So no 18" wheels for 128 sport package?

[ulrichd]

From what I have read the US sport package for the 128 will come with 17" wheels.

Does anyone think the 18" wheels will be a stand alone for the 128? It looks kind of lame with the smaller wheels.

Ulrich

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

There's nothing lame about 17" wheels. Its a particularly good size, especially for a smaller car...less rotating weight, less unspring weight, more reasonable sidewalls for real world conditions. Big rims are for people who don't understand the mechanical realities of a cars suspension.

[ulrichd]

Seeing how the european sport package for the 128 is available with 18" wheels it seems it was developed with them in mind.

Ulrich

[alex2364]

You can put whatever wheels you want as long as you have the $$$. If you really want the 18" wheels from the 135i you can buy them separately from any BMW parts department.

[kamakazitp]

you'll be stuck buying aftermarket 18s or buying a set of 18s from bmw.

[Devon K]

These sure don't look like 17 inchers on this 128i.

[emm3tt]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

There's nothing lame about 17" wheels. Its a particularly good size, especially for a smaller car...less rotating weight, less unspring weight, more reasonable sidewalls for real world conditions. Big rims are for people who don't understand the mechanical realities of a cars suspension.

Ordinarily I'd agree. I have a Miata with 14" wheels that look great, and an M3 with 17" wheels that look great. However, as wheels and tires have gotten taller, the high aspect ratio of the 17" tires that BMW has chosen to use on the 128i look more family car and less sporty coupe. The whole package would have been better served with a smaller overall diameter.

[emm3tt]

Originally Posted by Devon K

These sure don't look like 17 inchers on this 128i.

Those are 18" wheels that probably won't be available in the US.

[brunell]

the car in DevonK's linked photo is a US/NA spec car - notice the amber corner markers built into the headlamp cluster. Euro models have a clear cluster...

[imported_sbw]

The 17s will probably be fine, performance-wise. Remember 18s are usually heavier! So we can keep the weight down (and price down) in the 128i pocket rocket!

[larryn]

Originally Posted by greyhead

the car in DevonK's linked photo is a US/NA spec car - notice the amber corner markers built into the headlamp cluster. Euro models have a clear cluster...

It's a Canadian Spec car. Canada and the US have totally different options available. The US will only offer 17" from the factory, as shown in the US Ordering Guide.

[BForbes]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

There's nothing lame about 17" wheels. Its a particularly good size, especially for a smaller car...less rotating weight, less unspring weight, more reasonable sidewalls for real world conditions. Big rims are for people who don't understand the mechanical realities of a cars suspension.

I disagree. Isnt it funny that on hi-performance cars the rims get bigger and bigger. Example: 18'' and 19's on Corvettes. 19's on the E92 M3 and C63.

[ttdmac]

Newer cars such as the Corvettes, M3 indeed do have larger wheels, however it's to provide larger contact patches to try and hook up some of the increasing horsepower that these cars are generating.

They tune for larger wheels in mind, so the ride and handling shouldn't suffer to much. They also have the power to overcome the inherent increase in unsprung weight, however those who truly want to reduce the unsprung weight would go with forged magnesium rims, that way drivers can have the best of both worlds. Large contact patches with minimal increase in weight.

Also have you tried to clear some of this larger braking systems with tiny wheels? It just doesn't work.

[Imola.ZHP]

Originally Posted by ulrichd

Does anyone think the 18" wheels will be a stand alone for the 128? It looks kind of lame with the smaller wheels.

Ulrich

Will most likely be a stand alone option. An expensive one, but certainly available...