Will these E89 294's fit on an E85?

[PieAndMash]

Evening All,

I've got a pre-facelift 2.5 E85 with 4 badly rotten 108's (stock 8x18 ET47 225/40/18 front, 8.5x18 ET50 255/35/18 rear) with 2 front tyres that need changing right now for the MOT next week. So I'm looking at 4 full refurbs (if even possible on one) and 2 tyres, which has surely got to come to £450+/ish.

Rather than that route there seems to be a good few sets of other wheels around with 4 decent boots for less than £450, so I'm tempted. Kis's sticky helped me rule out plenty of 3 series M's, but I'm struggling to work out if 294's from an E89 would fit without rubbing?

Fronts 8x18 ET29 225/40/18
Rears 8.5x18 ET40 255/35/18



I'm guessing the rears will fit ok but that front 29 offset might be too far out? Willtheyfit.com says they'll stick out another 18mm than the 108's. I'd appreciate any thoughts or experience on this. I know some of you like to push these cars limits but I'm not interested in borderline or rubbing no matter how light. The sounds turns my stomach :wink:

Thanks

 

[mr wilks]

They would fit fine on your E85 , the stock set up with 108,s / mv2,s allow for 15mm spacers front / 20mm rear without going ott so the answer to your quandary is pretty much any wheelset from E89s will work

 

[PieAndMash]

They would fit fine on your E85 , the stock set up with 108,s / mv2,s allow for 15mm spacers front / 20mm rear without going ott so the answer to your quandary is pretty much any wheelset from E89s will work

Nice, thanks for the reassurance, I appreciate it.

 

[patriot66]

I think the 294 is a great looking wheel and looks much better on the E85 than the E89. I saved a photo from a few years back of forum member R80CLEs Z4 that had 294s fitted as I was really taken with them and fancied a set myself

 

[PieAndMash]

Phwoar!!! 8)

Thanks for posting that pic patriot, 'cause that's exactly how my combo will look. I'm 50% relieved and 50% excited since I just bought them.

 

[patriot66]

Phwoar!!! 8)

Thanks for posting that pic patriot, 'cause that's exactly how my combo will look. I'm 50% relieved and 50% excited since I just bought them.

No problem Make sure to post some photos when you get yours fitted

 

[Mr Tidy]

Yes, as mr wilks said they should definitely be fine.

I've got E89 295s on my E86 with M-Sport suspension that have the same sizes and offsets, and I've had no rubbing.

They replaced 108s that were in decent condition so I wanted to shift them before they needed an expensive refurb!

 

[PieAndMash]

No problem Make sure to post some photos when you get yours fitted

Will do. I'm really liking that back wheel line in that pic. They should be on by Monday.

I've got E89 295s on my E86 with M-Sport suspension that have the same sizes and offsets, and I've had no rubbing.

They replaced 108s that were in decent condition so I wanted to shift them before they needed an expensive refurb!

Thanks fella good to know. The 108's that are on it are in a real bad state, one is probably the worst alloy I've ever seen. Shame they deteriorate so quickly even when refurbed. I was going to scrap them for pennies but might put them on here for someone who's keen on a challenge.

 

[PieAndMash]

They're on the car now and I love them, but the fronts are rubbing because the whole car is too low. I thought when I bought it that it needed new front springs, but now looking at mine and comparing it with the pic patriot66 posted, I think mine has been lowered all round. I'm kind of happy to know that because no matter how slow I'm going the front bumper is scraping every speed hump, and there's loads where I live! :roll:

Have I got to do all 4 in one go or can I just do the fronts for now? Also if I want to reliably get it back up to factory height have I got to get BMW springs or are there any oem's etc that are well rated by you guys? I've read a fair a bit on here about Bilsteins etc but that talk is all about lowering it.

 

[mr wilks]

What size tyres are on the fronts ?
Its most likely the merest of rubs that sounds much worse than it is , dropping tyre size a little could well be the answer .
Also not uncommon with the older cars to have had the bumper off / arch liner out & they don't always get refitted as they were

 

[PieAndMash]

Thanks for your help mate.

225/40/18's same as the 108's. It's every few seconds especially at speed.

I'm not imagining it though am I? In that pic above of R80CLE's it looks higher?

 

[PieAndMash]

Anyone know what the stock clearance height is at mid-bumper or where I can find it? I've got the TIS but am lost in it.

The right is definitely slightly lower than the left and rebounds differently which is why I thought it needed at least one spring when I bought it. Pinpointing the sound is difficult but I think it's the left that's rubbing.

I'll check the wheel arches tomorrow and maybe out some chalk on it to see where it's rubbing.

 

[Mr Tidy]

I think you car does look lower than patriot66's one based on those photos.

It would help if you could find out what springs are on it. If you jack the car and take the wheel off most after-market springs have the maker's name and a product code on them, but you may need to twist the spring around to find it!

If you can identify what you have, you can make a better decision about what you might want to fit. But I definitely wouldn't want to raise just the front as Z4s seems to get a bit light at the front at higher speeds anyway, so raising it would probably just make that worse.

Good luck anyway.

BTW I'm having the same issue with speed bumps in London with my latest, so I feel your pain!

 

[mr wilks]

Depending on the rub 215 40 18 could be the solution , it doesn't take much .

 

[PieAndMash]

Thanks guys.

It would help if you could find out what springs are on it. If you jack the car and take the wheel off most after-market springs have the maker's name and a product code on them, but you may need to twist the spring around to find it!

Perfect, I didn't think about markings and that's a great way to start. Gives me an excuse to buy a cheap trolley jack and torque wrench too.

