Does anyone know if there is a way to convert from 4lug to 5lug? This would surely open up alot of possibilities for wheels ...

 

Very good topic here as I have been pondering the same issue.
I would bet for sure that other hubs from BMW, or even some other cars will fit and others will fit with modified bearings.
Maybe being FWD is an issue?
Hope to hear some input on this topic ..

 

do a search on GOOGLE i did once and found there is one for VW will fit MINI but it is about $ 150 a piece and it adds about more than 15mm on the spacer.

i think that is too much to fit the wheel under MINI. i am gonna need a good offset to fit it. but again, under the fender is not gonna change. so it really dont do much good to do this mod.

just some of my thoughts

 

Good points Chris. I think I am looking more for a hub that could come off another car and 'replace our 4 bolt one. I would imagine that there is an "adapter" to do this, but as you say, they tend to add about 15-20mm.
The reason I would like to find something is that there are no 17" wheels out there in a 4x100 bolt pattern with a 45mm offset that are more then 7.5 " wide. I need 8.5" wide and I'm just not crazy about spending $3-$4K on a set of custom wheels.

 

it wouldn't be the easiest, but you could probably get the MINI hubs re-drilled for a 5-lug pattern along with the brake rotor. This would eliminate any problems with mix-and-match bearings, offset of the new hubs, & etc. This approach would certainly be less expensive than the custom wheels but replacement rotors would also need to be drilled unless you have a BBK where only the rotor itself is replaced at service intervals... just a few thoughts...

 

a lot of the 3rd generation volkswagen guys have converted their cars from 4x100 (4cyl bolt pattern) to 5x100 (VR6/4th generation bolt pattern). You could see if the volkswagen parts would fit. I know Subaru is 5x100 as well, so you could see if those parts would fit as well.

-Steve

 

I don't think it'd just be a matter of adding one hole....you'd end up with 9 holes in your hubs unless you plugged the originals somehow. Same with the rotors......

 

yes, of course you couldn't just drill one new hole... the pattern for 5 lugs would, at most, only re-use one of the existing bolt holes (or studs as the case may be)...

 

how about the newer Honda Civic Si? i know it is 5 lug and also designed in the UK of all places

 

isn't there still a possible problem with mix & match bearings and depth of hub and brake disc mounting flange to centerline of caliper? seems like drilling the mini hub would be easier.....

 

You guys are too much sometimes...

4x100 is the most popular FWD bolt pattern out there. You act like there's this whole world of wheels that you can't access because of it.

Drilling the hub would be dumb, unless you don't mind risking your life over a stupid wheel. (or hadn't you thought about what happens when a hub fails? ) You've got to factor in knuckle clearance, hubs, rotors, caliper alignment, offset...

have fun

 

I don't care what you say but there are more options in wheels in a 5 bolt pattern. Some companies don't even make wheels in the 4x100 bolt pattern. I no longer care about trying to change to a 5lug cause I found the wheels i want in 4x100. But there are other people here that are interested in the 5 lug conversion. Someone who is serious about doing this conversion should look into the possible hubs mentioned above and let us know if it would work *onasled* lol. Thanks to everyone for their input.

 

I agree, 4x100 is one of the top bolt FWD bolt patterns made ! What would be the use of a 5-lug conversion and then to what? 5x100, 5x.1143, 5x112, 5x120? Which one and why ?

The best wheels in the world are BBS LM's and they are made 4x100 so why would you worry about a converison??

Just curious

 

I see this on a lot of forums on four lug wheels and the reason is always the same.

Re drilling the hub to five lug is all but impossible as they will share one of the current holes and be very close on one of the others. You'd probably need to go to a 108 pattern to keep things in check. Then you'll be closer to the edges....

The 'conversion' takes an alum spacer and bolts THAT to the hub and in turn offers you a five lug 'output' with those studs in the alum spacer. All because you'd be up the creek with all that redrilling and this way is much easier to sell to someone. (marketing here)

The ONLY realisty (?) way to do this is to search five lug hubs that may fit the existing bearing. *hold that thought

The hub must have the same bearing press fit, the same offset relative to the hub face, the same spline for the axle.

*But let's change the bearing too! Yes you might be able to do that too assuming you can find two of the three above properties (height and spline) AND the new bearing just happens to be the same OD as the steering knuckle....

Does this vudu part exist? Maybe. That and a couple of hours bothering the local NAPA dealer researching every possible five lug FWD app they can come up with might net you some info!

If your are REALLY serious about this there is only ONE way to do it: custom hubs! Duh. Speak with a machine shop (or me as I can give you some specialist in this area) who can make you exacting reps of the parts you have now. With five lugs. And if you're smart; with studs too! How much? I'd take a wag at maybe $300-350ea in a qty of two.

