Can anyone explain what the hell this is?!

[Dr Boxcat]

Saw this in a local supermarket car park




My gf actually stopped dead when she saw it and started laughing her arse off . I've never seen anything like this before, they were on all four wheels. Could anyone shed some light on wtf they are ?


Dr

[kambites]

Hmm, to stop brake dust getting on the alloy, maybe?

[6BMW]

Tyres ?

[MarJay]

What am I supposed to be looking at? It looks like a wheel from a 3 series?

[Si_steve]

Looks like all it's going to do is stop air getting through the spokes to cool the brakes to be honest.

[Mr Gear]

Looks like some sort of BMW.

[Classic Grad 98]

Seen that on an E46 M3 here at work. It's painted black but the paint is flaking off revealing the galvanised finish underneath, looks terrible!
My guesses are Aerodynamics (for performance and/or fuel economy) or brake dust protection as suggested ^

[Petrolhead95]

Increases fuel economy i'm lead to believe..Gastly though.

[Dr Boxcat]

yeah, see my guesses were, either to stop brake dust or some kind of bmw efficiency thing. my first thoughts were would it affect the cooling tho? strange tho..

[kambites]

It would have a much better effect on fuel economy if it was on the front of the wheel.

[Renquist]

Looks like the old wheel clean discs, rubber plates that would stop the dust from getting to your clean wheels, and help bake your brake discs

[Garlick]

Your girlfriend laughed when she spotted it? She's easily amused

[Si_steve]

Dr Boxcat said:

yeah, see my guesses were, either to stop brake dust or some kind of bmw efficiency thing. my firs tthoughts were would it affect the cooling tho? strange tho..

One of the lecturers at college (EX BMW tech coincidently) Mentioned that even the wrong offset wheel can F--- up brake cooling efficiency...Can't see these doing much good in that area aswell. Mind you If it's a BMW fitted/designed thing, I'm sure they have found some way to keep them cool.

[Dr Boxcat]

Garlick said:

Your girlfriend laughed when she spotted it? She's easily amused

yep finally found one who laughs at my jokes

[832ark]

something like this:

http://www.kleen-wheels.co.uk/

[Mr Gear]

Just get some sweet Moon Discs instead:

[Honk]

Mr Gear said:

Looks like some sort of BMW.

I'm going with this.

[Dr Boxcat]

832ark said:

something like this:

http://www.kleen-wheels.co.uk/

thank you : )