DO i need to do anything else after i upgrade to 17" wheels ?

[Rahul325]

I am planning to upgrade to 17" wheels(i have the stock 15" wheels), do i need to get any other mods( like shocks and springs ) or can i just get 17" wheels only.

later.....

[Stylin]

Nope..u can do the rims alone if u like.. no problems there.

[Rahul325]

Originally posted by Stylin
Nope..u can do the rims alone if u like.. no problems there.

will they look odd ?

[1995red318i]

they shouldn't unless you get some weird offset.
I am about to do the same thing...15 to 17 is such a difference!
it'll be awesome. BTW what rims are you getting and which tires are you going to use?

[Russell328is]

Well, if your suspension is stock and not sport package, there will appear to be a large gap between the fender and the tire, especially in the front. But performance will not be adversely affected (in fact, it will be improved).

[Rahul325]

Originally posted by 1995red318i
they shouldn't unless you get some weird offset.
I am about to do the same thing...15 to 17 is such a difference!
it'll be awesome. BTW what rims are you getting and which tires are you going to use?

well i got the Michelin tires for my car 15 months back and expected them to last at least 50K miles, now that i have started to autoX i dont htink they will last long. so as soon as i have 1/3rd tread left i plan to upgrade to 17" wheels( i guess in the next 3-4 months). i have not yet decided which wheels i am gonna get, i like the M parallel wheels off the 7 series, but am not sure if they come in 17". i have just started researching the wheels and a friend of mine told me to get forged alloy wheels if i can afford it coz they are supposed to be stronger and lighter than cast alloy wheels(i think al BMW OEM wheels are cast alloys).

so what wheels are u planning to get ?

later.....

[1995red318i]

17" m5 replicas from www.thewheelexchange.com
you should check out this site if your looking for wheels.

[Stylin]

I went from my stock 15" rims to 17" contours at first and yes it did look a lil odd in the front coz it looks front high.

[fight4yourrights]

Here's my 1993 that I upgraded from 16" to 17" Msports.

All stock. Best upgrade I ever did. Picked up 2 sets of these wheels off Ebay

[TheBestCow]

..sweet

After I do my first planned mods (looking like a Kenwood MP8017 as I can't find a 96-00 headunit for Russell's 97 changer, then clears at Christmas)... I think I'll start saving... and get me some cheap replica rims for college... of course after I fork over the $130 for Kamei Eyebrows (including paint )... I'm looking at some of these:

Click Me

I dunno what it is about them, I just like them best out of the replicas they have, I think they're really clean looking on my car... and I know these one I linked to is 16", however the print does say "Available in 15" - 17" sizes" .. but on their 17" size page they don't have them listed... whenever the time comes I'll send them an email.

Oh the planned mods in the next ...year or so

[meekay]

I agree with Russell about suggesting the suspension upgrade. Bigger wheels tend to accentuate the fender gap. But really, they'll fit fine with no mods necessary. BTW, I'm upgrading to 17" from 16" with the M lightweight wheels replica wheels from Discount Tire. I'm picking them up tomorrow.

[bimmer95]

I'd upgrade the springs/shocks first. Oxcart1's 325i looked pretty odd sitting 3" above the tops of his 17" tires :12: Looks MUCH better after we bolted on some H&R Sport springs. A lowered car with stock rims looks better than a jacked up car with nice rims, at least to me. With the car all jacked up the big rims look tacked on instead of being one with the car.

According to TireTrack, "As a rule of thumb, if a tire's visible sidewall height is only equal to, or is less than the vehicle's wheelwell gap (the distance from the lower edge of the wheelwell to the outer circumference of the tire) it will create an optical illusion that may make the vehicle appear "lifted". " That's very true

[Mode]

Originally posted by bimmer95
According to TireTrack, "As a rule of thumb, if a tire's visible sidewall height is only equal to, or is less than the vehicle's wheelwell gap (the distance from the lower edge of the wheelwell to the outer circumference of the tire) it will create an optical illusion that may make the vehicle appear "lifted". " That's very true

That's a good bit of info. I knew there was an illusion going on but that desc helps. I have the symptom with my car.

[Rahul325]

Originally posted by bimmer95
I'd upgrade the springs/shocks first. Oxcart1's 325i looked pretty odd sitting 3" above the tops of his 17" tires :12: Looks MUCH better after we bolted on some H&R Sport springs. A lowered car with stock rims looks better than a jacked up car with nice rims, at least to me. With the car all jacked up the big rims look tacked on instead of being one with the car.

According to TireTrack, "As a rule of thumb, if a tire's visible sidewall height is only equal to, or is less than the vehicle's wheelwell gap (the distance from the lower edge of the wheelwell to the outer circumference of the tire) it will create an optical illusion that may make the vehicle appear "lifted". " That's very true

i was thinking, if i keep the diamter of the 17" wheel+tire to be the same as it is now with 15" wheel+tire, how will there be more gap ? since the diameter is the same the 17" wheels should not look odd, right ?? am i mistaken.

if i plan on bolting on sport springs, do i have to go with the combo for shocks and springs ? or can i bolt springs first and then shocks ?

later....

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by Rahul325
i was thinking, if i keep the diamter of the 17" wheel+tire to be the same as it is now with 15" wheel+tire, how will there be more gap ?

There isn't more gap, but there is an optical illusion that makes the gap appear larger than it is. The shorter the side wall height is, in proportion to the gap, the larger the gap appears. You "can" replace just the springs without new shocks, but the ride will be very bouncy as the stiffer/shorter springs are too springy for worn stock valved shocks. Plus you'll end up paying the same install charge twice, cause you've got to pull the same stuff apart to install either/both. Of course if you're doing your own work and don't mind putting more hours in then that's not a big deal.

[daddycam]

i agree that big wheels + lowered suspension does look way cool, but i think just upgrading the wheels is an improvement, too. everybody always talks about how a 2" gap in the front looks goofy, but have you ever noticed the gap on newer mustangs? it's got to be like 4"--talk about looking jacked up. i've noticed this on other cars, too, like mits 3000GT's. anybody else noticed this?

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by daddycam
[Beverybody always talks about how a 2" gap in the front looks goofy, but have you ever noticed the gap on newer mustangs? it's got to be like 4"--talk about looking jacked up.[/B]

Just cause the Mustang looks even worse, should he make his 325 look like a skateboard? I think your arguement only reinforces my opionion: If you put on 17's with the stock suspension, your BMW will look more like a 2000+ Mustang :

[Stylin]

Originally posted by bimmer95

Just cause the Mustang looks even worse, should he make his 325 look like a skateboard? I think your arguement only reinforces my opionion: If you put on 17's with the stock suspension, your BMW will look more like a 2000+ Mustang :

Yup... been there and done that..

[FLiPModE]

you guys see the fender gap on the e46 M3? makes our wheels look tucked.

[daddycam]

i still think 17"s on stock suspension look better than 15"s on stock suspension. and i don't think it will be quite as goofy as a mustang. it cracks me up when i pull up next to a burbly mustang gt and see that wheel gap. looks like it needs some off-road tires or something.

[bimmer95]

Originally posted by daddycam
i still think 17"s on stock suspension look better than 15"s on stock suspension.

Well it is a free country, so you have the right to be wrong

[daddycam]

Originally posted by bimmer95

Well it is a free country, so you have the right to be wrong

well i choose to be wrong! he he. actually, i don't really know anything because i'm sportin' 15"s with stock suspension. i think fight4yourrights car above looks good, though. is that sport package suspension or not?

[Oxcart 1]

"damn 4*4 lift kit*

[Oxcart 1]

again...

[Oxcart 1]

woot