Finally fitted AC Schnitzers to my Roady :-)
Discussion
Ac Schnitzer 18 inch Type III Split Rims
I decided 6 months ago that I wanted to try a set of Ac Schnitzer Rims on my Z3m Roadster.
I was inspired by the pictures in the original AC Schnitzer Z3 Accessory catalogue:
Although I love my 18 inch Breyton Split Rim Racing wheels I think the AC Schnitzer Type III's look more aggressive and were "made" for the Z3m.
AC Schnitzer supply them for the Z3m in a "kit" made up of 5 series rears (9.5 ET21) with 10mm spacers/longer bolts and 3 series fronts (8.5 ET43) with 7mm spacers/longer bolts. The list price for these is c£4.5k. Not a price I was looking to pay.
So I set myself a challenge to source as near mint a set as I could for a more reasonable price.
My "starting point" with Breyton split rim racings fitted:
Well 6 months of solid searching and I have finally put together a full set comprising:
x2 new rears
x1 new front
x1 refurbed front (to original spec "copying" the new one I had already sourced)
x2 new Ac Schnitzer 10mm spacers with longer bolts
x2 new AC Schnitzer 7mm spacers with longer bolts
x4 new McGuard 32mm locking wheel nuts for the fronts (McGuard manufacture the AC Schnitzer locking wheel nuts)
x4 new McGuard 37mm locking wheel nuts for the rears
x4 new AC Schnitzer Polished aluminium centre caps
I fitted Falken 452's in slightly wider spec than recommended by AC Schniter so that they "sit" better on the rims and offer some protection from curbing:
Front 235/40/18
Rear 275/35/18
Some pics from the past 6 months:
New rears delivered
One new front
And finally a few weeks ago the final wheel, no damage but required a refurb to match the others. It was great having a new one for reference and I could not have wished for the refurb to turn out better.
The x4 polished aluminium centre caps cost more than I paid for one of the wheels! but were worth it to meet the original Ac Schnitzer spec for the type III split rims rather than fitting the plastic ones.
I used a mobile tyre fitter I've used before and have confidence that he knows how to handle expensive alloys, he did a great job with no marks.
Wheels ready for fitting, I was pleased with the wider tyres and the way they "sat" on the alloy.
New spacers/bolts and locking bolts
So finished shots after 6 months of daily searches......
You can't beat titanium bolts ;-)
General shots to finish things off:
Was it worth the endless hours of searching over 6 months........ohhhhhhh yes :-)
I decided 6 months ago that I wanted to try a set of Ac Schnitzer Rims on my Z3m Roadster.
I was inspired by the pictures in the original AC Schnitzer Z3 Accessory catalogue:
Although I love my 18 inch Breyton Split Rim Racing wheels I think the AC Schnitzer Type III's look more aggressive and were "made" for the Z3m.
AC Schnitzer supply them for the Z3m in a "kit" made up of 5 series rears (9.5 ET21) with 10mm spacers/longer bolts and 3 series fronts (8.5 ET43) with 7mm spacers/longer bolts. The list price for these is c£4.5k. Not a price I was looking to pay.
So I set myself a challenge to source as near mint a set as I could for a more reasonable price.
My "starting point" with Breyton split rim racings fitted:
Well 6 months of solid searching and I have finally put together a full set comprising:
x2 new rears
x1 new front
x1 refurbed front (to original spec "copying" the new one I had already sourced)
x2 new Ac Schnitzer 10mm spacers with longer bolts
x2 new AC Schnitzer 7mm spacers with longer bolts
x4 new McGuard 32mm locking wheel nuts for the fronts (McGuard manufacture the AC Schnitzer locking wheel nuts)
x4 new McGuard 37mm locking wheel nuts for the rears
x4 new AC Schnitzer Polished aluminium centre caps
I fitted Falken 452's in slightly wider spec than recommended by AC Schniter so that they "sit" better on the rims and offer some protection from curbing:
Front 235/40/18
Rear 275/35/18
Some pics from the past 6 months:
New rears delivered
One new front
And finally a few weeks ago the final wheel, no damage but required a refurb to match the others. It was great having a new one for reference and I could not have wished for the refurb to turn out better.
The x4 polished aluminium centre caps cost more than I paid for one of the wheels! but were worth it to meet the original Ac Schnitzer spec for the type III split rims rather than fitting the plastic ones.
I used a mobile tyre fitter I've used before and have confidence that he knows how to handle expensive alloys, he did a great job with no marks.
