8J 18” ET35 wheels on 2006 E85 3.0si ?

[WouterZZZZ]

Good afternoon Z4 E85 owners, what is your experience / opinion with/about 8J 18 inch ET35 wheels on a 2006 3.0si roadster?

My current setup is 8J 17 inch ET46 styling 201 oem BMW, because 3 of 4 rims are not straight enough anymore, BMW dealership noticed, the recurring vibration in the car is now explained.

I would like to put Monaco CSL rep wheels with 8j 18 inch ET35 all 4, with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 225/40/18 all 4.

What is your experience/opinion? Driving comfort, rest in steering wheel/grip/other points to take into account? I really appreciate your feedback/feed forward.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I think they ought to be fine assuming you are on standard suspension.

I had a set of E89 Style 295s on my previous 3.0Si Coupe on standard M-Sport suspension and the fronts were 8Jx18 ET29 with 225/40 tyres and had no issues with them. The rears were 8.5Jx18 ET40 with 255/35 tyres and were also fine.

While an 8.5J ET35 would sit 5mm further out than what I had, the fact that you would be using an 8J ET35 would make up for that.

I can't offer much feedback in terms of ride, etc. as I was still on the same sizes of Bridgestone Potenza run-flats as I had on the 108s I took off.

But if your car is on run-flats you should notice an improvement in ride quality and cornering grip with those Michelins despite going from 17s to 18s.

 

[enuff_zed]

The ones on this 2.2i are 18 x 8.5, ET 38, with 225/40 fronts and 255/35 rears.
Yours would sit out 3mm more I believe.
Hope this helps visualise it?
attachment=0]IMG_1393.JPG[/attachment]

 

[patriot66]

Hi there WouterZZZZ. I have been running MV3s on my Z4 for a few years now. Sizes are 18 x 8 ET34 225/40 18 front and 18 x 8.5 ET37 255/35 18 rear, so only -1mm and +2mm difference in offset from your proposed 35mm. If you're front dampers are old/tired then you will possibly get some arch rubbing on high speed compression bumps...I did before fitting Bilstein B4s. Other than that no issues. Obviously you will have 30mm less width of tyre each side on the rear but I’ve no experience of a square set up so can't offer any advice. However, what's your driving style ? Do you corner hard/fast ? Will you miss that 30mm less lateral grip through the bends ? Maybe someone running a square set up can offer more advice on this aspect

 

[WouterZZZZ]

Thank you all for your constructive help!
I will reconsider my proposed 18 inch because of the front shocks are getting tired, did not think of that before. I will you know what I am going to mount.

 

[enuff_zed]

Thank you all for your constructive help!
I will reconsider my proposed 18 inch because of the front shocks are getting tired, did not think of that before. I will you know what I am going to mount.

On that 2.2i I discovered the old shocks were doing a fair imitation of spaghetti. Could push them in and out by hand and they stayed wherever I put them. No rubbing issues.
However, mine is SE height so that may make a difference?

 

[patriot66]

Thank you all for your constructive help!
I will reconsider my proposed 18 inch because of the front shocks are getting tired, did not think of that before. I will you know what I am going to mount.

A wise move. Your car is a 2006 model and if it's on its original dampers I would suspect they are well past their best

 

[patriot66]

Thank you all for your constructive help!
I will reconsider my proposed 18 inch because of the front shocks are getting tired, did not think of that before. I will you know what I am going to mount.

On that 2.2i I discovered the old shocks were doing a fair imitation of spaghetti. Could push them in and out by hand and they stayed wherever I put them. No rubbing issues.
However, mine is SE height so that may make a difference?

Mine is SE sprung also and my original Sachs were similarly goosed. They will ONLY rub on high speed compression bumps, particularly under heavy braking. The usual place is just inside the wheel arch lip at the joint between the front wing and front bumper

 

[WouterZZZZ]

Thanks again. I will mount exactly the same size as OEM Styling 201. Yes, still driving the 4 original Sachs shocks from 2006, but only 50.000 original miles. New front shocks next year. The rims are Italian made.

 

[WouterZZZZ]

My choice for these rims: something old/something new: the classic design emphasizes the ‘becoming classic Z4 and classic interior with beige leather and walnut dash’, new: the black centre goes well with the black paint on the Z4. What do you think?

 

[Mr Tidy]

I think those Giva wheels look smart - they remind me of BMW Style 32s. But I'm not sure about the black centres. :roll:

 

[WouterZZZZ]

Just fitted. 8J 17 inch ET46. Made by Maxilite Switserland, mounted by Giva Wheels in The Netherlands. What do you think? Have a nice weekend!

 

[enuff_zed]

Nice wheels but I must admit I'm personally not sure on the black centres. But hey, not my car.

 

[WouterZZZZ]

ZZZZ, I have changed the black centers to the silver caps, what do you think of the appearence overall? Friendly greetings from The Netherlands.

 

[curvature]

That looks a lot better with the silver caps.

Nice car.

 

[WouterZZZZ]

Thanks, I agree. Could you -as a fellow newbie- post a picture of your Z4? Really interested!

 

[curvature]

Thanks, I agree. Could you -as a fellow newbie- post a picture of your Z4? Really interested!

Here you go although it is currently in the bodyshop being repaired! 6 days into ownership I was cut up on a roundabout and smashed the headlamp and damaged the front bumper.



The picture was taken the day that I got it after driving nearly 200 miles home.

 

[WouterZZZZ]

Nice! 3.0si N52 automatic of manual?

 

[curvature]

It's a manual.

My day to day car is a 640d GC so wanted a manual to play with.

 

[IRD]

Very smart and a bit different,