E36 Sport Wheels

[Gad-Westy]

Been trying to sell my 328i Sport for a while with no joy so I've decided I might spend a little time/effort making her mint.

The wheels are showing the usual traits. Oxidisation, rusted bolts etc...

Quite fancy having a go at refurbing these myself. I have the spare wheel to practice on and a dremel at the ready. Anybody know the best way to go about it? Not neccessarily chasing perfection, just a good tidy up.

[Gad-Westy]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

I've tried registering on E36 a few times but to no avail.

[A S P]

A lazy alternative would be to buy a set already re-furbished from someone like BM Autosport

http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/index.php?catid=34&am...

and then sell off your old wheels, it all depends on what you can get for your current wheels really.

[Gad-Westy]

I've been looking on Ebay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48-Exch-Refurb-BMW-3-Series-...

Only issue is that the finish is painted rather than polished but otherwise looks like a cheap alternative. Just had a quick chat with the guy and all seems ok.

Just one question, I know some Sports have 8.5" rears. I beleive mine are 7.5" as the tyres are 225 all round. Am I right in saying that the wide rears were an option?

[Gad-Westy]

A S P said:

A lazy alternative would be to buy a set already re-furbished from someone like BM Autosport

http://www.bmautosport.co.uk/index.php?catid=34&am...

and then sell off your old wheels, it all depends on what you can get for your current wheels really.

That looks like a possibility. I've been trying to call to see if they can offer any kind of part ex but not got through yet.

[doodlebug]

Gad-Westy said:

I've been looking on Ebay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48-Exch-Refurb-BMW-3-Series-...

Only issue is that the finish is painted rather than polished but otherwise looks like a cheap alternative. Just had a quick chat with the guy and all seems ok.

Just one question, I know some Sports have 8.5" rears. I beleive mine are 7.5" as the tyres are 225 all round. Am I right in saying that the wide rears were an option?

All sports should have the wider rear wheels. If yours hasn't, I would assume it is probably not a sport.

[Gad-Westy]

doodlebug said:

Gad-Westy said:

I've been looking on Ebay and found this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/48-Exch-Refurb-BMW-3-Series-...

Only issue is that the finish is painted rather than polished but otherwise looks like a cheap alternative. Just had a quick chat with the guy and all seems ok.

Just one question, I know some Sports have 8.5" rears. I beleive mine are 7.5" as the tyres are 225 all round. Am I right in saying that the wide rears were an option?

All sports should have the wider rear wheels. If yours hasn't, I would assume it is probably not a sport.

That would seem like an awfully big conclusion to jump to just going off the tyre sizes. Its a sport on the logbook and has every other feature you'd expect on a sport inc. headlining etc.. Possibilities seem to be narrower tyres fitted on 8.5" wheels or that the rear wheels have been replaced at some point.

[doodlebug]

Gad-Westy said:

doodlebug said:

Gad-Westy said:

...I beleive mine are 7.5" as the tyres are 225 all round...

All sports should have the wider rear wheels. If yours hasn't, I would assume it is probably not a sport.

That would seem like an awfully big conclusion to jump to just going off the tyre sizes.

My conclusions were the same as yours.

However, if we are both wrong, I wouldn't want to be driving around with 225s on an 8.5 wheel.

[Gad-Westy]

doodlebug said:

Gad-Westy said:

doodlebug said:

Gad-Westy said:

...I beleive mine are 7.5" as the tyres are 225 all round...

All sports should have the wider rear wheels. If yours hasn't, I would assume it is probably not a sport.

That would seem like an awfully big conclusion to jump to just going off the tyre sizes.

My conclusions were the same as yours.

However, if we are both wrong, I wouldn't want to be driving around with 225s on an 8.5 wheel.

Well in an ideal world, they'd be standard sizes but there isn't actually anything wrong with running a 225 tyre on an 8.5" rim. I'm still going to do some checking tonight though. Cheers for the info.

[rossi-328i-sport]

lololo Gad....you couldnt be more wrong,early sports had 7.5j all round and then later on 8.5 where put on the rear or maybe even an option,
So just because you have 7.5 all round dont mean its not a sport.

[Gad-Westy]

rossi-328i-sport said:

lololo Gad....you couldnt be more wrong,early sports had 7.5j all round and then later on 8.5 where put on the rear or maybe even an option,
So just because you have 7.5 all round dont mean its not a sport.

Erm, it wasn't me that said that but thanks for the info. Its not easy to digup info on this. Closest I got was parkers site but that listed the Sport as 245 rears as per M3.

ETA mine's a '97. What constitutes an early Sport?

Edited by Gad-Westy on Friday 28th September 10:05

[rossi-328i-sport]

sorry gad,mistaken,anyway fella,The early ones i think started on an (M) and went through to a (P) not sure of the years exactly but it seems after that 328i Sports all came with the wider rears.Pls correct me if mistaken.

[SPT28]

That's where I had mine done - they're good, just don't get the diamond cut lip and then laquer over the top... mines starting to lift after only 2 months!

[doodlebug]

SPT28 said:

That's where I had mine done - they're good, just don't get the diamond cut lip and then laquer over the top... mines starting to lift after only 2 months!

Me too, but mine lasted about a year. The lacquer started lifting on the lip around the valve and where there were stone chips. The centres are still perfect though.

According to RealOEM.com, all Sports fitted with M Cross-spoke,threaded (STYL.29) had the wider rear wheels. But they may be wrong as well.

[Gad-Westy]

OK, further to this, I got some refurbed (painted rather than polished) wheels in the end. My decision was based mainly on cost, as I'm selling the car and really just looking to tidy it up rather than spend a fortune. Anyway, they look ok, although obviously don't have the bling factor of the poished rims.

But here's my problem, I put the centre caps back on yesterday and obviously haven't tightened one of them properly and I've lost the bugger. Scoured the roadside on the way to work this morning but no sign. Anybody know where I could get hold of one? I'm trying BMW as a first port of call.

ETA ordered one from BMW, should have it by the end of the week. £25, that'll teach me.

Edited by Gad-Westy on Tuesday 9th October 09:16

[www.pxwheels.com]

doodlebug said:

SPT28 said:

That's where I had mine done - they're good, just don't get the diamond cut lip and then laquer over the top... mines starting to lift after only 2 months!

Me too, but mine lasted about a year. The lacquer started lifting on the lip around the valve and where there were stone chips. The centres are still perfect though.

According to RealOEM.com, all Sports fitted with M Cross-spoke,threaded (STYL.29) had the wider rear wheels. But they may be wrong as well.

We used to get Diamond Cut wheels subcontracted to these people and we had to replace loads of wheels at our expense because the corrosion was starting to show under the lacquer after as little as 8 weeks, we no longer do diamond cut wheels

Regards Gordon
www.pxwheels.com

[www.pxwheels.com]

Has anyone got a spare 8.5" rear, I need one to make up a set, I'm not too bothered about condition as I'm going to refurb it. Email to [e-mail] or 01253 769769.

Regards Gordon