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Thread: Can't decide on 17" or 18" style 5s for my 733i

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2017
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    Richmond, VA, USA
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    1983 BMW 733i

    Can't decide on 17" or 18" style 5s for my 733i

    Hey all, new user here. Excited to be part of the community.

    I'm here because I've been slowly bringing a 1983 733i barn-find back to life. Aside from the mechanical projects on it, I'm shopping for new wheels and am sold on the E39 style 5 basketweaves, but I can't decide if 17" or 18" is a better look.

    Can anybody with any experience with either attest to one or the other? Tires as well? Below is a picture of the ol' ski boat.




    Thanks all!

  2. #2
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    85 €735i 08 550i/6
    Make sure you get hubcentric rings if you get E39 wheels.

    Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk

  3. #3
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    Quote Originally Posted by motohunter4 View Post
    Make sure you get hubcentric rings if you get E39 wheels.

    Sent from my LGLS755 using Tapatalk

    No doubt, I've already got those on my list. Are those 17's you've got on yours?

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
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    Northern VA
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    e34 m5, touring; e46 (x2
    In case you (or others) may be interested, I have a complete set of 15" style 5s from my e34. The rims are 15x7 et 20 (square), are in very clean condition and come with serviceable tires. Pictures and additional details are available upon request.

  5. #5
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    Thumbs up

    I am not a fan of hub centric rings.

    18" look goofy to me not to mention they will be heavy as hell unless forged. More rotational mass makes an already slow vehicle, even slower! Look on mye28.com for wheels also, there are many sets always available there.

    Discount Tire just had a big tire sale on July 4. Next is Labor Day weekend. Buy four quality tires, receive $70-100 off. Use their instore credit card (yeah I know, just what everyone needs ...but it is 0% interest if paid in full within a certain time frame), save $60 more. Continental had $70 off four tires last year. I think Bridgestone is this year. Play your cards correct and you can save a pile of cash.



    PS - do not forget to change out that 35 year old spare tire. Just pick up a 15" wheel from an E32 or 34 and have the tire height close.
    I make E23 parts.
    09/1983 745i (stolen spring '13 around Houston, TX Achatgruen on nutria buffalo. 8481080)
    10/1984 745i
    11/1984 745i
    11/1984 735i (10:1-265/6)
    Ford, MB, and GM round out the pack.



  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Hit Man X View Post
    I am not a fan of hub centric rings.
    This is the first time I've heard this. Care to explain why? I thought they were almost imperative, otherwise you'll eventually cause wheel and rotor damage. Or do you just mean you prefer using wheels that don't require hubcentric rings?

  7. #7
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    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by richmond92 View Post
    Or do you just mean you prefer using wheels that don't require hubcentric rings?


    This.



    There are soooooooooooooooo many wheels that do not require them, I do not even consider them for my vehicles or the ones I build. Hell, I do not even recommend them to people. I am far from the authority on wheels, mind you.

    Like I stated previously, it is your vehicle. Do what you want with the thing.
    I make E23 parts.
    09/1983 745i (stolen spring '13 around Houston, TX Achatgruen on nutria buffalo. 8481080)
    10/1984 745i
    11/1984 745i
    11/1984 735i (10:1-265/6)
    Ford, MB, and GM round out the pack.



  8. #8
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    E21/early e23/e34
    If you go with the the hub centric wheels, make sure to buy metal rings, the plastic are crap. On the 18" vs 17", I used to run 18" Alpina wheels on an old 745i, looked tits but didn't like the way the car felt, and... not much tire on there and depending where you live and conditions of your roads be prepared to have wheels trued all the time, they will bend.
    17" would be the largest I'd go but these cars really like the 16" wheels, just my 02.

  9. #9
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    Sorry, hit man x, but anyone who buys wheels with a bigger bore has to use them. You cant put a e39 wheel on a e36 without a hub ring, 72.56 vs 74.1 , I dont care what you think, its not going down the road with any smooth feeling.
    Lets get the party started before it's my bedtime.

