HELP!!!! Need recommendation for new tires and wheels

[Dew's Z4]

I have a 2005 3.0i Z4, Titanium Silver, with original ellipsoids and Bridgestone Potenza runflat tires (225/40R 18 in the front, 255/35R 18 in the rear).

I just hit 37k miles and have a flat tire. I guess I pushed my luck getting this many miles out of the tires! Anyway, I have a good-sized budget and want to upgrade the wheels and tires.

My husband wants to go to Costco to buy the replacement tires so please, help is needed soon to avoid this fate.

First, I need a shop recommendation in SoCal, preferably in Palm Springs - who can replace the wheels and tires for me and get some really cool looking wheels to replace the ellipsoids.

Second, in case there's not a shop within 100 miles of Palm Springs, where do I get the wheels? I think I can get the tires at TireRack but who should I trust for install? I don't think the dealer will do this if I supply my own parts, right?

Lastly, if none of the above is possible, please recommend a cool looking wheel that I can use on this car. I'd love to fill in the wheel well a bit but I keep reading about offsets and spacers and I'm lost

PLEASE HELP!

This is for a good cause, if I get cool wheels I'll keep this car instead of dreaming of a newer Z4, so please, help!

Thanks

 

[Dew's Z4]

I'm thinking European Auto Source http://www.europeanautosource.com/contact_us.php and Velocity Motoring http://velocitymotoring.com/links/wheels.htm in Santa Ana might be a good place to start.....anyone used these places? I only found them by googling so I have no idea if I'm on the right track.

Come on, I see you lurkers...please give me some input, my car is grounded until I get this fixed

 

[nonsns3]

I have the 19" M6 replicas with Potenzas and they have been working out great for me. I definitely highly recommend them. I posted a few pics here if you want to see: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6410&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=75. They also come in 18" if you prefer a slightly better ride/price.

 

[Dew's Z4]

I LOVE those!

Now, where do you find these wheels?

If I get 19" would I move to 235/35 19 on the front and 265/30 19 on the back?

What do you have? They look great!

 

[nonsns3]

Yep, I have 235/35/19 in the front and 275/30/19 rear. On mine the fronts rub the fender if I am cornering hard or going over a dip in the road. But its rubbing less and less as it wears out the fender - fine with me. I've heard of other with the same setup on the Z4 but doesn't rub so who knows.

The maker is Miro Wheels. I personally got mine from ebay but you can try these guys too: http://www.modbargains.com/product.aspx?pf_id=Miro_Type_346. They're pretty reasonably priced as well and shipped from CALI some where. Don't hesitate to call them to negotiate.

Get them, you won't regret! Here is a night shot of it:

 

[GP20]

I have the 19" M6 replicas with Potenzas and they have been working out great for me. I definitely highly recommend them. I posted a few pics here if you want to see: http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=6410&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=75. They also come in 18" if you prefer a slightly better ride/price.

EAS has very good reputation and customer service.

Buy from modbargains only if you want crappy customer service and having 10 emails ignored after you pay - until you publically complain about them on a forum and suddenly they'll start treating you like king.

 

[Dew's Z4]

nonsns3,

You mention problems going over dips...I have a very steep driveway that I have to go up at an angle to prevent scraping the bottom of the front bumper at the curb in my current setup. Do you think this set up will make that problem worse?





Any other wheel suggestions? Wondering if I need something silver or chrome to "pop" against the drab Titanium silver color...

 

[DavidZ4]

Have you thought about a set of AC Schnitzers? I know some people arent happy unless they have the blue and white rotor blades in the centre of their wheels but I think a set of ACS wheels really gives a beemer that WOW factor!!

 

[GP20]

Any other wheel suggestions? Wondering if I need something silver or chrome to "pop" against the drab Titanium silver color...

No chrome wheels please unless you're going for a ghetto look.

If you have a titanium silver and you want "pop", you do the opposite and get darker wheels - gun-metal, hyperblack, diamond black, etc.

 

[nonsns3]

nonsns3,
You mention problems going over dips...I have a very steep driveway that I have to go up at an angle to prevent scraping the bottom of the front bumper at the curb in my current setup. Do you think this set up will make that problem worse?

Since the overall circumference of your new tires won't change, it should not be any different than today.

 

[nonsns3]

EAS has very good reputation and customer service.

Buy from modbargains only if you want crappy customer service and having 10 emails ignored after you pay - until you publically complain about them on a forum and suddenly they'll start treating you like king.

EAS doesn't seem to have M6 replicas. I've never bought from modbargain so I can't comment on that.

 

[IMZ4N]

GP20,

No chrome wheels please unless you're going for a ghetto look.

I think chrome wheels are great. If I had it to do again, I would do it again. Adds the bit of bling to the silver. I have been looking at the smoked chrome wheels. Might hide some of the brake dust. However, does not reflect very well. IMHO You could always go with polished lips ( the area between where the tire meets the rim and the spoking goes to the center ) on the rims.

If you are not racing or tracking the car, who cares about the added unsprong weight. Keep in mind that you can have almost any rim design chromed. Just my $.02 worth, think about the effort required to clean with a bunch of small areas between spokes and the like.

Keeping your runflats, try the Michelins.

Flaken tires $600 tatal about 10k miles very sticky

Ps2's $1200-1400 total 25k miles

Eagle F1's $1200-1400 total 25k miles

If you would like to drive my car without RFT I can arrange that for you?

Give me a call and we can talk.

 

[Dew's Z4]

Thanks for the replies!!!

Since I was crunched for time, I called modbargains and ordered the M6 replicas in silver/gunmetal with Potenzas (runflats saved me this week!) sight unseen. Should have them in a week with the tires already installed. I was chicken to go to 19" :roll: so i stuck with the stock size. I think the wheels are impressive enough that they won't look tiny though.

Thanks for the advice.

Now, does anyone want to buy a set of 4 ellipsoid wheels with 37k on them?

 

[Dew's Z4]

Oh IMZ4N we must have posted at the same time!

I did just get 37k out of my origianl Potenzas, so why go to a 24k mile tire?

Oh and the dude did try to call you last night to get your advice, he said he thought you changed your phone number????

 

[IMZ4N]

Oh IMZ4N we must have posted at the same time!

I did just get 37k out of my origianl Potenzas, so why go to a 24k mile tire?

Oh and the dude did try to call you last night to get your advice, he said he thought you changed your phone number????

If you are getting that kind of miles on those tires, you need to go on more runs. :rofl:

 

[nonsns3]

ordered the M6 replicas in silver/gunmetal with Potenzas

Congrats. You're gonna love 'em! When I got mine they looked so nice that I didn't want to mount them on and subject them to the elements.

 

[ovrkll]

I really like the M6 reps, and after seeing yours close up at HC, I am seriously considering it.

 

[nonsns3]

Naw they're awful. Don't get them.

[my attempt at staying unique] :evil: :lol:

 

[Dew's Z4]

OK I need help once again....I ordered through modbargains and let's just say I need to find another supplier for the M6 wheels. Any recommendations? EAS doesn't carry them......

I'm without a car (it's been over a week!) until I can get this resolved.

 

[ZetaTre]

I had a set on my eBay watch list. Here's the auction.

The set should be 18x8 ET35 while the one you have should be 18x8 ET47 ins the front and 18x8.5 ET50 in the rear.

As far as tire goes you are able to mount same tire as you currently running: 255/35-18 should be fine on rims from 7.5 to 9.5.

You just have to make sure you have enough room between the rim and the fender: because of the lower offset the rims on eBay stick out 12mm more in the front and 15mm more in the rear.