!!!! Sure someone is going to call bs. Fine, but I've done this type of stuff on race cars now for 20 years too. You want to do a run of 30pcs and you'll get that number you have in your mind perhaps.

 

This thread is rather ironic and funny from my perspective I used to own and race a couple of Dodge Neons, which happened to have a 5x100 bolt pattern. I'm also active on the Neon equivalent of NAM (Neons.org), and we have had a number of people start threads about converting to the 4x100 bolt pattern because there are so many better and lighter wheels available in 4x100 than in 5x100, and it is the truth. If you're looking for high quality lightweight wheels, there is a much better chance of finding them in 4x100 bolt pattern than in any other bolt pattern.

Some 1995 Neons did have come with a 4x100 bolt pattern, but they used smaller brakes, and no one made better brake pads, and even though the swap would have been relatively easy with the right parts, it still wasn't recommended.

My advice for someone who feels that having a certain set of wheels is very important, is to buy a set of those wheels that they like so much, and then go out and find a car that fits that wheel, and be happy. Most of us do it the other way, buy the car first, then the wheels, but whatever floats your boat.

It is true that some wheels may be available in some 5-lug patterns but not in a 4x100, but from all the research I've done, it is usually the other way around. There are scores of cars that use the 4x100 bolt pattern, and many of them are very popular, which means that many of the wheel manufacturers will focus on those cars, and thank goodness I now own one of those cars again (I used to be a VW guy before the Neons).

-Keith

 

Todd, thanks for that input. Informative.

Unfortunate that some think they need to be so closed minded on these types of threads. If you actually took the time to read my previous post you will see why I am thinking about this.
JeffS, you seem to never offer anything but ridicule in most of your post here. It's always the same kinda angry responses that never seem to offer any positive input. What's up? You just a pi$$ed of guy?

 

Just out of curiosity Onasled, exacly what size tires are you trying to fit on your MCS that you need 8.5" wide wheels? 275/40's? I'll assume they are "R" compounds that you want to run on the track. You can run 245/45's on a 17x7.5" wheel, heck I've got a friend that runs a Mustang Cobra in F Stock and he uses 275/45's on 17x8 wheels with no problems.

Anyways, there are plenty of race wheel companies that will make you a custom wheel to practically whatever specs you want for less than $3000-4000 per set, and some will come in less than a custom race/machine shop will charge you to do a five lug conversion. Even Rota has started to do some custom size work for very reasonable prices, but they usually require a minimum quantity of 10 sets or so. Get a group buy going.

-Keith

 

 

I was wondering the same thing. What size tire are you thinking of running?

 

Looks like he'd rather post confusing emoticons than give us a simple answer. Oh well......

-Keith

 

OK, now that I have a minute ,,,,

I AM running 235-40-17s at this time and they ARE on 7.5" wheels. That's TOO small as I am not using all of the tire at this time. Toyo actually recommends a 9" rim. I was using a 205-4- on a 7.5" rim as suggested by the mfg and the handling was excellent as I was using all of the tire from inside scrub mark to outside scrub mark.

Sorry, ,,,, but the fact that you have a friend that is using 275/45's on 17x8 wheels only means to me that ..... well, .... I'll just leave that alone.

Todd's mention of $300-$400 each for custom hubs is very enticing when then I 'might' be able to find a good 8.5-9" wide wheel for under $400 each. Why, because I need at least three sets of wheels for the track, if not more.

Sorry if I sound a bit short today, but it does not make a whole lot sense that I need to defend my inquirers. It's also a tough few days around here, so.....

 

It might serve you well to do some thorough research into different racing classes and the wheels and tires they use, like in the SCCA for instance, and not just confine yourself to what the manufacturers recommendations are.

The reason my friend (and many other top drivers for that matter) runs 275/40-17 tires on 17x8 wheels, is because in the SCCA stock classes, stock sized wheels are required, and that is his stock wheel size. He's not doing it because he's not as smart as you are.

Have you called around to the Tire Rack and other wheel manufacturers and distributers to see if there are 4x100 wheels available that might fit your MCS? Just because Tire Rack doesn't list anything wider than 7.5" in a 4x100 17" wheel, doesn't mean they don't have anything available, it may just mean that they don't recommend anything wider than 7.5" for a Mini.

I know that Tire Rack can get certain wheels of theirs in blanks. Some people I know used to get 8" wide Kosei blanks from Tire Rack custom milled/drilled to fit their cars because they didn't come pre-drilled in the correct bolt pattern.

-Keith

 

.... know what Keith, ... just give me a break, will ya.

This is truly unbelievable.

 

Wow this is truly unbelievable... Let it go, so he wants 5 lug. Help him out, don't try and convince him its not possible because he know's that it IS possible. Anything is possible with a little money lol... Good luck onasled.

 

No flames, just wondering the tire size.....

Nothing to see here... move along...move along:smile: