Spacers Good or Bad??
- Thread starter Stark
- Start date
Got spacers on mine so far no problems at all 
A
Anonymous
Guest
I think the car will look better with spacers, was thinking about putting them on my 35iS before I sold it
Apologies for the late reply, but here is a bit more info:
These are the Wheel Spacer specs from the German Z4 Web site, based upon quite a few folks trying various spacers, and compliance with the German T.U.V. I am running the 313 Wheels with the Adaptive Sport suspension and H&R Springs/Sway Bars and can state that the improvement in ride quality and the increase in compliance on rough roads is well worth the effort, as verified by Markus Schmickler [http://www.schmickler-performance.de/] when he did both the engine mapping and suspension tuning up at the Ring. I am running the 5mm [H&R Part # 1075725] in front and the 10mm [H&R Part # 2075725] in the rear as well as longer bolts [The T.U.V. requires 7 complete finger tight turns on wheel bolt threads before they start to tighten up, and they do randomly check both front and rear at every M.O.T.] I did have to re-work the rear plastic wheel well liner, but only took 20 minutes per side, will post instructions if anyone has an interest. The figures below account for the Adaptive Suspension, but not with lowering springs
Front: for example Style 326, 313, 325, 296, 294, 293, 276 or all wheels 8J width/ET29 with 225 tires
5mm plates (10mm per axle) = fit without machining
10 mm plates (20 mm per axle) = fit without machining (almost flush)
12 mm plates (24mm per axle) = tire sidewall might contact the front fender [wing].
Rear: for example Style 325, 294, 293, 276 or all wheels 8.5J/ ET40 with 255mm tires
12 mm plates (24mm at the rear) = fit without machining (+12.1 mm per side clearance to the fender [wing))
15 mm plates (30mm at the rear) = tire sidewall might contact the fender [wing], (interference per side +9.1 mm)
20 mm plates (40mm at the rear) = grinds the plastic wheel well (+4.1 mm per side would bind)
25 mm plates (50mm at the rear) = grinds the plastic wheel well and very close to the fender [wing]. (Interference per side is about 9.0 mm)
Rear: for example Style 313, 326, 276, 296 or all wheels 9J width/ET40 with 255 tires
10 mm plates (20mm per axle) = fit without machining (+7.7 mm per side clearance)
12 mm plates (24mm per axle) = Borderline, very tight (+5.7 mm per side clearance)
15 mm plates (30mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner (+2.7 mm per side clearance to the fender [wing)
18 mm plates (36mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner (interference per side is about 0.3 mm)
20 mm plates (40mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner and the fender [wing] (interference per side is about 2.3 mm)
These are the Wheel Spacer specs from the German Z4 Web site, based upon quite a few folks trying various spacers, and compliance with the German T.U.V. I am running the 313 Wheels with the Adaptive Sport suspension and H&R Springs/Sway Bars and can state that the improvement in ride quality and the increase in compliance on rough roads is well worth the effort, as verified by Markus Schmickler [http://www.schmickler-performance.de/] when he did both the engine mapping and suspension tuning up at the Ring. I am running the 5mm [H&R Part # 1075725] in front and the 10mm [H&R Part # 2075725] in the rear as well as longer bolts [The T.U.V. requires 7 complete finger tight turns on wheel bolt threads before they start to tighten up, and they do randomly check both front and rear at every M.O.T.] I did have to re-work the rear plastic wheel well liner, but only took 20 minutes per side, will post instructions if anyone has an interest. The figures below account for the Adaptive Suspension, but not with lowering springs
Front: for example Style 326, 313, 325, 296, 294, 293, 276 or all wheels 8J width/ET29 with 225 tires
5mm plates (10mm per axle) = fit without machining
10 mm plates (20 mm per axle) = fit without machining (almost flush)
12 mm plates (24mm per axle) = tire sidewall might contact the front fender [wing].
Rear: for example Style 325, 294, 293, 276 or all wheels 8.5J/ ET40 with 255mm tires
12 mm plates (24mm at the rear) = fit without machining (+12.1 mm per side clearance to the fender [wing))
15 mm plates (30mm at the rear) = tire sidewall might contact the fender [wing], (interference per side +9.1 mm)
20 mm plates (40mm at the rear) = grinds the plastic wheel well (+4.1 mm per side would bind)
25 mm plates (50mm at the rear) = grinds the plastic wheel well and very close to the fender [wing]. (Interference per side is about 9.0 mm)
Rear: for example Style 313, 326, 276, 296 or all wheels 9J width/ET40 with 255 tires
10 mm plates (20mm per axle) = fit without machining (+7.7 mm per side clearance)
12 mm plates (24mm per axle) = Borderline, very tight (+5.7 mm per side clearance)
15 mm plates (30mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner (+2.7 mm per side clearance to the fender [wing)
18 mm plates (36mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner (interference per side is about 0.3 mm)
20 mm plates (40mm per axle) = grinds the plastic wheel well liner and the fender [wing] (interference per side is about 2.3 mm)
Good info there! 
I'm looking to add spacers too and that is just the info i needed! (Running 296 wheels)
Only thing is I want to lower too but I cannot decide between Eibachs or H&R springs
Eibachs lower 25mm front and 15mm rear whereas H&R is 30mm all round. Which of the 2 are a better fit?
I'm looking to add spacers too and that is just the info i needed! (Running 296 wheels)
Only thing is I want to lower too but I cannot decide between Eibachs or H&R springs
Eibachs lower 25mm front and 15mm rear whereas H&R is 30mm all round. Which of the 2 are a better fit?
jakartakid
Member
+ 1 on the good info. I have a pair of 10mm H&R spacers from my previous E92 and haven't got round to fitting them on the rear yet, the fronts look pretty flush already. I also am considering lowering with Eibach springs and would be interested in hearing if anybody has done this and how they compare in ride to the standard springs. My 3.0i non m sport sits too high in my opinion.
I have 55mm rear spacers and 22mm fronts... it's ALL GOOD! 
I saw his picture and said "dammit! To late" :thumbsdown:
I use 15mm spacers on the front with my track wheels to try to reduce understeer and I've had no problems. I doubt that the loads created from road use will approach those on the track, so I would be very surprised if modest spacers were to cause significant problems in normal use.