R50 and R56 wheels interchangeable?

[Checkmate]

My current daily is an R56 Cooper D, and the tyres, whilst mostly good (new when I bought it a couple of months ago Michelin Primacy), aren't exactly inspiring confidence in this weather, and the OSF has an irritating slow puncture which needs air every few days.
Question is, since I have my R50 Cooper in the barn, which has the 16 inch 5 spoke wheels (R56 has 17in "blaster" wheels), with nearly new Rainsports on, can I switch the wheels over?
I imagine the 16s will fit over the calipers, since I have seen Cooper Ds with 16s on, but they are R56 wheels. Will the R50 ones fit? Will I need to use the R50 bolts with those wheels if they do?
Think my R56 in red might look great with the R50 5 spoke Cooper wheels on too!
Thanks.

[E-bmw]

Google is your friend.

You could have found out the following in about 30 seconds.

Mini Cooper R50.
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug nuts
Thread Size: M12 x 1.25

Mini R56 SD
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug bolts
Thread Size: M14 x 1.25

[Checkmate]

E-bmw said:

Google is your friend.

You could have found out the following in about 30 seconds.

Mini Cooper R50.
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug nuts
Thread Size: M12 x 1.25

Mini R56 SD
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug bolts
Thread Size: M14 x 1.25

Thanks. So... Maybe, then?
I mean one says nuts and one says bolts, but I'm fairly sure both have bolts. This is why I didn't just Google because sometimes it might not be right.
Also whether the R50 wheels will fit over the bigger calipers on the later cars. That doesn't say about that.
So I was sorting of hoping someone with some experience of it could advise me, rather than me just googling.

[E-bmw]

Checkmate said:

E-bmw said:

Google is your friend.

You could have found out the following in about 30 seconds.

Mini Cooper R50.
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug nuts
Thread Size: M12 x 1.25

Mini R56 SD
Center Bore / Hub Bore: 56.1 mm
Bolt Pattern (PCD): 4x100
Wheel Fasteners: Lug bolts
Thread Size: M14 x 1.25

Thanks. So... Maybe, then?
I mean one says nuts and one says bolts, but I'm fairly sure both have bolts. This is why I didn't just Google because sometimes it might not be right.
Also whether the R50 wheels will fit over the bigger calipers on the later cars. That doesn't say about that.
So I was sorting of hoping someone with some experience of it could advise me, rather than me just googling.

The issue with your original question and the answer you are looking for is that you are hoping someone has done the exact thing you are wanting & as no body has answered fully, clearly they haven't so the best thing to do is to try it yourself.

[chrisch77]

The wheel fitment is the same between R50/2/3 and R55/6 models. The wheel bolt size changed from M12 to M14 late in the R50 lifetime before the new model was launched. R56 Cooper S has larger front brakes than standard R53 derivatives, but unlike the JCW upgrade brakes on R50 the callipers were customised for the R56 platform so that they still fit under smaller wheels.

What exactly are you trying to achieve OP?

[SexyBob]

I’m currently running 16” Blasters on an R56 Cooper, and previously had the same wheels on an R52 Cooper S. Zero issues just make sure you don’t swap the bolts between cars.

Hope that’s a help.

[Checkmate]

Well the idea is to take the wheels from my R50 Cooper here:



and put them on the R56 Cooper D here:



Sounds like it might work, from some posts. I keep the R56 bolts. I'll give it a go this weekend if the weather doesn't put me off.

ETA: I looked for a long time to find an R56 in the green of my R50 - which I think looks fantastic. Just none of them about!

Edited by Checkmate on Saturday 7th December 01:07

[csd19]

Checkmate said:

Well the idea is to take the wheels from my R50 Cooper here:



and put them on the R56 Cooper D here:



Sounds like it might work, from some posts. I keep the R56 bolts. I'll give it a go this weekend if the weather doesn't put me off.

ETA: I looked for a long time to find an R56 in the green of my R50 - which I think looks fantastic. Just none of them about!

Edited by Checkmate on Saturday 7th December 01:07

If you've not already done this, then yes they fit fine - I've got the same R53 wheels as winters on my R56 Cooper S.