BRM 16" Cosmos alloys

[TOMC4T]

I have just bought some Rover 16" Cosmos alloy wheels - not for fitting to a BRM, but to my BRG Rover 218 VVC Coupe.

All of them came complete with Rover badged centres, rather than the BRM script centres that you guys are no doubt are familiar with.

I didn't think anything of this at the time, but I have since learnt that the rims fitted to the BRMs are actually different to the rims fitted to the Rover 45 Connisseur - which are the type that I have.

Apparently, the centre hole is a different size by 3mm, so you cannot change the centres between the two different designs stated above. Is that correct?

The latter are 6.5Jx16 in size. What size are the BRM rims in comparison?

Are there any other differences between the BRM rims and the Rover 45 Connisseur rims?

[TOMC4T]

I've just checked the Part No for the rims I have, and it is - RRC 115720 XXX. Does anybody know the Part No for the BRM wheels please?

I did think that these wheels were painted Silver Sparkle like the BRM wheels, but I gather that Paint Code is MNH, and not the XXX that my rims appear to be marked as. Does anybody know what the exact name of the XXX colour is please?

[garythesnail]

I've got to be honest - I always thought they were the same wheels. I've got a set being prepared for paint in the shed. I haven't got a clue about the part number, but I think the size is shown somwhere on the casting - if not, I'll check the paperwork with the BRM.

[garythesnail]

The ones I've got in the shed have the marking below stamped / cast in.

RRC 113880 XXX

6.5J x 16CH - 45
----->

I don't know if the RRC bit is a part number or a batch number and it looks like the XXX isn't a paint code as mine appear to be sparkle.

I hope this helps.

[mgr220]

RRC 113880 XXX

This is the part no. for the BRM wheels.

RRC is the start of the part number.

Because the part no. was cast into the wheel when it was made and at that point they didn't know what colour the wheels would be then, they used XXX as a generic code just to show what the complete part no. should look like.

Then once the wheel was finished the XXX was replaced with the correct colour code for that wheel.

MNH is sparkle silver, so XXX doesn't really mean anything.

[TOMC4T]

The ones I've got in the shed have the marking below stamped / cast in.

RRC 113880 XXX

6.5J x 16CH - 45
----->
Thanks Gary - those markings are identical to mine, all except the 6-digit number in the middle.

What I cannot understand is why would MG Rover go to all the trouble and expense of changing the mould, just for the 3mm difference centre cap hole? I suppose the only other difference could be the offset of the wheels I have in comparison to the BRM versions - is that marked anywhere on the rims?

[TOMC4T]

This is the part no. for the BRM wheels.

RRC is the start of the part number.

Because the part no. was cast into the wheel when it was made and at that point they didn't know what colour the wheels would be then, they used XXX as a generic code just to show what the complete part no. should look like.

Then once the wheel was finished the XXX was replaced with the correct colour code for that wheel.

MNH is sparkle silver, so XXX doesn't really mean anything.
Thanks mgr220 - an interesting story about the reasoning for the XXX.

[garythesnail]

I suppose the only other difference could be the offset of the wheels I have in comparison to the BRM versions - is that marked anywhere on the rims?

I'm not sure , but the "-45" part of the ID could be the offset??

6.5J x 16CH - 45
----->

[TOMC4T]

Cheers Gary. If that is indeed the case, then my wheels have the same offset.

[garythesnail]

The nice lads over on a fiat forum have a nice explanation on how to measure the offset your wheels:

clicky clicky looky looky (http://www.fiatforum.com/miscellaneous-guides/50703-working-out-offset-wheels.html)

Seemings as my wheels are bare (and no more painted now than last weekend . . . or the weekend before . . . . . . or the weekend before that . . . . . you et the idea:chair:) I'll go and measure them to see if the 45 dimension is right.