E36 M3 suspension/wheel fitment

[99MPower]

I am currently on deployment with the US Navy and have some questions so I can order parts if needed before I get back home, and do my full install.

I currently have a GC track/school kit purchased with Motor Force camber plates, and SPC rear camber arms, with all the powerflex bushings

I also have SSR Comp 17x9 rims waiting to be installed..

The question I have is, will I be able to run 255's all around for auto-x'ing without using a spacer? I have heard you need to run a spacer up front, but have not found the correct size. If I need to purchase the spacers, I would like to make sure I have them on hand, so I dont finish my suspension install, go to mount the tires, and they are rubbing on the front struts.

Do I need a spacer, and what size?

any help is greatly appreciated and thanks for your time

[EricP]

9" width all around with 255 tires strikes me as something you are going to have to tweak a bit to get fitting properly. I don't think you can pull it off without spacers in front and fender rolling in rear.

[99MPower]

what I needed to know, but what size spacer should I get for the fronts?

thinking at least 10mm.... possible 12mm... and maybe even as much as 15mm ???

[99MPower]

still looking for some more help, getting ready to put in a large order, and need to know what size I should get.. any help?

[SleepRM3]

Minimum at least 10-mm spacers for front. Depending on tire brand (some run wider than others), you might try 12-mm spacers, but 15 would be to much. No spacers are needed in the rear. This is assuming your 9 x 17 SSR Comps are 40- to 45-mm in offset. Don't forget longer bolts with the spacers! Good luck and stay sharp!

[99MPower]

what length bolts needed for 15mm spacers? found someone else you recommended the 15mm spacers for the combo.. also in another thread, mentioned something about needing a ring for the SSR's, and a hubcentric spacer is not enough.. any truth to this?, and if so, where can I get these "rings"?

[Yasir]

9" width all around with 255 tires strikes me as something you are going to have to tweak a bit to get fitting properly. I don't think you can pull it off without spacers in front and fender rolling in rear.


I went with 18x8.5 ET 43 & 245/35 on the front....to clear the perches on the Koni coilovers i had to get a 5 mm spacer..viola no more rubbing.....
On the rear went with 18x9.5 ET 43 & 255/35 and i am getting just a tad bit of rubbing on the outer lip...going to be rolling the fender lips ( about 3 mm ) with the help of a friend hopefully tomorrow...:D

[MauiM3Mania]

Cal, I have 17x9 SSRs w/255-40/17 VRs. A 12mm spacer did the trick. I don't recall any ring being needed.

Forget longer bolts, get studs. I sourced the studs from the following. They were quite helpful. -Scott


MotorForce Engineering, LLC
BMW Performance Parts
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Brian Matteucci
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