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[Vegetable]

2009 335 Xi Space Gray coupe.. i still have small stock 17s that I've been using, so I thought I would upgrade my wheels to 18s and get new tires at the same time. here's the deal.. I need it to be stock height. No way I can lower it where I live, so my wheel choice is kinda limited.. e.g. I don't what a super-aggressive wheel on a car with 2-3 fingers of fender gap.

So i have narrowed my search down to two replica style wheels.

A. this: http://www.**********s.com/BMW-Style-193-Wheels.htm

or B. the "CSL style" such as these but probably a different brand:

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/Wheel...All&sort=Brand


What do you guys think? Right now I'm leaning towards the 193 reps as they are ridiculously inexpensive and aren't styled as aggressively as the option B style. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, any word on the quality of reps on **********s? Should I avoid this place?

Thanks

[MDRracing13]

162s

[wdeerfield]

i think there are much better looking options out there than the 193s or csl reps. althought, a csl looking wheel works well on most bmws

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by wdeerfield

i think there are much better looking options out there than the 193s or csl reps. althought, a csl looking wheel works well on most bmws

do tell..

[E90Company]

162's

[andrew_b]

I'm confused - are you saying you think the wheel size lowers the car? It doesn't.

When you go from a 17 to an 18" wheel, you have to use a lower profile tire, so the "thinner" tire makes up for the larger wheel. The diameter of the wheel/tire combination has to stay very cose to the same, otherwise you are messing with the speed calculatioin and other suspension geometry. Thus, the handy calculator at the top of this section. Plug 17x8 wheels with 34 offset (stock) and 225/45/17 tires and then 18" by whatever wheels, and you'll ee options and the % difference you're changing.

Springs or coilovers can lower your ride. But if you go to 18" wheels and run the tire profile/sizes that are suggested for your ride, the clearance is exactly the same.



But maybe I'm missing something - wouldn't be the first time!

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by andrew_b

I'm confused - are you saying you think the wheel size lowers the car? It doesn't.

When you go from a 17 to an 18" wheel, you have to use a lower profile tire, so the "thinner" tire makes up for the larger wheel. The diameter of the wheel/tire combination has to stay very cose to the same, otherwise you are messing with the speed calculatioin and other suspension geometry. Thus, the handy calculator at the top of this section. Plug 17x8 wheels with 34 offset (stock) and 225/45/17 tires and then 18" by whatever wheels, and you'll ee options and the % difference you're changing.

Springs or coilovers can lower your ride. But if you go to 18" wheels and run the tire profile/sizes that are suggested for your ride, the clearance is exactly the same.


But maybe I'm missing something - wouldn't be the first time!

yea, you kinda missed the point. Ha. Nobody is trying to lower their car here.. I think some 18" styles look more acceptable in 4x4 (not lowered) format than others. I wanted opinions on styles.. .. got any ideas?

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by E90Company

162's

LOL not biased at all, eh? I am considering them, plus the OEM ones are a bargain. Not sure how they would look on a coupe, though. What do you think of these.. the style, not the brand whatever it may be.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/18-SILVER-M-...d9ae85&vxp=mtr

[VMRWheels]

Not Xi suspension but definitely stock (nonM)



VB3's
18x8.5 +35, 18x9.5 +33

[andrew_b]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

2009 335 Xi Space Gray coupe.. i still have small stock 17s that I've been using, so I thought I would upgrade my wheels to 18s and get new tires at the same time. here's the deal.. I need it to be stock height. No way I can lower it where I live, so my wheel choice is kinda limited.. e.g. I don't what a super-aggressive wheel on a car with 2-3 fingers of fender gap.

So i have narrowed my search down to two replica style wheels.

Originally Posted by Vegetable

yea, you kinda missed the point. Ha. Nobody is trying to lower their car here.. I think some 18" styles look more acceptable in 4x4 (not lowered) format than others. I wanted opinions on styles.. .. got any ideas?

Ok....now following you.

APEX ARC-7 in 18s, square....VBR or V10s, or maybe Miro or similar CSL reps.

I'm seriously looking at APEX (but the 17"x 9 ARC-8 concave). Not cheap, but light (over 6 pounds per wheel lighter than my stock 185s), and well made and strong.

[fordperf]

Are you going staggered with the 18" or just getting all four the same size?