M3 rims on e46 325i? possible?
 

hi guys!
I am new in town.
I just bought 2003 325i accidently...:crazy
BTW, I just want to start with rims...for my new(well it is used one but...for me...it's new ride...lol) Beemer.
I just saw the M3 rims on ebay,
sizes are FRONT 8 Inches X 19 Inches. REAR 9+half Inches X 19 Inches. Tires, FRONT 225/40/19, REAR 275/35/19

I am just curious... can I use those rims on my 325i?
the factory ones are 205/50/16 I guess.
is there any problems if I put the M3 rims on my sedan?

little help would be really!! appreciated!
Thanks guts!

Welcome :wave

What the auction is likely saying is that they are M3 style rims as far as the look, but not the actual rims found on a stock M3. I doubt very much that you could fit those rear wheels without rubbing or rolling the fenders, and the offset is probably incorrect. The largest typical width for an E46 in the rear is 255 w/o modifications. 19" is a lot of unspring weight for the suspension, and you'll suffer more drivability issues than any benefits you may gain in my opinion. For E36/46 wheels, 17" seems to be the magic number.

Thanks Dudesky!!
those were not the after market ones from the seller.
those rims were came off from 2001 m3.
I got your message and really appreciate it!
I would rather go with 17"s.
One more question, what is the widest tires I can use on my car??
I don't want to give any stress on my car. I just want to have nicer look with smooth driving without harming my car.
my car has a Premium package only I guess.... so it came with 16" rims. that's fine but I want better.
again, Thanks dudesky!~

Rims that come off an E46 M3 will NOT fit on your car, the offest on a the M3 rims is far too aggresive to fit on your car. Not only that, but 275/35/19 are too wide tires to fit on your car.

As far as widest tires you can use,

Well... going by... http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html


235/40/18 Fronts
and
265/35/18 Rears

But... time to bust my math skills out...

Well... for what I am running now...

225/45/17 F
255/40/17 R

Considering that 1 inch = 25.4 mm

Front: 225/25.4 = 8.8.....
8.8.... * .45 (45% of width is tire profile) = 3.9....

3.9... * 2 (top + bottom) + 17 (wheel size) = 24.97...

So the factory front setup is 24.97 inches tall

I'll spare you the explanations for the rear..

Front 225/45/17 = 24.97 inches tall
Rear 255/40/17 = 25.04 inches tall

Now to compare to what we think will work...

Front 235/40/18 = 25.41 inches tall (SO..... 25.41 - 24.97 = .44 inch diff)
Rears 265/35/18 = 25.30 inches tall (And... 25.30 - 25.04 = .26 inch diff)

So.... going by all this, tallness shouldn't be an issue... only question is, will they fit due to width?....


Now, again using that website...

FRONT....

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4...vsstockxm1.jpg


REARS.....


http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/7...vsstockqs4.jpg

Let me know if you have any other questions

wow!!!
that's quit a math....I barely understand!! lol
Thanks for the head up!
my factory one is 205 in width. so I would to with 225 maximum with 17"s.
Thanks alot!!!!

Yeah. The rears won't fit, but I see that's been covered already. Welcome to UB.c, by the way :)

thanks

Np, lol

Well, if it helps this is what am running now...

225/45/17 Fronts
255/40/17 Rears

Wheel and Tire Combination on my 01 325ci
 

Recently put 19" wheels on my car. 19 x 8.5 in front and 19 x 9.5 in the rear. The front tires look great with 225/40/19 but the back tires pop out about 1/2" with a 265/30/19. I knew that it would be rubbing on the fender so I bought 2 pair of spring spacers from PepBoys and put two on each spring and PRESTO. No more rubbing. The spacers lifted the car up about 1.25" and gave it a mean stance in the back. No rolling fenders or cutting. Just the $10 i paid for the spring spacers. Looks great and is effective

2003bmw325i , please try and avoid buying wheels and other expensive parts for your car from ebay, one of my workmates bought a set of wheels from ebay and when he went to collect at agreed collection point (service station on motorway) he was met by two rather agressive chinese guys who demanded payment first then handed over a set of alloy wheels that would have looked better in a breakers yard, the poor guy lost a lot of money but but learnt a harsh lesson.