Opinions (which to keep)

[ErrErrminator]

Yes, the only opinion that really matters here is mine, as it’s personal taste, but I’m interested in your thoughts on the following.

I have just had a set of Style 189s refurbished and have re-fitted them today. I like these for their simple five spoke design, the favourable offsets (which fill the arches better than original fit wheels), the fact they’re BMW OE and how easy they are to clean.



I’ve been running a set of 18 inch CSL reps for the last few months. I like the CSL style and went for 18s to preserve a little ride comfort, plus I think 19 inch wheels can look too large on the roadster (I know a lot of you won’t agree). These reps have the same 34/37 offsets as the 189s, so fit nicely. What I’m not so keen on is the fact that the front wheels have very little dish, when compared to the rears.



So my choice is to keep the 189s (for now) and sell the CSL reps.

What would be your choice of the two?

I’m always being tempted by other styles, although I really should just settle on one and be content with my choice. If you were to suggest another style for my car what might it be?

 

[Anonymous]

Not a fan of CSL since they're so overdone but they do look good on your car, better than the others imo

 

[Gwest44]

Never seen the fascination of the CSL’s (to busy for me) which is why I’m content with the 224’s on mine - on yours I would go with the 189’s all day long

 

[buzyg]

Would be the 189s for me. Much less fussy.

 

[Smartbear]

I think the 224 M wheels look great on the e85 8)
Rob

 

[brillomaster]

I like the csl reps, i think they look lovely on a dark grey car.

 

[paddy wright]

I really see your problem here as when I read your post and saw the first pic I was firmly set on the 189s. Then I saw the csl reps (which don’t normally look good imho) and they look great on your setup.
So my advice for what it’s worth is stick to the 189s as you seem to prefer them based on your comments, keep the csl’s in the garage for six months and if no regrets sell them on.

 

[ben g]

18'' csl reps always look strange to me. But that's most likely because I'm so used to seeing them in 19''.

I would go for the csl's out of those two, but I would also get really annoyed keeping them clean! So if that's a priority, then the 189's would definitely be the better bet!

I always thought these 2 zeds looked great with their anthracite 18'' csl reps

 

[Mr Tidy]

I prefer the CSL reps - the spokes on the 189s just look a bit too wide for my liking.

And CSLs shouldn't be too hard to clean as the gaps between spokes are a decent size - nothing like a bad as the MV2s I had!

 

[ErrErrminator]

Interesting, thanks for the thoughts and opinions.

For me, if the CSLs were a little deeper dished on the fronts, then I may favour them. Also, and this may sound daft, but if there was such a things as 18.5” wheels, then that would be perfect for the CSLs on an E85. I maintain that 19s, for my taste, look just a little too big for the roadster.

I’ve seen a couple of comments recently about the 189s being a bit too thick in the spoke, but it’s this simplicity of design and the spokes not being too skinny (see Style 313 for eg) which appeals to me. They’re not perfect to my eye, as I’m always on the lookout for other styles which I think will suit the car better, but for now I think the 189s stay.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Interesting, thanks for the thoughts and opinions.

For me, if the CSLs were a little deeper dished on the fronts, then I may favour them. Also, and this may sound daft, but if there was such a things as 18.5” wheels, then that would be perfect for the CSLs on an E85. I maintain that 19s, for my taste, look just a little too big for the roadster.

I’ve seen a couple of comments recently about the 189s being a bit too thick in the spoke, but it’s this simplicity of design and the spokes not being too skinny (see Style 313 for eg) which appeals to me. They’re not perfect to my eye, as I’m always on the lookout for other styles which I think will suit the car better, but for now I think the 189s stay.

I know what you mean about the ease of cleaning a 5 spoke wheel, as my current E86 came on 108s! But I didn't fancy having them when they started getting the inevitable corrosion around the bolt-heads that hold the split-rims together.

I managed to get hold of a set of 295s from a forum member who was putting 19s on his car so I sold my 108s.

295s are an E89 wheel with the same 8J front and 8.5J rear as E85/86 staggered wheels, but because of the different offsets they sit 18mm further out at the front and 10mm at the rear, which just seems to fill the arches better and no need for spacers.

So E89 wheels might be worth considering too.

Photo below - well this is Z4Forum. :lol:

 

[MrPT]

I’d keep the 189s on, they look great.