I'm Thinking New Wheels...

[All2kool]

...but cannot decide. My tires are too new to replace so I'm sticking with 16". Opinions welcomed and invited (these are styling choices only).

http://home.comcast.net/~igotoxs/1995BMW/Wheels11.jpg

[Rimell]

None, all im saying is CSL

[bimmerbarbie]

Sell the new 16s tires and get 17s or 18s, you'll be happier in the long run. Out of those four, I like option A the best.

[foremiilk]

go with contours

[MrAbbs325is]

Your rims are your personal preference. As far as rim size goes, dont get 16's you will regret it.

[Black Isis]

Agreed why buy sub-standard rims that are permanent because of a factor that is consumable

[All2kool]

Your rims are your personal preference. As far as rim size goes, dont get 16's you will regret it.

You may be right. I may go with 17" but I think 18" is too big. The pics above are depicted with 16". My tires are still new, can't see not using them.

[MrAbbs325is]

I have 17's and I am happy with them (comfy ride with being lowered also with bilsteins sports). 18's you are fine, but your going to need a lower profile tire obviously and ultimately sacrificing your smooth ride. I dont know what kind of struts you have, but if you replace them anytime soon dont get stock. The ridability is all personal pref. also. So ultimately its all up to you.

[bimmerbarbie]

What, was my post invisible? Sell them.

[bboyvek]

I have 17's and I am happy with them (comfy ride with being lowered also with bilsteins sports). 18's you are fine, but your going to need a lower profile tire obviously and ultimately sacrificing your smooth ride. I dont know what kind of struts you have, but if you replace them anytime soon dont get stock. The ridability is all personal pref. also. So ultimately its all up to you.

+1

17s ftw :thumbup:

[E36youngster]

I agree that 17s look better but why would he regret having 16s? I think option A is the best

[vortex_tuning]

17s for the perfect balance. And 18s for that extra show factor.

[Jim Spence]

I love my 16s. They don't break me when I buy good tires, they look good, they handle incredibly well and they ride great.

You can get BMW wheels that look a lot like example A:

[Fast Bob]

Hold out for 17s....

[All2kool]

Hold out for 17s....

Just can't justify in my mind buying new wheels AND tires. The tires I have on now are new and not cheap Falkens or Rikens. Days before I bought the car the new owner had new BFG g-Force Super Sports put on the front and the back already has nearly new Goodyear Eagle HP's.

Furthermore, the more I think about it the more I begin to like the OEM Wheels as they are MINT. Now if somebody wanted to buy the OEM's for $400 to offset the cost.....

[bmwboss]

I prefer 17's like almost all the above said, but 16's aren't bad. I like the two on the right the best because the mesh style is my favorite on e36's. Other than the bottom left they are all good looking wheels from what you can tell in those pictures. My vote is the ones on the right but in black.

[bimmerblack]

Just can't justify in my mind buying new wheels AND tires. The tires I have on now are new and not cheap Falkens or Rikens. Days before I bought the car the new owner had new BFG g-Force Super Sports put on the front and the back already has nearly new Goodyear Eagle HP's.

Furthermore, the more I think about it the more I begin to like the OEM Wheels as they are MINT. Now if somebody wanted to buy the OEM's for $400 to offset the cost.....

Falken makes plenty of good performing long wearing tires. This isn't open to much argument less you compare them to pilot sports. But that's not even a comparsion.

Then don't buy new wheels. Wear out this set of tires and while your doing that start putting aside a little money here and there and be shopping around on a 17" wheel and tire upgrade. By the time you have the cash you'll more than know what you've decided on and pull the trigger and get you that set of 17's or 18's. You change your 16's to another set of 16's and aesthetically you'll basically still have the same car. It won't change your handling much if at all either. Save and upgrade. :)

[E36 Phantom]

What's so complicated about selling the tires you have now? Sell off the tires, sell off the rims.

If you just feel like you have to get 16s, go with the ones Jim has, they're the best looking 16s for E36s. But 17s would look much better in several styles.

[foremiilk]

relooking back at the pic i do like the 3rd one with the 5 spoke wheels.

[E36 Phantom]

Hey, interesting thought: I just saw a Lexus RX300 and noticed the wheels were almost identical to Jim's - down to almost every detail.

I wonder what the bolt pattern and offset is....I'm sure you could get used ones of those for super cheap. Hmmmm......