Which do you install first? Wheels or Suspension?

[128GP]

Guys,

I finally got my Bilsteins today, which was the final piece. So my question is, do i get my apex wheels mounted/balanced and installed and then go to my local shop to do the suspension, or do i do the suspension on the stock wheels and then get wheels installed after? Is there a specific reason to do one over the other first? Thanks for the help.

[Kgolf31]

What are your APEX sizes?

I did suspension first because I needed the camber to fit my APEX wheels up front.

I don't really see any reason why there needs to be an order.

[Rob Daman]

Yea that.

[128GP]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

What are your APEX sizes?

I did suspension first because I needed the camber to fit my APEX wheels up front.

I don't really see any reason why there needs to be an order.

i got the square 1 series fitment, 18x8.5 +45 and 235/40 tires. I agree, i didnt think there needed to be an order, but a buddy of mine mentioned getting the suspension first, so i could then measure for spacers. I'm not 100% sure i want spacers yet, but it was a good point.

I was thinking get the work done with my new wheels on already. Am i overthinking this?

[Kgolf31]

Originally Posted by 128GP

i got the square 1 series fitment, 18x8.5 +45 and 235/40 tires. I agree, i didnt think there needed to be an order, but a buddy of mine mentioned getting the suspension first, so i could then measure for spacers. I'm not 100% sure i want spacers yet, but it was a good point.

I was thinking get the work done with my new wheels on already. Am i overthinking this?

Are you sure it isn't ET40?

You're going to need suspension done first, to get the camber required to run that wheel up front.

You'll probably be able to get away on stock camber, but you'll be close.

PS - I needed -3* with 5mm of spacer to clear my strut.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by 128GP

i got the square 1 series fitment, 18x8.5 +45 and 235/40 tires. I agree, i didnt think there needed to be an order, but a buddy of mine mentioned getting the suspension first, so i could then measure for spacers. I'm not 100% sure i want spacers yet, but it was a good point.

I was thinking get the work done with my new wheels on already. Am i overthinking this?

Nice! I've got the same setup, but with 225/40's.

Try to nail down your camber and toy with rolling fenders, if necessary. You might need a 5mm up front for stock fitment.

I ended up putting on a 10mm up front and a 5mm on the rear, so effectively et35, et40.
Edit: ^ For looks. ^

[128GP]

Originally Posted by Daft Auto

Nice! I've got the same setup, but with 225/40's.

Try to nail down your camber and toy with rolling fenders, if necessary. You might need a 5mm up front for stock fitment.

I ended up putting on a 10mm up front and a 5mm on the rear, so effectively et35, et40.
Edit: ^ For looks. ^

I was hoping to avoid getting camber platers or M3 bits for now. Also wanted to avoid rolling fenders. Apex said with a stock suspension, the 235 square (+45 offset) would be fine (Conti ExtremeDW), no rubbing. I got some swift springs Im installing, they claim a subtle 1" drop. Was hoping i could make all this work without rubbing issues.

[Dafttt]

Originally Posted by 128GP

I was hoping to avoid getting camber platers or M3 bits for now. Also wanted to avoid rolling fenders. Apex said with a stock suspension, the 235 square (+45 offset) would be fine (Conti ExtremeDW), no rubbing. I got some swift springs Im installing, they claim a subtle 1" drop. Was hoping i could make all this work without rubbing issues.

I can't comment on experience since I swapped out my stock suspension before installing these lovely wheels. But this thread has me a little concerned. His 235/40 Potenzas run wide, but the wheel does get close. You might want to look into a 3mm spacer just to be safe. Either way they're going to look great, congrats!

