Going from 17" to 18" but retaining "square" set up - Options?

[B21]

One of the other benefits of a square set up is less road noise, especially as you sit quite close to the rear tyres. [ref]Varixto[/ref], I also had the square 225R17 set up and upgraded to a set of BBS alloys 225R18 with Goodyear F1's, go for it.

Thanks for your reply. I feel tempted to go aftermarket, as you suggest...the only reason for sticking to BMW alloys is because if possible, I would like to keep the car as OEM-looking as possible. Member MrTidy replied earlier something about another member using 4 x 18" 225 fronts (ie: 8J all around). Maybe this could be an option? (it would be more expensive though...).

225 is a 19” wheel with the wrong offset…you’ll need 10mm spacers to make them fit appropriately

https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/3_series_e93_alloys/19_bmw_225m_wheel_1059

Here’s an interesting and informative video on the pluses and minuses of square and staggered setups on a BMW with various widths..


https://youtu.be/Bgz0qF3CuNA?si=mwwPf1q0ZpMiQIzn

 

[Varixto]

One of the other benefits of a square set up is less road noise, especially as you sit quite close to the rear tyres. [ref]Varixto[/ref], I also had the square 225R17 set up and upgraded to a set of BBS alloys 225R18 with Goodyear F1's, go for it.

Thanks for your reply. I feel tempted to go aftermarket, as you suggest...the only reason for sticking to BMW alloys is because if possible, I would like to keep the car as OEM-looking as possible. Member MrTidy replied earlier something about another member using 4 x 18" 225 fronts (ie: 8J all around). Maybe this could be an option? (it would be more expensive though...).

225 is a 19” wheel with the wrong offset…you’ll need 10mm spacers to make them fit appropriately

https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/3_series_e93_alloys/19_bmw_225m_wheel_1059

Here’s an interesting and informative video on the pluses and minuses of square and staggered setups on a BMW with various widths..


https://youtu.be/Bgz0qF3CuNA?si=mwwPf1q0ZpMiQIzn

Thanks for the video link. It was really interesting!
So, it seems that on 19" there was practically no difference between a 225/255 and a square 225/225 in terms of lap time. What about weight dfferences between 18" and 19" alloys? Would they have an impact? What about speedo accuracy? I'm leaning more towards the 18" option and ideally, I would like to avoid using spacers if possible.

 

[B21]

18” wheels are lighter than 19” with the adjustment of ratio profile to maintain the same rolling radius

Ditto speedo accuracy 225/40 18 has the same rolling radius as a 225/35 19

18” is generally regarded as the Goldylocks size…reasonable ride comfort , negligible impact on handling..

There are lots of 18” options with E89 offsets

The staggered issue is more biased to more powerful versions of E89s …they can much more easily overcome the grip offered by narrower tyres..

The reason that wider front tyres are not used on e89s are in part lack of space and in part feedback and heaviness in steering..

 

[Varixto]

18” wheels are lighter than 19” with the adjustment of ratio profile to maintain the same rolling radius
Ditto speedo accuracy 225/40 18 has the same rolling radius as a 225/35 19
18” is generally regarded as the Goldylocks size…reasonable ride comfort , negligible impact on handling..
There are lots of 18” options with E89 offsets
The staggered issue is more biased to more powerful versions of E89s …they can much more easily overcome the grip offered by narrower tyres..
The reason that wider front tyres are not used on e89s are in part lack of space and in part feedback and heaviness in steering..

Thanks for the reply and for all the info. Will the 18" 400M style fit the E89? (ie: 18" - 8J et34 and 8.5J et47)
A seller on eBay states that it's better to fit them with spacers (something I really would prefer to avoid). With some other sellers, the eBay compatibility checker states that the alloys are compatible and sometimes it states they aren't... I have seen online pics of e85's with 400M alloys and they look ok but I have not been able to find any pic. of an e89 with 400 m style alloys fitted.

 

[brillomaster]

fronts would be ok, rears would be a long way inboard.

why the aversion to spacers? all a 10mm spacer on the rear would do would convert the offset from 47 to 37, and then it'd fit just fine...

actually, apologies for the condescending question, but what wheels do you actually like the look of? just buy them, and then if required, the appropriate spacer to correct the offset to make them fit nice....?

a nice set of MV3s maybe? they'd go straight on an E89, no spacers required. and readily available, though watch for previous cracks...

 

[sars]

Though I've used spacers in the past, I also do not like them, it's called compound tolerancing, each hub component will have a concentric tolerance, and as you add more components the tolerances add up. A vehicle manufacturer will calculate it's tolerances on what is both required, and their capability, the spacer manufacturer will choose what's the most cost effective.......

 

[Varixto]

In the end I decided to go for the OEM 18" 325M style, which is a staggered set up. There are not many full sets of these around but I managed to get a set on eBay for a very reasonable price after some haggling. They're not perfect so they'll need a refurb but the tyres still have 6/7 mm of tread left. If they are 68 mm, I will transplant the (new) centre caps from my 17" to these.
I will keep the 17" for the time being, just in case. I'll post an update once fitted, just in case anyone is interested. Thanks everyone for your advice!

