ive fallen into the metric wheels trap
Discussion
I bought my 1995 e34 518 a few months back and now i need some new tyres. what a nightmare
basically i have the option of paying £130 a tyre (i need 4!) or what has been suggested to me buying some alternative wheels completely instead (hopefully with reasonable tyres on them.
my questions are thus:
-what size wheels/ offset/ tyre size should i be looking for? mine are currently 390/230/55
-does anyone have something suitable or where would be the best place to acquire 4 new wheels (second hand) and what sort of price would i be looking at? i had a quick look on ebay but wasnt entirely sure what i needed
my current wheels are the, in my opinion, quite stylish multi spoke types and ideally i would like the same but in a normal size
basically i have the option of paying £130 a tyre (i need 4!) or what has been suggested to me buying some alternative wheels completely instead (hopefully with reasonable tyres on them.
my questions are thus:
-what size wheels/ offset/ tyre size should i be looking for? mine are currently 390/230/55
-does anyone have something suitable or where would be the best place to acquire 4 new wheels (second hand) and what sort of price would i be looking at? i had a quick look on ebay but wasnt entirely sure what i needed
my current wheels are the, in my opinion, quite stylish multi spoke types and ideally i would like the same but in a normal size
You need wheels like these,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-Series-E34-Alloy-W...
they appear to have 3 with tyres,#
and there's a single wheel without tyre or centre cap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-GENUINE-BMW-STYLE-5-F...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-Series-E34-Alloy-W...
they appear to have 3 with tyres,#
and there's a single wheel without tyre or centre cap
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15-GENUINE-BMW-STYLE-5-F...
I did the same thing (well, almost- I knew about Metric tyres and I knew the car I bought had 'em).
I got an absolute bargain on eBay- a set of 4 BMW 15" wheels, complete with original 1990 Dunlop tyres (!) for £60. As you can tell by the fact they've got original tyres, they are barely used and look factory fresh. Now my rear metrics are running out, I'll be putting some 225/60r15s on the imperial wheels and getting rid of the metrics.
Where are you? my fronts still have 5mm+ thread and I would happily sell you tyres at a reasonable rate- I could even fit and balance them for you (I am not a tyre fitter, I just happen to have access to the equipment and be proficient in it's use!)
I got an absolute bargain on eBay- a set of 4 BMW 15" wheels, complete with original 1990 Dunlop tyres (!) for £60. As you can tell by the fact they've got original tyres, they are barely used and look factory fresh. Now my rear metrics are running out, I'll be putting some 225/60r15s on the imperial wheels and getting rid of the metrics.
Where are you? my fronts still have 5mm+ thread and I would happily sell you tyres at a reasonable rate- I could even fit and balance them for you (I am not a tyre fitter, I just happen to have access to the equipment and be proficient in it's use!)
sparks_E39 said:
£130 a tyre is pretty good if a premium brand, no?
No! They're the same tyres which were fitted to the car in the early/mid 90s... I.e. over 20 years old in their design and construction. They're also an early attempt at a 'run-flat', so they're stiff and heavy too. Any half-decent 225/60r15 tyre will be much, much better.Hi,
As per above, you'll need to make your own decision for what you want.
I'd say the easiest option would be to look at other oem E34 normal sized alloy wheels and choose a design you like and then hunt for a set of those. There's always sets available and the E34 came from the factory with either 15,16,17 or 18 inch wheels. 19 inch can and do fit and for those of us like me who do like classy, BMW tuner brand larger wheels, I think the E34 looks fantastic with a good choice 19 inch wheel. In 99-2005, my then E34 525i Sport was on genuine 18 inch AC Schnitzer type 3 wheels and made the car look awesome! For those who prefer oem, the M Parallel's in 18 inch are very much wanted and fitted.
If you find you don't like any of the normal wheel size designs, you'll need to cough up the money for metrics.
Cheers, Dennis!
As per above, you'll need to make your own decision for what you want.
I'd say the easiest option would be to look at other oem E34 normal sized alloy wheels and choose a design you like and then hunt for a set of those. There's always sets available and the E34 came from the factory with either 15,16,17 or 18 inch wheels. 19 inch can and do fit and for those of us like me who do like classy, BMW tuner brand larger wheels, I think the E34 looks fantastic with a good choice 19 inch wheel. In 99-2005, my then E34 525i Sport was on genuine 18 inch AC Schnitzer type 3 wheels and made the car look awesome! For those who prefer oem, the M Parallel's in 18 inch are very much wanted and fitted.
