New (to me) 326M Alloys fitted & Future Caliper Painting
- Thread starter superdavelotus
- Start date
It's simple, it's called reading the road ahead!Busterboo said:How will you do that, then?superdavelotus said:
I love driving and have owned sports cars for over 20 years and done several track days. So I have no worries about driving these on runflats until they wear out. Like someone has just said, why would you throw away a £200 tyre per corner?Busterboo said:
This forum sure has a tough croud!Busterboo said:No, they're not. They look like spiders' legs wrapped in liquorice strips.Johnbmwz4 said:
Thanks 
they are ‘shadow chrome’, had them done by wheel Genie in Huntingdon, Cambs and have to say they did an excellent job.
I am paranoid about pot holes tho, having had to replace both rear wheels in recent past…
they are ‘shadow chrome’, had them done by wheel Genie in Huntingdon, Cambs and have to say they did an excellent job. I am paranoid about pot holes tho, having had to replace both rear wheels in recent past…
Scottish Borders
superdavelotus said:
Yes I did..
The ride was horrible on MSport suspension in both 18” and 19” sizes…horrible tramlining.
Each to their own..
FWIW it’s rated as the worst UHP tyre available…given it’s age not entirely unreasonable
73rd..
https://www.tyrereviews.com/Tyre-Type/Passenger-Car-Summer-Max-Performance-Tyres/
However if you can live with them they wear like concrete..and they are runflat which is useful..
superdavelotus said:
Because the car drives rubbish with them on, awful ride. It was the very first thing I did when I bought mine and mine had two new fronts when I purchased it, couldn't fathom the next five years or so living with those horrible things.
Changed them the second day I had the car and the ride and handling was totally transformed, if you care about driving then that should be the first thing you do. I think anyone buying an E89 should budget the extra £400 to 600 in the buying price of the car to be able to replace them.
Sorry but we are in the ‘yes they aren’t great but until they wear out I can’t justify changing them’ camp. And agree too they last an along time! The advantage of a RFT is unquestionable however the ride is, well, firm!! It’s on the list to do (was going to change the Bridgestones out when had the wheels refurbed but still lots of tread and instead ordered the Remus 
)
Each to their own I say
Conti 7’s when I can afford it tho.
) Each to their own I say
Conti 7’s when I can afford it tho.
Anyway, back to @superdavelotus, the wheels look great on your car. Wondering whether that ‘performance’ sill is a physical part or a vinyl addition? Quite liking it and may consider similar for our black E89 
Haha my personal opinion obviously and the design people at BMW who made the wheel and decided to put them on the car. And they are super easy to clean. That’s got to be a good thing right??Busterboo said:No, they're not. They look like spiders' legs wrapped in liquorice strips.Johnbmwz4 said:
Ohio
Well in any case, take the time to de-iron the wheels and ceramic them and you'll have even less work in cleaning.Johnbmwz4 said:
My car calipers have gone, natural, silver (ok), silver chrome (bit much), gold (bit chav), silver chrome (better than gold), graphite (bit Aston Martin), silver chrome (wanted to see calipers behind wheel) and will go back to graphite (hides the dirt dust) as soon as i got time to re-paint.
At the summit of the picturesque fens
I actually find the Potenza RFT a really good tyre (grip-wise).B21 said:
Yes it doesn't help with the ride quality on stupid-stiff (sorry MSport) suspension. But paying £600 plus to maybe stop some wheels cracking (it's never been proven) and making the ride slightly more bearable is just stupid in my book.
But then I'm not a rich person; if I was I would have much better car than a Z4!
Pondrew said:
Not sure about stopping the wheels from cracking but slightly more bearable ride quality? For me it made massive difference, absolutely night and day. Not only ride quality but no more tram lining, skittish feeling when going over imperfections in the road and so much more quieter than the Bridgestones and I am 18" rims!
Before I bought mine I had a chat with Birds who are renowned for their knowledge on BMWs and tuning and the advice he gave me in terms of mods to improve how the car drives, first step was to ditch the run flats.
I've just ordered some of this paint, thanks for sharing. I am just curious about Estoril Blue, is this the same blue BMW paint their calipers or did you just choose this colour? I see from the same seller they do Midnight Saphire Blue Metallic and San Marino Blue MTec. I am new to BMWs and their colours etc, so any assistance is appreciated.Johnbmwz4 said:
I don't think you will find a 'matching' colour for the BMW m-sport blue calipers. They are stove enamelled from the factory that make the calipers (which won't be BMW). Finding that type of information is virtually impossible IME, as your dealer won't know or have the info.
Best to pick a colour you like, or as near to OEM as you can get and go with that. Don't think anyone will notice if it's a shade or two out.
The calipers on any E89 were never blue from the factory, so any colour is a 'fake' really anyway.
Best to pick a colour you like, or as near to OEM as you can get and go with that. Don't think anyone will notice if it's a shade or two out.
The calipers on any E89 were never blue from the factory, so any colour is a 'fake' really anyway.