MINI2

Garry · Dec 24th, 2001, 05:04 AM

I saw for the first time on Saturday a dealers Cooper with the 17" wheels.

Have forum members noticed that cars with 17" wheels have a tiny plastic wheel spat on the rear upper wheel arch? It is so tiny that it must be purely a cosmetic feature.

The dealer told me that this was due to registration requirements. Is this bureaucracy gone mad? What will the spat really do?

monsta · Dec 24th, 2001, 06:39 AM

I think this is on the 16" wheeled MINIs as well, I think it just acts as a little mudflap to stop the side of your car getting dirty...

Garry · Dec 24th, 2001, 07:13 AM

I haven't seen it on the Coopers with the 16" wheels.

I think that it ridiculous that the DVLA requires this little piece of plastic to be fitted.

It looks OK but it doesn't do anything.

Just adds costs to the production that we end up paying for.

monsta · Dec 24th, 2001, 08:59 AM

There is an additional (very small) part to rear the wheel arch if you have chilli pack with the 16" wheels.

Mine has 15" and it does not have it.

Sirobbo · Dec 24th, 2001, 06:07 PM

Mine has the extra piece of plastic, didn`t notice that the non 16" wheeled cars didn`t though.

Garry · Jan 6th, 2002, 01:41 PM

Checked out the latest 2002 delivered cars and found that both 17" and 16" wheeled cars have the spats.

Guess MINI are making minor changes along the way.

R1 · Jan 6th, 2002, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Garry
Checked out the latest 2002 delivered cars and found that both 17" and 16" wheeled cars have the spats.

Guess MINI are making minor changes along the way.

I have the spats on my Cooper with the 16" wheels. Mine is an October car.

LMB · Jan 6th, 2002, 06:49 PM

What are you all on about?

LMB

I have just noticed this is my 500th post....WOOOO HOOOO

I am now a master

Neil Curtis · Jan 7th, 2002, 05:13 AM

My Mini Dealer fitted aftermarket (Fondmetal) 17" alloys to my Min and there was no mention of any spats or whathaveyou being required........?!?

Garry · Jan 7th, 2002, 06:19 AM

I will get a photo of them in the next couple of days so that you can see what I am talking about.

They are very very small, and I too wonder why and what they achieve?

Check out the latest cars at your dealer and see if you need (or want) to have them put on your car.

Garry · Jan 11th, 2002, 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Garry
I will get a photo of them in the next couple of days so that you can see what I am talking about.

No spats...

Garry · Jan 11th, 2002, 06:22 AM

And with spats...

LMB · Jan 11th, 2002, 06:45 AM

Got Ya

Enjoy your Mini, looking forward to some photos

LMB

m1les · Jan 11th, 2002, 05:24 PM

My guess is it's something to do with the wheel protruding out further than the wheel arch, it must be due to a dimension. As a dealer fitted item he must fit it, whereas in the aftermarket world, you must make sure your vehicle complies.

Thats a bit technical for me, I better sit down for a while now.

AER · Jan 18th, 2002, 04:00 AM

It's a uk legal thing, with the larger alloys on, the side wall protrudes at that particular point, further than the bodywork, they therefore have to put a small covering lip to cater for the slight extension.
Apparently the police take a dim view in this country, if your wheel and tyre sticks out a little more than it should do!

GeoffP · Feb 4th, 2002, 03:05 PM

It seems that BMW have 'dropped one' with the design of the rear wheel arches, if, in order to to comply with the Vehicle Constrution & Use Regulations, they have to fit these ugly spats, when 16" or 17" wheels are fitted. Surely the spats are a temporary solution. I have read somewhere, perhaps elsewhere in this forum, that the 'S' will have wider arches.
The brochure I have for the One & Cooper shows a dimension of 1688mm between the outside edges of the rear wheelarches. The same dimension is shown in the 'S' brochure between the outside edges of the wheels, with arches protruding further out, which, if correct, the 'S' will look much better without those ugly spats.

BruceK · Feb 4th, 2002, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by AER
It's a uk legal thing, with the larger alloys on, the side wall protrudes at that particular point, further than the bodywork, they therefore have to put a small covering lip to cater for the slight extension.
Apparently the police take a dim view in this country, if your wheel and tyre sticks out a little more than it should do!

That silly 1/4 inch of plastic sticking out is needed to keep the law away? And you Brits make fun of American regulations?!

