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Thread: Did you know? E60 hubs/wheel bearings fit E39

  1. #1
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    Did you know? E60 hubs/wheel bearings fit E39

    Want to use 72mm center bore wheels on your E39, but don't want to bore your wheels or use adapters? Do your wheel bearings need replacing? Great! Just order E60 wheel bearings and hubs!

    I've been wanting to post this for so long but I waited until I actually installed mine and it works with absoultely no modification! I remember reading on here an old post where some guy in Germany said it would work but you had to re-drill the hole for the rotor locating screw or something like that, but I didn't have to modify anything. Everything fit right on with no problems. I have a 99 528i so I can't guarantee this would work on all models, but I don't see why it wouldn't.

    I just finished my front suspension overhaul this weekend. Everything between the road and the car is new with the exception of the steering knuckles and the brake calipers. Included in this rebuild I used E60 wheel bearings. I will post more pics of the whole process in another thread but I just wanted to get the news out about the E60 hubs and bearings working for the E39 as soon as I could.

    Here's a pic of my unmodified Style 138's mounted on my E39 with E60 hubs:



    And a pic of the finished suspension before putting on the wheel:



    Yes, those are FSD's (flame shields up!) and you can see the E60 hubs fit nicely inside the brake rotors. The part of the hub that the rotor goes onto is the same size on both the E60 and the E39, it's just the part that sticks out for the wheel to center on that's different.

    I haven't done the rears yet, but I don't see how there would be any problem there. The wheel bearing is sold seperately from the hub, and the bearings are the exact same part number for both the E39 and the E60. So for the rear, the only thing that's different is the hub itself and it just presses inside the bearing. I will be doing the rear suspension in about a month so we will see for sure then...

  2. #2
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    Very interesting.
    1991 M5 (in progress)

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  3. #3
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    Yes, thanks for sharing. Btw, what about pricing on those E60 bearings?

  4. #4
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    Very interesting indeed. I assume you have no ABS/DSC issues with E60 bearing.

    2003 M5 LSx l 6 Spd Manual l 4.10 LSD
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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Schitzo View Post
    Very interesting indeed. I assume you have no ABS/DSC issues with E60 bearing.
    Same question...funny I just replaced my rears with oem e39 bearings, but this development could be huge in opening on wheel options for the e39 community. Let us know how the rears work out.
    BMWCCA #389756
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by oekundar
    but this development could be huge in opening on wheel options for the e39 community. Let us know how the rears work out.
    +1
    I wonder why no one has thought of this before.
    2002 540i | 6 speed | (892) Titanium Gray | BC Coilovers |E60 SSK - ZHP Knob | CDV Delete | M5 RSB | Muffler Delete - 2.75" Turndown | Dice Duo | Spec Dock | Running log -> http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1713303

  7. #7
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    Wow! If the rears work I will nominate you for a Bf.c Nobel Prize.
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  8. #8
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    sweet.
    How did you even start to think they would fit?
    Last edited by carlos1212; 04-17-2012 at 02:52 PM.

  9. #9
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    Cool!
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  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by charlesb2003 View Post


    The front suspension and brakes look extremely clean!
    Nice job!
    What brakes are they?
    How does the car ride?

    Also, kind of neat to be able to run OZ Ultraleggera's...

    https://www.google.com/search?q=OZ+U...w=1680&bih=946

    Thanks!
    Jason

    Looking for an E39 belly pan , passenger front inner fender liner …

  11. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by fabby318 View Post
    Yes, thanks for sharing. Btw, what about pricing on those E60 bearings?
    I paid $137.51 each from EAC. Looks like they're sold out right now though - http://www.eaceuroparts.com/parts/pa...06%20765%20601


    Quote Originally Posted by Schitzo View Post
    Very interesting indeed. I assume you have no ABS/DSC issues with E60 bearing.
    I drove around all morning, no lights on the dash and brakes seem to work fine. The E60 bearings are almost identical in every way to the E39 bearings, other than the absense of the big bolt on the back and the hub diameter. I wish I had taken pics of them side by side but I was too excited to get them on to stop for pics...


    Quote Originally Posted by carlos1212 View Post
    sweet.
    How did you even start to think they would fit?
    Well, it all started a while back when I saw this post from Touring E39: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=19243501&postcount=38

    He never went into much detail about this but it sparked the idea in my mind. I then headed over to EACeuroparts.com and started comparing pics of parts and part numbers between the E39 and the E60 hubs.

    In the front, looking at the pics, they looked very similar. I then noticed that the part numbers of the bolts that hold them on to the knuckle are the same for the E60 and the E39. The part number of the screw that holds the rotor to the hub was the same too. And, knowing that the factory wheel offset for the E60 and E39 is the same at 20mm, I went ahead and took the leap of faith and bought them.

