Hey from Wylie, Texas. I just bought a "1976" mini that was rebuilt with all 1996 parts. It's how they 'legally' get the newer Minis into the states. So I'm learning a lot about what I've got.
I purchased the car 250 miles away and drove it home, it made the trip without issue and got about 30 US MPG.
It's uncommon to find parts around, while the Minis are apparently very common in Europe they are quite rare here since importation stopped in 1979 or 80. My car has skinny little wheels and tires: 145/70r12. While most of the stuff I have read tells me that the skinny tires work fine I really like the look of the wider stance - a little poking out of the fenders (wings?) is what I'm after.
I found a guy selling his rims from a 2000 JCW Mini, and picked them up. He tells me they are special and I am wondering about painting them. Presently they are grey and I'd like to make them white or gloss black. Is this blasphemous? Are the rims too special to treat this way? Or am I good to go without feeling bad about this?
Stock rims: 
12instockMiniwheel1.jpg 21.74K
3 downloads
New Rims:
13inchMinirims1.jpg 13.76K
3 downloads
side by side:
Minitirecomparo.jpg 21.41K
5 downloads
I'm looking forward to working on the Mini and getting lots of ideas from the forum. Thanks in advance.
