Differences between genuine & replica

What markings or stampings in particular should one look for on genuine vs replica M3 wheels?

Cheers, Brett

BMW markings. period.

should be pretty easy to spot the difference, most replicas will also have non oem offsets and other specs etc. if you cant already tell the difference, the BMW marking stamp will verify authenticity,

Cool. Thanks for that. Just wanted to be certain.

Cheers, Brett

Wheel specs as well. M3 offsets do not fit the non-m without a fair bit of body work and stretching.

Stock / OEM offsets for E46 M3 should be

18's

Front Wheels: 18" x 8" -- Bolt Pattern = 5x120mm. Offset = ET47
Rear Wheels: 18" x 9" -- Bolt Pattern = 5x120mm. Offset = ET26

And 19 should be:

Front Wheels: 19" x 8" -- Bolt Pattern = 5x120mm. Offset = ET47
Rear Wheels: 19" x 9.5" -- Bolt Pattern = 5x120mm. Offset = ET27

Thanks. I fitted a set of 18x9's on the rear of my 325ci and they fit OK but just slightly protrude past the extent of the guard. I haven't driven with them on but would imagine there would be some rubbing. I'm going to look for another set, so I can run 18x8's all round.

Cheers, Brett

Originally Posted by brett05

Thanks. I fitted a set of 18x9's on the rear of my 325ci and they fit OK but just slightly protrude past the extent of the guard. I haven't driven with them on but would imagine there would be some rubbing. I'm going to look for another set, so I can run 18x8's all round.

Cheers, Brett

What tyre have you got on there at the moment? I reckon something around a 225/40/18 would be perfect.

The fronts aren't very aggressive though so they may sit in too much. Rear's all round would be nice.

Previous sizes fitted were 235/35/19 on a 19x8.5 et35 & 265/30/19 on a 19x9.5 ET45. Clearance wise I had maybe 2mm on the rear and a fair bit more on the front.

On an 18" you should have a touch more clearance which is why I think you could get away with the 225. If you go to somewhere like Option1 garage and advise you want to buy tyres and think a 225 will work but will want a 215 if not they will probably be happy to fit up a 225, see how it looks then decide if you should go smaller or not.

Yeah I was thinking that something like a 235/40 would work. They've got 255/40's on there at the moment, but the problem is the edge of the rim looks to physically sit outside the extents of the bodywork. It's slightly hard to definitively tell with the big 255 on there though.

Cheers, Brett

Your rim should stick out 12mm further than this. By 'stretching' the 225 the rim will sit pretty flush with the guards and the tyre will tuck in nicely! I think it's definitely worth trying to fit before you buy another set and run 4 fronts. An 8" +47 will look terrible on the rear!

Originally Posted by DeclanM3

Your rim should stick out 12mm further than this. By 'stretching' the 225 the rim will sit pretty flush with the guards and the tyre will tuck in nicely! I think it's definitely worth trying to fit before you buy another set and run 4 fronts. An 8" +47 will look terrible on the rear!

hmmm..... I might fit them up again on the weekend and take some photos and post them up here.

I spoke to Option 1 and the smallest legal tyre they can fit on it is a 235/40 without stretching a 215 or a 225. I'd prefer to stay fairly legal if I can get it to work. A 235 would buy me an extra 10mm on the outside over the 255.

Cheers, Brett

ive fitted the 18x9 +26s onto my old e46 sedan. I ran a 225/40/18 and they did no protrude past the guards..they were rolled though and i was lowered..i guess if you play around with camber, you'll get it sitting nice. You can run a square set up easily. a 235/40 should be sweet since you have a coupe which has abit wider guards than a sedan.

i also fitted a 19x9.5 +27 with a 225/35/19 tyre and they was flush as fk! i loved the look.

the one thing i hated was the fronts..so get yourself another pair of rears!

Hey Nick you got any pics of the 19's on your car so we can can compare the 18's vs 19's.

Looks great Nick. The 225's don't look too stretched.

Originally Posted by brett05

hmmm..... I might fit them up again on the weekend and take some photos and post them up here.

I spoke to Option 1 and the smallest legal tyre they can fit on it is a 235/40 without stretching a 215 or a 225. I'd prefer to stay fairly legal if I can get it to work. A 235 would buy me an extra 10mm on the outside over the 255.

Cheers, Brett

This is a 215 on an 8" wide rim. From everything I've read a 225/40/18 should be legal on an 8" rim but I could be wrong.

Even the 215 doesn't look stretched.

225 would be fine on a 8", but on a 9" I think a 235 would be the smallest legal size.

Cheers, Brett

Originally Posted by brett05

225 would be fine on a 8", but on a 9" I think a 235 would be the smallest legal size.

Cheers, Brett

Oh sorry my bad! I put in 8" not 9"

Originally Posted by shannon1

Hey Nick you got any pics of the 19's on your car so we can can compare the 18's vs 19's.

Took an effort to scrape up the pics but here they are:





when i lowered it abit more lol:




i really loved the fitment on the 19s. But 18s were more conservative..running a 225/40 on the 9" were fine..couldnt even tell it was stretched.

Even the 225/35/19s on the 9.5s were alright but thats probably the most i'd go. *in before hamann wheels*

also, if you max out the camber it'll fit fine..i just never touched mine

OK so I fitted them all up on Saturday. The 9" rears fill out the guards beautifully, but there was a lot of rubbing in the rear and I even think there still will be with a smaller 235/40. The guard was cutting well into the top of the tyre as soon as any slight lateral load was applied to the car.

These shots show the 18x9" rears with 255/40 tyres.




I think I will go with the more conservative option of 8's all round. Just need to find a couple more 18x8's now.

The 18x8" all round.



Cheers, Brett

They are the first photos I've seen since selling it Brett. Brings back awesome memories. I really do miss that car!

I think the 9's all round would look great but it all comes down to personal preference. I might be interested in your 4 x 9" rears for some track wheels if I have storage at the next house I move to.