Member
Good morning all. I just mounted a BBS front spoiler on my 84 325e, and it hangs too low to be practical for daily driving. My wheels are OEM 14 inch basketweaves and current tires are 195 60R14's. How much would the car be raised further off the ground by mounting 195 70R14 tires? Would that tire even fit the car? Not looking for exact answers necessarily, but please weigh in with your expertise and opinions. Thanks much, John
Member
.. the car would be about 10 mm higher off the ground
.. the fit would depend on your suspension to be able to clear the wheel wells when turning the front wheels
... forty-three years of driving before I get behind the wheel of a BMW .... and I am thinking, "why did it take me so long?"
... and then after another 4 years I can't believe that I have two of them !!
Member
Here is a chart by diameter and size. From the chart it shows your current size 195/60 is 23.2" diameter and 7.7" wide. The proposed 195/70 is 24.7" x 7.7 wide, a difference of 1.5", 1/2 of 1.5 is .75, or 3/4 inch higher. As my car came with 195/65, I don't think you'll have any problem.
23" Tire Diameter
175/65R14 = 23x6.9R14
175/70R14 = 23.6x6.9R14
185/65R14 = 23.5x7.3R14
195/60R14 = 23.2x7.7R14
205/60R14 = 23.7x8.1R14
24" Tire Diameter
185/70R14 = 24.2x7.3R14
185/75R14 = 24.9X7.3R14
195/65R14 = 24x7.7R14
195/70R14 = 24.7x7.7R14
215/60R14 = 24.2x8.5R14
225/60R14 = 24.6x8.9R14
25" Tire Diameter
195/75R14 = 25.5x7.7R14
205/70R14 = 25.3x8.1R14
215/70R14 = 25.9x8.5R14
235/60R14 = 25.1x9.3R14
245/60R14 = 25.6x9.7R14
26" Tire Diameter
205/75R14 = 26.1x8.1R14
215/75R14 = 26.7x8.5R14
225/70R14 = 26.4x8.9R14
26X8.5R14
Last edited by aaverhulst; 11-17-2018 at 07:43 PM.
Member
1. How much clearance do you have from the ground to the spoiler now?
2. What springs and shocks are you running in the front and back?
Last edited by msservices; 11-17-2018 at 07:15 PM.
Member
Good questions. I took the H and R springs and Bilstein Sport shocks off the car and went back with OEM springs and Bilstein Touring shocks. Presently the ground clearance of the spoiler is two and a half inches.
smooth operator
That second number, the 70, is the sidewall height. Its supposed to be a ratio of the first number. How it works, i do not know but 70 is a taller sidewall than a 60 or 65
No e30s again.
Member
I am running 195/60/14 with Koni yellow with stock springs, I have 7-1/4” to the bottom of the stock IS air dam. I would prefer to lower the front by one inch, leaving me with around 6” of clearance. To me that’s close enough for daily driving. Using that as a basis for a recommendation, I doubt putting taller tires on would get you anything but an odd look and less than nimble handling.
Last edited by msservices; 11-18-2018 at 10:36 PM.
Member
Your seven inches of clearance with your IS air dam makes me think that I might not have installed my BBS air dam correctly. Will check it again tomorrow. My car with air dam installed was once sold on Bring a Trailer, and if interested you can google it at "1984 BMW 325e Bring a Trailer sold". The air dam in those pictures looks further off the ground then, than when I re-installed it. Thanks to one an all for your comments...keep them coming if you have more. JohnOriginally Posted by msservices
- - - Updated - - -
Your seven inches of clearance with your IS air dam makes me think that I might not have installed my BBS air dam correctly. Will check it again tomorrow. My car with air dam installed was once sold on Bring a Trailer, and if interested you can google it at "1984 BMW 325e Bring a Trailer sold". The air dam in those pictures looks further off the ground then, than when I re-installed it. Thanks to one an all for your comments...keep them coming if you have more. John
smooth operator
I think mine always had 6" or so, too. I know when I slammed it with the coil overs all the way down and modified strut housings I could get the frame rails about 2" off the ground but it wasn't really drivable like that
- - - Updated - - -
post a pic of how your air damn is mounted
No e30s again.
Member
Something tells me that that’s a front air dam off of an E 21, Either that or it might’ve been made for E30 with euro bumpers
Last edited by msservices; 11-19-2018 at 06:11 PM.
smooth operator
Oh, like an mtech1 on a plastic bumper car?
No e30s again.
Member
Well, I took another look my installation job this morning; unbolted it and took another shot, this time using a rubber hammer to massage the fit. Voila! I now have now have a little over five inches of clearance which I think will be manageable on the street. I can't figure out how the dam was mounted on the car originally...the old mounting holes don't match up to anything underneath the front of the car. Oh well, live and learn. Many thanks to all who helped out. Cheers, John
smooth operator
cool. the front spoilers add a lot to the look of the car
No e30s again.
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