Re: all - wheels

["Allan Williams" <allanw@xxxxxxxxxx>]

OK thanks Randy (and also Mark who replied earlier :-)

I thought that the holes for the BMW wheel were closer than most other four
stud wheels, but I discovered today that most are the same (I got another
wheel catalogue)

It looks like I'll look at some front drive wheels in the trade and exchange
and get some adapters (I don't think the H&R ones will be available here,
but a friend can make that kind of thing.

Thankyou all for the help - It looks like I've got it sorted!

Allan :-)
http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/9040/
"How do I set my laser printer on stun?"
- ----------------------------------->

- ----- Original Message -----
From: Randy Walters <RandyWal@domain.elided>
To: <bmw-digest@domain.elided>
Sent: Monday, March 13, 2000 5:30 PM
Subject: Re: all - wheels


>
> Allan Williams <allanw@domain.elided> writes:
>
> >I want to fit 15" alloys to our E30 325i, but the 15"basketweaves are
very
> >expensive here in New Zealand (=US$600 used).
> >I can get some E30 M3 wheels for half that, but they are 5 stud - so I'm
> >looking into redrilling my rotors for 5 studs. I think I can do it
> >(machinist friend will help - I'm just checking fit).
>
>  There's not enough room on the hub to re-drill the 4-lug hubs to 5-lug.
> The M3 bolt pattern is 5x120mm,  and the M3 hub is a lot larger than
> the 325i hub.
>
> >I need to know what 5 stud BMW whells I could fit. The E30 M3 wheels may
> >stick out too far, so I'm looking at maybe 5 series basketweaves or
> >somewhere that would suit an E30.  I think I'll need 15x6.5 or 15x7,
> >and I think I'll need to stick with the 35mm offset to kepp them in the
> >right place on the car.
>
> 35mm would be too much offset for either of those 15" sizes,  the
> tires will rub on the insides (strut tube up front and the inner fender
> tub in the rear.
>
>
> >Can anybody offer any ideas on wheels and offsets (as well the the
> >hubcentric problems)
>
>  A 15x7 wheel should have an offset of between ET20 and ET27 max.
> A 16x7 can range between ET20 and ET30,  and maybe even ET35
> although that might put the inner sidewall right up against the front
> strut tube.  The E30 318/325 series hubcentric center hub is 57mm.
>
>
> >My other option is to redrill to a different 4 stud pattern and use
spacers
> >if neccesary to fit other four stud wheels.
> >My options for aftermarket wheels are very limited here, and I'd like to
get
> >them second hand.   Thanks people!!!  Allan :-)
>
>  Why change to a different 4-lug bolt pattern?   The 4x100 seems to be
> the most popular pattern of all (BMW, Honda, Miata, Volkswagen, Toyota).
> The big difference is the hubcentric centerbore diameters on the various
> makes.  The Miata hub is very small and the wheels won't go onto the
> BMW hubs.  The Honda hub is slightly smaller than the BMW hub and
> the wheels will get hopelessly stuck if you were to crank the lugs down.
> But the Volkswagen hub is *exactly* the same size as the 4-lug BMW
> and aside from the offset differences,  are a perfect fit on the Bimmer
> and would be a good place to look (there's a Lot more wheels available
> for FWD VWs than 4-lug BMWs).
>
>  If you can't find wheels with the correct offset for your BMW, the best
> option would be to look at 15x7 or 16x7 ET35 or ET40 wheels in a FWD
> Volkswagen fitment and use H&R 15mm or 2mm spacers and longer
> lugbolts to bring em into the correct offset range for the 325i.  These
> two sizes of spacer are hubcentric to both the car and the wheel and
> will positively center the wheel just as if it were bolted directly to the
> hub.  This is what BBS has been doing for a few years - selling VW
> wheels to the E30 owners and include 4 special 18mm BBS "adapters"
> (spacers) and longer lugs to make them the correct offset for the
> Bimmer.
>
>  When you're looking at a set of wheels,  measure the backspace.  The
> car will tolerate a range between 4.75" and 5.1" on a 15x7 wheel. The
> factory backspace on E30 325is wheels is 5" so stay within this range
> and you shouldn't have any tire clearance problems.  This is a good way
> to tell if a wheel is a candidate,  and if you'll need spacers or not.
Lay
> a straight-edge across the edge of the rim (NOT the tire) and just
> measure straight down to the mounting surface, and that's your
> backspace.
>
>  Randy Walters
>  89 325is
>
>  http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=153582&a=1200064
>
>
>
>
>

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End of bmw-digest V9 #1404
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