BMW E90 Wheel Spacers

[GolfR12]

Hi,

I have a Pre-Lci 330d M Sport with the standard 18” MV3 wheels.

I feel the rear wheels are quite sunk in as stock and I feel using some wheel spacers could improve the look of the car.

Is it ok to use rear wheel spacers only? I am looking for the rear wheels to sit in line with or slight wider than the fronts. Would 15mm spacers be sufficient?

Also any recommend spacers that are good value for money?

[Mr Tidy]

I have a couple of sets of spacers with longer bolts that I don't need, one set is 15mm and I think the other is 10mm.

I'll see if I can find a makers mark on them, but if you might be interested send me a message.

Spacers on just the rear should work fine.

[d_a_n1979]

GolfR12 said:

Hi,

I have a Pre-Lci 330d M Sport with the standard 18” MV3 wheels.

I feel the rear wheels are quite sunk in as stock and I feel using some wheel spacers could improve the look of the car.

Is it ok to use rear wheel spacers only? I am looking for the rear wheels to sit in line with or slight wider than the fronts. Would 15mm spacers be sufficient?

Also any recommend spacers that are good value for money?

They'll be fine, but IMO stick some on the front to make the alloys look even You'll be fine with 15mm all round IIRC

Just remember that you either need the longer wheel bolts, or better still, get a stud conversion Much better for when running spacers and also a safer option too (it tightens from both sides rather than just one then)

If the ones from Mr Tidy don't suit; then Bimecc, Precision Engineering or the ones that 'mteconlineshop' sell are more than adequate and are all very well made. Bimecc are the more expensive; but see what the guys at 'mteconlineshop' on eBay can do for you

http://www.ebaystores.co.uk/Mtec-Online

[Touring442]

Eibach concentric spacers and studs with 19mm nuts, the only way to do it.

[d_a_n1979]

Touring442 said:

Eibach concentric spacers and studs with 19mm nuts, the only way to do it.

Why is it the only way?!

[Touring442]

Because I prefer high quality stuff to hold my wheels on. Others may differ.

[d_a_n1979]

Touring442 said:

Because I prefer high quality stuff to hold my wheels on. Others may differ.

They’re very much of the same, Bimecc & Eibach spacers are made from the same materials, you just pay through the nose for the name

[Touring442]

In life, there are always cheaper options.

To each their own.

[Andy70]

Touring442 said:

Because I prefer high quality stuff to hold my wheels on. Others may differ.

its a aluminium wheel spacer, what difference does it make? you can buy a set of 4 on ebay for 50 quid if you scroll down the ads enough, they are all made of the same thing its just that some company's mark the price up,

[Sim89]

Running four Bimmecs on my F31, 12mm front, 15mm rear. Zero issues...

[d_a_n1979]

Andy70 said:

its a aluminium wheel spacer, what difference does it make? you can buy a set of 4 on ebay for 50 quid if you scroll down the ads enough, they are all made of the same thing its just that some company's mark the price up,

This; but some folk want the name because they think it's better.

I've got Bimecc, H&R, Eibach and Precision Engineering spacers in my garage; ones I've run on various previous cars and I'm currently running the Precision Engineering 15mm spacers on my current E39 touring

They're all 15mm, stand them all up next to each other and the only difference is the colours used to 'finish' them.

They all weigh more or less then same, all have the same pattern design and all have the same milled finish...

The Eibach's cost me c£150 for 4, the Precision Engineering ones cost me £50 for all 4, delivered! They work exactly the same as the Eibach ones and cause no issues re fitment or wheel balancing etc

I know that I'd rather save my money for a simple piece of CNC milled aluminium and spend it on other components on my car, such as suspension or similar, where it matters more

[Andy70]

d_a_n1979 said:

Andy70 said:

its a aluminium wheel spacer, what difference does it make? you can buy a set of 4 on ebay for 50 quid if you scroll down the ads enough, they are all made of the same thing its just that some company's mark the price up,

This; but some folk want the name because they think it's better.

I've got Bimecc, H&R, Eibach and Precision Engineering spacers in my garage; ones I've run on various previous cars and I'm currently running the Precision Engineering 15mm spacers on my current E39 touring

They're all 15mm, stand them all up next to each other and the only difference is the colours used to 'finish' them.

They all weigh more or less then same, all have the same pattern design and all have the same milled finish...

The Eibach's cost me c£150 for 4, the Precision Engineering ones cost me £50 for all 4, delivered! They work exactly the same as the Eibach ones and cause no issues re fitment or wheel balancing etc

I know that I'd rather save my money for a simple piece of CNC milled aluminium and spend it on other components on my car, such as suspension or similar, where it matters more

exactly, I agree, its not as if its a moving part subject to wear so as long as they fit properly and what they say they are I cant see it making any difference. I got 4 saved in my ebay 15mm ones with extended nuts for 54 quid. I'm just not sure about that sort of thing and not sure what would be the best size as they cant come past the wheel arch for legal reasons can they? not that i'd want that any way. I also got some decent suspension saved there too so I'll spend my saved cash on the same I think :-)

[d_a_n1979]

Andy70 said:

exactly, I agree, its not as if its a moving part subject to wear so as long as they fit properly and what they say they are I cant see it making any difference. I got 4 saved in my ebay 15mm ones with extended nuts for 54 quid. I'm just not sure about that sort of thing and not sure what would be the best size as they cant come past the wheel arch for legal reasons can they? not that i'd want that any way. I also got some decent suspension saved there too so I'll spend my saved cash on the same I think :-)

