Style 108's on a 2.3

[Nickj140]

Hey all, im not the most knowledgeable when it comes to figuring this out. I have a base 2.3 with 16 inch rims and I was looking top put a se of staggered 108's on the car. the 108's tires are 225/40/18 and 255/35/18. Using https://www.willtheyfit.com it looks like I will need to use a 20mm spacer on the rear but im not sure about the front. Can anyone help me out with this?

[KeysCoupe]

Can you post up the specs on the wheels? Staggered, widths, offsets (ET)?
I generally prefer 17” as a max diameter on a Z3, but that’s just me.
-Donny

[Hoyt Clagwell]

I'm also not a fan of anything more than 17" but again, that's just me. Here are a couple of screen shots using the information that I could glean from your post. If the info entered is correct, then it looks to me as they should fit without spacers but tires and rims are not my forte.

Screenshot_2022-08-06 Online Wheel and Tyre Fitment Calculator Offset, Tyre Stretch and Speedo E.png

Screenshot_2022-08-06 Online Wheel and Tyre Fitment Calculator Offset, Tyre Stretch and Speedo E.png

[zellamay]

I put the style 224 Z4M wheels on my 97 Z3 2.8. (I think the tire sizes were the same as the wheels you are considering, but I'm not sure). The rears were okay, just barely. The fronts rubbed very slightly and occasionally. ..... Offsets: Stock 16", Style 18: front= 46, rear= 46. Style 108: front= 47, rear= 50. Style 224: front= 42, rear= 30 .... So, by comparison to my experience, the fronts will stick out 5mm more, (.200 in english), which would probably rub the fender enough to bother you. The rears would stick out 20mm more, (.800 in english), which will definately rub a lot. You can't fix either with spacers.

[Nickj140]

That would probably help lol sorry. They are 108's 18inch and they are staggered with 225/40r18 and 255/35r18 Michele pilot sport a/s 3. My current wheels are style 55, so in think they are 16x7 with a 46 offset but not 100%. 225/60r16

[Hoyt Clagwell]

You need to know the rim widths, offsets and diameters of both your current wheels and the ones you wish to install. Here's a link to a page where you can find that info.
http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/

You will also need to know the tire widths and profiles. (brand doesn't matter)

Here's a comparison of the wheels that I recently installed on the rear of my Z3. The new wheel as shown was 28.1mm closer to the suspension strut and poked out 10.1mm more than before. This fit as it was but I added a 20mm spacer for a total of 30.1 extra outer poke. I'm sure that I could get away with a 25mm spacer for a total of 35.1 extra poke. This compared to a rim with a 7" width and 41 ET

Stock Rear vs Desired Tire and Rim.png

Get all of your spec.s right, enter them in 'Will they fit?' and post the results here.

[zellamay]

That would probably help lol sorry. They are 108's 18inch and they are staggered with 225/40r18 and 255/35r18 Michele pilot sport a/s 3. My current wheels are style 55, so in think they are 16x7 with a 46 offset but not 100%. 225/60r16

Look here for all those numbers: http://www.bmwstylewheels.com

[Nickj140]

So it looks like the style 55 I have are 16x 7 wide with an et of 46. the 108s are 18x8 in the front with a 47 offset and the rear is 18x8.5 with a 50 offset. Would look something like this. I think I defiantly need a spacer in the back, but do you think I could get away w/o one in the front?


Screen Shot 2022-08-08 at 5.15.01 PM.jpgScreen Shot 2022-08-08 at 5.14.40 PM.jpg

[BimmerBreaker]

Why do you think you will you need a spacer in the rear?

E46/E85 Z4 wheels pretty much fit non-M Z3's perfectly as it is. Those are Z4 wheels, so I think they would fit pretty well as-is.



Should be mentioned that 18"s will decrease the performance of the car slightly and also make it a bit more harsh of a ride

[Hoyt Clagwell]

I'm thinking that you might want to try a 40 profile in the rear. The 35 that you entered gives you a speedometer reading that is almost 64 mph when you are going 60. A 40 profile will also be slightly cushier if it works out closer to OE diameter.