A sight like the one below might just make a British police officer faint. Yes, it is street legal.

Viscount Charles · Feb 6th, 2002, 06:14 AM

An over-eager traffic officer could have a field-day with that one, Bruce!

It looks like the spat is used to cover the tiny gap in the wheelarch where technically the tyre would be wider - but it's all a bit silly. If my car comes with "spats", first thing we do is rip them off! There *must* be a better way round the problem.

If indeed it is a problem. No traffic policeman's going to notice, unless the micrometre is now standard issue. I'm sure the wheels stick out slightly further than the arches at some point in a lot of cars - my Mini included.

Might the spat instead be to protect part of the wheelarch?

Applejack · Feb 10th, 2002, 01:17 PM

Just to add my two penny worth

I have 17" alloys, and think the spats look cool.

What ever they do, I imagine the aerodynamic effect on stuff off the wheel is considerable, and maybe keeps the car cleaner?

I certainly think this looks better than increasing the overall arch

sgedge · Feb 10th, 2002, 02:09 PM

Gary....my car gets delivered this week with 17"s on it...I'll see if mines got these on and let you know what I think!

Cheers...

Stuart

Dec 24th, 2001, 05:04 AM	#1
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	Wheel Arch Spats on 17" Wheels I saw for the first time on Saturday a dealers Cooper with the 17" wheels. Have forum members noticed that cars with 17" wheels have a tiny plastic wheel spat on the rear upper wheel arch? It is so tiny that it must be purely a cosmetic feature. The dealer told me that this was due to registration requirements. Is this bureaucracy gone mad? What will the spat really do? Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Dec 24th, 2001, 06:39 AM	#2 (permalink)
monsta MINI2 Global Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Brighton Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 4,669 Offline	I think this is on the 16" wheeled MINIs as well, I think it just acts as a little mudflap to stop the side of your car getting dirty... the MINI has gone...

Dec 24th, 2001, 07:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	I haven't seen it on the Coopers with the 16" wheels. I think that it ridiculous that the DVLA requires this little piece of plastic to be fitted. It looks OK but it doesn't do anything. Just adds costs to the production that we end up paying for. Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Dec 24th, 2001, 08:59 AM	#4 (permalink)
monsta MINI2 Global Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Brighton Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 4,669 Offline	There is an additional (very small) part to rear the wheel arch if you have chilli pack with the 16" wheels. Mine has 15" and it does not have it. the MINI has gone...

Dec 24th, 2001, 06:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sirobbo MINI2 Regular Join Date: Sep 2001 Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 79 Offline	Mine has the extra piece of plastic, didn`t notice that the non 16" wheeled cars didn`t though. Ex Cooper chili owner, now Audi S3 owner.

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Jan 6th, 2002, 01:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	Checked out the latest 2002 delivered cars and found that both 17" and 16" wheeled cars have the spats. Guess MINI are making minor changes along the way. Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Jan 6th, 2002, 01:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
R1 Addicted to Speed!! Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: ..."B" roads!! Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 4,915 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Garry Checked out the latest 2002 delivered cars and found that both 17" and 16" wheeled cars have the spats. Guess MINI are making minor changes along the way. I have the spats on my Cooper with the 16" wheels. Mine is an October car.

Jan 6th, 2002, 06:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
LMB Toon Toon.. <div><a href= Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Up North Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 24,910 Offline	What are you all on about? LMB I have just noticed this is my 500th post....WOOOO HOOOO I am now a master Global Moderator

Jan 7th, 2002, 05:13 AM	#9 (permalink)
Neil Curtis Enjoying Married Life! Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: 14 degrees east Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 517 Offline	My Mini Dealer fitted aftermarket (Fondmetal) 17" alloys to my Min and there was no mention of any spats or whathaveyou being required........?!?

Jan 7th, 2002, 06:19 AM	#10 (permalink)
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	I will get a photo of them in the next couple of days so that you can see what I am talking about. They are very very small, and I too wonder why and what they achieve? Check out the latest cars at your dealer and see if you need (or want) to have them put on your car. Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Jan 11th, 2002, 06:21 AM	#11 (permalink)
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by Garry I will get a photo of them in the next couple of days so that you can see what I am talking about. No spats... Attached Thumbnails Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Jan 11th, 2002, 06:22 AM	#12 (permalink)
Garry MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Bristol, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 213 Offline	And with spats... Attached Thumbnails Cooper Delivered 11 Jan 02 - Chili red with white roof, sunroof, chili, 17" wheels, trip, ASC, radio boost & CD stack, alarm, climate control

