E91 Straight Six Bearding
Discussion
Those style 230s (twists) you have are notorious for cracking. Those and the Style 313 are known for it. The ideal solution would be to fit 17 inch wheels. They fit the 335i. Some think they look a bit weedy though, but the taller sidewall means you're less likely to bend or crack them.
For less of a looks compromise 18 inch wheels will make it ride better, and be less prone to cracking. I run lower pressures than BMW recommends, 40PSI on the rears is just too high to me with regular tyres.
For less of a looks compromise 18 inch wheels will make it ride better, and be less prone to cracking. I run lower pressures than BMW recommends, 40PSI on the rears is just too high to me with regular tyres.
I didn't spot the reference to 230 style wheels earlier!
They were fitted to some E89 Z4s as well, but there was also a style 295 that looks exactly the same but they are staggered 18s.
Sadly they are listed as No Longer Available, but I bought a set in September for my E86 Z4 from someone who was selling them because he had bought a set of 230s for his Z4 35is.
Might be worth looking out for some if you want to keep the same look but hopefully avoid cracking.
ETA Photo of 295s added.
They were fitted to some E89 Z4s as well, but there was also a style 295 that looks exactly the same but they are staggered 18s.
Sadly they are listed as No Longer Available, but I bought a set in September for my E86 Z4 from someone who was selling them because he had bought a set of 230s for his Z4 35is.
Might be worth looking out for some if you want to keep the same look but hopefully avoid cracking.
ETA Photo of 295s added.
Edited by Mr Tidy on Saturday 22 February 21:52
JakeT said:
The ideal solution would be to fit 17 inch wheels. They fit the 335i. Some think they look a bit weedy though, but the taller sidewall means you're less likely to bend or crack them.
Yes I fitted 17 wheels with go flats to my 335i and it felt great compared to the 18 inch run flats. I had 2 sets one with winters and one with summers. First pic is winters and the random black and white pic is the only one I could find with the summers. For info both are OZ 17 x 8 et40. 
I've got 17" steel wheels fitted to my car. They came with some winter tyres I ordered from mrwinterwheels, because it seemed more convenient that way, but I've ended up not minding how it looks and I'm thinking of switching over permanently. Might add some official BMW wheel trims, if they fit my non-official-BMW wheels: https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/p/genuine-bmw-...
Cheaper tyres, cheaper wheels, easier to replace when they break. (I've had broken alloys on previous BMWs, and I've always found replacing them with matching ones a huge faff. The only reliable, hassle-free option is to spend £LOL per wheel at BMW, something I'm reluctant to do, as for a second hand car the price is always a measurable percentage of the car's total value.)
The car doesn't handle quite as well, but I'm (for now) putting that down to the winter tyres. But even if it's still a bit crap on summer tyres, it's nothing I can't put up with.
Apologies for the non-E91 content, but it's a 330i, so it's only half off topic.
Cheaper tyres, cheaper wheels, easier to replace when they break. (I've had broken alloys on previous BMWs, and I've always found replacing them with matching ones a huge faff. The only reliable, hassle-free option is to spend £LOL per wheel at BMW, something I'm reluctant to do, as for a second hand car the price is always a measurable percentage of the car's total value.)
The car doesn't handle quite as well, but I'm (for now) putting that down to the winter tyres. But even if it's still a bit crap on summer tyres, it's nothing I can't put up with.
Apologies for the non-E91 content, but it's a 330i, so it's only half off topic.
Edited by to3m on Sunday 23 February 00:36
to3m said:
I've got 17" steel wheels fitted to my car. They came with some winter tyres I ordered from mrwinterwheels, because it seemed more convenient that way, but I've ended up not minding how it looks and I'm thinking of switching over permanently. Might add some official BMW wheel trims, if they fit my non-official-BMW wheels: https://shop.bmw.co.uk/bmw-uk/en_GB/p/genuine-bmw-...
Cheaper tyres, cheaper wheels, easier to replace when they break. (I've had broken alloys on previous BMWs, and I've always found replacing them with matching ones a huge faff. The only reliable, hassle-free option is to spend £LOL per wheel at BMW, something I'm reluctant to do, as for a second hand car the price is always a measurable percentage of the car's total value.)
The car doesn't handle quite as well, but I'm (for now) putting that down to the winter tyres. But even if it's still a bit crap on summer tyres, it's nothing I can't put up with.
Apologies for the non-E91 content, but it's a 330i, so it's only half off topic.
Winter tyres are a bit loose compared to Summers but once you get used to the feeling you can still drive on them fine. Are you using 225 45 - what tyres are they?Cheaper tyres, cheaper wheels, easier to replace when they break. (I've had broken alloys on previous BMWs, and I've always found replacing them with matching ones a huge faff. The only reliable, hassle-free option is to spend £LOL per wheel at BMW, something I'm reluctant to do, as for a second hand car the price is always a measurable percentage of the car's total value.)
The car doesn't handle quite as well, but I'm (for now) putting that down to the winter tyres. But even if it's still a bit crap on summer tyres, it's nothing I can't put up with.
Apologies for the non-E91 content, but it's a 330i, so it's only half off topic.
335 brakes look properly meaty behind 17s. I like the look of the steelies too.
Winter tyres have definitely got more squidge, once you're back on a summer set you'll really notice the difference. Normally a 225/45/17 is still good for feedbadk, with a little more compliance than an 18 inch wheel.
Winter tyres have definitely got more squidge, once you're back on a summer set you'll really notice the difference. Normally a 225/45/17 is still good for feedbadk, with a little more compliance than an 18 inch wheel.
