Winter rim fitment help

Noob question, can't seem to find a direct answer though. I need winter rims as I love my OEM 19's. What is the smallest rim size I can fit on an M3, and would steelies work? Please don't flame, I admit I know nothing. I want to go the cheapest route for a winter tire setup.

Thank you

The smallest rim you can put on an M3 is 17in. That's on stock non ZCP brakes. If you have a ZCP, then you have to go an 18in wheel. Don't know if the steelies would work. The only steelies that I know of are the OEM 17in steelies that were available with the 330 winter package from the dealer. It is a square setup for a non M so, if you can run spacers on the steelies, you'd probably have to run a 20-25mm spacer on each rear wheel so that the rear wheels aren't so inset.

^ this guy knows his stuff.

I've got a question about the spacing...... I run a set of square 17" m3 replicas during the winter and have the rear inset problem. Both BMW and the tire shop I purchased at said that it's not a problem and that there isn't a solution. I brought up the idea of spacers, but they didn't think that they would correct enough. Can anyone tell me if they have had any success with spacers in this situation? and if so, where the best place to get the spacers would be?

ps I found that if you can get a good deal on some alloys they are only marginally more expensive than steelies and look much better...

I got 215 width tires on 17" rims and don't use spacers. It looks fine. You don't need spacers. They are not reliable and they could crack.

I assume I don't have ZCP brakes as they look normal. I'm going to try and find some 17's.

Originally Posted by z00

I got 215 width tires on 17" rims and don't use spacers. It looks fine. You don't need spacers. They are not reliable and they could crack.

Wheels crack more often than spacers under normal or un-normal cir****ances FYI. Wheel spacers only add stress to some components because of the weight. The extra pounds maybe increases minimum unsprung weight at the corners that makes the rear components, like suspension, work harder to keep in contact with the ground. Never heard of major spacers issues related to non-track setups. Buying unwanted wheels or bigger axels is not too smart, compared to a cheap solution as spacers.

thx!

Keep in mind the cheapest route isn't always going to be smaller wheels. Keep an eye out in the For Sale section of this forum, and M3forum.net. Especially this time of year winter wheel sets pop up, usually with low miles on the tires and some decent looking wheels. 17" wheels just look like crap on a M3, IMO. I've got 18" Beyern Type 5 wheels with Blizzak LM-25. They fill out the wheel arches well enough. Look around, you'll find something

Also note that you may want to think about running a square setup depending on how much snow you plan on driving through. Thinner tires = better traction + rotation/better wear. I run a set of four OEM 18" fronts for the winter.

I agree, I was just saying you don't have to use spacers if you use 17" wheels.

Originally Posted by djnekkon

Wheels crack more often than spacers under normal or un-normal cir****ances FYI. Wheel spacers only add stress to some components because of the weight. The extra pounds maybe increases minimum unsprung weight at the corners that makes the rear components, like suspension, work harder to keep in contact with the ground. Never heard of major spacers issues related to non-track setups. Buying unwanted wheels or bigger axels is not too smart, compared to a cheap solution as spacers.

When I first got my M3, I was running my winter setup leftover from my 330Ci. I had a set of type 68 staggered wheels from the 330Ci (ET47f and ET50r) and as such, the rear wheels looked horrendous. My vanity required that I get tires to fit on the OEM 18s I had sitting around (since I had acquired a set of OEM 19s). I sold the 17s to my brother who had just bought a 320i. (Actually I sold him the brand new, UNMOUNTED Michelin Pilot Alpin PA2s that I had just bought to put on the type 68s at my cost and gave him the wheels for nothing - just to show you I'm a good brother). The non M type 68s fit and clear the brakes no problem. They just look like shite.

Got my staggered ASA 7-spokes from Gary @ Tirerack two years ago. Work like a charm, and with the roundel kit they look OK for winter.