Tyres flush with arches is fine; better if they're tucked in a little IMO, negates any risk of rubbing then

But yes, out of the arches is illegal, but I think it has to be quite aggressive, like 20-30mm or so, a few mm won't be an issue

And yes, they're a fixed point, so once fitted properly and they sit flush to the hub and alloy, they cause no issues, so spacers costing £25 compared to Eibach's c£110 a pair, doesn't compute really, unless, as said before, it's the named brand you just want

[Andy70]

d_a_n1979 said:

Andy70 said:

exactly, I agree, its not as if its a moving part subject to wear so as long as they fit properly and what they say they are I cant see it making any difference. I got 4 saved in my ebay 15mm ones with extended nuts for 54 quid. I'm just not sure about that sort of thing and not sure what would be the best size as they cant come past the wheel arch for legal reasons can they? not that i'd want that any way. I also got some decent suspension saved there too so I'll spend my saved cash on the same I think :-)

Tyres flush with arches is fine; better if they're tucked in a little IMO, negates any risk of rubbing then

But yes, out of the arches is illegal, but I think it has to be quite aggressive, like 20-30mm or so, a few mm won't be an issue

And yes, they're a fixed point, so once fitted properly and they sit flush to the hub and alloy, they cause no issues, so spacers costing £25 compared to Eibach's c£110 a pair, doesn't compute really, unless, as said before, it's the named brand you just want

yeah I might go with some actually, gives the car a more aggressive look for not much money

[d_a_n1979]

Andy70 said:

yeah I might go with some actually, gives the car a more aggressive look for not much money

It does make them sit better; widens the track too, so a bit better handling

This is my touring with 15mm Precision Engineering hubcentric spacers fitted; I run the Mtec 82mm stud conversion too:

This is the current winter alloys and tyres.

Before spacers:



After spacers:





The picture angle isn't great; the tyres are just inside the rear arches and cause no rubbing, same with the fronts. Without the spacers, they're really sunken in

[Andy70]

d_a_n1979 said:

It does make them sit better; widens the track too, so a bit better handling

This is my touring with 15mm Precision Engineering hubcentric spacers fitted; I run the Mtec 82mm stud conversion too:

This is the current winter alloys and tyres.

Before spacers:



After spacers:





The picture angle isn't great; the tyres are just inside the rear arches and cause no rubbing, same with the fronts. Without the spacers, they're really sunken in

No that's perfect, noticeable, but subtle, that's exactly what I'm looking for, I'm a boy racer at heart although I'm 49, so appreciate subtle mods without being too 18 year old about it, if you know what I mean, having said that when I was 18 I was never into the hardcore boy racer thing any way. I've always liked upgrading my cars but not wanted them too look stupid

[d_a_n1979]

Andy70 said:

No that's perfect, noticeable, but subtle, that's exactly what I'm looking for, I'm a boy racer at heart although I'm 49, so appreciate subtle mods without being too 18 year old about it, if you know what I mean, having said that when I was 18 I was never into the hardcore boy racer thing any way. I've always liked upgrading my cars but not wanted them too look stupid

Haha totally understand. 40 myself and have always done subtle mods to all of my cars, but nothing daft or boy racer’ish.

Always concentrated on handling and braking mods (so coilovers, updated bushes, updated brakes etc

[Andy70]

d_a_n1979 said:

Haha totally understand. 40 myself and have always done subtle mods to all of my cars, but nothing daft or boy racer’ish.

Always concentrated on handling and braking mods (so coilovers, updated bushes, updated brakes etc

Ive always been more interested in fast cars for not a lot of money, now I got my 335i pushing out 400 bhp+ for a mere 800 quid or so (admittedly not finished yet as I plan to ditch the JB4 thing I inherited with the car), in favour of a custom remap I want to make it look as fast as it goes :-) (without spending stupid money obviously, hello Ebay!!)

[d_a_n1979]

Andy70 said:

Ive always been more interested in fast cars for not a lot of money, now I got my 335i pushing out 400 bhp+ for a mere 800 quid or so (admittedly not finished yet as I plan to ditch the JB4 thing I inherited with the car), in favour of a custom remap I want to make it look as fast as it goes :-) (without spending stupid money obviously, hello Ebay!!)

Yeah, a proper remap with someone doing it on the rollers is always better than a ‘plug n play’ box IMO

Bigger brakes needed by the sounds of it too

I’ve considered a 335i touring as my next car, they rarely crop up though unfortunately

[Andy70]

d_a_n1979 said:

Andy70 said:

Ive always been more interested in fast cars for not a lot of money, now I got my 335i pushing out 400 bhp+ for a mere 800 quid or so (admittedly not finished yet as I plan to ditch the JB4 thing I inherited with the car), in favour of a custom remap I want to make it look as fast as it goes :-) (without spending stupid money obviously, hello Ebay!!)

Yeah, a proper remap with someone doing it on the rollers is always better than a ‘plug n play’ box IMO

Bigger brakes needed by the sounds of it too

I’ve considered a 335i touring as my next car, they rarely crop up though unfortunately

I agree, I was looking for one for my wife, but the touring's in this spec are rare for not much money, especially if you want a manual