[abigminicooper]

I need 4 new tyres for my cooper s (DS), so I thought I'd get some new wheels at the same time.

I've been looking everywhere to get something I like ( black/Smokey gray colour) so I had a look on ebay as somebody on here said there was some good deals.

As the title states I found replica GP wheels which look really smart on eBay.

I was just wondering if anyone else has them, can I fit the 18" onto my car or is there any good 'real' shops I can buy them from.

link



Thanks

[Richard Crofts]

I saw these too...if they are genuine then it looks a good deal, I think that from BMW they would be nearer the costs of 18" works wheels (£1400) than the £800 odd that these guys want. You can fit 18s straight onto your MINI as the turn limiters that BMW fit are optional really....I know folk running -20 and -300mm drops on JCW wheels with no rubbing even without turn limiters. Most aftermarket 18s with the right offset fit under a MINI without lock limiters....tyre width is what can make a difference. My Dare 18" rims are 7.5" wide and 45 offset and they sem fine (215 tyres but folks also run the same rim on 225s i think)

Try asking the seller what the offset of the wheel is....I think any rim with a 40-50 offset will fit a MINI without too much issue....but I'm happy to be corrected by clever people who know more

Also do a search for "JCW" on ebay.co.uk and you will see some other places selling real or replica JCW GP rims for same money. South West Tyres do them with Avon tyres too and with a bigger range of tyre sizes. 215s would be pretty stretched on a 7.75" wide wheel. I run 215s on a 7.5" rim and they are quite stretched. See if you can find out what tyres BMW run on the actual GP....I'm sure theres something on the site or a GP owner who can tell you. Then order the wheels with the same size and profile as BMW fit!

R

[abigminicooper]

just out of interest Richard your sig picture, is that the checkmate alloys as the ebay guy also has these on his site for £600ish pounds.
Just wondering if you've got them on you car and have any pics.

[wo53 rks]

IMHO i really dont like the look of those REPLICA wheels! i dont think they look as good as the real ones, i have a gp on order so im not confused, just think they are a bad copy.
Besides, i would never buy a copy,wouldnt really trust my life with them! They prob weigh a ton therefore affecting the handling of the car.
For £900 you could do a lot better. Take a look on here:-
http://www.topgear.co.uk/acatalog/alloy-wheel-tyre.php

hope you find this of use!!!

[mGP]

I was looking at those replica GP alloys on eBay a couple of weeks back; but was concerned about the quality.
I wanted to preserve my original GP' Ones while maintaining the look (I was going to get the matt black ones, and replace the "workx" center cap with a 'mini' one), as I heard in another thread the GP' Alloys are quite "soft" and get chipped easilly.

I was also concerned about the weight as there is no point of buying a GP, a weight conscious car, and then sticking bricks on it at each corner.

I mailed the seller sixone-something or another; and asked him the about weight of each alloy, he got back to me,............ a week later.............probably after odering a pair of scales from RobertDyas; and the weight of each wheel "without tyres is 11.2kgs"
I don't know how that compares with standard ones, but i'm sure i read somwhere they were only 9kgs.

[abigminicooper]

so are replica wheels bad as they are so heavy?
All I really want is some really nice black or greyish alloys, I've had a look at
a few alloy sites but it impossible to imagine what there going to look like.
The GP ones look great and you can see pictures with them on, I'll go to my local alloy wheel shop tomorrow and have a look.

[manwithnoname]

I had a look at the replica's and the black seems to be a gloss finish. It doesn't look right in my opinion.

[mGP]

I wouldn't say all replica's are bad, i'm sure their are some decent quality/lightweight replicas out there; but the GP wheels dont seem to fit into that bracket.

[mGP]

Quote: Originally Posted by manwithnoname (original)

I had a look at the replica's and the black seems to be a gloss finish. It doesn't look right in my opinion.

You can specify your finish; Either Gloss Black, with a polished rim, or Matt Black with a polished rim.
The polished look a bit tacky, and cheap but look easier to keep clean.

[manwithnoname]

Quote: Originally Posted by mGP (original)

I wouldn't say all replica's are bad, i'm sure their are some decent quality/lightweight replicas out there; but the GP wheels done seem to fit into that bracket.

They are pretty cheap so the quality isn't going to be the best.

[manwithnoname]

Quote: Originally Posted by mGP (original)

You can specify your finish; Either Gloss Black, with a polished rim, or Matt Black with a polished rim.
The polished look a bit tacky, and cheap but look easier to keep clean.

Oh ok. Sorry....I didn't read the listing fully.

[mGP]

Yeah, sorry that's what i was trying to say

[mGP]

Quote: Originally Posted by manwithnoname (original)

Oh ok. Sorry....I didn't read the listing fully.

No worries

[abigminicooper]

I decided not to get the replicas and went to my local wheel shop instead.
I've went for Kei forcre 10 hyper in black ( they look dark silver so almost the same as the car).
I also decided to go up to 18" and done away with the runflats

[jimmyxp]

bet that looks good, post pics when you can

[JHorwitz]

saw these on a mini today, and if i were to upgrade to non OEM wheels these are a gorgeous replacement, kahn RSV

[MarkW19]

I'm thinking about getting those replica GP wheels from ebay too (in gloss).

The seller says he was mistaken, and each wheel ways just 9.4kg (very light for an 18" wheel, and only slightly heavier than the OEM GP wheels, and the same weight as the 17" bullets!).

He also says they're extremely hard wearing, and he offers a warranty where he'll replace the wheel if any problems occur (chipping etc.).

[mGP]

Quote: Originally Posted by MarkW19 (original)

I'm thinking about getting those replica GP wheels from ebay too (in gloss).

The seller says he was mistaken, and each wheel ways just 9.4kg (very light for an 18" wheel, and only slightly heavier than the OEM GP wheels, and the same weight as the 17" bullets!).

He also says they're extremely hard wearing, and he offers a warranty where he'll replace the wheel if any problems occur (chipping etc.).

Well on that basis (and price; last time I checked); You don't have much to loose; That's if he stay's true to his word's once he's got your money that is.

[AidenL]

Quote: Originally Posted by abigminicooper (original)

I decided not to get the replicas and went to my local wheel shop instead.
I've went for Kei forcre 10 hyper in black ( they look dark silver so almost the same as the car).
I also decided to go up to 18" and done away with the runflats

jpsmini has those on - they look

[manwithnoname]

Quote: Originally Posted by JHorwitz (original)

saw these on a mini today, and if i were to upgrade to non OEM wheels these are a gorgeous replacement, kahn RSV

Quality wheels.