JCW & GP Lug Bolts Different Than Stock
We can confirm that the JCW/GP lug bolts are different from the standard MINI lug bolts. The JCW/GP bolt (pictured on the left in the image) is a finer thread/pitch and also has a larger thread/shaft diameter. The JCW/GP bolt is also slightly shorter than that of the stock MINI lug bolt on the right. The taper toward the head of the JCW/GP bolt also appears to flare out at less of an angle than stock however a standard 17 MM socket fits both for rotating and changing tires.
We can’t confirm but have been told that all cars with factory JCW brakes built since June ’06 are like this. We also can’t immediately say what this means to after market wheel options on the JCW/GP but we can only guess that they will most likely be limited due to the non-standard bolts.
I got my JCW last Friday and replaced the S Lights with 18″ OZ Ultraleggeras (thank you Gabe, great wheels! Pictures coming soon). I have security bolts in addition and all of them fit just fine.
I mentioned this on Mini2 a while back. I noticed it when I tried to fit some aftermarket locking wheel nuts.:o)
Maybe they’re transitioning to larger lugs in order to to cope with the high torque put out by the next generation’s 300bhp JCW car. 😉
(Just dreaming… sorry)
As of July all MINIs now have the larger wheel bolts, 14mm if I remeber corectly.
There has been no explanation why but all models now have them, even the MINI OneD
M14x1.25 versus M12x1.5
Terrible news–that added unsprung weight is going to be a killer on the track…;)
Maybe mini did this in response to all the lug nut snapping issues.
Indeed! I snapped one with my torque wrench set at 88.5 ft/lbs as stated in the manual. It threw me on my butt and I promptly changed them all out for stainless steel lug bolts from Summit. No problems since. Glad the MINI team is on the ball and addresses the little problems as well as the big ones. Now about that understeer at terminal velocity . . .
I can confirm the change! at our dealership we install locking lug nuts on all the MINIs. Rude surprise two days ago when the latest shipment had a new size. Now we are trying to find the new ones.
I went through this before I flew out to Monterey – MINI of Peabody knew about the new size, but couldn’t determine if the GPs were old or new size … and the new size wheel locks didn’t exist in mid August.
But they got some in, and GPMINI is now wheel-locked. A bit crazy though, to bring in a change in lug nut size BEFORE being ready with appropriate new wheel locks – a number of dealerships install them to secure the wheels before the car is sold.
While we’re on the subject, my ’69 Alfa had reverse threaded lugs on the driver’s side. I always loved that. I could go on and on about lug nuts. It’s a very rich topic…