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[looking]

I am seriously considering going from 18" to 17" and was wondering if I could get so feedback from the people that have made the switch. I've already seen some feedback (and it's all positive) but the more feedback the better.

It would be great if you could share your good, bad, and ugly inputs with performance (feel, handling, balance, etc) and looks. If you could include your set up that would be great too. If you had to do it over again would you have bad the change to 17", would you try something different in your setup (different size tire, etc).

Thanks guys I look forward to your insight!

[Lubo]

I am looking around on daily basis for a nice lite setup in 17s, but these 1er offset are a bit hard to work around. I want a square setup 255s all the way around but I guess i will not be able to do without rolling fenders or rubbing.

[looking]

I don't know about 255 fitting but people seem to be going with 230/40 with success

[dkommor]

Last week I switched from the 17" wheel that comes with the 128 sport package (Pirelli PPzero's RFT) and replaced them with 18" 261M with Bridgestone RFT's. My observations are as follows; the ride is less jarring when hitting bumps but the handling seems less responsive than the 17" rims. I would have figured that the handling would have been more responsive but the car seems to be more removed from the road. Any thoughts?

David

[BMWeber]

I've got 245/40-17 PS2s all around and love them but any larger in the front will require fender rolling. I'm on 17x8.5 ET 38

[LemansE82]

I'm thinking about doing the switch from 18's to 17's.
There is a 17 inch that will do pretty well with the 135i.
Cost of tires is cheaper.
Performance is better with a smaller wheel.
Lighter for sure.
Jersey roads suck pretty back so, higher profile will help for sure.

18inch just looks better.

[ulrichd]

Could you tell us why you are considering this? Is it mostly ride comfort related? If so you may be happy to just switch to non RFT tires. I went from the 17" wheels that came on my 128 to 18" with non-runflats and find the ride to be very comfortable.

If you do go to 17s try to get a used set of the 128 sport wheels in the For Sale forum.

[LemansE82]

Originally Posted by ulrichd

Could you tell us why you are considering this? Is it mostly ride comfort related? If so you may be happy to just switch to non RFT tires. I went from the 17" wheels that came on my 128 to 18" with non-runflats and find the ride to be very comfortable.

If you do go to 17s try to get a used set of the 128 sport wheels in the For Sale forum.

Going smaller wheels is all performance. Bigger is just for looks.
You want to go the smallest size possible to clear the brakes.
Less rotational mass equals quicker accelleration.

[looking]

Originally Posted by ulrichd

Could you tell us why you are considering this? Is it mostly ride comfort related? If so you may be happy to just switch to non RFT tires. I went from the 17" wheels that came on my 128 to 18" with non-runflats and find the ride to be very comfortable.

If you do go to 17s try to get a used set of the 128 sport wheels in the For Sale forum.

I'm planning to switch for the added performance - if there is a significant increase in performance (hence my original post).

I'm surprised there isn't more feedback by the the people that have made the switch...come guys!! hahah

[cpt97m3]

I've got a set of 17x9's in the garage ready, but my 135i is still on a boat that will hopefully be going through the Panama Canal this weekend.

[BrokenVert]

The only thing larger wheels do is reduce tire flex and improve steering response.

Ohh and they look awesome.

[trboboost91]

picked up a set of kosei K1 racing wheels 17x8.5 et40 from tire rack with 245/40/17 bfgoodrich r1 slicks for the track. just test fitted and did a small test drive
(with only me in the car of course) and had NO rubbing issues to report.
did some pretty hard cornering ( for driving on public roads) and also a skidpad type test (empty parking lot) and found no rubbing.

with the +40 offset they do stick out a little but i still got no rub at all.

another thing about the 17's is the weight. even with the slicks on the wheels they are VERY light! i believe tire rack had them listed at 17 lbs.
feels even lighter that that if you ask me. easily 15-20lbs lighter than the stock setup per corner.
best thing about the kosei's is the price for the weight!

i should also note that i am on COMPLETELY STOCK suspension.
havent even done a alignment to get the front alignment pins out and get the most camber out of the front.

i have ordered the M3 lower control arms from HP autowerks and plan to add them to the car along with a proper alignment. i think you should get about 1.5 degrees camber from that which should be enough for my purposes.

