E46 lightweight wheels?
Discussion
Just wanting to know what if any experience anyone has of what (if any) difference fitting lightweight wheels on an E46 has?
Now my E46 330CD has had a full suspension refresh including Eibach pro kit springs and Bilstein shocks, I'm very happy with the way she now handles and drives, but her wheels whilst not bad aren't perfect. She currently runs standard offset MV2's, which weigh in at 11.2kg's per front and 11.8kgs per rear.
So I am thinking that either I want them properly refurbed, which is going to set me back circa £3-400 for the whole set done properly, or I have also been considering the options of going with some lighter and easier to clean ones, I've done some research and found I can get what appear to be reputable and decent flow formed ones that weigh in at around 3kg's a corner lighter.
Now clearly less unsprung mass and especially less rotational mass is always going to be a good thing, but does anyone have any experience of what a difference significantly lighter wheels make on an E46 or, what difference significantly lighter wheels make in general?
Now my E46 330CD has had a full suspension refresh including Eibach pro kit springs and Bilstein shocks, I'm very happy with the way she now handles and drives, but her wheels whilst not bad aren't perfect. She currently runs standard offset MV2's, which weigh in at 11.2kg's per front and 11.8kgs per rear.
So I am thinking that either I want them properly refurbed, which is going to set me back circa £3-400 for the whole set done properly, or I have also been considering the options of going with some lighter and easier to clean ones, I've done some research and found I can get what appear to be reputable and decent flow formed ones that weigh in at around 3kg's a corner lighter.
Now clearly less unsprung mass and especially less rotational mass is always going to be a good thing, but does anyone have any experience of what a difference significantly lighter wheels make on an E46 or, what difference significantly lighter wheels make in general?
d_a_n1979 said:
My pal runs 18" Apex ARC8's on his; they're lightweight compared to OEM and they look really good too...
Said the handling really improved with them (330Ci FYI) - it's his road going track day car
That's actually really useful as it was those exact wheels I was considering, thanks Said the handling really improved with them (330Ci FYI) - it's his road going track day car
E85/86s run the same wheel sizes and offsets as E46s and as I've had Z4s for over 6 years now I've spent quite a bit of time on a Z4 forum.
Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
Mr Tidy said:
E85/86s run the same wheel sizes and offsets as E46s and as I've had Z4s for over 6 years now I've spent quite a bit of time on a Z4 forum.
Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
Oh ok, didn't know that, thanks for the info Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
Mr Tidy said:
E85/86s run the same wheel sizes and offsets as E46s and as I've had Z4s for over 6 years now I've spent quite a bit of time on a Z4 forum.
Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
My pals 330Ci was on 18" 32s... They weigh much more than the Apex ARC 8s...Apex ARC8s get good reviews, but someone who had done some weighing reckoned Style 32s were the lightest standard staggered 18 inch OE wheel. But they had to be E46 ones - Style 32s were also fitted to 5 Series, but they were different sizes.
One of my fave OEM alloys the 32s, but they are heavy
d_a_n1979 said:
My pals 330Ci was on 18" 32s... They weigh much more than the Apex ARC 8s...
One of my fave OEM alloys the 32s, but they are heavy
Having checked the weights, yes the style 32's do weigh more than the Apex's, but not by much the Standard MV2's on my car weight in at circa 11.5 kg's for the fronts and 11.8kgs for the rears, where the style 32's are 9.1kg's front and 9.2kg's rear. The Apec ACR8's appear to be about 8.3kg's for the rears and I imagine slightly lighter on the front.One of my fave OEM alloys the 32s, but they are heavy
So it appears the style 32's are over 2.5kg's lighter than the MV2's, but circa 900grams more than the Apex ones.
Were I in America, I'd probably got with the Apex, but here in the UK they are significantly more expensive than they are in the US and I'd be looking at circa £1,800 for the set, where I can get new Style 32's direct from BMW for £1.260 for the set.
Plus I have to say that I love the look the Style 32's and it's quite similar to the Alpina alloys that are just gorgeous.
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