Stupid wheels have ruined handling
Discussion
I bought this 2004 330i convertible that has wheels that any pharmaceutical retailer would be proud to have on his car.
Staggered 19's with 225 on the front and 265 with a mild stretch on the rear.
There also appears a foolish level of camber on the car at the rear.
For information Michelin PS4 on the front (or PS2) and Avon ZV1's on the rear, all with good tread.
I don't know the wheel width as I haven't taken them off the car yet.
I am away from the car until mid-July so can't do any more than what I have mentioned here.
I have had a near identical car in the past with regular staggered MV2's and Pirelli P Zero's all round, that car felt absolutely planted at all speeds so I do have some measure of how it should feel.
Now this one, seems absolutely fine at town speeds, but when at motorway speeds seems a little sketchy, like it's too eager to change direction.
I one hundred percent believe it is the wheel and tyre combination that gives this nervousness and want to change to the original staggered set up.
Ignore the double lines, these images are from the advert.
Three questions : am I right, can this be rectified with the current wheels and is Gumtree the best place to sell these silly 19 inch wheels with good tyres on?
Staggered 19's with 225 on the front and 265 with a mild stretch on the rear.
There also appears a foolish level of camber on the car at the rear.
For information Michelin PS4 on the front (or PS2) and Avon ZV1's on the rear, all with good tread.
I don't know the wheel width as I haven't taken them off the car yet.
I am away from the car until mid-July so can't do any more than what I have mentioned here.
I have had a near identical car in the past with regular staggered MV2's and Pirelli P Zero's all round, that car felt absolutely planted at all speeds so I do have some measure of how it should feel.
Now this one, seems absolutely fine at town speeds, but when at motorway speeds seems a little sketchy, like it's too eager to change direction.
I one hundred percent believe it is the wheel and tyre combination that gives this nervousness and want to change to the original staggered set up.
Ignore the double lines, these images are from the advert.
Three questions : am I right, can this be rectified with the current wheels and is Gumtree the best place to sell these silly 19 inch wheels with good tyres on?
We had a E46 330ci with 18s and the tramlining was shocking. I'd had it before on my Z4 but this was a level higher.
A technician at the dealer who'd had a few E46s suggested that different brands of tyres front and back would be the cause. It was. he recommended Bridgestone or Michelin.
Whether that will solve it with your wheels, I don't know.
A technician at the dealer who'd had a few E46s suggested that different brands of tyres front and back would be the cause. It was. he recommended Bridgestone or Michelin.
Whether that will solve it with your wheels, I don't know.
My 2003 E43 MSport 330ci cab came with standard staggered 18s with Bridgestones fitted. When I bought it it wanted to send me into every hedge, so skittish.
A simple change to Conti Sportcontact 3s sorted it entirely. NB. SC5s wear very fast - avoid.
Go back to standard 18s, reset geometry, fit Contis, AVOID Bridgestones like the plague!
A simple change to Conti Sportcontact 3s sorted it entirely. NB. SC5s wear very fast - avoid.
Go back to standard 18s, reset geometry, fit Contis, AVOID Bridgestones like the plague!
Grahamdub said:
I'd keep the wheels but fit the correct sized tyres ....
The regular E46's never came with 19's - they were only optional on the M3 which is a different kettle of fish. As the others have said, I'd go back to either the 18's that car came on originally, or 17's for the best of both worlds (ride comfort but decent handling). Check for worn suspension components (the front lollipops are the weakest link on the E46). Then (& only then) get the geometry checked.Also not sure what springs that car is wearing, but the car didn't come out of the factory like that. So make sure they're reputable, or bin them.
I have an E46 325i that I bought with some aftermarket 18s on it. Had the same problems twitchy and tram lined really bad. I thought it was worn bushes and suspension arms so changed them and it helped a bit but was still bad.
I have just changed the wheels to a set of 5 series clubsport 17's and the change in handling is massive. All the issues have been cured, rides much better no tram lining. I just bought part worn tyres for them Conti on the backs and Bridgestone on the front.