If you find you don't like any of the normal wheel size designs, you'll need to cough up the money for metrics.
Cheers, Dennis!
im based in leeds if those 2 tyres are available and fairly close.
if i could get those cheap then i could probably handle paying £130 for the other 2 tyres
i guess ebay is the other way forward and try and find some other wheels.
i guess if i got new wheels, my current ones would be practically worthless
cheers for helpful posts so far
if i could get those cheap then i could probably handle paying £130 for the other 2 tyres
i guess ebay is the other way forward and try and find some other wheels.
i guess if i got new wheels, my current ones would be practically worthless
cheers for helpful posts so far
Edited by tsubodai on Friday 5th October 15:04
Fancy a drive to Slough?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Series-5-Series-E3...
bit closer to home for metrics
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-SERIES-E34-TDS-SET...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-3-Series-5-Series-E3...
bit closer to home for metrics
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-SERIES-E34-TDS-SET...
tsubodai said:
im based in leeds if those 2 tyres are available and fairly close.
if i could get those cheap then i could probably handle paying £130 for the other 2 tyres
i guess ebay is the other way forward and try and find some other wheels.
i guess if i got new wheels, my current ones would be practically worthless
cheers for helpful posts so far
I'm in Surrey I'm afraid- I would strongly recommend buying different wheels though in all honesty! The problem with buying them part-worn is that everyone seems to be in on the fact they're expensive to buy and therefore valuable to the right buyer. And yes, as you say, no-one wants metric wheels. Mine are going in the shed and when I sell the car they'll be included for originality's sake.if i could get those cheap then i could probably handle paying £130 for the other 2 tyres
i guess ebay is the other way forward and try and find some other wheels.
i guess if i got new wheels, my current ones would be practically worthless
cheers for helpful posts so far
vetrof said:
bit closer to home for metrics
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-SERIES-E34-TDS-SET...
These are exactly what I have at the moment.http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-5-SERIES-E34-TDS-SET...
And these will be going on- OEM BMW 15" BBS cross spokes, £60 for the set!
(Once I replace the 22 year old tyres!)
If you can get the tyres off and dispose of them, a scrappy will give you about £8-£10 per wheel for your old alloys. I got a set of 5 15" cross-spokes (as above) with budget tyres for £50 from a chap near me who was breaking a 1991ish 525i.
Your alternative could be a set of E39 alloys (likely to come with slightly newer tyres than most E34 alloys on eBay) but you will need spigot rings (£5 for a set of four including delivery) to make sure they're mounted centrally on the hub.
Your alternative could be a set of E39 alloys (likely to come with slightly newer tyres than most E34 alloys on eBay) but you will need spigot rings (£5 for a set of four including delivery) to make sure they're mounted centrally on the hub.
I'd be ditching the metric alloys tbh and going for a second hand set of BBS cross spokes.
Worth checking here: http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ if there are any sets for sale.
Worth checking here: http://forum.bmw5.co.uk/ if there are any sets for sale.
Pics? Love my 518i, just as quick as 520i and slightly better handling, is it the M40 or M43 engine in it?
As for E39 alloys, they look rank on a 34 as well as E31 alloys, Alpinas are ok but hard to pull off.
Tyre wise though, depends how you want the "PH clique" to view you, currently running Goodyear Ultragrip 8s which are pretty good and they are fairly good in the wet and clearing water, not really used them in winter/snow though, I used them in the summer, without dying amazingly.
But I have also used the Kumho KH31s and they last forever on the E34 and they are excellent in the snow, I had them on mine in the snow and I got everywhere.
Some tips to make it really nice
Stab bars replace them (genuine BMW £12 each IIRC)
Replace the rear anti roll bar links (cheap BMW)
Tighten the steering box up, it will be slack.
Engines bay runs hot, worth replacing all the little vacuum hoses you can see, they will be cracked and perished and cause hunting on idle and weird running.
Post some pics though
As for E39 alloys, they look rank on a 34 as well as E31 alloys, Alpinas are ok but hard to pull off.
Tyre wise though, depends how you want the "PH clique" to view you, currently running Goodyear Ultragrip 8s which are pretty good and they are fairly good in the wet and clearing water, not really used them in winter/snow though, I used them in the summer, without dying amazingly.
But I have also used the Kumho KH31s and they last forever on the E34 and they are excellent in the snow, I had them on mine in the snow and I got everywhere.
