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Thread: Stock e38 wheels on e34

  1. #1
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    Stock e38 wheels on e34

    Anybody run stock 16" basketweaves from an e38 on their e34?

    I just picked up a set, and I'd like to put them on my '92 525. But I don't want to have to run spacers. I know I will have to step down a tire size, but I'm wondering if I should go with 225/55-16 or 215/55-16.

    Seems like either will work, but I want to make sure they aren't going to rub before I buy them. BTW, this will be used with a stock suspension w/Bilsteins.

    Any suggestions would be appreciated.

  2. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by X Mon View Post
    Wheel/tire combination

    15x7" Wheels (OEM)

    205/65-15
    225/60-15

    16x7.5" Wheels:

    215/55-16
    225/55-16

    17x7 - 7.5 - 8 - 8.5" Wheels:

    235/45-17
    255/40-17

    18x8.5" Wheels:

    235/40-18
    245/40-18
    265/35-18

    19x9" Wheels:

    245/35-19
    275/30-19
    Popular upgrades in blue

    You have to maintains [sic] the overall diameter of the tire within -3 to +2 percent. It is crucial to preserving the speedometer reading and ear [sic] ratio. Check this website for speedometor [sic] error with different tire sizes. (Thanks to Dave Walker)

    http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Upgrad...ls_upgrade.htm

    I would highly suggest lowering the car to increase both camber and caster if you're going to 18's. Otherwise you're liable to experience some amount of tram-lining and a heavier than normal steering feel.
    "6" E38 wheels. By Drew Z.:
    16" rims from an E38 ('95-01) 7 series will fit the E34 but may require spacers in the front. A BBS-style cross-spoke wheel is available (from the 740) and a forged alpina-like "multi-spoke" wheel (from the 750). Both wheels are 16x8 with 23mm offset. These wheels fit fine a stock 530iT with 225/55/16 Dunlop SP5000's but rubbed the front on the lowered '90 535i (enough to remove the dirt, not the paint from the strut towers).
    Micah O'C. used the same size wheels and tires Brigestone KDWS's. They rubbed the front strut towers enough to remove some paint and some of the lettering from the tires.
    A small spacer might be required depending on E34 model and tire choice. 5 mm spacers are not hubcentric and may cause some shimmy. A 10mm hubcentric spacer will probably work and will reduce the likelihood of shimmy. A 3mm spacer may work without shimmy because it will provide more room on the hub for the of the wheel to mount on. 5mm spacers milled down to 3mm might do the work if you can't find a 3mm spacer for sale. When using spacers don't forget to use longer lug bolts."



    From the same source.... It looks like you may be ok, but they also may rub. 3mm spacers would be the ticket, with a slightly longer lug stud.
    -M

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  3. #3
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    X Mon,

    I read the same thing. That's why I was asking. I don't want to run spacers if I can avoid it, so I was wondering if anybody had any experiences with either. It seems like since the offset is slightly off, it would make more sense to go with a tire that is slightly more narrow to be safe (215 vs. 225). But like I said, I've read that some people don't have problems running the 225 size with a stock suspension setup.

  4. #4
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    I know a guy that had them, with no problems. he did change the tires to the correct sizes before he put them on though.

    EDIT: he had stock suspension too.

  5. #5
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    I get what you're saying Steve, wasn't sure if you'd seen the info on E34.net. I will make the comment that a lot of the tire manufactures are now providing extra thick sidewalls on their tyres to help "protect" the rim. While it does help when the wife/girlfriend/your lightly sloshed self parallel park your car it can lead to some rubbing on the inside.

    I don't have any personal experience with the E38 setup, but will comment to say that my 235/45-17 fronts on 17x8 Style 32s with a 20mm offset rub enough to keep the paint clean during hard cornering using a Dunlop SP Sport 5000 (which does have the extra sidewall). I note this as a caution due to the fact that others without the extra sidewall tires have said that this fitment wouldn't rub.

    Running that small of a spacer isn't that big of a deal. The trick to keep them from rotating is to machine/drill a hole that's the size of the head for the brake rotor set screw. Put a thin washer (2-3mm) under the head of the rotor set screw, then place the spacer on the hub. At only 3mm you shouldn't need to worry about hub-centric issues (I run 4mm self made spacers on the iX in the winter with no issues).
    -M

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  6. #6
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    I run the Style 5 Cross Spokes (23mm offset) from my e38 on a 1995 525iT (stock suspension) with no problems.