[Kgolf31]

I'm at ET35 up front (17x8.5 ET40) with a 5mm spacer and 245 ZIIs

[Pyrat 2]

Running 235/40 MPSS with 18x8.5 et45 and no rub on the strut. Close for sure but no rub also for sure. I tried installing my 245/35 on 18x8.5 et45 on the front just to see if they would work (was thinking my next tire buy could be a 245/35 square setup). I can mount and tighten and rotate the wheel by hand but they rub the strut continuously. 3mm spacer might work. 5mm for sure. Hope this gives you some reference points for comparison with the Conti's.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by HeelToe

Running 235/40 MPSS with 18x8.5 et45 and no rub on the strut. Close for sure but no rub also for sure. I tried installing my 245/35 on 18x8.5 et45 on the front just to see if they would work (was thinking my next tire buy could be a 245/35 square setup). I can mount and tighten and rotate the wheel by hand but they rub the strut continuously. 3mm spacer might work. 5mm for sure. Hope this gives you some reference points for comparison with the Conti's.

Interesting. I drove 3 weeks with my 245/35/18's on apex 18x8.5 +45 offset wheels with no rubbing during normal driving. I did have some minor rubbing on the strut with the tire (just enough to mar the paint on the strut) after really putting the car thru it's paces on my favorite test road/autocross parking lot.

Now I'm lowered with coilovers and camber plates and no rubbing with an added 3mm spacer as the KW coilovers spring perch was closer to the tire than the stock strut.

Just had all 4 wheels off tonight checking for rubbing and there is none. Time to drop the ride height more

Your wheels have a large inner lip or something? Just wondering why you had fitment issues when several of us run 245/35/18's on the same offset wheels with no issues.

[135iam]

Originally Posted by 128GP

Guys,

I finally got my Bilsteins today, which was the final piece. So my question is, do i get my apex wheels mounted/balanced and installed and then go to my local shop to do the suspension, or do i do the suspension on the stock wheels and then get wheels installed after? Is there a specific reason to do one over the other first? Thanks for the help.

I would drive it to the shop with the new wheels and tires on and get the suspension and alignment done (get as much front neg camber as you can). If you happen to have rubbing it will be minor and you can decide then if you want to roll the fenders or add neg camber to address.

[Pyrat 2]

Btw. I'm running Bilstein Sports as further reference for my previous post in case that makes a difference on the spacing to the tire.

[128GP]

Thanks for all the info guys.

Originally Posted by HeelToe

Running 235/40 MPSS with 18x8.5 et45 and no rub on the strut. Close for sure but no rub also for sure. I tried installing my 245/35 on 18x8.5 et45 on the front just to see if they would work (was thinking my next tire buy could be a 245/35 square setup). I can mount and tighten and rotate the wheel by hand but they rub the strut continuously. 3mm spacer might work. 5mm for sure. Hope this gives you some reference points for comparison with the Conti's.

Are you lowered/running on any springs??

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by 128GP

I was thinking get the work done with my new wheels on already. Am i overthinking this?

Yes. Wheels/tires do not affect alignment. Unless you are worried about rubbing and you need to compensate for improper fitment with camber.

[128Convertibleguy]

Originally Posted by 128GP

i got the square 1 series fitment, 18x8.5 +45 and 235/40 tires. I agree, i didnt think there needed to be an order, but a buddy of mine mentioned getting the suspension first, so i could then measure for spacers.

That's my plan. Do all the suspension work first, measure clearances with my existing wheels/tires, to be sure the new ones I then buy will fit. Problems that can be cured with spacers are the least of my worries, I really want to avoid clearance problems that can't be fixed with just a spacer. Rolling fenders and setting camber to avoid rubbing are things I don't want to do.

This is more important on a 1-series, because we really don't have much room for big wheels/tires.

[128GP]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Yes. Wheels/tires do not affect alignment. Unless you are worried about rubbing and you need to compensate for improper fitment with camber.

just to be clear, there is nothing i can do short of camber plates and m3 control arms etc to get moar camber. I thought i read on this site that pulling the alignment pin does nothing, can someone confirm?

I guess my thinking was that going there with the wheels on would help if something was rubbing, but short of camber plates and/or control arms i'm SOL anyway, right?

Getting the wheels mounted ahead of time would also help in that I wouldnt have to lug the wheels to the shop along with the suspension bits.

And finally, do you guys suggest an immediate alignment, or wait a week or so?

[Pyrat 2]

Originally Posted by 128GP

Thanks for all the info guys.



Are you lowered/running on any springs??

BMWP Springs, Dinan plates, and Bilstein Struts.