I posted this originally in the Clubman forum & didn't get any response, so i thought i would post it here & see if anybody could help. After doing a long and time consuming search I still can not find a definite answer about what other car brands of compact spares fit the 2nd gen Mini Cooper. Yes, i already know it won't fit on the front of the S model because of the brake calipers. The anwser i want is specifically what brand & year model, of Honda Civic, Chevy Cobalt, or others that will work? Anybody out there that has bought a compact spare from any other brand of vehicle & actually test fit it to their 2nd gen Mini please help the rest of us out. Thanks in advance.

 

I'm not entirely sure, but even if you could find one that fit with the same bolt pattern (I'm assuming the 2009 base model Cobalt's would because it's also 4x100), I'm not sure if MINIs wheel bolts would sit properly on a Chevy wheel, considering Chevy uses lug nuts. Ever thought about just using that Slime stuff and an air compressor? You could just keep something like this in your car: http://www.slime.com/product/29/Powe...350001%29.html

 

I already carry slime & a air compressor, but I also live in a rural area with very little in the way of resources as far as tire shops. When I ruined a runflat on my previous Mini it took almost a full week to get a replacement
shipped to my local tire shop. I now have a '09 Clubman & it has a place in the rear for storage of a compact spare, so I thought why not get one?

 

You probably already found this online:
http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/nmw7610/invDetail.cfm

It's not cheap, but the measurements included in the description may help you find an alternative.

Another thought is to check with a local salvage yard and see if they can locate a steel MINI rim for a decent price.

 

Another thing you need to consider when finding a spare wheel is that it fits the 14mm lug bolts the mini uses. Unless you have done the 14mm-12mm stud conversion, then all you would need is a spare that clears the brakes with a 4x100.

To answer your question, I don't know which brand spare would work.

 

I answered this recently in another thread: https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...rage-area.html, as was previously mentioned you need a 4x100mm with 14 mm lug holes and at least 56.1 mm center hole. I tried my nephew's compact spare (pre 2005 Honda Civic) but the 14" dia will not clear even the rear brake caliper. A stock pre 05 Civic tire/wheel of 15" dial will clear, but this will not be a space saver. You need a 15x3.5 15" dia space saver, I purchased a stock 2007 spare from a Mini Salvage yard, http://www.usedminicooperparts.com/

 

I appreciate your response, but my original question was to see if anybody had actually test fit a "space saver spare" of any brand other than Mini Cooper. The problem i have is that after i saw your post with the link above i called them & they have none in stock & just as quick as they get one in it's sold. They said that they actually have a waiting list of people wanting one. Direct from Mini a space saver spare will cost me three arms & two legs. I love my Mini, but some times they are just waaaay out of line on what they want to charge for replacement parts, especially when the car i purchased has a storage space designed for a spare, but didn't come with one!

 

Thanks Coreymlee, I must have missed your earlier post. I just called that Mini salvage yard and ordered a Gen 2 spacesaver spare with retainer for $100. That saves me $200+ from the dealer or any other source.

You da man!

 

One thing on the MINI Salvage Yards website caught my eye though:

"Inventory is constantly being refreshed, with vehicles and parts arriving daily."

This makes me cry a little inside.

 

Since I have a July 06 build MCS, I cant' speak about later models. What I did was find out the bolt pattern ,bolt size, hubsnout and offset of our wheels and then referred to this site. I discovered from that site that the 82-89 Honda Accord, 02 Honda Civic and 95-98 VW Jetta fit our wheel dimensions. I then called around to several salvage yards and found unused spare donuts for around $20.00. As far as bolt size, I pulled a bolt and measured it to be sure. I too found it difficult to spend $200 plus for a "MINI" spare when this scenario seems like a very viable alternative. Good luck

 

The route I took was to buy the wheel from MINI. I then went to my local

Ford dealer and asked if they had any used donut tires I could buy. I ended

up getting a brand new tire from them for $30.00. The Ford donut tire is

the same size as a MINI.

 

I got a spare off eBay for $40. It was off a '02 Daewoo. Fits great. Fits the compartment great. 20 oz. of pressurized Slime, repair kit and high volume 12V air pump off eBay also fits the hole back there.

 

On "S" the compact donut doesn't fit over the front brakes...you have to put the donut on the rear...move the back tires to the front...

So...I put my full size spare in the boot of the R56 HB used straps...Floor Jack in the back seat of the driver side floor...Slime Kit, Plug Kit, Socket Set, Phone # to MINI Roadside Assistance...

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by bear1

I appreciate your response, but my original question was to see if anybody had actually test fit a "space saver spare" of any brand other than Mini Cooper. The problem i have is that after i saw your post with the link above i called them & they have none in stock & just as quick as they get one in it's sold. They said that they actually have a waiting list of people wanting one. Direct from Mini a space saver spare will cost me three arms & two legs. I love my Mini, but some times they are just waaaay out of line on what they want to charge for replacement parts, especially when the car i purchased has a storage space designed for a spare, but didn't come with one!

I got a compact spare off a '02 Daewoo Nubira (never heard of it) and it fits fine. It's a good fit in the spare compartment. The lugs fit fine. I got a high volume compressor off eBay, a 20 oz can of Slime (pressurized), a Slime repair kit (plugs and tools) and everything plus the jack and lug wrench fit in the spare storage area.

Make sure you loosen the lug nuts and re-torque them to 105 ft lbs before trying to remove them with the Mini lug wrench... I think mine were torqued to 200 ft lbs or so and I needed a 18" breaker bar to loosen them.