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snapon View Drop Down
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Points: 42 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: "18" or "17" that is the question
    Posted: 27-June-2006 at 18:28

Hi, i have a 3 series tourer E46 and its fitted with "17" ....fine. But the devil on my shoulder wants to upgrade to "18"!! very nice. A few questions to be answered please if you could.

1. what is the ride like?

2. Will it make the car sit higher? or can i lower the suspension to compensate? i,e i dont want the wheel arch 2 foot away from the wheel if you know what i mean?

3.Should i kick the devil off me shoulder? and live with "17" and just envy "18" drivers?

Any advice welcome.
Just Touring....
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Points: 224 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-June-2006 at 22:56
Hi mate go for it my son no probs at all Ive got a E36 tourer with 18" all I did was get it re-tracked I also fitted a set of APEX 35mm springs got them from motech ordered direct from factory I did how ever have a slight problem they sent ones for a four cylinder so I spoke to the men in HOLLAND they speak good English got it sorted no probes my next job is to fit a set of poly bushes the 46 looks the nuts on 18" look up r&r on e bay speak to will he is the guy tell him you know me Jim from the RAC he should do you a good deal he also delivers I got a set of mv2 they are a repro made in ITALY blood good copies even the guys at the stealer's were impressed I paid �500 inc tyres 225/40/18 sorry if I went on a bit hope this helps
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Points: 1315 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 27-June-2006 at 23:07
Originally posted by snapon snapon wrote:

Hi, i have a 3 series tourer E46 and its fitted with "17" ....fine. But the devil on my shoulder wants to upgrade to "18"!! very nice. A few questions to be answered please if you could.

1. what is the ride like?

It will be a bit more firm but perfectly fine if you don't life at the end of a farm track

Originally posted by snapon snapon wrote:

2. Will it make the car sit higher? or can i lower the suspension to compensate? i,e i dont want the wheel arch 2 foot away from the wheel if you know what i mean?

No, if you fit 18"s then the tyres you'll put on will have a lower profile so that the overall rolling radius of the tyres will be the same.You'll see the different wheel and tyre sizes combinations suitable in the handbook or on the tyre pressure plate on the B pillar

Originally posted by snapon snapon wrote:

3.Should i kick the devil off me shoulder? and live with "17" and just envy "18" drivers?

Nah - go for it. You can get a second hand set from Quarrymotors.co.uk  or Fabdirect.com amongst others. That way if you don't like them you'll be able to sell them on at only a small loss. I would advise against replicas - stick with real BMW wheels, that's just based on my experience of replicas though other think they're fine.
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Points: 337 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 08:32

Even 18 inch are starting to look too small...I thought eye sight was supposed to get worse with age

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Points: 161 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 08:38

I have 18s on my Coupe and apart from the noise and slight pull to the left they are ace! oh and if you get the MVs they're a right pain in the **** to clean!

 

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Points: 2516 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 09:30
Originally posted by BlueBeemer BlueBeemer wrote:

I have 18s on my Coupe and apart from the noise and slight pull to the left they are ace! oh and if you get the MVs they're a right pain in the **** to clean!

 

BB - now standing for BadBack!

You buy the MV2's instead - far easier to clean and look the mutts!!

Paul


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Points: 71 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 10:34
i have 18's on mine, and i find they have a tendency to tramline more than 17's.
but then i think my tracking is needing set again as my steering wheel is 4 degrees off centre,
but the car does drive straight on smooth roads so i dunno lol
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Points: 5245 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 10:54
I'd stick with the 17s. Use your dosh on other things. High quality tyres or suspension perhaps?
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Points: 233 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 18:07

i"d go for 18s mv2s ive got them on a saloon and lowered 30/20 with no problems whatsoever mate.

ady 



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Points: 4 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 20:54
Hi I have just gone from 17's to 18's on my 1995 328i cabrio and found no difference at all eccept the look of corse!! Mv2's they look the nuts lol
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Points: 50 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 21:45
Definitely go for the MV2's. Plenty of E46's with them on with no probs whatsover. Tyres aren't that much more than 17's either
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Points: 71 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 28-June-2006 at 23:24
read this before you do anything, as its very good at explaining things
caused by increasing your wheel size.
dont get me wrong, i love big wheels and really fancy a set of 19's for my car,
but just be warned that although on smooth even roads your car feels fine
when you venture onto less suitable B roads, you may find that the car will handle very differently.

bestwheel.com
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Points: 38 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12-July-2006 at 21:19
mv are a pain to clean!  i pay my little bro to do it.... its worth it!
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Points: 2516 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13-July-2006 at 09:46

MV1's are I agree, the MV2's are a lot easier and give the car a better look I feel

Paul


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Points: 34 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 13-July-2006 at 13:21
I would go for 18". I have just changed mine from 17" to 18" and I prefer the 18" i think they look loads better and for some reason the car seems to handle better. And I agree the MV2's look well tasty.
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Points: 2516 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-July-2006 at 09:47

HunnyBunny325i,

You seen our threads about monthly meets at Thetford? You're most welcome to attend, we have one or two female members there so you'll be adding to the numbers! Next one is in a fortnight

Paul


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Points: 38 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-July-2006 at 19:01
eibach  suspension is good. its not hard like others but u pay more for it. well worth it though...
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Points: 33 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14-July-2006 at 19:36
I have 18's on a coupe, they ride is perfect, very little road noise.  Mine are the MV's and they are a pain to clean, but much prefer them over the MV2. If I had a choice I would go for CSL rims, or replicas even.
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Points: 3311 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 15-July-2006 at 21:22

Wouldn't the wheel alignment need checked if switching from 17" to 18"?

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Points: 373 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20-July-2006 at 12:25

18's on the e30.

18's on the 635. (they look alot smaller when i actually bolted them on.
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