[TravisW]

If I decide I want the 16" R90s, the MINIUSA configurator shows them costing $771. Is that a trade-in cost, in which case I don't get the x-lites? I was thinking before that I would get both sets of wheels for $771 extra, but now I'm thinking that that is a pipe dream. (Although $192.75 per wheel seems reasonable to me, but that is another story.)

[minhi]

Travis,

If the wheels are a dealer add-on then you get to keep the wheels your car comes with, but if it's a factory add-on then you basically traded up for those wheels.

well that's how my dealer handled it, why not ask your dealer?

[TravisW]

I did, but talking to two different "motoring advisors" got me two opposite answers. I thought I would come here to break the tie.

I'll call them back again today and see what their story is this time. Maybe I didn't ask my question correctly the first time!

[goin440]

Here's my experience.

I liked the rare R87s on a Cooper. The dealer suggested I upgrade to the sport package to get 16" tires (comes with R83s whose tires wouldn't fit the thinner R87s as dealer later found out). So, I would have to buy new tires and have the dealer install at $90/hr. Estimated install time was going to be around 2.5-3.0 hours (I know... what?). Basically, the total cost for these rims/tires/install was going to be $2100+ (not $715 from the miniusa site). Dealer said I could trade in the stock base model R81s for $200. So $1900 for 16x5.5 rims/tires!!??. That kind of money will get some SWEET aftermarket rims. So I did. I went 17" Volk GT-Cs and 205/45/17 Yoke ES 100s for $2200 (which was a hook-up in itself BTW).

Basically, I got some high end aftermarket rims for about the same price as the dealer's offered R85 S-lites--as verified by the sticker price on an outfitted Cooper with R85s. I did drive a few months on the base 15"s prior, which I have kept for winter.

-----Edit
As I re-read the above, I realized the R90 16"s will accept the S's base 16" tires. What I'm suggesting is to take a pad and pen to the dealer and jot down some numbers from similarly outfitted MINIs. The dealer rims are nice, but you may find you can get nicer, less expensive wheels aftermarket. Do some investigations on the internet and compare wheels that cost approx. $190ea.

[TravisW]

Hey, I was doing that this morning! My plan was to buy the R90s and have a local tire shop do the swap. Then I'll use the x-lites for R compound autocross tires.

Confirmation this morning that I can get the set of four for $771 + tax, and do the tire swap myself. So now I'm on the web (well, actually I'm working ) checking out my options.