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Thread: Just bought a 2003 525it Sport.... wheel ideas

  1. #1
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    Just bought a 2003 525it Sport.... wheel ideas

    I love my e46 323it so much, that I decided to add an 03 525it sport today. It comes with the sport wheels 17" style 81s, which I will probably roll on for a little while. Looking to get suggestions on a great set of wheels that fit the body lines of the car properly and wont break the bank. Any suggestions or photos would be majorly helpful! Thanks.


    PS, do sedan rear seats fit the touring?
    -M3J0N

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    Sedan seats do not fit. Thinking of an M5 conversion?
    99 540iT, Jet Black on Black. Dinan mods ( CAI, MAF, TB, Brace, Stage 4 engine and tranny software ). 00 750iL, Jet Black on Black. MPars, Sport Steering wheel, alpina replica lip. 05 Mini S, Dinan CAI, Strut brace, UUC exhaust.

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by m3j0n View Post
    I love my e46 323it so much, that I decided to add an 03 525it sport today. It comes with the sport wheels 17" style 81s, which I will probably roll on for a little while. Looking to get suggestions on a great set of wheels that fit the body lines of the car properly and wont break the bank. Any suggestions or photos would be majorly helpful! Thanks.


    PS, do sedan rear seats fit the touring?

    Take a look at the photo gallery, both here in the Touring section and in the main e39 section. That's where I go when I'm looking for ideas!

    +1, the top half of the seats are different. They attach in different spots. The bottom cushion may fit, though.


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    What color is the touring?

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    I've got a set of 17" style 66s that seem like a great blend of looks and practicality... I might switch away from them since they're way wider than a stock i6 would ever need, but the look is hard to beat. Aggressive, but not out of character with the car.

    1987 Porsche 944 Turbo, 1999 e39 touring

  6. #6
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    can't go wrong with some Mpars, or style 5s or 32s. also LMs are a classic set, authentic will cost, but you can get reps from Varrstoen that look good.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by noodlesandsam View Post
    Sedan seats do not fit. Thinking of an M5 conversion?
    yea,... i WAS..... . Do the front and rear door panels fit?

    Quote Originally Posted by cwise12 View Post
    Take a look at the photo gallery, both here in the Touring section and in the main e39 section. That's where I go when I'm looking for ideas!

    +1, the top half of the seats are different. They attach in different spots. The bottom cushion may fit, though.
    thanks!

    Quote Originally Posted by Flycaper View Post
    What color is the touring?
    grey on black sport.

    Quote Originally Posted by orbix View Post
    I've got a set of 17" style 66s that seem like a great blend of looks and practicality... I might switch away from them since they're way wider than a stock i6 would ever need, but the look is hard to beat. Aggressive, but not out of character with the car.

    i think the car needs a 18"+ wheel to "look right", but I would definitely consider the style 66s. They are kind of like a smaller, cheaper M parallel.
    Quote Originally Posted by djkev View Post
    can't go wrong with some Mpars, or style 5s or 32s. also LMs are a classic set, authentic will cost, but you can get reps from Varrstoen that look good.
    yeah, I really havent seen any with normal colored LMs/reps. most seem to be black, or gunmetal, or some weird color. I would probably want teh standard silver.
    Last edited by m3j0n; 12-20-2012 at 08:06 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    -M3J0N

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by m3j0n View Post
    yea,... i WAS..... . Do the front and rear door panels fit?
    There is a guy in SC that did a full M5 conversion on a 03 540I wagon. Only one in the country according to him. I met him and saw it recently at the car show at the BMW plant. Needlessly to say, the car was awesome. Dark blue (carbon black?) on black leather.

    Couldnt you just get the M5 leather and just recover the seats? Maybe its only the leather pattern thats different and not the actual seats underneath.

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    Door panels are the same. The only difference is the window area.
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  10. #10
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    touring wheel options

    ..obviously oem wheels are always nice. I think when people manage to use a 19 oem wheel from another bmw E' whatever, it looks great. Sometimes you can find them cheap too. Attached a photo of another members 528 as an example. Im sure you've seen the versions with the ACS type2 19's. I've seen color matched white,black,silver, all very nice imo. I chose to go with a staggered 19 MPAR rep I got from another member here. About 1400.00us through Dennis Cooper. There are also 18 MPAR reps pretty easily available if your on a tight budget. I saw a set of oem 18" MPARS for 800 in sf recently, dont know if they were legit? The old "Unofficial Touring Thread" is great. It has all the examples you could ask for. I should have a set of 18x9 breytons coming up. Anyways hope this helps. happy hunting.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by motorade1 View Post
    There is a guy in SC that did a full M5 conversion on a 03 540I wagon. Only one in the country according to him. I met him and saw it recently at the car show at the BMW plant. Needlessly to say, the car was awesome. Dark blue (carbon black?) on black leather.

    Couldnt you just get the M5 leather and just recover the seats? Maybe its only the leather pattern thats different and not the actual seats underneath.
    yeah, i was willing to do that but i really love the m alcantara and they dont sell that by the yard.

