e70 with style 87 wheels

PAX5 · #1 09-01-2011, 02:12 PM

Does anybody else have an e70 (2007+) with style 87 wheels?

Here what I did: modfied the style 87 wheels by having a machine shop precision cut the center bore to 74.1mm (with 0.01mm tolerance). Installed 4 new TPMS (Beru), 4 new tires (Falken 275/45R-20, slightly taller than stock for smoother ride, but only 2.3% difference in speedo error) and roadforce balanced (using a Hunter 9700). Zero vibration! I was skeptical at first, because these are replicas. BMW tech told me that they balance without any issues ...

This is a non-staggered set up (F&R 9.5x20, ET 45), allowing for front to rear rotation.

So far this is the only e70 (2007+) that I have seen with the style 87 wheels:

motordavid · #2 09-01-2011, 03:03 PM

Hmmm, interesting. I love 87s, and like the look on your E70...if it were me, I would have gone with the staggered look, as tire rotation is low on my list of needs, and I feel E70s, or E53s look a bit better with staggered/wider rear wheels.
But, well done.
GL, mD

Michelle · #3 09-01-2011, 03:24 PM

OMG I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to put my 87's on my E70!

PAX5 · #4 09-01-2011, 03:54 PM

mD: thanks for the compliment. To obtain a close approximation to the staggered look, I am considering the H&R 20mm spacers, while maintaining the ability to rotate wheels ..., but I am concerned about possible wheel vibration. Maybe not an issue because it is the rears??

Michelle: it's not all that difficult to adapt the style 87 to the e70. The most important variable is to find a competent (and willing) machine shop, with an even more competent machinist, who is willing to cut the rims to -0 and + 0.01mm. I found one locally. They charged me $45/wheel. Next step is to use a Hunter GPS9700 (Hunter GSP9700 Wheel vibration Control System solves wheel vibration and tire pull problems that balancers and aligners can't fix) to mount and balance the wheel. Make sure the tech knows what he is doing!!. And don't forget the TPMS (BMW Wheels Parts Performanceand Accessories BMW TPMS).

Price · #5 09-01-2011, 04:23 PM

IMHO it looks too E53'ish. Sort of like using old style mesh wheels on modern 3-er or 5-er.

PAX5 · #6 09-01-2011, 05:22 PM

Funny, that's exactly a (momentary) thought I had as well ..., but I got over it because of the exceptionally clean lines and simple style of the 87.

I actually like the original style 209 as well, but they'e not available in 20 inch.

There's one other style I strongly considered: the Boss 328

alexmish · #7 09-01-2011, 08:37 PM

get 25mm spacers for the rears... you can still rotate, but right now you rear wheels are "lost in the well"...

rh71 · #8 09-01-2011, 08:53 PM

a hunter machine with a tech who showed me readouts that it was balanced out at zero still wasn't able to solve my vibration problem. It was there before spacers... it's most likely an out-of-round wheel which isn't always resolvable.

PAX5 · #9 09-01-2011, 09:12 PM

I agree, the rears are "lost in the well"... You think 25mm will do it? H&R the best?

Hunter GPS9700 will not compensate for out of round and or wheel wobble ... best to check out the wheels visually on the machine BEFORE mounting tires. That's what I did today, and the (aftermarket) wheels turned out to be round and true ...

The other thing the machine will not detect is a slightly oversized center bore. A CB with more than 1/1000th play will cause vibration at 60-70mph ...

E53BX · #10 09-02-2011, 08:51 AM

Very nice set up. I thought of doing the same thing for a really long time, but everyone convinced me to go with the 214's staggered. but the 87's gives it a nice different look. i found this guy with 87's when i was searching around if anyone had done it before at the beginning of the year.