Hampton Roads Club Mini

Not too long after I bought my '06 MCS, I was thinking of getting a new set of rims.  Don't get me wrong; I really like the Webspokes.  But I was seeing more and more MINIs with them.  I did alot of searching, and I had decided on a set of Ninja NJ07s in dark gray.  That is... until I learned they weighed the same as the Webspokes.  I wanted rims that had style and weighed less.  

One guy had posted on NAM early last year he wanted $700 for a set of Weds Sport Racing TC005s in a a dark purplish gray (believe me, they look good).  I contacted him; he lived in Massachusetts.  He did not really sound like he wanted to sell them.  It was his summer set.  So, I walked away (bad move; they only weighed like 13.8 lbs. each).  

The last couple of times I thought about new rims, I was wanting a set of BBS RKs, like I had on my old '02 MCS.  The 17x7s weigh only 16.2 lbs. each.  There was one guy that had a set on his MINI at MOTD last year.  He wanted to get rid of them for a set of 16x7s.  I told him I had dibs.  Gave him my business card.  Never heard back.  That was a bummer... close, but no cigar.  

Well, it had been awhile since I thought about some new rims, like late summer.  It was a week ago Sunday.  Taxes were filed.  Return was on its way.  Getting ready for bed.  The wheels started turnin'....    I decided to go online and do another blind Internet search (that's what I call just searching for something and hoping you get hits, as opposed to knowing exactly where to go to find what you want).  In previous searches, I would see sets go for $600-700 used.  One forum listed a used set near Seattle that sold for $650 back in October.  Dang... missed 'em.  

Then I remembered... a little Elf told me some time ago MINI rims are compatible with Honda Civics.  I had seen a few sets come and go in Honda forums previously.  I stumbled upon one Honda forum in Florida.  My jaw dropped... this guy had a brand new set of BBS RK 17x7s!    I could not believe it.  He had them listed since early December.  I immediately sent him a PM.  The rest is history.  I got 'em for $1K delivered.  

Now you need to paint your calibers to show off the wheels better.

Yeah, the guy I bought them from said they don't fit well on Civics.  He's better off sticking to 15s and 16s.  But he was cool.  He knew other rims/brands, as well as he knew his tires.  Hmm... I never did ask him what kind of tracking he did.

Got the MINI all cleaned up and the wheels installed, balanced, aligned, etc....

WOW what an improvement, I can now hear my radio at low volume, I can't feel ever little divet in the road, my car steers where I want it to without arguement, and I think it looks pretty sweet too.

Comments and opinions are welcome.

BTW, the last picture would be some pretty sweet looking wheel tire combinations on a MINI too.

Looking good John. Now when are we going to see it in person.

Yeah Steve, I hear Ya. I'll bet your missing the times when you could stop in and see your bestest painter buddy and shoot the breeze for a couple hours on the clock....  Ooppps, I didn't mean to write that, 

I miss you too buddy. I'm waiting for the coffee and cars thing that I was told the Flag would be doing sometime soon. I did promise a salesman there that I'd bring the classic when that time comes. I'm now looking at slotted, drilled rotors, front and rear, EBC Green stuff pads, stainless lines, and maybe even some caliper paint to get the little bugger to stop better.