Two winter tire/wheel questions

[jkp1187]

I noticed on Tire Rack, when you indicate that you wish to purchase a winter tire + wheel package, there are no plan ordinary black steel wheels available as an option.

It may be boring, but I'd rather have plain steel wheels for winter tires rather than alloys just b/c I think they're lower maintenance, and I see no reason to waste wheels that are slightly decent-looking on winter duty. (And since I plan on going with summer tires/sport package and live in Pittsburgh, winter tires will be a necessity.)

Are there no steel wheels available that match the bolt pattern/offset of the 1 series?

Also: what is the consensus for winter wheel size for the 1-series -- 16" or 17"?

Discuss. :)

[jsc]

I noticed on Tire Rack, when you indicate that you wish to purchase a winter tire + wheel package, there are no plan ordinary black steel wheels available as an option.

It may be boring, but I'd rather have plain steel wheels for winter tires rather than alloys just b/c I think they're lower maintenance, and I see no reason to waste wheels that are slightly decent-looking on winter duty. (And since I plan on going with summer tires/sport package and live in Pittsburgh, winter tires will be a necessity.)

Are there no steel wheels available that match the bolt pattern/offset of the 1 series?

Also: what is the consensus for winter wheel size for the 1-series -- 16" or 17"?

Discuss. :)
17" steel wheels are very difficult to find, whereas 16" steels are readily available to fit any BMW that can take a 16" wheel. In the case of a 1-series, that would be the 128i, the 135i requires a 17" wheel to clear the brakes.

[jkp1187]

Am I correct in assuming that the bolt pattern and whatnot for the 1-series will be the same for a 3-series?

[jsc]

Am I correct in assuming that the bolt pattern and whatnot for the 1-series will be the same for a 3-series?
The 1-series actually uses the same bolt pattern as most BMW cars (5x120), but the offsets are similar to the E46 3-series, not the E90 3-series. For a 215/45-17 or 225/45-17 tyre on a 8" rim, the correct offset would be 47mm (compared with 34mm for the same wheel on an E90).

[Tom K.]

17" steel wheels are very difficult to find, whereas 16" steels are readily available to fit any BMW that can take a 16" wheel. In the case of a 1-series, that would be the 128i, the 135i requires a 17" wheel to clear the brakes.

For some reason, Tire Rack stopped listing the 16" BMW steel wheels for the E46 a few years ago, although they do have some other relatively inexpensive wheels. I bought a set of the steel wheels (which are stamped "BMW") from them 9 years ago and IIRC, they were $50 each + about $10 for each hubcap. Perhaps the OP can find them thru his BMW dealer.

Tom