Mismatched StarSpoke 212 Wheels

monacoblue_x5 · #1 01-06-2009, 02:19 PM

Hi, first post here and it's about a problem I have.

Some information: I have the 2008 4.8i with Sport Package (20" RFTs Style 214) so my tires are staggered.

I purchased 19" Michelins M+S Tires on Style 212 wheels that were supposedly off a 2008 X6. The research I did prior to purchase indicated that the offsets were the same and these wheels would work. When I tried putting them on today, it appears I have 2 different pairs. The first pair were 'concave' at the hub, meaning the center of the wheel where the BMW logo is appears to round out (like an upside down bowl). The other pair were 'convex' at the hub. They (autoshop) could not even mount the convex pair on the hub. The concave pair fit on any 4 sides of the X5. The convex pair did not fit anywhere.

So my questions are:
1) Do the X6 have different offsets on the front and rears?
2) Did my 'good' deal turn out to be not so good and maybe I bought mismatched set?
3) If I order 2 new wheels from BMW, can I expect the correct set (I suspect I will get the right ones as I can return them if they're not).

Has anyone experienced this or can give me any additional insights?

I purchased these from an ebay 'consignment' store that was actually local here. I am trying to contact the seller to get some information but I have to go through the storefront. And yes, it was a sweet deal and if I do end up buying new wheels from BMW, I will have still saved money (but not time!)
Thanks.
Chris.

BCA · #2 01-11-2009, 12:33 AM

That's definitely weird. From looking at your pics, the difference is noticable and it appears that one has a different offset at the very least, if it isn't a different width as well. But regardless of whether the offset is different, I would be very surprised to hear that there was some difference in the hub that would make any OEM wheel from an X6 unmountable on an X5.

I thought all OEM 212s were the same (19X9) with the same offset and width. I just took a set off my X5 this week (to replace with OEM 214s) and they are all identical. All four of mine look like your first pic. But I just went to bmwusa.com and built an X6 and when adding the sport package with 212s, the online pics do seem to clearly show more offset in the rear like the wheels you have. So it seems like yours may indeed be real OEM wheels from an X6. I just can't figure out why they wouldn't fit on an X5. Hope that helps...good luck.

monacoblue_x5 · #3 01-14-2009, 06:05 PM

BCA, thanks for answering my post! For a few days there, I felt like the ugly girl in the corner that no one wants to dance with.

Anyways, the hub size on the 2nd pair are too small to even fit onto the bore of the car - so the offset didnt even become a problem. I'm still waiting on a response from the seller if these actually did come off an X6. If they did, then X5 owners should be aware that these are not interchangeable.

Luckily, I'm good friends with the autoshop owner and he called Tirerack to get me a pair of refurbished OEM212's. I got them at cost+shipping and they arrived yesterday and look exactly like the pair in the first picture. I reused the tires from the 2nd set and they balanced and mounted them (incl the TPMs) and all is well.

These tires give the X5 a smoother ride then my 20" RFTs. I feel like it drives a little 'less aggressive' and doesnt hug the road as tight. Come springtime, I will switch back to my 214 RFTs. But I do enjoy the new shoes.