The Ultimate Classic #51 - Summer 2017

Page 29

BMW since the E30. This results in a

stronger bond of the wheel to the car than

from a local seller who has them installed

options for the Z1, many of which include

H&R brand name, too, a well-known and re-

the spot.

ing perfectly good hubs on the car, however,

pension components for BMWs.

sults! The H&R spacers were easy to install

just to upgrade the wheels.

a solution to the spacer problem, I renewed

than the stock 16-inch wheels. The modern

tion—someone, somewhere must offer

ously discarded ET45 and above wheels.

plethora of affordable aftermarket wheel

the correct offset of ET25 or ET30. Replac-

seemed like a lot of extra work and expense I went back to researching the spacer op-

wheel bolts that are reinforced and strong

enough to handle the added force applied

to the extra length, right? I found that there

any other spacer. I was comforted by the

spected manufacturer of aftermarket sus-

Armed with a reinvigorated enthusiasm of

my wheel search to now include the previ-

Looking at several options for the Mini prod-

uct line, I found the BBS RV-F

which is, coincidentally, very

are indeed some racing applications that call

similar in style to the stock

correct size bolt head and thread pattern is

17x7.5 inch size. The RV-F

for longer wheel bolts. Finding them in the

Z1 16-inch wheels, but in a

possible. What I also found in this research,

is a 7-spoke forged alu-

for 4x100 bolt pattern wheels that bolts di-

both lighter and stronger

however, is that H&R also offers a spacer kit rectly to the hub. Instead of needing longer

minum wheel making it

aftermarket cast alu-

re-use your stock wheel bolts to fasten the

thusiasts value them for their

wheels to the spacer, providing a much

I could not be more pleased with the re-

and the 17-inch RV-F are noticeably lighter

7-spoke pattern is eerily similar to the stock

Z1 style which was obviously well ahead of its time. I finished the car in time for last sum-

mer’s Roads to Monterey tour and 100year BMW Celebration. Aside from

the fact that the RV-F has exposed

lugs and the BBS wheel cap, I dare say that very few people noticed

that the little red Z1 had aftermar-

ket wheels at all!

than either the stock or

wheel bolts, the H&R spacer bolts to the hub with their custom-sized bolts and then you

on his JCW Mini and I purchased them on

minum wheels. Mini en-

performance benefits. I found a set

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