18" Alloy hell

[fogster]

I've got a 728i E38 '96 BMW. I stupidly purchased a set of original BMW 18" 15- multispoke alloys which I was assured would fit - I drove 200 miles to pick 'em up, tried the back only - and aggghhh!!! ON getting home and fitting the fronts I find they foul on the callipers. I guess I could fit a spacer but have no idea where to start or what effect it would have on the handling. Please help........!!!!!!

(a link to a pic of the wheels appears below)

http://ebay2.ipixmedia.com/abc/M28/_EBAY_02886e0feabd1be60598ecb84e7a7dc9/i-2_B.JPG

PS I've since been told that a year 2000 E38 wheel won't fit on a '96 e38. Any thoughts anyone??!!

[m-five]

You could pick up a 3mm or 5mm spacer from Demon Tweeks and it shouldn't affect the handling much at all.

Alternatively take them back to the seller as they assured you they would fit!

[fogster]

What's the minimum clearance I should allow between (i) the calliper and the wheel and (ii) the inside edge of the tyre and the car arch?

(I)is my most ppressing concern as currently the calliper is tight against the wheel when the fronts are bolted up so even with a 5mm spacer I'll only have 2 or 3 mm clearance....

[m-five]

i) I'd want about 5mm (so an 8mm or 10mm spacer would be better)

ii) Not sure what you mean, as if the car is not lowered to the ground then the tyre would probably not touch the arch anyway. How close to the arch is it now? What was the original wheel/tyre size and what is the new wheel/tyre size - this may be where you need to sort the problem out as if the wheel is wider than normal and the wrong offset as well then you have a few more problems than just the caliper!

[neil_cardiff]

Nyah ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha hee heee...

Sorry mate ....