    But I only run them in the winter...the wheels are mounted with 225/55/16 Michelin Arctic Alpin tires:

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  7. #7
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    Thanks, Q. You answered my question a while back on the "other" board. I just wanted to see if I could get any more opinions on here. By the way, I LOVE Alpine tourings. Yours is the exact car that I want someday. If you ever decide to sell, let me know.

    It shouldn't make a difference if yours is a wagon and mine is a sedan, should it? Aren't the front suspension setups the same?

    I think I'm going to go with the 225s. I just wanted to hear experiences from as many people as possible before I buy them and mount them.

  8. #8
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    You're correct, the front suspension set up should be the same.

    And like some of the other's suggested...you should also pay attention to the tire's specs when making your decision. Not all 225/55/16 tires will have the same exact specs. Take note of the manufactures actual widths & height (whether milimeter or inches) beyond the normal tires specs given (xxx/xx/xx). A thick sidewall could very well create a rub situation if the tire's width is greater than the average comparable tire.

    Good luck.
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  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Qsilver7 View Post
    You're correct, the front suspension set up should be the same.

    And like some of the other's suggested...you should also pay attention to the tire's specs when making your decision. Not all 225/55/16 tires will have the same exact specs. Take note of the manufactures actual widths & height (whether milimeter or inches) beyond the normal tires specs given (xxx/xx/xx). A thick sidewall could very well create a rub situation if the tire's width is greater than the average comparable tire.

    Good luck.


    I don't suppose you know the width of yours do you?

    I'm looking at putting Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires on. According to the Michelin website, they are 9.2" wide. Looking at some other tires, the Michelins look like they are a little bit wider than a lot of other brands. But most of the Michelins I looked at for that size (225/55/16) seem to be about 9.2" wide as well.

    I was trying to find yours on the Michelin website to compare, but I couldn't find that exact model. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spot.

  10. #10
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    A lot of people are saying you *should* be fine. I don't get why there is so much variability in fitment of these E38 basketweaves, but I can speak from the standpoint of someone who had issues with them.

    I put a set of them (stock E38 et23) on my E34 M5 3.8 liter euro. They rubbed a lot in the front, to the point where the inside wheel weight was hitting the strut housing but only on the left side. Rubbed a nice groove into the paint before I got them off and figured out the problem. I used H&R 3mm spacers from Turner Motorsport and I never had another problem.

    I kept the setup and ran it (with the spacer) on my '93 535i Touring again with no problem, but I haven't tried them without the spacers. The tires by the way are 225/55/16 I think, Nokians. The problem wasn't the tire though, it was the razor-thin clearance between the wheel and wheel weight and the strut tube.

  11. #11
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    Stickies...
    -M

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  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by flipwils11 View Post
    A lot of people are saying you *should* be fine. I don't get why there is so much variability in fitment of these E38 basketweaves, but I can speak from the standpoint of someone who had issues with them.

    I put a set of them (stock E38 et23) on my E34 M5 3.8 liter euro. They rubbed a lot in the front, to the point where the inside wheel weight was hitting the strut housing but only on the left side. Rubbed a nice groove into the paint before I got them off and figured out the problem. I used H&R 3mm spacers from Turner Motorsport and I never had another problem.

    I kept the setup and ran it (with the spacer) on my '93 535i Touring again with no problem, but I haven't tried them without the spacers. The tires by the way are 225/55/16 I think, Nokians. The problem wasn't the tire though, it was the razor-thin clearance between the wheel and wheel weight and the strut tube.

    Hmmm, interesting.

    The M5 has a lower suspension than the rest of the stock e34s, right?

    It seems like there is a problem with those wheels/tires on e34s with LOWERED suspensions. I haven't heard of anybody having problems with them on STOCK suspensions yet, however.

    I'm confused. Aren't the stock wheels/tires on the M5 wider than the setup we're talking about? I know the offset is correct, but aren't we talking about a 3mm difference in offset and at least a 10mm wider tire? Obviously, the stock wheels don't rub. Is it because the sidewalls are shorter?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Steve89 View Post
    I don't suppose you know the width of yours do you?

    I'm looking at putting Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires on. According to the Michelin website, they are 9.2" wide. Looking at some other tires, the Michelins look like they are a little bit wider than a lot of other brands. But most of the Michelins I looked at for that size (225/55/16) seem to be about 9.2" wide as well.

    I was trying to find yours on the Michelin website to compare, but I couldn't find that exact model. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong spot.
    The Michelin Arctic Alpins are no longer made...they were replaced by the Michelin X-Ice tire. Check the specs of that tire...any improvements over the Arctic Alpin will probably be in tread design and compound etc...but the width and heights etc. will probably be basically the same.
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  14. #14
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    Ahhh, I found the X-Ice. They are listed at 9.2" wide, which is the exact same width that is listed for the Pilot Exalto A/S. I think I'm in business.