[looking]

great reply replies, keep them coming. I hope we get more feedback from those that have already made the switch.

[LemansE82]

Originally Posted by trboboost91

picked up a set of kosei K1 racing wheels 17x8.5 et40 from tire rack with 245/40/17 bfgoodrich r1 slicks for the track. just test fitted and did a small test drive
(with only me in the car of course) and had NO rubbing issues to report.
did some pretty hard cornering ( for driving on public roads) and also a skidpad type test (empty parking lot) and found no rubbing.

with the +40 offset they do stick out a little but i still got no rub at all.

another thing about the 17's is the weight. even with the slicks on the wheels they are VERY light! i believe tire rack had them listed at 17 lbs.
feels even lighter that that if you ask me. easily 15-20lbs lighter than the stock setup per corner.
best thing about the kosei's is the price for the weight!

i should also note that i am on COMPLETELY STOCK suspension.
havent even done a alignment to get the front alignment pins out and get the most camber out of the front.

i have ordered the M3 lower control arms from HP autowerks and plan to add them to the car along with a proper alignment. i think you should get about 1.5 degrees camber from that which should be enough for my purposes.

Any chance of getting some pics of the rear? Kinda wanna see how much it sticks out.

[trboboost91]

Originally Posted by LemansE82

Any chance of getting some pics of the rear? Kinda wanna see how much it sticks out.

well, the wheels have slicks mounted on them so i don't really have them on everyday. next track outing is 7/12/09. i WILL take pics then for you as well as give a update on any "problems" that could occur at the track. (rubbing)

[scottn2retro]

We race on 255/40x17s on all 4 corners

[Qunadry]

I ordered my 135i with the factory 17" wheels. It came with Goodyear Eagle LS-2 tires. I ordered the 17" wheels because of the poor road conditions where I live. According to the 1 series sales booklet,the wheels and tires were suppose to be wider in the rear but the car came with same wheel and tire size front and back. The larger rear wheels are for the rest of the world, not the USA.

So far so good. The car handles very well and has not yet bottomed out despite the road conditions. I also like the appearance of the wheels. The LS-2 tires have not been favourably reviewed, but I have no problems with them so far. I will most likely upgrade to better tires in the future.

[looking]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

We race on 255/40x17s on all 4 corners

Do you have and issues with rubbing, have you had to make modifications?

[scottn2retro]

Originally Posted by looking

Do you have and issues with rubbing, have you had to make modifications?

We had to do an 'aggressive' fender rolling job, but I think a lower offset wheel (we have et38) and going with 245s would help that a lot. Oh, and we have -3.5 degrees camber up front.

[trboboost91]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

We had to do an 'aggressive' fender rolling job, but I think a lower offset wheel (we have et38) and going with 245s would help that a lot. Oh, and we have -3.5 degrees camber up front.

i was going to go with 255's but i really don't want to rub fenders or have to roll them. plus i don't have camber plates so i only have half the camber you guys do.
but i do have very slightly lower offsets.

[looking]

Originally Posted by scottn2retro

We had to do an 'aggressive' fender rolling job, but I think a lower offset wheel (we have et38) and going with 245s would help that a lot. Oh, and we have -3.5 degrees camber up front.

So what do you think is the widest tire you can fit in there if you were stock and didn't want to roll the fenders?

Do you think I can go bigger than 235/40/17?

[trboboost91]

Originally Posted by looking

So what do you think is the widest tire you can fit in there if you were stock and didn't want to roll the fenders?

Do you think I can go bigger than 235/40/17?

what are your wheel specs? stockers?