A 45 profile in the front might also work better than the 40 that you entered. It would also fill out the wheel wells better. (less gap)

[zellamay]

So it looks like the style 55 I have are 16x 7 wide with an et of 46. the 108s are 18x8 in the front with a 47 offset and the rear is 18x8.5 with a 50 offset. Would look something like this. I think I defiantly need a spacer in the back, but do you think I could get away w/o one in the front?


Screen Shot 2022-08-08 at 5.15.01 PM.jpgScreen Shot 2022-08-08 at 5.14.40 PM.jpg

I think there is something wrong with your picture of the rear wheels. The green, offset 50, should be further out than the orange, offset 46. But in the picture it looks like the orange is further out.

[Nickj140]

I think I flip flopped the pictures, the 1st one is the rear and the 2nd is the front.

[Nickj140]

I set the profile wrong and put 60 when it should have been 50, I think I did it right this time lol

Front.jpgRear.jpg

[Hoyt Clagwell]

Are you sure that your existing rims have a 46ET? My stock style 18s had an ET of 41. Providing all of the other values are correct, it looks to me like the the new rims would fit either way but you might want spacers in the rear for looks and a wider stance. I'm guessing that the car in post #9 is using spacers out back. Perhaps 10mm.

Since the style 108 wheels appear as though they will fit as is, you can always choose to add spacers later if you want to fill out the arches more.

[Nickj140]

If the website http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/55 is correct its 46. I guess I will find out on Monday when I pick them up, but I will probably not have a chance to swap them out till late august of early September.

IMG_7332.jpgStyle 55.jpg

[Hoyt Clagwell]

If the website http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/55 is correct its 46. I guess I will find out on Monday when I pick them up, but I will probably not have a chance to swap them out till late august of early September.

That appears to be correct. You should be ready to go.

[zellamay]

My math was wrong, or actually, I got myself ass-backwards. Sorry about that. I'll try again:
I put the style 224 Z4M wheels on my 97 Z3 2.8. (I think the tire sizes were the same as the wheels you are considering, but I'm not sure). The rears were okay, just barely. The fronts rubbed very slightly and occasionally. .....
Offsets:
Stock 16", Style 18: front= 46, rear= 46. tire sizes 225-55-16
Style 108: front= 47, rear= 50. Tire sizes: F: 225-40-18 R:255-35-18
Style 224: front= 42, rear= 30 Tire sizes: F 225-40-18 R:255-40-18 (I looked this up because I don't remember)
So, by comparison to my experience,
The 108 fronts will stick in 5mm more, (.200 in english), which would help the occasional rub I had, so I'd say no spacers, unless it rubs on the inside.
The 108 rears would stick in 20mm more, (.800 in english), which could cause some rubbing on the inside, but BB says they fit fine. If you use spacers on the rear, I'd say stay lower than .800, because they could rub the fender.
So, bottom line is that you can put them on and see what you have, then decide on spacers.

[BimmerBreaker]

Yeah the rear has plenty of space for wider wheels/tires on the Z3. After all, the strut/spring sits in the same location for M vs non M so there is plenty of inboard clearance. Pushing the rear inwards ~20mm or whatever it is, is completely fine. I currently have a 17 x 10 et25 with 10" rubber out back on my non-M Z3. The focus should really be on how much the wheel comes out towards the fender. The 108's, after looking at them compared to the 46's (and how sunken in those look), may need a spacer for cosmetic reasons - but they will fit as-is. Install them and then measure the distance to the fender to determine what size spacer you want.

I am definitely not sure if the picture I posted had a spacer or not. Some pictures they do look quite a bit more sunken in...



Looks quite nice on the blue



Not the best look at factory ride height though. A little bit like a "donk"... I think the car needs to be lowered a bit to pull them off properly imo

[Nickj140]

Thanks for the input, advice and pictures. I think you are right about the lowering of the car, and my mechanic said I my rear shocks are leaking a bit of oil sooo open too suspension options lol

[zellamay]

You're welcome of course. Here's some threads on suspension options: https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...thout-Lowering ............... https://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/s...ension-refresh ...... and you can go to FAQ on this site.