Help me choose spacers

ukrcan · #1 04-13-2013, 01:55 AM

I want to buy spacers for my X, but i am not sure what size i should go with...
The rims i have are style 132 that have these specs
9 x 19 Front ET 48
10 x 19 Rear ET 45
I want to widen the stance and get as close to be as flush with the fenders as possible but without compromising the handling of the car... Will i require the spacers on front and back? or just the back?
Would 20mm work in the back or i need to go with 30?

I wonder if anyone has pictures of wheels with similar offset with installed spacers...Would really help me out to visualize what it would look like on my car...

Ctbhess · #2 04-13-2013, 07:47 AM

From my experience a 20 offset on the rear only works well.

If you ad them to the front it will bring the tire out of the fender enough to throw road debris all down the side and create nicks in side mirrors.

If you get the front to wide it creates an improper hub bearing load and could wear these out prematurely.

Guess it comes to personal taste and opinion. You won't have an issue selling the extra spacers if you do not like.

tmv · #3 04-13-2013, 09:18 AM

Regarless of what size space added, you will change the suspension lay-out from the factory. Normally, one would measures the distance between the tires sidewall and the fender lip to determine spacer size.
Here is an alternative. Take style87 as a comparison point. 20x9.5 ET45, 20x10.5 ET30. I have the exact same size for my HRE, but I add 15mm spacers in the rears to make it 20x10.5 ET15 and I love the look of it. Keep in mind: I do have the fender flares in the rears.
Your front wheel is about the right offset already. I would leave them alone.
I would do a 30mm spacers in the rears in your case. Go with bolt-on H&R (forgot what it called) The spacer bolted to the hub and your wheels bolt on to the spacers.
Hope it helps in your decision.

ukrcan · #4 04-13-2013, 05:34 PM

Thanks! I think i'll go the middle route and get 25mm spacers... I don't have the rims on my truck yet so i can't really measure anything right now...hopefully i like the look...

tmv, was it a lot of works to install fender flares on the back?

fmugur · #5 04-14-2013, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ukrcan

tmv, was it a lot of works to install fender flares on the back?

It isn't a lot of work. I went OEM but if I have to do it again I would do the eBay 4.8 body kit that includes all you need to get it to the 4.8 look. I don't know how these fiber glass feder flares mount but I wouldn't expect too much of a challenge.

afstud · #6 04-13-2013, 10:51 PM

Im going to be doing 20mm spacers on my rear wheels to bring my style 211 wheels more flush with the body.

btw, TMV can you PM me, im not sure if my PM's are going through i just have a question about transmission fluid. Thanks.

bcredliner · #7 04-14-2013, 01:55 PM

ES Tuning and Turner Motorsports have H&R spacers. It is important to get the bolt on spacers. They come with longer lug bolts so that they seat deep enough so you don't have to worry about if your wheels are secured properly. Also, some of the tire stores will not touch vehicles that have spacers but usually do so if you show them how they are bolted on and secured.

ukrcan · #8 04-14-2013, 05:31 PM

Good point about DR-A spacers... i didn't know about the tire shops don't like dealing with spacers...ECStunning is a great source for buying parts if you are in US... we get screwed on shipping up here, cause we have to pay duties and all...

tmv · #9 04-15-2013, 09:43 AM

ukrcan, the flares are easy to mount. I used Tom's (mrbmwX5) method: trimming all the extruding tabs on the flares and attached them using small screws to the existing plastic. No need to cut slots and the flares can be removed without leaving its marks. Also, no more story of the flares cam off the car with the original mouting method.

afstud, I response to your PM this morning. We were taking a family road trip out of state over the weekend.

bcredliner · #10 04-15-2013, 12:16 PM

FYI, the thicker the spacers increase stress on the suspension. The key is to fill the wheel wells. On a 2002 4.6 with 187 rims 275/40 and 315/35 tires and 20mil spacers the tires are out as far as they can be without clearing the fenders. I did the spacers first, it still didn't look right. After added a lowering kit that drops the front and rear about 1" it looks great. Lowering the back improves the look some. If your 2006 has the suspension level links that is very easy to do. To drop the front which is when it really looks good, you will need lowering springs. The H&R kit results in a little bit stiffer ride but not that much. Whenever anyone asks if spacers effect alignment it generates many posts on both sides of the issue. Because of the cost of tires I aligned the X5 when I added spacers and when I added the lowering kit. Each time the the before specs were out. That was according to the shop. I didn't tell them about the spacers or that I had lowered the X5 but all wheels were out of spec both times.