  10. #10
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    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by gaspump View Post
    Sorry, hit man x, but anyone who buys wheels with a bigger bore has to use them. You cant put a e39 wheel on a e36 without a hub ring, 72.56 vs 74.1 , I dont care what you think, its not going down the road with any smooth feeling.


    I guess you speak before knowing all the details. Read post seven. I do not use wheels that need hub centric rings on the E23. Obviously, if your hub bore is larger on the wheels chosen versus the diameter of the hub, you must use them. That is common sense. Did you honestly believe I did not know that?



    Furthermore, where are we discussing the E36 in this subsection? The PO started the thread about E39 wheels on the E23.
    I make E23 parts.
    09/1983 745i (stolen spring '13 around Houston, TX Achatgruen on nutria buffalo. 8481080)
    10/1984 745i
    11/1984 745i
    11/1984 735i (10:1-265/6)
    Ford, MB, and GM round out the pack.



  11. #11
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    ... I got nothin

  12. #12
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    Euro '85 635csi
    I have e39 style 5s with polished lips on mine, and it looks and drives great. A 16" BBS RS would look great too, but they are getting harder to find and more expensive. I don't like the look of an 18 on this car. Imo 16 or 17" are the right size. I have run these wheels for years on my e24 with metal hubcentric rings with no issues. The rings completely fill the gap, I don't see why there would be an issue. Running the wheel WITHOUT a hubcentric ring would be crazy.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by dmac156 View Post
    Running the wheel WITHOUT a hubcentric ring would be crazy.
    I don't think Hit Man X meant to convey that he preferred running these wheels without rings. I think he just meant that he doesn't like using wheels that require them in the first place.

    Regardless, I appreciate everyone's input so far. It sounds like the consensus is 17".

  14. #14
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    17" looks great, 18" starts to look goofy and oversized. Not to mention they get heavy, and performance suffers.
    I have 17" style 5s on mine. Use the metal rings, with a little film of anti seize to keep things tight, and they can work just fine.
    Hubcebtric rings aren't optimal, Hitman is right about that...but with proper application they are reliable and safe.
    --Jay3->Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc
    84 €735i manual, 88 528e/i
    Motronic 1 and 1.3 wiring
    Transmission & Diff gearing sheet

  15. #15
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    Do the 17. At 18 you are running out of sidewall and things will be harsh and bangy up front.

  16. #16
    Join Date
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    For an inexpensive bbs wheel you can't go wrong. Oddly with all the bmw's I've owned over the years this is the first set I have actually put on one of my cars, and I've owned 3 sets
    alpinweiß on anthrazit buffalo 1984 745i, 2014 Fiesta ST, 1984 635csi 1986 635csi 1987 L6 1999 M coupe 2002 M3 1995 325i 1976 200​2, 2001 996 TT 1994 850 T5 wagon 1998 GTi VR6 1983 scirocco

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by Freshbread View Post
    For an inexpensive bbs wheel you can't go wrong. Oddly with all the bmw's I've owned over the years this is the first set I have actually put on one of my cars, and I've owned 3 sets

    Inexpensive?? OEM style 5 basketweaves aren't cheap! Unless you've got some aftermarket ones on that one. Beautiful car regardless.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by richmond92 View Post
    Inexpensive?? OEM style 5 basketweaves aren't cheap! Unless you've got some aftermarket ones on that one. Beautiful car regardless.
    X2 on nice car.