But I definitely wouldn't want to raise just the front as Z4s seems to get a bit light at the front at higher speeds anyway, so raising it would probably just make that worse

I bet you're right. I wasn't thinking for long, just thinking I've probably enough money now to get new front springs fitted so it's usable, and get the back done when I'm paid end of the month.

BTW I'm having the same issue with speed bumps in London with my latest, so I feel your pain!

Your M-Sport suspension is significantly lower than this vanilla one should be though right? Is your bumper scraping even if you go over them slowly on the wheels? It freaks me out, sends my head back to my first Beemer 30 years ago when I got conned into buying the wrong wheels and I shredded a tyre and span out on the A13.

Anyway, you both have given me a good plan, I'm changing that wing tomorrow, so I'll get a jack and see what springs are on it, check the arches, and I'll find one for sale at a dealer and measure what the front clearance is on it.

 

[Mr Tidy]

Your M-Sport suspension is significantly lower than this vanilla one should be though right? Is your bumper scraping even if you go over them slowly on the wheels? It freaks me out, sends my head back to my first Beemer 30 years ago when I got conned into buying the wrong wheels and I shredded a tyre and span out on the A13.

No, my M-Sport suspension on my 3.0Si isn't that low. It doesn't scrape when I take them slowly, it's my M Coupe that is the problem as it is on coil-overs and set more than an inch lower than M height!

You'll see what I mean from a couple of photos!

 

[patriot66]

Thanks guys.

It would help if you could find out what springs are on it. If you jack the car and take the wheel off most after-market springs have the maker's name and a product code on them, but you may need to twist the spring around to find it!

Perfect, I didn't think about markings and that's a great way to start. Gives me an excuse to buy a cheap trolley jack and torque wrench too.

But I definitely wouldn't want to raise just the front as Z4s seems to get a bit light at the front at higher speeds anyway, so raising it would probably just make that worse

I bet you're right. I wasn't thinking for long, just thinking I've probably enough money now to get new front springs fitted so it's usable, and get the back done when I'm paid end of the month.

BTW I'm having the same issue with speed bumps in London with my latest, so I feel your pain!

Your M-Sport suspension is significantly lower than this vanilla one should be though right? Is your bumper scraping even if you go over them slowly on the wheels? It freaks me out, sends my head back to my first Beemer 30 years ago when I got conned into buying the wrong wheels and I shredded a tyre and span out on the A13.

Anyway, you both have given me a good plan, I'm changing that wing tomorrow, so I'll get a jack and see what springs are on it, check the arches, and I'll find one for sale at a dealer and measure what the front clearance is on it.

PieAndMash, whilst your checking the springs have a good look at the shock absorbers whilst you're doing. If it's on the original '05 Sachs then they are probably a little tired or like mine were.... completely goosed ! A couple of years back I fitted new Bilstein B4s all round, ditched the MSport springs I'd had on a while (couldn't live with the ride quality) and refitted my standard SE springs (comfy !). The car sat approx 15mm higher to start with but now it is at 10-12mm higher than pre-goosed Sachs. My MV3 alloys (front 18 × 8 et34 225/40, rear 18 x 8.5 et37 255/35) used to rub on the front only over high speed compressions and on full lock manoeuvring. They've never rubbed once since fitting the B4s

 

[PieAndMash]

No, my M-Sport suspension on my 3.0Si isn't that low. It doesn't scrape when I take them slowly, it's my M Coupe that is the problem as it is on coil-overs and set more than an inch lower than M height!

You'll see what I mean from a couple of photos!

Jeez yeah!! :-o Your coupe is beautiful but I can see how that's incredibly hump unfriendly. When I brought it back from the tyre shop I was thinking ways I could go with the least humps, then I parked it. That's just ONE day... you're a hero sticking with it. This is meant to be my every day car, if I can't sort it I'll get rid of it. But, I'm encouraged from seeing your 3.0Si pic cos it's clearly riding higher than mine, so at the moment I'm doubling down my hopes on the springs.

PieAndMash, whilst your checking the springs have a good look at the shock absorbers whilst you're doing. If it's on the original '05 Sachs then they are probably a little tired or like mine were.... completely goosed ! A couple of years back I fitted new Bilstein B4s all round, ditched the MSport springs I'd had on a while (couldn't live with the ride quality) and refitted my standard SE springs (comfy !). The car sat approx 15mm higher to start with but now it is at 10-12mm higher than pre-goosed Sachs. My MV3 alloys (front 18 × 8 et34 225/40, rear 18 x 8.5 et37 255/35) used to rub on the front only over high speed compressions and on full lock manoeuvring. They've never rubbed once since fitting the B4s

Thanks fella I will check. They do the right damper movement of once down then bounce back to middle and stop, but they're also clearly compressing at speed so you could well be right. If I have to change springs and shocks though I'm tempted to just get the old 108's refurbed and stick them back on for now.

 

[PieAndMash]

Double result!

Firstly I couldn't get to play with the car today, I had to do grown up work, but I got to grips with the TIS last night and the stock front ride height should be 617mm +/-10mm and mine is left 598mm and right 581mm, so it's either been lowered badly or the springs are shot. Cheapish fix for 2 springs so I'm happy.

Secondly the back should be 604mm, mine are 600mm and 609mm so within the +/-10mm of the right height and just within the 10mm of each side, so I'm going to leave them for now.

I know some people who read this think I'm wussing out by raising it again but where I live it's just not practical... I had to use it today and did this creeping over one of the humps on my own road!



If you can't drive down your own road without damaging your car then I'd say it's too low.

Anyway I know this thread is drifting now, so I'll get the new springs fitted and post pics soon. :wink: