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I think the factory S-lite wheels look really good on a Mini and had hopes of finding a set someday for my MCS. On a whim today I looked at wheels on Craigslist and I'll be darned if someone didn't have a set for sale at a great price and less than 10 miles from my house! They are sitting in my garage right now. I'm really pumped!!
Everyone dislikes the S-Lites because they're so heavy. I'm with you, though, I think they look great in the MINI. I switched to the X-Lites for a month, then switched back.
Not everyone....I like them. The S-lites still have run flats on them so I weighed one today vs my R84 wheels with regular tires. There was a 9 pound difference or a total of 36 more pounds of total weight the engine needs to move. Think about this, it takes more power to get them moving, but once up to speed the heavier tire "flywheel" effect should require less power to keep them rolling. Maybe you'd get better gas mileage because less power used to keep them at speed and/or you'd have a higher top speed 'cause the extra unused horsepower could spin them faster....eh?
I had the good pleasure of meeting and talking to the gentleman whose wheels I purchased. He took them off his '04 MCS and put on some non-mini aftermarket wheels, I would be very surprised if any were bent. But, you never know.
If they were a good enough price, it's worth the risk. It's common for S-Lites to go for about $150set in my area. I see them on craigslist from time to time.