  19. #19
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    03M3 99M3 82733i 12X5
    733 w new wheels.JPG
    For my Barn Find, I found E34 15" wheels for $15 each and put 225-60-15 on them. Rides like a dream! Paid almost as much for the tires as I did the car. Car only has 64,200 miles on it of which I have put about 1,500 since bringing back to life.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by richmond92 View Post
    Inexpensive?? OEM style 5 basketweaves aren't cheap! Unless you've got some aftermarket ones on that one. Beautiful car regardless.
    Not sure what they go for in VA, but I've never paid more than $500 bucks for a set. Hell, the set on the car now I got from RayinPhoenix for $250
    alpinweiß on anthrazit buffalo 1984 745i, 2014 Fiesta ST, 1984 635csi 1986 635csi 1987 L6 1999 M coupe 2002 M3 1995 325i 1976 200​2, 2001 996 TT 1994 850 T5 wagon 1998 GTi VR6 1983 scirocco

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by Freshbread View Post
    Not sure what they go for in VA, but I've never paid more than $500 bucks for a set. Hell, the set on the car now I got from RayinPhoenix for $250
    You're talking the 17" style 5 basketweaves right? Everywhere I look I see them anywhere from $650 used to $1200 for a set. The $650 ones are always in garbage shape too. I'd love a link to a cheaper set if you know of any.

  22. #22
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    2000 M5, 2001 330i
    I never got a chance to try a set of style 5's (because 3 piece style 5's are so damn expensive) but I've had 18" style 118's on my car and 18" style 37's. The 118's were like 32lbs a wheel and wow did the ride suck. It would crash and bang over pot holes, at times I thought the dash was going to fall off. Making the move to the style 37's was a night and day difference, much smoother ride. It feels planted but it isn't uncomfortable. I believe these wheels are about 18lbs a wheel (this is w/o tires for both weights).

    I have a set of Dinan springs to lower it down but I'm not going to put those on until I can figure out how to correct the camber and make sure the rear 9.5" wheels will fit, I might need to get e34 M5 9" M pars for the rear to fit inside the lips.



    2000 BMW M5 Evolve Alpha-N Tune, Evolve Carbon Fiber CAI's, UUC Short Throw Shifter, Dinan Front STB, Dinan Rear Sway Bar
    2001 BMW 330i ​Dynavin N7 Pro

    1985 BMW 745i 18" Style 37's, Team745i Chip, Getrag 265/6, Clutchmasters FX-300, UUC Short Throw Shifter, Strut Tower Bar, Bilstein HD's ("Build" Thread")(SOLD)
    1986 BMW 735i Getrag 265/6 Swap, Strut Tower Bar, Bilstein HD's, Euro F/R Conversion, 3.46 L/S Diff (Scrapped)

    2016 Ford Mustang GT Performance Pack Stock
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    2003 Mercury Marauder JLT CAI, SCT Xcal4, Stainless Works LT's, SW 2.5" Catback
    1996 Ford Bronco
    4" lift, 35" BFG A/T's, MH1 projectors

  23. #23
    Join Date
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    87 535i/84 €735i/8
    IMG_6909.jpg
    Here i smine on BBS RC090, aka 17" Style 5s, polished lips and black centers.
    Dinan springs and Bilstein sports.
    I think the curve of the wheel matches the fender/quarter panel nicely.
    --Jay3->Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc
    84 €735i manual, 88 528e/i
    Motronic 1 and 1.3 wiring
    Transmission & Diff gearing sheet

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jay535is View Post
    IMG_6909.jpg
    Here i smine on BBS RC090, aka 17" Style 5s, polished lips and black centers.
    Dinan springs and Bilstein sports.
    I think the curve of the wheel matches the fender/quarter panel nicely.

    Looks good, although the image is quite small, so I can't really tell.

    Side note, I'm looking at some style 5s with a 15mm offset. I understand the standard offset for the e23 is 20mm. Is 5mm going to make a noticeable difference?

  25. #25
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    If you click on the image it gets bigger, not sure why it cropped so small...
    15mm will be great, it will fill out the wheel wells that much better.
    I'll be adding 20mm spacers in back to make it 'hella flush yo'...just looks a little too recessed when looking down the length of the car.
    --Jay3->Sic gorgiamus allos subjectatos nunc
    84 €735i manual, 88 528e/i
    Motronic 1 and 1.3 wiring
    Transmission & Diff gearing sheet

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