[Wayne]

Hi buddies,

Really long time no see. I was very busy in the previous days.

Thank you very much for YC first.
I remember I still owe you a reply on the spark wire. The answer is really out of expectation. It is my first time with really really marginal improvement on a change in parts. I could only marginally feel the difference when I pedal the oil fully. The rev meter dose run faster during 2x00 to 5x00 for about 1/3 sec less. Surprise!!!

Why I replace my tyre? It is because my repaired tyre leaks again. My MC is going to have its 1st birthday on the month and I took it to BMW for a final check. This time I got a free oil service, because it was over 10,000km now.

For the tyres, my previous Japanese car also use Toyo T1S. My experience is cheap and good. Though you think MS is not a fast car, it could run really fast at corner. I agree it is not fast on straight acceleration as you could not drive a MC over 200km/h on a straight road. However, a MC could turn a corner over 80km/h. So, tyre requirement for MC might not be low.

You should also remember that the stock 16" tyre is runflat. I personally think because of its thick side wall, its performance might similar to a 16.5" rim. Which means, better corner than 16"rim.

My requirements on tyre is in the following order
1st grip/corner
2nd lightweight/wet performance
3rd price/comfort
4th noise

my personal subjective view
RE01/S03 - expensive (and heavy)
ES100 - bad comments from everywhere
Bridgestone GIII - it is closely comparable to ES100 by magazine.
AD07 ????????
ST 115 no confident
So,I really want to try TOYO RIR but have no idea on its performance. BTW, one bad thing for RIR is that it has no straight line across the wheel (illegal to HK Ordinance)

I just dont want to spend so much on the tyre because I might upgrade to 17" rim if I could find a nice one later.

Ha ha I find myself really critical and cheapy.

Regards,
Wayne

[yukclee]

Hi, Wayne. Perhaps you have tuned the car to the extent that the spark plug wire won't give you much in return. In my case, as I changed it before the exhaust, so I do feel the difference.

To my understanding, the T1S is much noiser than R1R. Talked to Ching Ngai at Wong Tai Sin, they are asking the R1R 16" at HK$900, while the 15" is only close to HK$700.

The OZ Racing SUperLeggera 16" is really attractive at HK$1500 each. Very attractive to me. I will stay on 16", or may even go back to 15"!! Now if I can figure out a way to get rid of the standard 16" wheels...

YCLee

[adampoon]

Hello All,

I would like to change the spark plug wire for my MCS, but I find it is covered by the intercooler. Is it any special tools that I need for the relpacement ?????

[Laxsion]

adampoon

Yes,it needs special tools......is your pair of hands (no matter big or small),simply pull it out then put the new set back,that's it!

Quote:

Originally posted by adampoon
Hello All,

I would like to change the spark plug wire for my MCS, but I find it is covered by the intercooler. Is it any special tools that I need for the relpacement ?????

[Wayne]

Hi YC,

Any comments for Toyo's
RIR, ~@$800
Gu:wn ~@$600
& Vimode ~@$680

Any other suggestion for other comparable tyres of other manufacturers?

Thanks
Wayne

[ken206]

Hi Wayne!

Have you try the Dunlop SP9000 or Goodyear Revspec? For me Dunlop SP9000 give me a good impression.

Cheers

Kenny

[yukclee]

Hi, Wayne. I have very strong recommendations from a friend on R1R. And I always respect his opinions on cars. I tried on his car for some 'good' runs at night (not on highway) and it is very good in performance. And on day to day driving, they are quite quiet. I haven't tred myself but I heard they perform well in wet conditions too. So for myself, I probably will go for the R1R. But the 16" Superleggera is so attractive...
yclee

[Wayne]

Hi YC & Ken,

YC - Where are you find the RIR @$800. I got quote at @$9xx from "Hop Chung".

BTW, how would you compare Dunlop FM901 & Toyo Vimode & Toyo RIR. Any idea?

Ken - How much is Dunlop SP9000?

Thanks
Wayne

[ken206]

Hi Wayne!!

For Dunlop SP9000 around $9xx for 16 inch tyre ,it's quiet good & grip especially on the wet surface road. But it is made in Japan not Germany.(At least 245 or 18 inch is made in Germany)

FM 901 also grip but very noisy and bad condition in wet weather.....For less budget, you can choose this.

I hope this imformation can help you

Cheers...

Kenny

[yukclee]

Wayne,
I got the quote from a Shamshuipo store for the R1R. Yet Ching Ngai in Wong Tai Sin quote $900. I will check again in Shamshuipo when I have time.
SP9000 may be another good choice as Ken said. Didn't hear anything about it. Some of my friends do have bad comment about FM901 though.
Hope it helps.

YCLee

[wongakh]

YC,

I saw a green MC in the ad from BMWorks in this month issue of car&driver, it has the chrome mirror cover and other modification. Also, BMWorks is selling this console with the guages for MC, it looks quite nice but expansive $3200!

Alan

[adampoon]

I also saw the ad of BMWorks, but it cost only $2800 for the driving light with installation compare with the BMW $3500. May they cost use more on some stuff that never sell in BMW Hong Kong. I had seen once in a Miniworld ad it cost you around 120 pound to replace it (you have to give your black mirror cover to them)

[wongakh]

Adam,

I also like to driving light and will check out with BMWorks for their offering soon.

Alan

[yukclee]

Yes, in general the things at BMWorks are priced at a reasonable figure, especially the standard Mini parts. They are usually cheaper than buying from BMW.
But for some odd pieces, they can be very pricy.

yclee

[ken206]

Hi Guys!!

I know a accessories shop cheaper than BMworks but i can't tell you in this forum. If anyone interested to buy genuine parts, pls email to me.

Cheers....

Kenny

[Wayne]

Hi YC and Kenny,

I finally replaced my stock tyres with SP9000 today. 205/50R16 @$780. For the first 20km, there is no big difference compared with the stock one. Surprise!!!
I just hope the ride quality would be better.

Wayne

[yukclee]

Wayne,
Would be interested to know how the SP9000 progress.
YC

[ar75]

Wayne,

I presume that you are still using the same wheel. Is ordinry workshop capable of changing the runflats? I heard that since the sidewall of runflats is too stiff so you need something special to take off the runflats from the wheel.

One more question, you've mentioned a workshop can do good job with stikers. Is it called "GT Dream" or something like that? What's the address? Tam Kung Road of Tokwawan?

Reagrds,
Manho

[Wayne]

YC,

Compared with stock, SP9000 is a little bit more noisy.

Ride quality is clearly better when run over some "reduce speed ramp". Elsewhere, similar.

SP9000 do have better contact with road.

Manho,
Yes, the shop is called GP Dream in Tam Kung Road.
For replacement of tyre, just as usual.

Cheers,
Wayne

[chiph]

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne
<snip> Manho,
Yes, the shop is called GP Dream in Tam Kung Road.
For replacement of tyre, just as usual.

Cheers,
Wayne

The runflats do require special equipment and training - so you can't/shouldn't go to just any tire shop.

AR75 -
Like you said, the sidewalls are much stiffer on the runflats. To protect your wheel rims from being scratched up by the tire machine, make sure the shop uses the plastic (Teflon) rim protectors.

For more info, see:
http://www.i-car.com/html_pages/abou...02/021802.html

Chip H.