SP 17" wheels on 325i stock suspension?

[dorkus]

hi all,
i'm wondering if there would be any problem if i fitted my stock 325i (16" wheels, no sport package) with the 17" rims/tires from a SP-equipped 325i or a 330i... are the wheel offsets, weight loading, or other factors going to be a problem? do i need the sport suspension to use the sport wheels?

thanks,
dorkus

[HW]

i wouldn't think so. should be fine to do.

[dorkus]

i wouldn't think so. should be fine to do.

cool, thanks. :thumbup: i think i'll start scrounging around for people unloading their 330i/SP rims, and maybe upgrade to a ZHP sway bar to reduce body roll, but leave the rest of my 325i suspension stock to soak up the pot holes in Jersey. hopefully this will still yield balanced ride and handling.

[kyfdx]

hi all,
i'm wondering if there would be any problem if i fitted my stock 325i (16" wheels, no sport package) with the 17" rims/tires from a SP-equipped 325i or a 330i... are the wheel offsets, weight loading, or other factors going to be a problem? do i need the sport suspension to use the sport wheels?

thanks,
dorkus

It is a perfect fit, no adjustments necessary.. Style 44s off a 325i sport are the cheapest. Style 96s look good also.. both are 17 X 8 and take 225/45-17.

If you go with 330i, you can get the 17 X 7 stock wheels (not so great looking) or the M68s off the sport package (my personal favorite). M68s are staggered 17 X 7.5 front, 17 X 8.5 rear. 225/45-17 and 245/40-17 tires.

The only thing... Your car won't look exactly like the ones that have the sport package... Sport package cars are slightly lower.. Even though the 17" wheel/tires have the same overall diameter, the lower profile tire causes an optical illusion that there is more space between the wheel well and the tire. It still should look better than 16", though.

[dorkus]

The only thing... Your car won't look exactly like the ones that have the sport package... Sport package cars are slightly lower.. Even though the 17" wheel/tires have the same overall diameter, the lower profile tire causes an optical illusion that there is more space between the wheel well and the tire. It still should look better than 16", though.

thanks for the info. that brings up something else i was meaning to ask...

how much lower is the sport suspension? is it a full inch? i know the ZHP lowers an additional .6" vs. the 330i/sport suspension, and the xi's run an inch higher all around. does that mean an xi with a sport suspension is probably about the same ride height as a stock 325i? i know the lowering of ride height is as big a factor (if not bigger) to the look of the car as the type of wheels, but i've seen 330xi's that look good with 17" rims so i'm hoping i can get a similar effect on my 325i w/o the SP (which i may still get around to installing later on).

cheers,
dorkus

[kyfdx]

thanks for the info. that brings up something else i was meaning to ask...

how much lower is the sport suspension? is it a full inch? i know the ZHP lowers an additional .6" vs. the 330i/sport suspension, and the xi's run an inch higher all around. does that mean an xi with a sport suspension is probably about the same ride height as a stock 325i? i know the lowering of ride height is as big a factor (if not bigger) to the look of the car as the type of wheels, but i've seen 330xi's that look good with 17" rims so i'm hoping i can get a similar effect on my 325i w/o the SP (which i may still get around to installing later on).

cheers,
dorkus

I don't think xi gets a sport suspension with the sport package.. same clearance. If you don't mind the look of the xi, then you probably won't have any problem with the way yours looks with the 17". It is a pretty subtle distinction, and someone that isn't familiar with the sport package probably wouldn't notice it at all.

[BLACK ACS S3]

I am selling 17" bmw X5 rims with toyo tires. They were on my e36 and they look great. No one has these on their e36 except me :D

[dorkus]

I don't think xi gets a sport suspension with the sport package.. same clearance. If you don't mind the look of the xi, then you probably won't have any problem with the way yours looks with the 17". It is a pretty subtle distinction, and someone that isn't familiar with the sport package probably wouldn't notice it at all.

thanks, good to know... i coulda sworn i saw some xi's that had sport wheels and seemed lower than stock, but maybe it was an optical illusion...

another silly question... if i change from stock to (lower) sport springs, i will definitely need to get the corresponding shocks too right? i would imagine they have to be matched.

i'm debating what should be my first move... 17" wheels, spring/shock swap, stiffer sway, or some combination of those (funds permitting). at first i thought i wanted the more compliant ride of the stock suspension but i'm finding as it breaks in it's actually getting on the soft side, and there's a bit more body roll than i would like in corners. maybe just stiffer sways and 17" rims would do the trick, but i think the car rides a little on the high side as well. i should have never ridden in my friend's ZHP, or i shoulda just taken his advice and gotten the sport package to begin with... :rolleyes: