Deposit left on E89 30i - 19" Alloys Questions

gwatson · Post by **gwatson** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:31 pm

After missing out on a beautiful manual 35i, I found a bargain 30i fairly local to me and left a deposit yesterday, with collection in the new year. This will be my 3rd Z4, I had previously had a supercharged E85 3.0 and Z4M. Already have a few "enhancements" planned for this one.

It's a purchase with the head, rather than heart, but we agreed on a value only just into 5 figures which I feel is a bargain. Car is a 2010, 33k miles, full BMW service history, new brakes all round (genuine BMW), new tyres about 6k miles go and serviced a few months back. He's even had a few minor dents removed and alloys reconditioned by BMW. So receipts must total almost £2.5k in the last year. Should make for cheap motoring, only downside is it's white, but black wheels and gloss black grills will man it up a little. Which leads me onto my question.....

The car has the dreaded 19" 326M alloys. I couldn't to see any cracks and the ride wasn't as crashy as I expected, so in a bit of a conundrum on what to do:
1) Do I sell them (reconditioned recently and fairly new Bridgestone run flats) and buy a used set of 18" 325M, paint them black and fit Michelin PS4's. I've always been a fan of smaller wheels.
or
2) Paint the 326M's black and fit 19" PS4's. Still worried the about the ride.

Option 1 would be the cheapest by a mile (sell for £900??) and guarantees a much better ride. New wheels £400, tyres £500 and recondition £250. So lets say £250 all in. (after writing that I think I know the answer).

Option 2 would look better, but cost £1k for new tyres and power coating. Still risk a poor ride. Any value in used run flat tyres to offset some of the difference?

So I guess the question is, is the ride on 19" tyres with non run flats tolerable on bumpy B roads?

Here's a few pictures of the car to be:

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:43 pm

Hi, the ride will be much better on normal tyres, but if you’ve got potholes around your way these 326 wheels will crack sooner than later imho.
I had a set on my car which cracked after 19k miles, had them repaired & they cracked again a year later

They look beautiful but seem to be made of eggshells, better off with 18’s or 19’s made by a different manufacturer.
Rob

gwatson · Post by **gwatson** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:48 pm

Thanks for that. You confirmed my thoughts.

Did yours crack again even on non flats fitted?

Difficulty will be sourcing a set of 18" 325's. I'm not one for aftermarket rims.

mr wilks · Post by **mr wilks** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 2:43 pm

Nice car , to me the 89s need 19s to fill the arches & no reason why you should have a bad ride if the right size/brand tyres are fitted .
A set of 9 yr old 33k 326s id beamazed if at least one of the rears hadn't been repaired or replaced , some repairs are very good & you need a keen eye to spot without the car being on a ramp .

Yorkie Z · Post by **Yorkie Z** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:15 pm

I normally always say go for the 19’s, and I think 18’s look a bit crap on both the E85/6 and E89. In saying that if you’re going to paint them black I’d be tempted to go 18 as you can’t see the wheels anyway.

Yorkie Z · Post by **Yorkie Z** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:18 pm

Black wheels

Phoenixboy · Post by **Phoenixboy** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:34 pm

Yorkie Z wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:18 pm Black wheels

What wheels

Jembo · Post by **Jembo** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:53 pm

Phoenixboy wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:34 pm
Yorkie Z wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:18 pm Black wheels
What wheels

That’s a hovercraft

Wood Butcher · Post by **Wood Butcher** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:16 pm

Yorkie Z wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 4:18 pm Black wheels

That is quality

Busterboo · Post by **Busterboo** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 6:29 pm

gwatson wrote: ↑Mon Dec 24, 2018 1:31 pm The car has the dreaded 19" 326M alloys. I couldn't to see any cracks and the ride wasn't as crashy as I expected, so in a bit of a conundrum on what to do:
1) Do I sell them (reconditioned recently and fairly new Bridgestone run flats) and buy a used set of 18" 325M, paint them black and fit Michelin PS4's. I've always been a fan of smaller wheels.
or
2) Paint the 326M's black and fit 19" PS4's. Still worried the about the ride.

Cracks make Option 2 a non-starter. So, go for Option 1 ... but not black. White cars look much sharper on silver.

p.s. The car sounds like a very good buy.

Jollyjoiner · Post by **Jollyjoiner** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:38 pm

Nice looking motor, I do like them in white, even though mines silver lol.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 7:43 pm

OP, I think the fact you've always been a fan of smaller wheels makes Option 1 the only way to go!

Looks like you've found a good Z4 BTW.

warmasice · Post by **warmasice** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 10:23 pm

326s look perfect on the e89. Why not just leaves things are they are (especially if the wheels were recently reconditioned and have fairly new Bridgestone run flats) and deal with any issues when (if) they arise?

gwatson · Post by **gwatson** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 10:27 pm

All down to personal preference really, but I don't like silver wheels on a light coloured car and certainly don't want to be riding about on run flats. That's the first thing I've changed on all my Beemers.

gannet · Post by **gannet** » Mon Dec 24, 2018 10:40 pm

18" vs 19" always a personal preference... I've no experience of the E89 on run flats, but the bridgestone run flat tyre is shockingly bad.

My Z4 (E85) on Michelin PS2 ZP was a revellation vs the OEM Bridgestone fitment...

My MINI JCW came with Dunlop Sport MAXX RT run flat tyres and the ride is very good (18"), not crashy at all. We changed mrs gannet's MINI from bridgestone to the that same Dunlop's (in 17") and it transformed the car - much more compliant to drive.

Colourwise - contrast is good - on a white car black can work very nicely

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