E90/E91/E92/E93 OEM Spare Tire source

Also wanted to add props to the OP - this thread is a great resource.

FYI Bought the E60 spare tire kit from Bimmerzone $339 with free shipping, and the Bully spare cover from Amazon for ~ $11

My car is a 2011 335i Xdrive and will have 18" staggered wheels (M Sport)

Originally Posted by vpr80

man your guys are paranoid...how is any of this an issue if the back seat is not folded down? so what if it goes bouncing around he trunk in an accident? as long as the back seat is not folded down, i fail to see this as a problem

That's true, ASSUMING the back seat stays latched. Do you want to bet your life on that?

[QUOTE]Originally Posted by SGCoupe
I especially liked the spare wheel hammock in this thread.[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by RBinDC

A word of caution. If the spare tire is not properly secured it will become a missile hazard in an accident that rapidly decelerates the vehicle. From its appearance I don't think that hammock is safe. What you need to do is strap down the spare using very strong belts capable of withstanding high g forces.

Just my thoughts on this issue.

My comments were facetious regarding recent suggestions of having the spare suspended from the roof of the trunk and swinging as if in a hammock. I believe my idea shown below and posted more than a year ago is more sensible and secures the spare sufficiently. The cargo net is pulled tight over and under the spare with the hooks attached to the brackets at the rear of the trunk.

Originally Posted by RBinDC

That's true, ASSUMING the back seat stays latched. Do you want to bet your life on that?

Further to my earlier comment, after giving this a few more minutes of thought it occurred to me that storing a spare in the trunk is not different than carrying some other heavy, dense object. Surely BMW designed the back seat latches to hold in the event of a front end collision - didn't they? Has anyone seen any data to confirm this?

My owner's manual states that heavy cargo should be secured with heavy-duty straps using the four lashing eyes provided in the trunk area. Looks like BMW has thought out this issue.

Originally Posted by ervjohns

Also wanted to add props to the OP - this thread is a great resource.

FYI Bought the E60 spare tire kit from Bimmerzone $339 with free shipping, and the Bully spare cover from Amazon for ~ $11

My car is a 2011 335i Xdrive and will have 18" staggered wheels (M Sport)

Their website shows pictures of the spare installed on a 335 without sport suspension. Are you sure that spare fits with the sport suspension? I have a 335is.

Originally Posted by RBinDC

Further to my earlier comment, after giving this a few more minutes of thought it occurred to me that storing a spare in the trunk is not different than carrying some other heavy, dense object. Surely BMW designed the back seat latches to hold in the event of a front end collision - didn't they? Has anyone seen any data to confirm this?

My owner's manual states that heavy cargo should be secured with heavy-duty straps using the four lashing eyes provided in the trunk area. Looks like BMW has thought out this issue.

Unless the lashing eyes are not included in the trunk - BMW decided to de-content certain 'features', and for the 2010 models, there are only 2 lashing points in the trunk (at the rear).

I'm confident it is safe in the trunk unlatched.

I mean, show me a single report of a 3 Series owner being killed by a temporary spare tire going through the back of his head in an accident... it just doesn't happy boys.

- Mike

I now found a truly useful purpose for the cargo net in my Lexus - it works (with some modification).

Picked up my new 335i xDrive yesterday and noticed the cargo hooks (as someone else already observed) have been eliminated, leaving just the 2 loops below the trunk latch. Anybody figured out a good way of securing the spare with their 2010/2011?

Thanks

My car has all 4 hooks and I used to use the cargo net. I switched to a ratcheting tie down like pksbmw in post #368. It freed up my cargo net and a lot of trunk floor space. That tie down was the best $4 I've spent on the car. (Thanks pksbmw!)

Originally Posted by ervjohns

Picked up my new 335i xDrive yesterday and noticed the cargo hooks (as someone else already observed) have been eliminated, leaving just the 2 loops below the trunk latch. Anybody figured out a good way of securing the spare with their 2010/2011?

Thanks

I use a cargo net that was left over from a 2003 Yukon Denali that I used to own. The cargo net has hooks that attach to the rear attachment points. The cargo net secures the spare tire nicely and I use a length of 2x4 as a spacer to allow the trunk lid to close with the tire secured by the Denali's cargo net. The primary issue of the tire moving forward during heavy braking is avoided by the cargo net holding everything in place. Rearward shift is avoided by the 2x4 spacer. Side-to-side shift seems to be avoided by the molded forms in the floor of the trunk.