    Quote Originally Posted by Flycaper View Post
    ..obviously oem wheels are always nice. I think when people manage to use a 19 oem wheel from another bmw E' whatever, it looks great. Sometimes you can find them cheap too. Attached a photo of another members 528 as an example. Im sure you've seen the versions with the ACS type2 19's. I've seen color matched white,black,silver, all very nice imo. I chose to go with a staggered 19 MPAR rep I got from another member here. About 1400.00us through Dennis Cooper. There are also 18 MPAR reps pretty easily available if your on a tight budget. I saw a set of oem 18" MPARS for 800 in sf recently, dont know if they were legit? The old "Unofficial Touring Thread" is great. It has all the examples you could ask for. I should have a set of 18x9 breytons coming up. Anyways hope this helps. happy hunting.
    thanks for the info! i didnt know they made m parallel reps in 19 - id love to see a pic of that if you have one.
    Last edited by m3j0n; 12-20-2012 at 12:46 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    -M3J0N

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    Quote Originally Posted by motorade1 View Post
    There is a guy in SC that did a full M5 conversion on a 03 540I wagon. Only one in the country according to him. I met him and saw it recently at the car show at the BMW plant. Needlessly to say, the car was awesome. Dark blue (carbon black?) on black leather.

    Couldnt you just get the M5 leather and just recover the seats? Maybe its only the leather pattern thats different and not the actual seats underneath.
    That's Scott, he lives in GA

    Quote Originally Posted by m3j0n View Post
    yeah, i was willing to do that but i really love the m alcantara and they dont sell that by the yard.



    thanks for the info! i didnt know they made m parallel reps in 19 - id love to see a pic of that if you have one.
    You can get the alcantara by the yard, it's expensive though...roughly $100 per...gulf fabrics out of Miami
    Last edited by kognac; 12-20-2012 at 02:31 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
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  13. #13
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    19 MPAR reps

    heres they are.
    Attached Images Attached Images

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    Quote Originally Posted by m3j0n View Post
    yea,... i WAS..... . Do the front and rear door panels fit?



    thanks!



    grey on black sport.



    i think the car needs a 18"+ wheel to "look right", but I would definitely consider the style 66s. They are kind of like a smaller, cheaper M parallel.


    yeah, I really havent seen any with normal colored LMs/reps. most seem to be black, or gunmetal, or some weird color. I would probably want teh standard silver.
    my opinion is that the touring needs 19"

    BBS LM:


    Style 166:


    OEM Mpars (18s and not lowered....)


    I think the 19 mpar reps look really good especially with all that lip in the back. And Varrstoen makes LM reps in hyper silver if you wanted.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by kognac View Post

    You can get the alcantara by the yard, it's expensive though...roughly $100 per...gulf fabrics out of Miami
    please dont tease me!!! are you serious? Edit: couldnt find a gulf fabrics in miami... found one in tampa though. Got the contact info for the place you are talking about?

    Quote Originally Posted by djkev View Post
    my opinion is that the touring needs 19"

    BBS LM:


    Style 166:


    OEM Mpars (18s and not lowered....)


    I think the 19 mpar reps look really good especially with all that lip in the back. And Varrstoen makes LM reps in hyper silver if you wanted.
    gorgeous!
    Last edited by m3j0n; 12-20-2012 at 09:15 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
    -M3J0N

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    Those LMs. My gawd.


  17. #17
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    Can somebody post up with a pic of a touring with 19" M pars?

    Other cars that don't matter, and then..
    '01 530i Sport/Premium/Cold Weather(My 1st love)
    '02 540i Sport/Premium/Cold Weather (German bitch)
    '06 330i Sport/Comfort (Sweetness!)
    '08 535i/6 Sport/Premium/Comfort/Nav ()
    '99 528i Sport Touring (Repaired the Previous owners garbage and let her go)
    '02 525iT Premium/Nav/Cold Weather/Alpine/Supercherry
    '90 325i e30 sedan schwarz (1st e30 project!)
    '90 325is e30
    '06 X5 4.4
    '04 325i Sport
    '04 330ci
    '89 325IX 31k Original Miles!
    '04 330i e46 coupe
    '08 550i Sport
    '13 535i Sport
    '13 328i Luxury
    '88 e30 Stroker


  18. #18
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    IIRC, these are 19's


  19. #19
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    I actually don't like the 19" Mpars.


  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by RVAE34 View Post
    IIRC, these are 19's

    VERy nice!

    Quote Originally Posted by clevertd View Post
    I actually don't like the 19" Mpars.

    Im undecided on these.,.. the ends of the spokes appear to be rounded a bit. I really like the straight lines of the OEM, but the 19s are a much better size for the e39, especially when the wheel has such a pronounced lip.
    -M3J0N

  21. #21
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    that was the photo that pushed me over the edge..

  22. #22
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    I like the 19 inch M Pars alot,,love the lip on them. I,m going 19 inch in spring havnt decided on what wheel yet. Mine with 18 inch M Par repos...



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