Well just stopped by les Schwab and discount tire
They sell the same plastic rings for 10$ for a set of four
Looking at them they're paper thin but I guess I shouldn't worry too much as all they do is center the wheel on the hub.
Going to get the wheels tomorrow!

Just to verify...the build date for the optional direct tire pressure monitoring system versus the indirect flat tire monitoring system is 4/04 for the e53.

The direct system uses monitors inside the wheels...the indirect system uses the ABS sensors:

http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/ori...0System%20.jpg

And below is the latest update for the BMW wheel size compatibility chart:

http://bimmerboard.com/members/q/ori...%20Nbr%204.jpg

This could very well be (both being original BMW 212 wheels w/74.1mm hub)...because the e70 X5 also was optioned with the Style 212 wheel. For the e70 X5...both front & rear wheels have a 74.1mm center bore. Whereas the Style 212 for the X6 came with the "split hub size" (front 74.1mm & rear 72.56mm).

Perhaps there's more to the neighbors wheel story...did he buy/swap them from an e70 X5 owner? Perhaps that's how it came to be that both wheels had a 74.1mm hub?

The TPMS on the E53 was, as Q mentioned, an RDS system, that used the radio transmitting sensors in the tires, antennas in wheelwells, and module behind glove compartment, and the center console module that said RDS, mostly on the non-US distribution cars... then, in anticipation of the federal mandated tire pressure systems, they went with ABS controlled monitoring system, that had a "flat tire" symbol in the center console module (module A169), absense of antennas and transmitters...

Style 212 came stock with X6 but not sure if he purchased the car new or slightly used.

If i remember correctly later production X6's (??/2010) had the front hub size increase.

All the excitement is gone.I had the date set to pick them up and install them and the idiot owner sold them to someone else.It is what it is ..back on the hunt for a set of winter wheels..at least the info remains for future reference.Thx all for the help!

If this were true...then all of the available wheel diagrams & part nbr indices would have multiple wheel part nbrs listed to sustain this theory.

There would be 2 part nbrs for the front wheels (one for the build dates that would have the 74.1mm wheel hub and one for those that have the 72.56mm wheel hub). And then the third part nbr for the rear wheel with the 72.56mm wheel hub that are staggered or have a different offset than the front.

But as you can see at this link for the 212 Style wheel...there's only 1 front & 1 rear wheel part nbr...and that is due to the 74.1mm front wheel hub and the 72.56mm rear wheel hub. There is no extra part nbr for a front wheel that has a 72.56mm wheel center bore...because all X6 from start of production have a split hub size (front/rear): :)