Pic Request 3.0 with style 168 wheels
 

Any pics of a 3.0 pref in Alpine White with the 168 wheels greatly appreciated. THANKS IN ADVANCE!

This thread has almost every possible combo:
http://www.xoutpost.com/x5-e53-forum/...s-your-x5.html

Here's a 3.0 I found. Not white (although the photoshopping makes it almost look like it is):
http://xoutpost.com/gallery/files/8/3/7/4/CAR1.jpg

Here's jst2878's 4.4i (with the 4.6is kit) and 168's:
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...8/DSC00299.jpg

http://i15.photobucket.com/albums/a3..._/DSC02460.jpg

(after he painted them black):
http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z...8/DSCF0046.jpg

Hey, Thanks for putting mine in Michelle...I was about to do it but then the first response I saw was yours and you got my ride already

Thanks Michelle (and EKS)! Do you know if both of those have mod fender flares and any adjustments to suspension vs original?

jst2878's has the 4.6is fender flares installed. I do not believe he has any suspension adjustments, but he has the 4.6is kit, which will give it a completely different look than your 3.0. If you're looking to see what your 3.0 will look like if you put on 168's, check out the first picture I posted (EKS's X5).

Mine doesn't have the modded fender flares...the first pic. I haven't gotten around to getting the 4.8 kit yet. I have lowered the car by using Eibach Pro Kit that claims it lowers the X at 1.25" all around.

But I believe the other pics does have the mod fender flares because per Michelle, that is JST2878's 4.4 and he just added a 4.8 kit to it so he does have the modded fender flares. I am not sure about his suspension though.

OEM vs Replica #168 markings? HELP!
 

Hey guys, I got my 168's but I think I may have been fooled into buying replica's vs OEM which is what was supposedly sold to me. Is there any way to tell that they are OEM? Is there a stamp or part number on any part of the wheel that i can tell? THANKS!

Look on the inside of the wheel. Surprisingly it should say BMW.

any way to tell without taking them off the vehicle? I used a mirror to look on the inside of the spokes and there are a number of different stamps on the back of each spoke... anyone have OEM 168's? that can do a quick check? thanks!

Nope. Take one off. Should say BMW, have a BMW Part Number or part of the BMW part number, size and offset. Here is a rim with a BMW stamp.

A lot of reps say "BWM"

This pic showing markings is from OEM 168 wheel.

Not to start a semantic war with you LeMansX5 but if that wheel is from BMW, then technically it's an OE wheel, which is even better than OEM. Though I suppose by definition OE is OEM, but OEM is not OE.

I took pics of the inside of my oem rims when I bought them. They're not 168's but 132's. I'm sure some of the stamps will be similar. Sorry not nice and clean like LeMans pic. Hope it helps a bit.

Good luck crawling under your X.

You're right about that! Apparently these are BWM running boards...

Not sure what you mean by OE but the pic is from wheel off a brand new 2004 X5 4.8is.

That wheel then is OE BMW. "Original Equipment" BMW.

Here is the easiest way to distinguish and understand the difference between OE (Original Equipment) and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer). The two pictures below are of Bosch XR7LDC spark plugs. The one on the left is an OE BMW XR7LDC spark plug made by BOSCH for BMW. The one on the right is a BOSCH XR7LDC spark plug that is considered OEM BMW. The difference may be subtle in this case, and that is why I am using it as an example.

A more obvious example would be let's say an OE BMW cd changer that is made by Alpine for BMW and branded as BMW. It will have the BMW specific wiring harness and cables attached to it, etc. and ONLY those cables attached to it. While the seemingly identical Alpine cd changer that is considered OEM BMW (but NEVER branded BMW) will have a wiring harness and cables attached to it that might fit a variety of cars not just BMW's and some of those cables might not even be used when installed in a BMW.

Most of the time people just say OEM which is better for OEM, but worse for OE! You can also think about it this way. Buy it at the BMW dealer...99% chance it's OE BMW. Buy it anywhere else...99% chance it's OEM BMW.

A good article can also be found on Ron Stygar's webpage:
all_oe_vs_oem_parts