Wheels ready for fitting, I was pleased with the wider tyres and the way they "sat" on the alloy.
New spacers/bolts and locking bolts
So finished shots after 6 months of daily searches......
You can't beat titanium bolts ;-)
General shots to finish things off:
Was it worth the endless hours of searching over 6 months........ohhhhhhh yes :-)
Cheers guys, I'm chuffed to bits with the new wheels.
The cars a keeper for me and so I'm tinkering with it to get it just how I like it. A few different sets of rims can't hurt though ;-)
The cars not a garage queen and gets driven hard when I use it but its a lot easier keeping a car clean when its not your daily driver. I get to have a good blast in it once a month or so and will be at the BMW club meet at Harewood House this Sunday (a great 2.5 hour trip each way for me).
The paintwork does need a refresh at some point (still on original bonnet paint and so plenty of stone chips, etc...) but the Imola II paintwork does give a deep shine with the right prep. I'm just enjoying the car at the moment and will think about a front end "blowover" / full detail next year.
I just had H&R front and rear anti roll bars fitted (already running Schnitzer suspension) and I'm really chuffed with the way it handles. Just the brakes on a long road run let it down so big brake kit is on my list of "to do's" together with CSL induction.
The been remapped so has the full rev range (S54 Z3's where limited to a lower red line than the M3's) and the bearings have been changed (done by BMW as a preventative measure under warranty even though they did not publicly do them for the Z3m's).
I fitted a Raid sports airbag wheel (from a Porsche) as the OEM wheel was much too large and thin for me. One of the best mods I've ever done to affect the "feel" of the car.
The car is pretty much all Schnitzer apart from the exhaust which is Eisenmann in full throaty race spec (I don't like the look of the schnitzers).
Re the door handles /kidney grill, they are on my consideration list. I'm currently contemplating a carbon wrap on the wing mirrors (just sourced a brand new set as they are prone to corrossion on the bases), black kidney grills and colour coded door handles. May wait to next year as I don't want to try and do everything at once, I get limited time with the car so now the suns out the roof will be down ;-)
The cars a keeper for me and so I'm tinkering with it to get it just how I like it. A few different sets of rims can't hurt though ;-)
The cars not a garage queen and gets driven hard when I use it but its a lot easier keeping a car clean when its not your daily driver. I get to have a good blast in it once a month or so and will be at the BMW club meet at Harewood House this Sunday (a great 2.5 hour trip each way for me).
The paintwork does need a refresh at some point (still on original bonnet paint and so plenty of stone chips, etc...) but the Imola II paintwork does give a deep shine with the right prep. I'm just enjoying the car at the moment and will think about a front end "blowover" / full detail next year.
I just had H&R front and rear anti roll bars fitted (already running Schnitzer suspension) and I'm really chuffed with the way it handles. Just the brakes on a long road run let it down so big brake kit is on my list of "to do's" together with CSL induction.
The been remapped so has the full rev range (S54 Z3's where limited to a lower red line than the M3's) and the bearings have been changed (done by BMW as a preventative measure under warranty even though they did not publicly do them for the Z3m's).
I fitted a Raid sports airbag wheel (from a Porsche) as the OEM wheel was much too large and thin for me. One of the best mods I've ever done to affect the "feel" of the car.
The car is pretty much all Schnitzer apart from the exhaust which is Eisenmann in full throaty race spec (I don't like the look of the schnitzers).
Re the door handles /kidney grill, they are on my consideration list. I'm currently contemplating a carbon wrap on the wing mirrors (just sourced a brand new set as they are prone to corrossion on the bases), black kidney grills and colour coded door handles. May wait to next year as I don't want to try and do everything at once, I get limited time with the car so now the suns out the roof will be down ;-)
Hi Jonttt,
Superb writeup, pictures and enthusiasm!
I too am a fan of Schnitzer's wheel designs from that 'era' - I'm not so keen on the current designs however I see that they do suit the current BMW body stle designs.
You've gone to the levels which aren't 'usually' mentioned on UK forums etc, but for your car everything has come together very well in so much you want to keep the car and also maintain it very well - so kudos to you for this whole project
Cheers, Dennis!
Superb writeup, pictures and enthusiasm!
I too am a fan of Schnitzer's wheel designs from that 'era' - I'm not so keen on the current designs however I see that they do suit the current BMW body stle designs.
You've gone to the levels which aren't 'usually' mentioned on UK forums etc, but for your car everything has come together very well in so much you want to keep the car and also maintain it very well - so kudos to you for this whole project
Cheers, Dennis!
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