Before & After Pics: 18" Factory Wheels on 4.8is as Snow Setup

CA777 · #1 02-04-2009, 04:21 PM

Finally got a chance to take some pics. These are factory 18" wheels and tires taken off an E70 brand new and sold by the dealership as "dealer take off's." They sold them to a guy who sells wheels on ebay, and I picked up the set for $1295. I've always liked 5 point rims, and IMHO these look great on the X (just not as mean as the 20's of course ;-)

After reading some posts on the board, I was concerned that the wheels wouldn't clear the large 4.8is front brake calipers, but with this style rim it turns out that there is plenty of clearance, even enough to slide a deck of cards between the rim and caliper.

First three pics are "before" with factory 20's. Last three pics are "after" with factory 18's. So far the ride is great, the handling is excellent, and the X is killing it in the snow.

The dealership charged me $40 to swap out the wheels. Because the tires had originally been mounted and balanced by BMW on the E70, they billed it as a tire rotation and it only took them a matter of minutes.

E61Silver · #2 02-04-2009, 04:30 PM

Looks good

chilliwilli · #3 02-04-2009, 04:53 PM

Ummm...didn't know it snows in SF

Last5oh · #4 02-04-2009, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilliwilli

Ummm...didn't know it snows in SF

I was just about to say....

Yes VERY NICE... except for the missing snow.

CA777 · #5 02-04-2009, 05:27 PM

Chiliwilli & Last5oh: Haha, you got me ;-) You're right, no snow in SF or true mayhem would break out on all those steep hills. The main reason I bought the X is for the weekend trips to and from Tahoe to go skiing and snowboarding, which means I'm often spending 10+ hours in the car every weekend in the winter. When it really starts dumping and we're trying to get over the pass during chain control, the 11" wide rear tires on the stock 20's turn into giant sleds and get pretty scary.

Motordavid: they're the original stock factory michelins which are listed as all terrains, but they say M+S on the sidewall as well. They do a great job in the snow, and since 75% of the drive is on dry pavement with no so at all, I didn't want to put dedicated Snow and Ice tires on b/c I would just chew them up on the way to and from the mountain on all that hard pavement.

Last5oh · #6 02-04-2009, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CA777

Chiliwilli & Last5oh: Haha, you got me ;-) You're right, no snow in SF or true mayhem would break out on all those steep hills. The main reason I bought the X is for the weekend trips to and from Tahoe to go skiing and snowboarding, which means I'm often spending 10+ hours in the car every weekend in the winter. When it really starts dumping and we're trying to get over the pass during chain control, the 11" wide rear tires on the stock 20's turn into giant sleds and get pretty scary.

Motordavid: they're the original stock factory michelins which are listed as all terrains, but they say M+S on the sidewall as well. They do a great job in the snow, and since 75% of the drive is on dry pavement with no so at all, I didn't want to put dedicated Snow and Ice tires on b/c I would just chew them up on the way to and from the mountain on all that hard pavement.

Hey CA777,

You're like my relatives in SoCal who equate snow with recreation. Maybe as I get older I should move down there. Yes you will be fine with the stock all season Michelins where you are. I got caught in Toronto's first snowfall last November before switching over and the all-season Michelin's were not bad.

Dedicated snow tires are well worth the investment where I am, they not only give better handling (improves safety margin) they also improve gas consumption.

Here's what you are 'missing' hahaha... dirty 'BMW approved' set of winter tires (E53):