JonR
Well-Known Member
No. Definitely not.
Run Flat Tires
- Thread starter Tommm
- Start date
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Tommm
Well-Known Member
So then the suspension on the SE is a compromise for conventional and run flats?
JonR
Well-Known Member
No, you don't need special suspension to handle OEM sized runflat tires that have a high enough load index for your car. Tire Rack and Discount Tire both will show you tires that are compatible with your car based on the exact model. You can double check with the manufacturer's website too if you are still worried about it.
But again, I don't recommend runflats. The handling, ride quality, and noise level is worse with runflats.
pictsidhe
Well-Known Member
If you are running in GS, you can't change bushings anyway. I think all the F56s from Justa to JCW use the same arms, bushings, hubs.
Showroom stock '23 SE. 16" Hankooks.
Tommm
Well-Known Member
You are missing my question. I didn't need to do anything to my 1 series to go from run flats to conventional. I dont need to do anything to the SE to go from conventional to run flats on the SE.
But, did the BMW engineers design/install different parts on cars that came with run flats v conventional. Discount, who now owns Tire Rack go by dimensions, they dont go deeper into the suspension. Do SEs come from the factory in a country other than the US with run flats? And if yes, is every part of the suspension the same?
MRYFLYGUY
Active Member
Now, that's a great point. Knowing you could get home or to the tire shop is a good thing. I think it would be worth the additional expense, even if the ride is a little more firm. If the SE was GT with 350 mi. range, it might be another story.
SameGuy
Well-Known Member
I’m not denying your want or need for this kind of peace-of-mind, but I’ve had four on-the-road punctures in 40 years and a million miles of driving, and two of them were my fault for being a cheap ba$tard and not replacing my worn OEM tires when they were well past due. And Montreal roads are famous for being among the worst in North America, making Detroit’s look like they were recently paved! I used to take people around, visiting from overseas, and they’d remark, “Wow. I didn’t know Montreal got bombed during the war!”
Just seems like an undue hardship and expense for what IMHO amounts to a very small risk.
Just seems like an undue hardship and expense for what IMHO amounts to a very small risk.
Tommm
Well-Known Member
Daughter killed two sets of tires in a two month period. One got a slice on the sidewall, other got a 3" screw that got the sidewall. I want to blame her, but it could have happened to me too. Just lousy luck.
I had to drive the SE in -4 F weather yesterday. I know I did damage to the tires, and will replace them sooner than I would like. Since the SE is also used by my wife and daughter, I would rather not have to deal with the phone call. If I was the only one driving, I would probably be playing with the suspension like I have to most cars i've owned over the past decades of driving.
I don't know who at Mini to ask, or how to find out if run flats are standard in a country other than the US.
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JonR
Well-Known Member
That sounds nice. Snow, salt, darkness, and terrible roads. /s
I guess the upside is a more functional government, less guns, and healthcare.
I don't think any market got runflats. I believe all of the members on minif56 have mentioned they got summer tires.
But for what it is worth, the suspension parts are mostly the same between the Cooper S and the SE. The only differences appear to be subframe and mounting points which is likely to get the extra 18mm of ride height. The S comes with runflats and the SE comes with summer tires.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/e-mini-2020/350939-lowering-springs.html#post4572413
The front springs appear to be the same between the S and SE. The rear springs appear to be from a Clubman model. So really, the SE is just a parts bin car with parts from the Cooper S and the BMW i3s.
Puppethead
Well-Known Member
SameGuy
Well-Known Member
I didn’t mean to sound preachy and stuff. Everybody’s reasons are their reasons. All good!
Tommm
Well-Known Member
Didn't take it that way. Driving 40 years and had the same experiences as you. Lived and drive in Manhattan too.I didn’t mean to sound preachy and stuff. Everybody’s reasons are their reasons. All good!