 

[B21]

Are they Bridgestone run flats?

 

[peter2704]

Ditch them if they are

 

[Varixto]

Are they Bridgestone run flats?

They are.

 

[Varixto]

Ditch them if they are

I have read lots of bad reviews and comments about the RFT's, specially for the Potenza S001 RFT's (that's what's at the front). The rears are Potenza RE050A RFT's.
Read about crashy ride, tramlining, etc... I am not in a rush to fit, as the alloys need a refurb anyway. Have you got any recommendation?

 

[brillomaster]

Anything from the premium or mid range manufacturers thats not a run flat! Kumho PS71s are excellent value for money right now...

https://www.tyrereviews.com/Article/2023-AutoBild-UHP-Summer-Tyre-Test.htm

 

[peter2704]

depends on your driving style and what you use the car for, i have Accelera ph1-r and cant fault them,good on price too. others will advise too

 

[Mr Tidy]

I've had Kumho Ecsta PS71s one my car since April 2021 and they have performed really well.

 

[Varixto]

Well, I have finally refurbished and fitted the 325M's.

These are the 290's 17 inch alloys the car came with...

It's a pretty subtle change but actually, I quite like them. The only downside is that the tyres are RFT's but it felt such a waste of money to replace them at this moment, as they still had around 6/7 mm of tread left. I have decided to put up with it and wait to replace them until they're a bit more worn.
A close up of the new wheels:


Unfortunately, when I went to do a wheel alignment to my local tyre workshop on Saturday, they could not do it. The technician told me that when he was trying to adjust the rear camber he feared he would snap the rear camber bolts. He told me he did not want to take the risk and proceed as if they snapped, I would have been left stuck without the car for the weekend, as obviously they would not have been able to order the parts.

I have ordered now a set of rear camber bolts, washers, etc... from BMW (around £40+....sigh....) and in a week's time I will be taking it to a local BMW independent workshop to have the bolts replaced and the alignment done. Hope everything goes well replacing said bolts (fingers crossed).

By the way, I haven't decided yet but I am considering selling the set of 17 inch 290s with tyres, in case anyone is interested. They will need to be refurbished but at least they have new center caps!

 

[Mr Tidy]

I had a similar problem with my Z4 when I wanted an alignment done, both track-rod ends were seized solid but luckily it was at a BMW Indy.

Although it did make it an expensive exercise it transformed the car.

Good luck selling a set of 290s - it took 2 years off and on to sell mine!

 

[Varixto]

I had a similar problem with my Z4 when I wanted an alignment done, both track-rod ends were seized solid but luckily it was at a BMW Indy.
Although it did make it an expensive exercise it transformed the car.
Good luck selling a set of 290s - it took 2 years off and on to sell mine!

I hope they're not too corroded and completely seized up (and end up with a much higher bill than anticipated) but I am not too hopeful, as after all, it's a 16 years old car.
Regarding selling the 290's, I am sure it will also take me forever to sell mine, as most people tend to go for bigger size alloys. And if they go for a smaller size, it's likely that it would be from 19'' to 18'', not 18'' to 17''. But well, I'm in no rush. Luckily I have space to store them.

 

[Mr Tidy]

My car was 15 years old when I had the alignment done, and no amount of heat and brute force could shift my track rod ends!

So by the time they and a worn ball-joint were replaced the total cost in 2021 was £500. But I've had over 3 years driving a car that feels spot on so I think it was money well spent.

I bought my 290s as summer wheels for my E90 as the ones it came with were horrible Style 158s. I finally sold them to an E85 owner who wanted a square set for his track car, and 17s also meant new tyres would be cheaper!

It was just a matter of timing - I happened to have them for sale when he was looking.

 

[Varixto]

My car was 15 years old when I had the alignment done, and no amount of heat and brute force could shift my track rod ends!

So by the time they and a worn ball-joint were replaced the total cost in 2021 was £500. But I've had over 3 years driving a car that feels spot on so I think it was money well spent.

I bought my 290s as summer wheels for my E90 as the ones it came with were horrible Style 158s. I finally sold them to an E85 owner who wanted a square set for his track car, and 17s also meant new tyres would be cheaper!

It was just a matter of timing - I happened to have them for sale when he was looking.

In the end, I took the car for the wheel alignment to a local BMW Specialist. They said that the rear camber bolts were absolutely fine!?
The technician at the other workshop had told me that they needed replacing and that they couldn't do the alignment because of it.
At the BMW specialist they told me that probably they weren't sure how to do the alignment properly and thought that it would take them too long/could not be bothered.
I am pretty disappointed and a bit annoyed for buying parts that were not needed and for the inconvenience.
I hope I can return the bolts to my local BMW dealer. In the end they were £28 only, but it is still money I did not need to spend.
But well, things happen...
Here's a pic of my new alignment specs, just in case anyone needs them for reference.