Difficult to say if its the wheels or tyres that made the difference but got to be worth changing the tyres first, try and find some part worn tyres at least it wont cost as much if the tyre change doesn't help.
I also sold my old wheels on Facebook Market pretty easily, covered the cost of the new wheels and tyres so was a bit a result!
I have just changed the wheels to a set of 5 series clubsport 17's and the change in handling is massive. All the issues have been cured, rides much better no tram lining. I just bought part worn tyres for them Conti on the backs and Bridgestone on the front.
Difficult to say if its the wheels or tyres that made the difference but got to be worth changing the tyres first, try and find some part worn tyres at least it wont cost as much if the tyre change doesn't help.
I also sold my old wheels on Facebook Market pretty easily, covered the cost of the new wheels and tyres so was a bit a result!
Jakarta said:
I plan to go back to staggered 18" MV2's and whatever premium tyres are going at the right price when they arrive.
There is a full set of refurbished wheels on Gumtree I'm interested in at the moment. Annoying that I need another £500 for tyres though
Standard size wheels should be a safe bet, but it would select the tyres based on recommend rather than what's on special as it does appear to make a significant difference on these cars. There is a full set of refurbished wheels on Gumtree I'm interested in at the moment. Annoying that I need another £500 for tyres though
I am running a set of the Pilot Sport 4 tyres on my 330ci, on style 44 17s which is a lot better than it was on mixed tyres. I had the staggered 18s but changed due to cost of rear tyres and comfort on country lanes.
Daniel
Edited by dhutch on Tuesday 25th June 14:44
Jakarta said:
For information Michelin PS4 on the front (or PS2) and Avon ZV1's on the rear, all with good tread.
Asymmetrical on the front and symmetrical on the rear can cause real issues. I went through this with the M3, t
ts put PS1s on rear and PS2s on front. BMW changed control arms, all bushes, dampers and springs until we noticed, put PS2s on the back to match and it was properly planted again.
Shocked at how twitchy different tyres made it feel.
They aren't a good look are they? 
Early last year I bought an E91 that came with 16" winters on it and although they were handy for the Beast from the East I needed to get some summers! Found a set of 17s fitted with Pirelli P7s (run-flats) all round on Gumtree for just under £200 that came off an F30 that had been upgraded to 18s.
So Gumtree can work, but forums for specific models are also a good place to buy or sell wheels and tyres. In your case maybe E46Zone, or z4forum as E85/86 Z4s use the same wheel sizes and offsets as E46s.
But as others have said tyres also make a huge difference. My E46 325ti Sport Compact had staggered 17s with different brands on the rear -it was "interesting" until I put P Zeros on to match the fronts. Then it felt like a different car.
Early last year I bought an E91 that came with 16" winters on it and although they were handy for the Beast from the East I needed to get some summers! Found a set of 17s fitted with Pirelli P7s (run-flats) all round on Gumtree for just under £200 that came off an F30 that had been upgraded to 18s.
So Gumtree can work, but forums for specific models are also a good place to buy or sell wheels and tyres. In your case maybe E46Zone, or z4forum as E85/86 Z4s use the same wheel sizes and offsets as E46s.
But as others have said tyres also make a huge difference. My E46 325ti Sport Compact had staggered 17s with different brands on the rear -it was "interesting" until I put P Zeros on to match the fronts. Then it felt like a different car.
I've bought some excellent condition staggered MV2's off eBay with matching Potenzas all round in the correct factory sizes.. Will fit them when I get back to the UK in a couple of weeks and report on any improvements. If anything the car will look much better.
The 19" Axe wheels will go on the bay or gumtree as soon as I can get them off and confirm the sizes.
The 19" Axe wheels will go on the bay or gumtree as soon as I can get them off and confirm the sizes.
Edited by Jakarta on Friday 28th June 10:48
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