Some tips to make it really nice
Stab bars replace them (genuine BMW £12 each IIRC)
Replace the rear anti roll bar links (cheap BMW)
Tighten the steering box up, it will be slack.
Engines bay runs hot, worth replacing all the little vacuum hoses you can see, they will be cracked and perished and cause hunting on idle and weird running.
Post some pics though
pits said:
Pics? Love my 518i, just as quick as 520i and slightly better handling, is it the M40 or M43 engine in it?
As for E39 alloys, they look rank on a 34 as well as E31 alloys, Alpinas are ok but hard to pull off.
Tyre wise though, depends how you want the "PH clique" to view you, currently running Goodyear Ultragrip 8s which are pretty good and they are fairly good in the wet and clearing water, not really used them in winter/snow though, I used them in the summer, without dying amazingly.
But I have also used the Kumho KH31s and they last forever on the E34 and they are excellent in the snow, I had them on mine in the snow and I got everywhere.
Agree, E39 alloys on E34s = As for E39 alloys, they look rank on a 34 as well as E31 alloys, Alpinas are ok but hard to pull off.
Tyre wise though, depends how you want the "PH clique" to view you, currently running Goodyear Ultragrip 8s which are pretty good and they are fairly good in the wet and clearing water, not really used them in winter/snow though, I used them in the summer, without dying amazingly.
But I have also used the Kumho KH31s and they last forever on the E34 and they are excellent in the snow, I had them on mine in the snow and I got everywhere.
Alpinas are lovely but have to be genuine.
Kumho KU31s are very decent. Have a set on my E30. Very reasonably priced and perform very well. Recommended.
I ran an E34 520i for a year smoking between N London and Canterbury. Super motor from the days when BMWs were engineered to spec and priced after.
E39 wheels are not a straight fit onto an E34, and are insurance notifyable.
I had exactly the same issue with my last E34, and as others have said, I just bought a set of imperial cross spokes from flea bay, I bought six for £60, job jobbed.
My insurance company didn't care what wheels it had fitted, as long as they were an option when the car was purchased.
As for a 518 outhandling a 520 ...... no it doesn't, the 520 has better brakes and suspension !
My last E34 was a 1996 redg, 1995 built 518i estate, it had three series brakes, from the 318i ......single solid disc !
It was a nice car, but very underpowered, 115 bhp compared to the 150 bhp of the straight six 2.0, and it used more fuel than my current E39 528i SE auto !
And of course, the 4 pot sounds crap, and even requires a "blanking plate" around the exhaust pipe, as it's like a pea shooter lol.
Enjoy though, I enjoyed mine for the 100,000 miles I put on it.
I had exactly the same issue with my last E34, and as others have said, I just bought a set of imperial cross spokes from flea bay, I bought six for £60, job jobbed.
My insurance company didn't care what wheels it had fitted, as long as they were an option when the car was purchased.
As for a 518 outhandling a 520 ...... no it doesn't, the 520 has better brakes and suspension !
My last E34 was a 1996 redg, 1995 built 518i estate, it had three series brakes, from the 318i ......single solid disc !
It was a nice car, but very underpowered, 115 bhp compared to the 150 bhp of the straight six 2.0, and it used more fuel than my current E39 528i SE auto !
And of course, the 4 pot sounds crap, and even requires a "blanking plate" around the exhaust pipe, as it's like a pea shooter lol.
Enjoy though, I enjoyed mine for the 100,000 miles I put on it.
Nigel Worc's said:
As for a 518 outhandling a 520 ...... no it doesn't, the 520 has better brakes and suspension !
My last E34 was a 1996 redg, 1995 built 518i estate, it had three series brakes, from the 318i ......single solid disc !
Utter bMy last E34 was a 1996 redg, 1995 built 518i estate, it had three series brakes, from the 318i ......single solid disc !
ks. 518i came with either solid or vented, mine has vented and same brakes as a 520How does the 520 have better suspension exactly? They use the same suspension units? Only difference is that the 520i has the heavier air suspension and the 518i has stiffer springs and no air.
Part numbers are the same, they even use the same Boge insert.
Nigel Worc's said:
It was a nice car, but very underpowered, 115 bhp compared to the 150 bhp of the straight six 2.0, and it used more fuel than my current E39 528i SE auto !
You do know that there is naff all in it between a 518i and a 520i, ignoring the six cylinder snobbery, the 518i is geared differently to near enough match the 520i, there was 0.9 seconds in the 0-60 time, and down 35bhpTorque HP 0-60
518i I4 120 113 11.6
520i I6 12V 120 129 11.2
520i I6 24V 140 150 10.7
Nigel Worc's said:
And of course, the 4 pot sounds crap, and even requires a "blanking plate" around the exhaust pipe, as it's like a pea shooter lol.
