Decision Time / Buying Advice: Yet another "Will it Fit" Question

DoctorOh · 11-05-2020, 01:59 PM

Hi all!

So I'm still loving my new to me 128! In many ways the driving "feel" is reminiscent of my '99 M3 coupe! That said, my wheels and tires are toast.

Rubber is cracking on the tires, and the stock 17" Style 142 rims are chewed and dinged up badly enough that I'd love to step up to 18"...but I don't want to deal with camber tweaks, rolling fenders, etc. I want to keep the setup square, and I'd love to get out of the whole thing for about a grand...so no new forgestar or apex rims for me this time around. As a bonus it would be good to find wheels with enough space to eventually upgrade the stock brakes to stoptech, m performance, or brembos.

So far the choices are as follows"

1. Option 1: Live with the stock rims, replace all the rubber with conti extreme contact sports. Figure that will set me back about $750 balanced and mounted.
2. Option 2: Find someone offloading a rim/tire set with enough tread.

Under option 2 I'm looking at a few choices, but starting to sweat about fitment, and thinking I'd need to spend extra to swap tires to get the fit I need (which adds more $$).

A. Ac Schnitzers: 18x8.5 ET43 F/R-- 225/40/18 Front | 245/40/18 Rear
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/wto...223428848.html

B. Bayern Spartan: 18x18.5 ET40 F/R --235/40/18 all around
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/wto...221881804.html

C. Luna135i's Stock Rims:
https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...204212936.html -- I'd have to figure out how to get them up here without spending $$

D. Keep looking around locally in the bay area and hope to find OEM spare 18" rims from a 135 off someone who upgrades?

At this point I'm getting nervous putting down power on the tires and have been driving kind of gingerly so I'd really like to get into something before rainy season begins in earnest here in NorCal.

Advice welcomed!

NorthernDancer · 11-06-2020, 09:15 AM

Not an expert here, but:
A: don't think rears will fit
B: wrong offset
C: should be OK & good tires
D: yes, keep looking

If possible, road test the rims/tires before buying. I just had to pay $300 over what I paid b/c rears were out of round.

Gangplank · 11-08-2020, 05:13 AM

One option to keep it square is to find 4 stock 18" front wheels from an e46 M3. 18x8 which would allow you to run 235 or 245 square. Or you could run 225 or 235 front and 255 or 265 rears

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1286588

Motorradist · 01-20-2021, 06:26 PM

I am in the same boat as OP, new-to-me 128i and I want to find new wheels since the tires are ready to go. I have been looking for OEM wheels with the same offset and saw e46 m3 front wheels fit:
https://www.originalwheels.com/bmw-w...m32001rims.php

I want the CSL's (mm BBS) but I don't want to deal with 19" tire prices.

11-05-2020, 01:59 PM	#1
DoctorOh New Member 0 Rep 17 Posts Drives: BMW 128i Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Santa Cruz, CA iTrader: (0)	Decision Time / Buying Advice: Yet another "Will it Fit" Question Hi all! So I'm still loving my new to me 128! In many ways the driving "feel" is reminiscent of my '99 M3 coupe! That said, my wheels and tires are toast. Rubber is cracking on the tires, and the stock 17" Style 142 rims are chewed and dinged up badly enough that I'd love to step up to 18"...but I don't want to deal with camber tweaks, rolling fenders, etc. I want to keep the setup square, and I'd love to get out of the whole thing for about a grand...so no new forgestar or apex rims for me this time around. As a bonus it would be good to find wheels with enough space to eventually upgrade the stock brakes to stoptech, m performance, or brembos. So far the choices are as follows" 1. Option 1: Live with the stock rims, replace all the rubber with conti extreme contact sports. Figure that will set me back about $750 balanced and mounted. 2. Option 2: Find someone offloading a rim/tire set with enough tread. Under option 2 I'm looking at a few choices, but starting to sweat about fitment, and thinking I'd need to spend extra to swap tires to get the fit I need (which adds more $$). A. Ac Schnitzers: 18x8.5 ET43 F/R-- 225/40/18 Front \| 245/40/18 Rear https://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/wto...223428848.html B. Bayern Spartan: 18x18.5 ET40 F/R --235/40/18 all around https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/wto...221881804.html C. Luna135i's Stock Rims: https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/...204212936.html -- I'd have to figure out how to get them up here without spending $$ D. Keep looking around locally in the bay area and hope to find OEM spare 18" rims from a 135 off someone who upgrades? At this point I'm getting nervous putting down power on the tires and have been driving kind of gingerly so I'd really like to get into something before rainy season begins in earnest here in NorCal. Advice welcomed! __________________ 1991 318is - Diamondschwarz (sold before they became collectible relics, sigh) -> 1996 325i -> 1974 2002 - Taiga Green ->1997 M3 Coupe - Black on Black (wrecked on HWY 17) Currently Driving: 2013 128i base coupe - Space Gray
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11-06-2020, 09:15 AM	#2
NorthernDancer Colonel 850 Rep 2,276 Posts Drives: 08 Sedona 128 & 06 330xiT 6MT Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Ottawa On Canada iTrader: (3)	Not an expert here, but: A: don't think rears will fit B: wrong offset C: should be OK & good tires D: yes, keep looking If possible, road test the rims/tires before buying. I just had to pay $300 over what I paid b/c rears were out of round.
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11-08-2020, 05:13 AM	#3
Gangplank Brigadier General 1541 Rep 3,071 Posts Drives: 2011 e82 135i n55 Sport w/ DCT Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Vero Beach, FL iTrader: (2) Garage List 2011 135i [0.00]	One option to keep it square is to find 4 stock 18" front wheels from an e46 M3. 18x8 which would allow you to run 235 or 245 square. Or you could run 225 or 235 front and 255 or 265 rears https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show....php?t=1286588 __________________ 2011 135i w/ DCT \| ZSP Sport Pkg \| PPK \| Ohlins R
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01-20-2021, 06:26 PM	#4
Motorradist New Member 14 Rep 18 Posts Drives: 128i Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Pacific Northwest iTrader: (0)	I am in the same boat as OP, new-to-me 128i and I want to find new wheels since the tires are ready to go. I have been looking for OEM wheels with the same offset and saw e46 m3 front wheels fit: https://www.originalwheels.com/bmw-w...m32001rims.php I want the CSL's (mm BBS) but I don't want to deal with 19" tire prices.
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