Thanks. Now the question is whether the bushings are different on the NZ SE. Or, has run flat technology gotten to the point where the ride is the same. If that is the case, then folks with 15 year old cars like my 1er that put new run flats on will have different handling characteristics - not that most old car buyers would notice it.
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azausa
Active Member
Yup, can confirm NZ has run flats as standard on the SE coming from the UK, I would assume that it is the same as with Australia.
I also will assume that the bushings are the same with the SE arriving at the US from the U.K.
pictsidhe
Well-Known Member
Front springs are very similar to F55 but I haven't measure them, yet. Rear measure as F54.That sounds nice. Snow, salt, darkness, and terrible roads. /s
I guess the upside is a more functional government, less guns, and healthcare.
I don't think any market got runflats. I believe all of the members on minif56 have mentioned they got summer tires.
But for what it is worth, the suspension parts are mostly the same between the Cooper S and the SE. The only differences appear to be subframe and mounting points which is likely to get the extra 18mm of ride height. The S comes with runflats and the SE comes with summer tires.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/forums/e-mini-2020/350939-lowering-springs.html#post4572413
The front springs appear to be the same between the S and SE. The rear springs appear to be from a Clubman model. So really, the SE is just a parts bin car with parts from the Cooper S and the BMW i3s.
The SE is jacked up with springs and I believe slightly longer shocks. The subframes are indeed different, but do not affect the ride height. Early SEs had different rear arm front mounts, which could have altered ride height, but later ones use the same as all other F56s.
I'm surprised MINI made changes to the SE's suspension. If the regular F56 suspension mounts work OK, why do you think they didn't use them in the first place? Did the change come with the 2021 SE? Does this unique mounting system make 2020s special and more valuable?
Tommm
Well-Known Member
Yeah, like the 85.5 and 86 944 that take Fuchs wheels, but don't take the Rabbit steel control arms, or the later, many around, but not really rebuildable control arms. Instead they have their own, not many around, oddball control arm that also is not really rebuildable. On the bright side aftermarket arms are like $1,500 last time I checked.
Just something you may have to look forward to. Sorry.
Tommm
Well-Known Member
If you message me your VIN, I will open two windows in realoem.com and compare part numbers of the suspension bushings. I have a feeling the high performance summer tires on my SE are not going to feel very good this summer after driving in -4F and snow this past week.
On the bright side, the car with the winter tires is back on the road with a new radiator, and the temp will be in the 40s and 50s the next few weeks.
MRYFLYGUY
Active Member
Driving around city streets after seasonal desert rains (summer & winter) is like driving on the moon. The streets grow all kinds of potholes just waiting to pop your tires and bend rim. I had 19" on my 2016 Golf R and irreparably damaged a tire after hitting a giant pothole. Fortunately, the rim was okay. My MINI has a little more sidewall with 18s but it still like running a Gymkhana course avoiding those things.
pictsidhe
Well-Known Member
Many summer tyres can be damaged if you drive on the at all below 20F.
pictsidhe
Well-Known Member
Suspension changes to the SE are MINImal.
Height was raised a touch to give the battery a bit more ground clearance. Considering how lithium batteries sometimes react to being damaged, this is a somewhat prudent move. Burning cars are bad for sales... Mini already has a slew of different springs. Multiple ones for each model, depending on options and age. They seem to like to tailor them pretty finely. Shocks, on the other hand, are the same p/n across all f55/f56/f57. Only the SE gets different ones. I strongly suspect they are longer, but haven't measured them yet. Mounts, arms, hubs etc are common to other 55/56/57s
Subframes are different to accommodate the EV drivetrain at the front, battery at the back. Other than the height change, I suspect geometry was left as other F56s. If it was me at Mini, I'd have tweaked the inner mounts to position the roll centres and have roll camber change the same as with the regular F56s. Just jacking the car up would raise roll centres and make camber slightly more positive.
The SE has remarkably few changes from the ICE cars, BMW mostly did it from i3 parts and other Minis.