Enjoy though, I enjoyed mine for the 100,000 miles I put on it.
4 cylinder does sound crap though, I'll give you that.Enjoy though, I enjoyed mine for the 100,000 miles I put on it.
But really, there is nothing in it between a 518i and a 520i, the only difference is the 520i cost more, has a heavier front end which makes it push on more in corners, it has a heavier rear end, so to sum up
520i and 518i
Same suspension
Same brakes
Similar power figures 0/60
7mph top speed difference
And the 520i weighs 200kg more than the 518i with more nose weight
You will have to excuse me if I appear curt, but it is a subject that annoys me slightly, and mostly because I was rudely awakened this morning at 7.30 by a BT engineer, who the f
k sends a BT engineer out, at 7.30 on a Monday morning? And to top it all off the didn't evenn have to stop by my house, and my mood is only worsened by the F1 results.It annoys me the same way too, because I know differently, having owned both, but I try not to allow external factors to affect my posts.
When I came to replace the front dampers on my 518, there were something like 34 options, and mine were different to the 520, mine also had solid discs, and I've never seen solid dics on a 520.
The 520 cost more for several reasons, snobbery may well have been a factor, but different "set ups" is another factor.
I've owned two E34 525's, one 520, and one 518, and I can assure you, the 518 performance does not match that of a 520.
When I came to replace the front dampers on my 518, there were something like 34 options, and mine were different to the 520, mine also had solid discs, and I've never seen solid dics on a 520.
The 520 cost more for several reasons, snobbery may well have been a factor, but different "set ups" is another factor.
I've owned two E34 525's, one 520, and one 518, and I can assure you, the 518 performance does not match that of a 520.
I've never seen vented front discs on a 518i, and the BMW parts CD doesn't show them either. I used to look after a P reg 518i Touring and that had solid discs. Early ones had drums on the back.
They are both good motors but the 520i is of course quicker -as it should be with 150 bhp versus 115. There's not a great deal in it because the little 1.8 engine has a more useful torque curve for hauling a reasonably heavy car along. The 520i gets a bad press but a nice one really does drive well, and the engine sounds superb. As for handling, there's bugger all in it because the 518i engine and gearbox are moved as far forward as possible - with the bonnet open you can see most of the gearbox.
They're a great car, the E34. As has been said, it was one of the last cars they built where the designers actually thought about what they were doing with regard to longevity, didn't squeeze the suppliers into cheapening components and created a quality car capable of 200'000 miles and 20 years service.
When I moved house some 7 years ago, I bought a K reg 520i Touring off Ebay for £350 with a months T&T and around 150'000 on the clock. I did 1000 miles in a weekend over four trips with the car fully loaded going up and empty coming back. Did about 28 mpg and the following week it sailed through an MOT and was sold for £600. Such a useful old beast!
Oh yes, tyres. The Dunlop 2000E SP Sport is a good tyre but forget new ones. Just keep buying cheap part worns from Ebay. Either that or a decent set of 15 inch BBS E34/E32 wheels with the 225/60x15's. £100 will buy a clean set with good covers.
They are both good motors but the 520i is of course quicker -as it should be with 150 bhp versus 115. There's not a great deal in it because the little 1.8 engine has a more useful torque curve for hauling a reasonably heavy car along. The 520i gets a bad press but a nice one really does drive well, and the engine sounds superb. As for handling, there's bugger all in it because the 518i engine and gearbox are moved as far forward as possible - with the bonnet open you can see most of the gearbox.
They're a great car, the E34. As has been said, it was one of the last cars they built where the designers actually thought about what they were doing with regard to longevity, didn't squeeze the suppliers into cheapening components and created a quality car capable of 200'000 miles and 20 years service.
When I moved house some 7 years ago, I bought a K reg 520i Touring off Ebay for £350 with a months T&T and around 150'000 on the clock. I did 1000 miles in a weekend over four trips with the car fully loaded going up and empty coming back. Did about 28 mpg and the following week it sailed through an MOT and was sold for £600. Such a useful old beast!
Oh yes, tyres. The Dunlop 2000E SP Sport is a good tyre but forget new ones. Just keep buying cheap part worns from Ebay. Either that or a decent set of 15 inch BBS E34/E32 wheels with the 225/60x15's. £100 will buy a clean set with good covers.
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