So I'd love to have a talk about wheels?

[4.8iSteve53]

I've got an 05 4.8is all stock everything. Except for the spare, it's an alloy 17 x7.5 off another x5. And it doesn't take an German Engineer to see that it's not gonna clear my brakes. So I think i heard 18" wheels will fit? Which one are people here running? Think about getting a set +1 for winter and use the extra as the spare. I like the #71170 I saw on OrignalWheels.com Also liking the same style 20" wheels. Probably get these as well, think I saw them on at least one 4.8 around here. Also I'd assume a front 20x9.5 would work front and rear as a spare? Yes no maybe?

And if anyone has a factory compact spare they want to sell me lets talk.

Any thoughts input comments pics would be most appreciated.

[four.8is]

Where are you gonna keep your full size spare?

[4.8iSteve53]

Originally Posted by four.8is

Where are you gonna keep your full size spare?

I know the 20" won't fit under the cargo floor, that be a temp solution just thrown in the back, on upcoming road trip to NC. Right now I've got nothing...

I'm hoping like hell that 18x8.5 fit under the cargo floor for the semi long term solution. If not maybe an 18x8. It does seem like the 17x7.5 just fits though.

And I do want the compact spare, but for $1500, the $200 18x8.5 is looking like the winner right provided it fits under the floor. Smoothly.

Reason I asked about using the 20" is sets can be had all day for $500+ and I'm planning on buying another set of 20" wheels anyway.

[jdstrickland]

When I was shopping for my X5, I noticed that all of them had a 17" spare, no matter which tire package was mounted on the car.

Before you jump to a conclusion that the 17 will not fit, you should try it. You can measure from the center of the axle to the outside of the brake caliper, if less than 8.5 inches, then you are golden.

If the full size 17" rim and tire fits in the spare tire well, then a 20" wheel with the correct tire mounted to it should fit also. The 17 is a 235/65x17, the same width in a 20 will be a 235/50x20 to give the same diameter. The larger rims take a wider tire, that's true. But going wider (255, for example) just means you need a lower aspect ratio (45 instead of 50, for example) to give the same overall diameter.

Consider the fact that you might be a well-heeled owner that is travelling somewhere, and the need arises to install the spare. You have the luggage compartment stacked to the headliner with make-up cases for your wife so tightly that your extra box of golf balls will not fit. Where are you gonna put all of that stuff if the tire that has a hole in it does not fit into the spare tire well? And, how pissed is she gonna be to find out that you can't even install the spare?

I'm not sure that you have a problem just because the spare is a 17. All E53s that I looked at get a 17 as the factory fitment, any other size is an option that is the same relative size as the 17. Larger wheel means smaller sidewall for the same overall diameter, within a narrow margin.

[4.8iSteve53]

Thanks for the input, but my 4.8is comes with a 19" compact spare factory. And even with the 1.5 foam fillers, (for the compact) the 17" pushes up the cargo floor. So 9.5" & 10.5" rims aren't fit under the floor. Pretty sure my front brakes are 15" plus caliper even with an 1" of caliper height (it's prob. more like 1.5"-2") I'd be outside the inner rim space.

But I think, your on point about the diameter info. There's a "face lifted" 3.0i e53 two doors down form me and his 18" wheels & tires are taller then my 20's

[4.8iSteve53]

Also, has anyone pinned down the offset range that'll work with the e53 and spec. The 4.6/4.8's there a few same size X5 wheels I like. But there are several 7 series wheels I like more. But the all 24-25mm offset. (4.8stock offset is 30/45mm f/r) So no good? Can you go up but not down. Or down a little as we'll as up a little? Has any tried differs series wheel tires? Also I don't see a lot of e53's with e70 22's are these just to big? Has anyone check into this?

[4.8iSteve53]

...are...
...they're...
...anyone...
...different...
...checked...
This keyboard tho... F!

[Joshdub]

Everything you can think of has already been done before.

Here you go:
Online Wheel and Tyre Fitment Calculator. Offset, Tyre Stretch and Speedo Error | Will They Fit

And the hub bore is different on the newer X5s. Check the FAQs for more info.

[4.8iSteve53]

Thanks for the link.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by 4.8iSteve53

Also, has anyone pinned down the offset range that'll work with the e53 and spec. The 4.6/4.8's there a few same size X5 wheels I like. But there are several 7 series wheels I like more. But the all 24-25mm offset. (4.8stock offset is 30/45mm f/r) So no good? Can you go up but not down. Or down a little as we'll as up a little? Has any tried differs series wheel tires? Also I don't see a lot of e53's with e70 22's are these just to big? Has anyone check into this?

See the BMW wheels size chart below for current wheel off set ranges and hub sizes. As mentioned already the e70 X5 wheels have a 74.1mm center bore...so would need hubcentric rings to mount on an e53.

The newer BMWs that are being offered with AWD models...are appearing with wheels that have a higher offset range. Take note of the F01 7 series wheels (for example)...some of them are within the 30mm-41mm range (and some rear wheels may be higher as new wheels debut).

Wheels with a lesser wheel offset will be pushed out toward the fender...so depending on how wide they are...you might be able to get by using them. But I'd be concerned about the weight requirement of a cast alloy wheel from a 3 series (for example).

Someone diid mount e38 style 37 MPars onn e53 and had no problem. These are forged alloy wheels and the front 8x18 wheel has a 13mm offset andthe rear 9.5"x18" wheel has a 25mmwheel offset. So again, depending on the width of the wheel...a lesser offset might work.

Do most 4.6is/4.8is come with the optional 19" compact spare? If so, that means the area below the cargo floor has the extra vehicle trim to hold the emergency spare. This trim should be removeable which would provide space for the larger spare tire/wheel set-up that the other e53s came with.

As JDS mentioned in his post above...BMW started throwing in smaller spares (across all model lines) to save money. The first time I remember this happening was around late 2002 when aBimBrd forum member (M Wong) had ordered a 540i M-sport with EU delivery. This model came with style 37 18" MPar wheels & had first been advertised to be like the e38 sport pkg & come with five style 37 wheels. But they received a letter from BMW stating that the option was being changed and wouuld come with a 17" spare tire of a different style.

My 06 originally came with four 18" style 153 wheels, and the spare is some 17" style wheel.

If you look at the tire inflation chart on your driver's door...you should see the smallest tire size you can use (I think it's an 18" tire for the 4.6is/4.8is models). If yu do have thhe compact 19" emergency spare and you wantto go with an 18" or 19"full size spare...see if removing item #7 & #17 in the diagram below will give you the room you need. If it'slike the other e53s...this willallow you to store the full size spare over the air compressor dome below the cargo floor:

(item #7 & #17 should be removable in the 4.6is & 4.8is w/19" compact emergency spare)