E60 and E39 - swapping wheels

[Fox-]

Hi guys,

We have two cars. An E39 530i Sport on 18's running ContiSport Contact3's (245/40/18 at the front and 265/35/18 at the back). An E60 525i SE LCI running Bridgestone Potenza RE050A RFT's (205/50/17 all round).

The E39 rides well with minimal instrusive tyre noise. The E60 does not ride well and has what I think is VERY intrusive tyre noise, the roar is so bad it really affects the refinement of the car at low speeds as well as higher speeds.

Before I replace the wheels on the E60 it would be useful to confirm my suspicions that its the RFT's that are ruining an otherwise lovely executive saloon.

I'd like to swap the wheels on each of the cars over to acheive this.

Will they fit each other? I assume they will but wanted to check..

[phelix]

They will fit but because the E60 has a slightly smaller hub you'll need spigot rings (such as http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/74-1-72-6-SPIGOT-RINGS-SPIGO... to prevent vibration problems. And you will not be able to fit your E60 wheels onto the E39 so have axle stand or blocks available.

[DVandrews]

As above, most BMW models have 72.6mm spigot size, but the E39 is unusual in having a 74.1mm size, a bit of a pain on the quiet.

Dave

[Deano_BMW]

if its of any help i bought a set of E60 alloys to fit on My E39. I had them machined to fit. They came with almost new RFT's as they came from a 2008 E60. I took the tyres off after not a lot of time at all, they pretty much ruined the car and i can confirm tyre roar was ridiculous. I sold them and with the money i got for them bought normal tyres and the car was transformed back to what it was before. I know the E39 wasnt designed to run them but teh difference was very very noticable.

Edited by Deano_BMW on Monday 18th October 20:28

[s crane]

Try running tyre pressures at 35 psi made a big differace to mine, now changed to 19" non run flats