In Germany you have to have tyres with the alpine symbol in 'winter conditions'.
There is no date period either, but get caught in snow, ice, or bad frost without them and you will get your knuckles wrapped. I think insurance is invalid without them too.
So everyone tends to just have a second set.
There is no date period either, but get caught in snow, ice, or bad frost without them and you will get your knuckles wrapped. I think insurance is invalid without them too.
So everyone tends to just have a second set.
gizlaroc said:
In Germany you have to have tyres with the alpine symbol in 'winter conditions'.
There is no date period either, but get caught in snow, ice, or bad frost without them and you will get your knuckles wrapped. I think insurance is invalid without them too.
So everyone tends to just have a second set.
That's the case in all of the Middle to Eastern Europe. It's mandatory to have winter tires on between Oct-March, but you can also get fined if it snows in April let's say, and you don't have the winter tires on. There is no date period either, but get caught in snow, ice, or bad frost without them and you will get your knuckles wrapped. I think insurance is invalid without them too.
So everyone tends to just have a second set.
ATM said:
Winter tyres are a bit loose compared to Summers but once you get used to the feeling you can still drive on them fine. Are you using 225 45 - what tyres are they?
Yes, they're 225/45/R17, and the tyres are Goodyear Eagle Ultragrip GW-3 RFT. I don't like runflats much, and they are very noisy, but my commute is mostly through the middle of nowhere, and I'd like to increase my chances of not having to get out of the car.They're good when it's cold/snowy/icy, and OK when it's mild and dry, but I've not been very impressed when it's mild and wet. The car doesn't cut cleanly through pools of water, which need to be driven into quite slowly, and it's a bit skittish when there's surface water.
That's interesting.
My 330i (also an E90) is an SE and came with 2 sets of the same 17" alloys. The ones on the car were fitted with Continental summers and the other ones had Hankook winters, all 225/45 x 17 and all run-flats.
I've found the winters fine so far, and at the current lower temperatures they've cut through standing water really well. Mind you the guy I bought the car from said he chose the Hankooks because they had good reviews!
My 330i (also an E90) is an SE and came with 2 sets of the same 17" alloys. The ones on the car were fitted with Continental summers and the other ones had Hankook winters, all 225/45 x 17 and all run-flats.
I've found the winters fine so far, and at the current lower temperatures they've cut through standing water really well. Mind you the guy I bought the car from said he chose the Hankooks because they had good reviews!
to3m said:
ATM said:
Winter tyres are a bit loose compared to Summers but once you get used to the feeling you can still drive on them fine. Are you using 225 45 - what tyres are they?
Yes, they're 225/45/R17, and the tyres are Goodyear Eagle Ultragrip GW-3 RFT. I don't like runflats much, and they are very noisy, but my commute is mostly through the middle of nowhere, and I'd like to increase my chances of not having to get out of the car.They're good when it's cold/snowy/icy, and OK when it's mild and dry, but I've not been very impressed when it's mild and wet. The car doesn't cut cleanly through pools of water, which need to be driven into quite slowly, and it's a bit skittish when there's surface water.
Go flat
Goodyear Eagle F1 Ass 5
£62.90 each delivered
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/133222453738
rob0r said:
My new purchase! 325i SE manual N52
I've done around 500 miles in it so far and measuring from fill ups I'm getting around 28.5mpg. It's a lovely car in great condition but I'm finding it very gutless and I can easily get caught out when trying to accelerate onto slip roads and into gaps on carriageways. I came from the battered Mercedes E320 cdi in the back ground which was effortless in comparision, but I guess it's a turbo diesel...
It's on 126K and I bought it needing a service, I paid from what I can tell is well under the expected amount for one of these. The main issue is the steering pump sounds like it's going to explode at anytime, so I have a new pump and reservoir to go on!
Update! I went to replace the PAS pump and reservoir at the weekend and epically failed. The pump actually died as I drove over to my unit, it spins but nothing is circulating. I went to replace the pump and the belt tensioner release mechanism snapped out of the cast aluminium tensioner housing meaning I couldn't get the belt off or on again and there was no other way of releasing the tension...I've done around 500 miles in it so far and measuring from fill ups I'm getting around 28.5mpg. It's a lovely car in great condition but I'm finding it very gutless and I can easily get caught out when trying to accelerate onto slip roads and into gaps on carriageways. I came from the battered Mercedes E320 cdi in the back ground which was effortless in comparision, but I guess it's a turbo diesel...
It's on 126K and I bought it needing a service, I paid from what I can tell is well under the expected amount for one of these. The main issue is the steering pump sounds like it's going to explode at anytime, so I have a new pump and reservoir to go on!
I put it all back together again with the new reservoir and wasted a 1L of CHF11s as I had already drained it all out already (I supposed I could have left it dry...).
A new belt and tensioner are on their way so I can cut the current belt and bin the tensioner for the new unit. I've heard horror stories of the aluminium bolts for the tensioner snapping so I hope that's not the case!! I'm currently driving it with no steering assistance, brill!
Got my car back after nearly 4 weeks at the garage. Wanted them to look into an intermittent EML light but they found a big oil leak and things escalated. Given that the car is 11 years old with 142k I wasn’t expecting too much from the warranty but it was amazing! All this for £100!
royobannan said:
Got my car back after nearly 4 weeks at the garage. Wanted them to look into an intermittent EML light but they found a big oil leak and things escalated. Given that the car is 11 years old with 142k I wasn’t expecting too much from the warranty but it was amazing! All this for £100!
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