Jan 11th, 2002, 06:45 AM	#13 (permalink)
LMB Toon Toon.. <div><a href= Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Up North Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 24,910 Offline	Got Ya Enjoy your Mini, looking forward to some photos LMB Global Moderator

Jan 11th, 2002, 05:24 PM	#14 (permalink)
m1les Mulberry Red Mini 40 Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Essex Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 1,055 Offline	My guess is it's something to do with the wheel protruding out further than the wheel arch, it must be due to a dimension. As a dealer fitted item he must fit it, whereas in the aftermarket world, you must make sure your vehicle complies. Thats a bit technical for me, I better sit down for a while now. Was a 1, now 1 of 150 in a 40

Jan 18th, 2002, 04:00 AM	#15 (permalink)
AER MINI2 Regular Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Herts, UK Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 105 Offline	It's a uk legal thing, with the larger alloys on, the side wall protrudes at that particular point, further than the bodywork, they therefore have to put a small covering lip to cater for the slight extension. Apparently the police take a dim view in this country, if your wheel and tyre sticks out a little more than it should do!

Feb 4th, 2002, 03:05 PM	#16 (permalink)
GeoffP MINI2 Regular Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Leeds uk Local Time: 11:16 PM Posts: 112 Offline	It seems that BMW have 'dropped one' with the design of the rear wheel arches, if, in order to to comply with the Vehicle Constrution & Use Regulations, they have to fit these ugly spats, when 16" or 17" wheels are fitted. Surely the spats are a temporary solution. I have read somewhere, perhaps elsewhere in this forum, that the 'S' will have wider arches. The brochure I have for the One & Cooper shows a dimension of 1688mm between the outside edges of the rear wheelarches. The same dimension is shown in the 'S' brochure between the outside edges of the wheels, with arches protruding further out, which, if correct, the 'S' will look much better without those ugly spats.

Feb 4th, 2002, 10:18 PM	#17 (permalink)
BruceK Moderator & Sponsor Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Antonio, Texas Local Time: 04:16 PM Posts: 3,759 Offline	Quote: Originally posted by AER It's a uk legal thing, with the larger alloys on, the side wall protrudes at that particular point, further than the bodywork, they therefore have to put a small covering lip to cater for the slight extension. Apparently the police take a dim view in this country, if your wheel and tyre sticks out a little more than it should do! That silly 1/4 inch of plastic sticking out is needed to keep the law away? And you Brits make fun of American regulations?! A sight like the one below might just make a British police officer faint. Yes, it is street legal. Attached Thumbnails + 2002 MINI Cooper S - Dark Silver / White roof, Sport, Premium, Lapis blue leather + 1965 Mini Traveller - Tartan Red / White roof, 1275, Cooper S discs, fully restored/renewed

Feb 6th, 2002, 06:14 AM	#18 (permalink)
Viscount Charles MINI2 Senior Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 449 Offline	An over-eager traffic officer could have a field-day with that one, Bruce! It looks like the spat is used to cover the tiny gap in the wheelarch where technically the tyre would be wider - but it's all a bit silly. If my car comes with "spats", first thing we do is rip them off! There must be a better way round the problem. If indeed it is a problem. No traffic policeman's going to notice, unless the micrometre is now standard issue. I'm sure the wheels stick out slightly further than the arches at some point in a lot of cars - my Mini included. Might the spat instead be to protect part of the wheelarch? Ordered my "S" August '01. Arrived July '02. EB with white roof, wheels and stripes, Chili pack, DSC and climate control. Hate those 17" runflats though. Can now be seen all over the West Midlands, as a blue blur passing everything at speed

Feb 10th, 2002, 01:17 PM	#19 (permalink)
Applejack MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Cheshire. Flash if you pass!! Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 44 Offline	Just to add my two penny worth I have 17" alloys, and think the spats look cool. What ever they do, I imagine the aerodynamic effect on stuff off the wheel is considerable, and maybe keeps the car cleaner? I certainly think this looks better than increasing the overall arch Hi from applejack Member since 2001

Feb 10th, 2002, 02:09 PM	#20 (permalink)
sgedge MINI2 Newbie Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: uk Local Time: 10:16 PM Posts: 3 Offline	Spats on 17" fitted cars Gary....my car gets delivered this week with 17"s on it...I'll see if mines got these on and let you know what I think! Cheers... Stuart

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