Wheel and tire suggestion

[joseriosquintana]

Hi, I just purchased a beautiful 2008 alpine white E70 with 30000 miles with the original 18" wheels, I am going to replace my wheels and debating if I should go with 20" staggered or 22" wheels. Any suggestions. Thanks

['10-X5-35d]

Depends on many factors, and your preferences.
I went with 20", simply because the roads are awful here.

[chubbs]

I've just gone for the 20" staggered too as the same applies...

i've had 22" before and you don't get the best ride quality... although they do look better...

it's down to your personal choice at the end of the day..

[watrob]

Stick to 20"

[Hammer]

Whatever size you choose (my personal preference is the staggered 20"), my only recommendation is to go OEM wheels.

There might be a few aftermarket options nowadays out there (even replicas), but they usually don't match the width and the offset of the OEM and rarely do they match the quality (in particular, the lightness) of genuine BMW wheels. And the ones that do, cost a fair bit.

Searching of used genuine 20" wheels could be the go.

[Price]

Originally Posted by Hammer

... the lightness of genuine BMW wheels...

You're funny, mate.

['10-X5-35d]

If you want quality light wheels, go with aftermarket forged wheels.
Replicas are casted wheels, like OEM.
And if you look carefully, you can find Low Pressure Cast replicas that are better than OEM.

BMW, as most car manufacturers, doesn't build wheels, they get another company to build them to their desired specs, and usually at the best (lowest) price possible...

[doni01]

Originally Posted by '10-X5-35d

If you want quality light wheels, go with aftermarket forged wheels.
Replicas are casted wheels, like OEM.
And if you look carefully, you can find Low Pressure Cast replicas that are better than OEM.

BMW, as most car manufacturers, doesn't build wheels, they get another company to build them to their desired specs, and usually at the best (lowest) price possible...

I am sorry bud, but have to disagree with you on that. Even though we all know that BMW does not build it's own wheels, to make the statement that the aftermarket ones are better, it's just not true. I have had them both through out the years and let me tell you, have yet to bend a OEM wheel. Aftermarket on the other hand, has happend more than once. When I say aftermarket, I don't reffer to the Replica ones but to the actual three piece wheel such as a SSR Gt3.......So if you don't mind spending the money, I would definitely go for the OEM's. Just my opinion

[methodmatch]

Have to agree with Hammer on this one.. OEM all the way.

['10-X5-35d]

Originally Posted by doni01

I am sorry bud,

No problem bud, but I've had aftermarket bent, and OEM break.
I didn't say that forged were better, but definitively lighter.
And the company who makes BMW wheels is an aftermarket manufacturer.

So, down the road, I've decided that I'd prefer a 2 -3 times less expesive that could on extreme conditions bend once in a while, than an OEM that for twice the price, would be damaged in the same conditions.

I've had my shares of cars over the years, and I had yet to replace only 2 wheels on the same car (same side), and they were OEM. I don't blame the OEM for that, the hole on the street was huge.

I'm not saying that one is far better than the other, but for me what did it up to now are low pressure cast wheels.
A little heavier (more material), but stronger.

OEM are great wheels (they do come on all the cars of manufacturers, so they did their proof), but not for 3 times the price, they're not that good
And I have also my limits (too cheap replicas)...