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  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Pofke13LT View Post



    Those are 15".. right? sorry, but not related to thread.

  17. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by X Mon View Post
    Running that small of a spacer isn't that big of a deal. The trick to keep them from rotating is to machine/drill a hole that's the size of the head for the brake rotor set screw. Put a thin washer (2-3mm) under the head of the rotor set screw, then place the spacer on the hub. At only 3mm you shouldn't need to worry about hub-centric issues (I run 4mm self made spacers on the iX in the winter with no issues).
    So last weekend I went downstairs to give my 525i a treat and swap the good wheels and tires on and guess what? They rub. I put the fronts on and went for a quick spin around the block and had a look, and the shock shows some worrying wear for such a short run (the rest of the marks I made while feeling for the gap).

    740i/e38 basket weave 16" with AVON 225/55r16's.

    So I have no experience with spacers, does anyone have any info they want to reassure me with ( ) or a source for the right kind?


    Are there any BMW OEM 16" wheels with a larger offset I could use instead? (840ci?)




    Man, I just wanted them to work out of the box.

  18. #18
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    Quote Originally Posted by flipwils11 View Post
    I used H&R 3mm spacers from Turner Motorsport and I never had another problem.

    I kept the setup and ran it (with the spacer) on my '93 535i Touring again with no problem, but I haven't tried them without the spacers.
    Sorry for the double post, I thought I was on the last posting. Did you get longer lugs bolts with the 3mm spacers?

  19. #19
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    there is a 16x7 basketweave (style 29) from the e39 that will work. you'll need hubcentric rings, but given that they are only 7" with a 20mm offset not 8" you should have no rubbing issues.

    they look like this (these are the 15x7 versio):

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  20. #20
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    Please, I hope the OP does not mind my asking a similar question on this thread. I just pulled my Style 61 radials off of my E38 750IL and I have been wondering will they fit my 92 525i Touring?
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  21. #21
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    anyone....................






















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  22. #22
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    The e38 WHEELS will fit fine. It's the TIRES that come stock on e38s that are the problem when it comes to fitting on the e34. They are too tall and too wide. Mainly too tall. You shouldn't have any problems getting e38 wheels to fit your car, as long as you step down a tire size or two.

    There is some more info here:

    http://www.bmwe34.net/e34main/upgrad...ls_upgrade.htm

    For the record, I am running e38 basketweaves from a 740iL on my '92 with Michelin Pilot Exaltos. I'm running 225/55-16s, and they rubbed a little in the front. The rears weren't a problem. I installed some 5mm spacers with hub extenders from Turner Motorsports and have been happy with them. No more rubbing, no shimmying.

    Here's the finished product:


  23. #23
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    I own an e34 1990 525i sedan and just installed some e38 basketweaves on my car. NO SPACERS, no problems. My tires are 225/50/16 Kumho Ecsta's.

    Wheels:
    16x8 et23

    Tires:
    225/50/16 Kumho Ecsta

    No Spacers (might add some spacers to the rear as the fronts seem to be poking out a little further at the moment with no spacers in the front or rear.)
    Will be purchasing the Vogtland/Koni set up in the near future as well.

    1990 E34 16x8 style 5 installed .jpg
    Last edited by BMWL90; 05-19-2018 at 12:24 PM.

  24. #24
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    Finally a question I know the answer to! The E38 wheels work nicely on an E34, but I would highly recommend going with 215/60s. I initially put 225s on them, that I bought and had installed 40 miles away. I was smelling hot rubber 2 miles down the road, and white knuckled it home, hoping I wasn't about to blow out a front sidewall. Some brands might work at that size, but the Kuhmo's I bought certainly wouldn't. I put on 5mm spacers to make certain I had room for them, which changed the feel of the steering, much for the worse. I now have 215 60 Michelins on it with no spacers, and it feels considerably better now. Should the stars align, I'm going to style 42s with the proper offset.

  25. #25
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    Guess I should have added that I have a stock suspension still on my 92 touring. The Kumhos were 225/55/16, and mine rubbed hard against the strut towers. The installer should have told me that, and not let the smell of hot rubber inform me. It is odd the different experiences with the exact same wheels. The 215/60 Michelins on it now were nearly new and nearly free, which is why I'm running that aspect ratio.

    Oh crap, a hundred year old thread.
    Last edited by xcastaway; 05-19-2018 at 03:50 PM.

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