    In the rear, the part numbers of the bearings themselves are the same for the E39 and the E60, only the drive flange (hub) is different. So I see no reason why those won't work.


    Quote Originally Posted by jnyost View Post
    Cool!
    Thanks! Be on the lookout for another order from me in about a month, I'm saving up for the complete rear suspension overhaul now that the front is done.


    Quote Originally Posted by Jason5driver View Post
    The front suspension and brakes look extremely clean!
    Nice job!
    What brakes are they?
    How does the car ride?

    Also, kind of neat to be able to run OZ Ultraleggera's...

    https://www.google.com/search?q=OZ+Ultraleggera%27s&hl=en&client=firefox-a&hs=BFt&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ& sa=X&ei=mLCNT_GWIMTq2AXzkZWdDA&ved=0CD0QsAQ&biw=16 80&bih=946

    Thanks!
    Jason
    Thanks! Those are PowerSlot rotors with Akebono Euro pads and stock 528i calipers painted black. The springs are Vogtland Sport and the struts are Koni FSD's.

    All the other parts are straight off of EAC's front suspension parts list found here: http://www.eaceuroparts.com/content/tech-articles/bmw/bmw-e39-i6-525i-528i-530i-suspension-parts-list/

    I went with all the Lemfoerder parts, and on the thurst arms I got the Lemfoerder arms with the heavy duty bushings.

    Car rides great considering the back is still all original with blown shocks, beat up ball joints, and sprung non-sport springs... I can't wait to get the back done and see how good she rides then!

    In the meantime I have to ride around looking like this:

  12. #12
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    Wait so... doing this will change the size from that e39 exclusive 74.1mm to the 72.6(?)mm size that every other BMW has?

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by apocalypsegoat View Post
    Wait so... doing this will change the size from that e39 exclusive 74.1mm to the 72.6(?)mm size that every other BMW has?
    Correct.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by apocalypsegoat View Post
    Wait so... doing this will change the size from that e39 exclusive 74.1mm to the 72.6(?)mm size that every other BMW has?
    Correct

  15. #15
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    2 things

    1. if you like ugly E60 wheels then yes ( i dont )
    2. "I paid $137.51 each" .... well i paid ~200$ shpped for 2 E39 Timken bearings

    But thanks for posing this info , indeed VERY interesting thread
    Last edited by champaign777; 04-17-2012 at 06:10 PM.

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by champaign777
    if you like ugly E60 wheels then yes ( i dont )
    Don't forget, the e60 isn't the only 72.whatever wheel hub.. Virtually ALL other wheel types OEM from BMW can be fitted after this.

    Sounds like a decent alternative to boring wheels or spacers which reduce the hub.

    1,3,5,7,z,x etc. Don't limit yourself only to e60 wheel options
    2002 540i | 6 speed | (892) Titanium Gray | BC Coilovers |E60 SSK - ZHP Knob | CDV Delete | M5 RSB | Muffler Delete - 2.75" Turndown | Dice Duo | Spec Dock | Running log -> http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1713303

  17. #17
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    hmm, time to dump my e39 m-par reps and get e38 m-pars?
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  18. #18
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    Huge thanks for posting this.
    You ask any ricer, any serious ricer. It doesn't matter if the other guy is racing or not. A win is a win.

  19. #19
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    In. Sounds cool.

  20. #20
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    Wow that's awesome, I wish I knew this 2 years ago lol.

  21. #21
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    me too I have recently replaced my front wheel bearings and I am not itching to do it again....lol

    This seems like one of those .....can't see the forest for the trees moments....
    1999 BMW 540i Sport

  22. #22
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    So what is the difference in the E39 and E60 rear wheel bearings? Does the drive flange bore match on E60 let's say 525i to E39 528i drive shaft?

    I wonder if you can just use the E60 drive flange on E39 bearing.
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  23. #23
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    Very interesting ! ... I'm running 30mm spacers in the front

    (adapter) to make 72 fit my car. I don't like my set up so hopefully when ur done let's us know how it all works out
    Last edited by Mac Castle; 04-18-2012 at 03:22 AM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mac Castle View Post
    Very interesting ! ... I'm running 30mm spacers in the front

    (adapter) to make 72 fit my car. I don't like my set up so hopefully when ur done let's us know how it all works out
    Just to make sure, you are aware that changing to E60 wheel bearings is not going to affect the offset of your current wheels?

  25. #25
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    Interesting thread. Very curious about the fitment of the rear bearings.
    Looking for a DIY? Parts? Check this out, it might be your ticket

    Stable: e92is, e53 N62, e46M54B25, Tribby & e39 M54B30 R.I.P.

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