs. Black suits any other colour, so you can be sure any of these would suit yours.

I really like the Minilite style black rims, thanks for the photos 👍!

Yeah they are really expensive but only worth it if you stumble across them for maybe a cheaper / more reasonable price, like second hand or reclaimed of a scrapped mini. I guess it America parts would be a lot harder to find, in salvage yards here you can pick up lots of alloys from write off cars including Mini's.

MINI's aren't overly popular here, I mean people want them but the wait time for a new one is so long and the resale value is so high you don't see many around. Trying to find decent rims at a salvage yard would be almost next to impossible. Although North American Motoring (MINI Forum) has things pop up from time to time.

Just out of interest are you set on having Mini branded alloys or would you be open to any brand because you can get similar ones for a lot less.

It doesn't matter to me, I'm not in the know on brand names with wheels so as long as they look good and work well I won't have an issue with them.

How about some Enkei rims?

I looked at though but they are something like $300 a wheel when I inquired about them at Discount.

I don't know how you feel about bright silver.
But the O.Z. Superturismo GT's look good.

I love those wheels, especially in white with the red lettering on the side. I almost wish I would have gotten a red Cooper so I could have those. Although they make a set of a darker colour which might look nice.

Wolfrace do some nice looking stuff for quite cheap... around the £70 per alloy mark. Depends on how bling you want to go but I thought these where a happy medium..

I'll look around there site, thanks for the link. I'm not looking to go bling, I have to drive down way to many back, dirt roads to have anything that will get beat up (I should post a picture of my car right now, there is mud everywhere).

 

[Jim Prower]

Well, keep in mind that you also get what you pay for: a lot of times those cheaper wheels can be heavy and incredibly weak as well.

 

[Perfect Balance]

I looked at though but they are something like $300 a wheel when I inquired about them at Discount.

The exact wheel that he posted in 15 x 7 can be had for 170 bucks a wheel.

In fact, they get to being 18 inches before reaching 300 a wheel, unless it's the SBC coating, which costs a lot more.

Try edge racing, they have great deals on wheels and tires.

 

[hemisport15]

Joey, are 16" the absolute max size you are looking at or is 17 ok too, because there are a lot of 17 inch wheels for minis, especially OZ wheels.

These red ones are available in 16 for less than 190 bucks, and I realize that red will not look good, but there is a set in black but they are 17s and cost $236.
And thes are available in 16 inches and they cost around $210.

By the way, could I have some more info about your Mini, like the year and what type of valve stem it has?

 

[Joey D]

Well, keep in mind that you also get what you pay for: a lot of times those cheaper wheels can be heavy and incredibly weak as well.

This is a good point, but I do think many rims are needlessly overpriced.

The exact wheel that he posted in 15 x 7 can be had for 170 bucks a wheel.

In fact, they get to being 18 inches before reaching 300 a wheel, unless it's the SBC coating, which costs a lot more.

Try edge racing, they have great deals on wheels and tires.

I'm not sure if I want to buy them online, the shipping has to be an arm and a leg on rims and tires. I was just asking what they would charge for them at Discount Tire, I really trust our local one with working on my vehicles, mainly because a really good friend is the garage manger and he always works on my cars when I bring them in.

Joey, are 16" the absolute max size you are looking at or is 17 ok too, because there are a lot of 17 inch wheels for minis, especially OZ wheels.

16's are probably as big as I want to go, I've never been a huge fan of large rims plus with a bigger rim it mean I will have less tire to absorb impacts from crappy Michigan roads. That is one thing that sort of holding me back on buying rims.

By the way, could I have some more info about your Mini, like the year and what type of valve stem it has?

It's a 2007 Cooper (non-S), automatic, standard suspension, standard brakes, metal valve stems, and the tire pressure monitoring sensor. If you need anything else let me know.

I appreciate all the suggestions guys 👍!

 

[YSSMAN]

Although they make a set of a darker colour which might look nice.

*pic*

You spelled 'color' wrong...

But, otherwise, they're nice looking wheels. I just don't know about them, as I assume they only come in large sizes? That would be my primary concern, getting wheels that are far too big.