Rims for a 1999 323i Convertible

[Topless]

I just bought my first BMW, a 1999 323i Convertible.....the tires are okay but i'd like to get some bigger rims. I'm kinda confused on this whole 1999 E36/E46 thing....

Can somebody tell me what exactly my car is? i think its an E36 with a 5/120 bolt pattern - am i correct?

also - could an 18" rim fit right on my car? and if so what should i be getting? 18" x 7.5/8/8.5

some advice would be greatly appreciated :)

Thanks!!

[fun2drive]

Your car is an E46 which means you can use any E46 rim. You can also use most E36 rims but I would not go less then 16 inch as your calipers are most likely too large to fit. If you go 18 inch wheels then you need the right offset which you can find out about by talking to the Tire Rack or if using an E46 rim it will be right. By E46 rim I mean a real BMW rim designed for your car. I think even the M3 E46 rims will fit just fine. Width of the rim is dependent upon the width of the tire. You are probably not going to want to go much wider then a 245 rear and 235 front on 17 inch tires. Going wider then that might require the fender lips to be rolled which I am sure you don't want to do.
My 245's are an 8 inch wide rim and are 17's.
Try calling the Tire Rack after looking over their site.
Last thing is to be careful which diameter rim and width you go with so that you don't exceed 5% of the normal stock diameter unless you wish to live with the speedometer bias this will create.
Hope this helps some...

[LmtdSlip]

Wrong. A 1999 convertible is an E36. Means you can use any E36 wheel and many E46 wheels.

Clearance for 19" wheels will be an issue especially in the rear. A 19" wheel on an E36 is really too much wheel anyway. I wouldn't go bigger than 17" if it were my car.

Unless you are going to buy some super expensive forged wheel an 18" or 19" wheel will weigh a LOT more than a 17" This increases unsprung weight combined with the narrower side wall will make for a very harsh ride.

[doulos4JC]

My 1999 328ic is an E36.

[motor_werke]

All 99 convertibles are e36's, since the switch over in model years for the sedans took place in 99, and the coupes and convertibles followed in 2000.

I also have an e36, and I bought a set of M3 rims (17") from a 98 M3. They look great.
fronts are 225/45's and rears are 245/40's. Great setup, definitly changes the handeling characteristics with the low profile tires, and of course it looks great.