Minilite Wheels

koogie

koogie

Member
Hi all, I've managed to get hold of a genuine set of Minilites for my P6, I say genuine because "MINILITE ENGLAND" is cast into them. I hear that they are rare & were fitted to some police cars, is this right & would anyone have any more information on them?

Regards Brian
 
Hi, depends whether they are Aliminium alloy or Magnesium alloy. First one good, second
one bad! If they are as you have been told Police one's they should be Mag alloy. (this is
where Harvey jumps in and say's they can be Aliminium alloy)

Mag alloy of this age cannot be trusted as Magnesium degrades.

Colin

Edit: They could be SD1 Police, in which case you need to check the offset.
 
Hi, the wheel material itself looks to be in pretty good condition ie no pitting, but how can you tell if its magnesium or ally? Would be an awful shame not to fit these wheels, unless of course I get them refurbed/checked out.

Regards Brian
 
Hi the fact there is no obvious pitting is a good sign. Aliminium alloy looks like
what it is, Magnesium is a darker grey almost gunmetal. Magnesium is significantly
lighter than Ali.

Hope this helps!

Colin
 
Yes thats the ones, only just picked them up on Saturday, I'm itching to get them on now though :D Thanks for that Colin.
 
I remember magnesium as highly inflamable .If a car with magnesium wheels caught fire ,would the wheels burn as well ?
 
DaveHerns said:
I remember magnesium as highly inflamable .If a car with magnesium wheels caught fire ,would the wheels burn as well ?
Click to expand...

Yes, and it's also highly reactive with water too.....
 
testrider said:
DaveHerns said:
I remember magnesium as highly inflamable .If a car with magnesium wheels caught fire ,would the wheels burn as well ?
Click to expand...

Yes, and it's also higjly reactive with water too.....
Click to expand...

No going out on rainy days then.....Which kinda limits your use in the UK :LOL:
 
The previous employers made sacrifical anodes ( from zinc and aluminium for ships, oil rigs and pipelines mostly) but always had to purchase the magnesium ones as the health and safety people wouldn't let us make them. If you ever see underneath a steel or iron canal boat it will have either zinc or mag anodes welded on it to protect it from corrosion.

I once had to visit the magnesium foundry and witness some casting. When you've witnessed 150kg of molten mag bubbling and fizzing away with its green glow, you've stared in to hell itself....
 
DaveHerns said:
So are magnesium wheels lacquered or must you really keep them dry ?
Click to expand...

I think the problem arises if they do catch fire, and then you try to put the fire out with water.
 
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