Tire balancing, oil changes, tire rotations oh my!

[Eastereggmini]

Has anyone had symptoms that require tire balancing on the run flats. I have a slight wobble on the wheel(bout a 1/4") and a slight wobbly sound when driving at about 40. The car only has 15000 miles and I had the tires rotated at 11000. Does anyone thing this is tire balancing?

Oil changes....everyone wait til every 15000 like MINI says.

How often do you people rotate those horrible run flats?
I'm ready to rotate them right off my car and into my dumpster.

Sorry for the continuous dumb questions...but new to MINI makes everything new to me.

[jwardell]

A speed-related vibration is most likely a balancing issue (you may have lost a weight for example).

Definitely recommend rotating those things right off your car.

I intentionally used mine for the first year and was sure to wear them down as much as possible, then replaced them with good tires.

[Jaffa Racer]

1/4" is this when jacked up and you wobble the wheel by hand?

[russyellocoops]

Try tightening the wheel nuts?

Then if they are tight sounds like a wheel bearing!

[Jaffa Racer]

would sound more like a track rod end or ball joint or worse wheel bearing

[Eastereggmini]

No. If I am at 75 MPH and I look at the middle of the steering wheel where the leather seam is...the wheel is shaking an eight to a quarter inch left and right. If I hold the wheel it isn't shaking my hands...which makes me think it may be nothing...but i could be wrong?

[wheyaye2]

I had something similar where as the steering wheel would develop a wobble at 65mph...

A little wheel later I got a puncture and had the tyre replaced.

Whether it was the tyre damaged, or balancing was out I don't know. Once it'd been in to the garage though, the wobble disappeared.

[retsej]

If you live near Worchester, contact Pete at DT automotive. He works on all the Mini's in the OSMC and would be glad to help you out.

[GTT 280]

Quote: Originally Posted by r&nyellocoops (original)

Try tightening the wheel nuts?

Then if they are tight sounds like a wheel bearing!

I had/have the same issue.

I have just had both front wheel bearing replaced and it solved a large part of the problem (noise related and some wobble).

I still get random wheel wobble, and to be quite honest I think it is to do with my tyres and wheel balancing. Don't forget that when you park up and leave your car then you get flat spots on the tyres which may be felt as a wobble in the wheel - i was told this by a well repsected engineer - i imagine that effect would be lessened with superior tyres.

I also had my suspension and steering links tightened which seems to have removed some looseness and wobble also.

I think it is a mixture if things, all emphasised by use and age of the parts and vehicle.

Cheers,
K.

[holdenontoit]

Quote: Originally Posted by Eastereggmini (original)

Has anyone had symptoms that require tire balancing on the run flats. I have a slight wobble on the wheel(bout a 1/4") and a slight wobbly sound when driving at about 40. The car only has 15000 miles and I had the tires rotated at 11000. Does anyone thing this is tire balancing?

Oil changes....everyone wait til every 15000 like MINI says.

How often do you people rotate those horrible run flats?
I'm ready to rotate them right off my car and into my dumpster.

Sorry for the continuous dumb questions...but new to MINI makes everything new to me.

no such thing as dumb questions, lots of dumb answers though. Speed related wobble is usually A) wheel balance issue or B) damaged tire (raise the car in the air and spin it slowly, if you can see a little woopdedoo in the tread pattern , probably a slipped belt in tire) .If while it is in the air you get ANY latteral play in the wheel, probably a wheel bearing.
I totally agree with Josh that dumping our beloved runflat tires is one of the most significant mods you can do to your car. Considering how much they cost, how quickly they wear out , and how terribly they handle bumps and corners, it's really a no brainer.Yeah, you'll have to carry fix a flat and a compessor, AAA , or a donut spare and a lug wrench and jack, but these are all a small price to pay for the performance of non run flat tires. I rotate my tires at 5K .As far as oil change frequency goes, I've been changing oil at 5k increments (16 times so far) also, mostly for peace of mind. Losing oil viscosity is a really stupid way to lose an engine . The average life of a motor without oil pressure is just under 50 seconds,check out this product too: Engine Oil Drain Valve the oil pans in these cars have proven to be a problem in stripping out the threads for the drain plugs (aluminum vrs steel, steel wins every time)

[GTT 280]

Quote: Originally Posted by holdenontoit (original)

As far as oil change frequency goes, I've been changing oil at 5k increments (16 times so far) also, mostly for peace of mind.

Wow!!!!! - no wonder we are on the verge of a global oil crisis with you guys virtually drinking oil and running 4 litre milk floats

Do you honestly think that a factory standard MINI needs its oil changed that often - i think the oil companies designed it to last considerably longer -

Take a look at an EVO running nearly 400bhp, then that needs an oil change every 4000 miles - fair enough.

tut tut.

Now, where is that green peace number.........?

Cheers,
K.

[holdenontoit]

Quote: Originally Posted by 260 GTT (original)

Do you honestly think that a factory standard MINI needs its oil changed that often .

yes.............. Always have, always will.
And my MCS is anything but "factory standard"
Jock