Need new rims - max offsets? - United Bimmer Community

**clear1** · 03-29-2007, 05:18 PM

Brand new to forum and need help on rims. most of you seem to like smaller ones, but I have a thirst for staggered 19s or 20s. Sizing gets tricky here and I am hoping someone already has 19s or 20s and can tell me what they have and what's up with max offsets, brands, and vendors that are compatible with my 2004 325

Stock is 205/55R16 x 7.0 et47

Can I do 20 x 9 with 35mm offsets? I'm looking at these...

Please help! Next up is exhaust, stereo, chip, and intake. Mahalo.

**clear1** · 04-02-2007, 03:30 PM

I checked the offset calculator at http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp and it is saying I will have 13mm less clearance on inside (wheel to strut) and 37mm extension on outside (which is about an inch and a half). Wheel diamater not much of a factor because of low tire height (and yes I know that they are expensive, rougher ride, and have less life).

nick_318is · 04-02-2007, 03:47 PM

I would run a 19" at the biggest and if it were my car probably do 18" to help save some road vibrations/lessen chances of flats/broken rims. I dont know what the offsets are on the e46 though, maybe someone with one can chime in.

**Jerry Lochman** · 05-03-2007, 12:43 AM

i was told today by a wheel dealer that 20 inch are max... i have the same car as you... im gonna buy these what do you guys think? http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-1...15398026QQrdZ1

**Numark318i** · 05-03-2007, 08:43 AM

those are SSR reps i think.

not bad for the price.

yea i would go for larger wheels, but living in CA with "pot holes 'r' us" it seems like a bad idea.

**Dudesky** · 05-03-2007, 08:55 AM

^^^+1. And your suspension isn't gonna like it either, unless you modify it.

**bueras** · 05-30-2007, 05:21 PM

GO FOR THE 20's. I got 19 x 8.5 in front with a 225/40/19 in front and staggered 19 x 9.5 with a 265/30/19 in back. The back sticks out a little bit and was hitting the fender but I added twist in spring spacers and the problem was solved.

I was originally looking at buying 20's but it was hard to come by a 20 x 7.5 rim so that the back tire wouldn't rub. I was the same as you though and wanted the staggered look so I found the Hamman pg-2 style wheel in chrome and I am happy with them. You will have to make sacrifies if you put the staggered wheels on a e 46 that is not the M3 because it will be likely to rub. Luckily there is also alot of stuff out there that will prevent this. Mine was a $10 set of spring spacers from Pep Boys

Ohh and the max offset would be +35mm in the back with a 9.5 wide rim. If you do go with and up to a 9.5, the tire I would recommend would be a 265 max width and a 30 max height.

**MTurboPower3** · 05-30-2007, 05:26 PM

No offense or anything, but those rims look cheap.

**bueras** · 05-31-2007, 01:03 PM

**Rooz** · 05-31-2007, 07:18 PM

20's will make your car look like it's been lifted up, not even to mention IF it can be done, and if it can you'll have to run very narrow tires, just not a good idea iMo....

**clear1** · 08-02-2007, 06:18 PM

Thanks for the responses.
Bueras: How much time and/or money to get the spacers in?
Jerry: Did you end up going with the 18s or 19s? Any rubbing? What type and size tires did you get?
How hard or expensive is the fender flare?
PS. haven't checked in here in a while due to a little mishap taking a turn too fast. I believe the stock microchip cuts power to the engine when in situations such as taking fast/abrupt turns (especially at high rpms). If this is the case, and I think it is, then it gets real dangerous when your car starts acting funny in a 'thread the needle' situation. Long story short... geico rocks and now I have a '02 black on black 325 with 26K miles.

**MTurboPower3** · 08-02-2007, 10:02 PM

If you put 20's on it, you'll have to drive carefully because you'll basically be driving on rims so you'll have to avoid pot holes because every time you hit a pot hole you bend the rim. I put 19's unless you want bent rims

**bueras** · 08-07-2007, 06:21 PM

clear1, I went with 19's just because of the reasons MTurboPower3 wrote. The tires I went with were Michelin Pilot Sports ps-2 35/225/19 in the front and 30/265/19 in the rear. If I had to do it over again, I would get 30/235/19 in the front though and I would probably go with Kumho because it has a greater treadwear. These tires suck. The spacers cost me like $10-15 for a set of 4 at Pep Boys. The only thing I had to do was take off the tire and twist and spacer on the bottom and top of the spring. I also got a hammer and banged the s**t out of it to make sure the spacers were in. I have had them on my ride for 6 months now and no problems. Just use a little W-40 on them every few months otherwise they will start to squeak. Let me know how it turns out for you.