I've gone with a Pontiac GTO 2004 - 2007 Spare tire and used a 1 1/4" 5x120 wheel hub extension + 5/16" Spacer as an alternate setup. It works so far and I've used it at 60mph. I also have the GTO Jack Kit although I take the pieces out and store them next to the spare tire as seen in the attached pictures. I went with 2004 - 2007 GTO Spare because they are EXACTLY the same overall tire diameter as factor BMW 18" 225/40R18 and they use the 5 x 120mm pattern. The GTO Spare tire is a 145/70R17 which comes out to 25" in total diameter the same as the 225/40R18 front and 255/35R18 rear tires.

BMW 335I 18" Front Wheels - Rear come out to the same diameter
225*0.4=90/25.4=3.54"
3.54*2= 7.08" +18"= 25.08" diameter

spare tire size: 145/70/17
145*0.7=101.5/25.4=3.99"
3.99*2=7.99"+17"=24.99." diameter

25.4 is the mm -> inch conversion

The total cost was as follows:
GTO Spare on Ebay - $50 + shipping
GTO Jack Kit on Ebay - $15 + Shipping
1 1/4" thick 5 x 120 Wheel Adaptor on Ebay - $30 + Shipping
5/16" thick Universal Spacer Ebay $5

My total cost is ~ $140

I'm in no way saying the Tischer option isn't a great choice. It's the sure way to go and you won't go wrong. I'm happy with my option although it takes a little effort to buy the pieces individually. The wheel is somewhat cantilevered out, but I don't think it's a big issue given how secure you can "Wrench" the adapter down and when using the spare I drove more cautious. I did check to verify no shifts, movement or balance issues and felt the car handled fine (Given it's a "Donut" spare).

When I first got the GTO Spare I was HOPING it would work without the adapter and maybe just a spacer, but the wheels offset was not good enough to clear the BMW 335i Sport Package front brakes so I had to start "Adapting".

Oriental330i's initial research is definitely the safer more accepted way to go, but the GTO Spare / Adapter / Spacer at 60 mph seems to work for me. When using it on the back tire the 5/16" spacer is NOT required only the 1 1/4" adapter as the rear brake calipers are smaller and the 1 1/4" adapter/GTO Spare tire clear.

I also store the tire front side DOWN in my trunk which is a convertible and the Spare Tire fits easily. I cover the tire with a sheet so I can put stuff inside the tire "donut" hole area picking up a little more storable space with the jack off to the right pinned down by the tire/straps. Also the sheet works good to spread out on the ground when changing. I will attach a pile of pictures. I keep a 17mm and 19mm socket with an 18" 3/4" drive wrench next to the jack/spare tire. I use 1 long strap as seen in the pictures crossing it to secure the tire/jack/wrench with the adapter in the front right corner pinned under the tire/jack. I like this setup because I do pick up a small amount of storage in the center of the tire.

Another option for those of you that are cheap like me......

Todd

i wouldnt recommend using the GTO wheel. the bmw spare is hubcentric, meaning that the spare's centerbore accurately centers the wheel on the hub. the bmw centerbore is 72.6; the GTO centerbore is 69.5. the spacer probably masks that. you're also pushing the hub of the spare out by more than 1.5", which can put quite a bit of stress on the lugs.

Or another option which is what I did.

A) Buy a FULL size spare in the classifieds. Got a brand new wheel and tire that the previous guy also used as a spare for $160. The only drawback here is that the wheel is 7.5" wide instead of the 4" for the spare; but honestly, at this point, it's irrelevant since both take up a ton of space in the trunk. Used a ratcheting tie down to secure it to the top of the trunk like some of the others posted in this thread. Not too horrible, but still take up a ton of space.
B) Bought a heavy duty scissor jack from Walmart for $24 and a good wrench off amazon for like $16. Both fit under the trunk floor.

So total cost was just over $200 for everything and I have a full size spare that I can drive on at any speed for any distance. It might not look pretty (wheel design doesn't match), but it will work great if needed.

After consulting with 2 guys whom I trust (Porsche 911 owners / amateur racers who've owned more 911's then I've owned bicycles), they assured me they use the 1 ¼” Hub Adapters/Extension blocks on their cars when racing them to widen the tires to ¼” or less from the fenders. They run ultra stiff suspension and have not seen any flex or distortion let alone fatigue from the Hub Adapters. They don’t even see tire rub on the finders. Given the incredible loads they put them under and the limited load mine will see I’m more comfortable with my option now then when I posted the other day.

Also, the Hub Adapter I’m using is 73mm center bore so it is “true” on it’s mounting and because it’s a 5 x 120 pattern I’m pretty sure the tire mounts up “true” to the adapter. I did take care when installing the tire to insure the bolts were put on in a way to “center” it up.

This is the internet and only 1 guy’s opinion, but when I installed the tire/rim rotated it with no visual imbalance and after consulting with my 911 friends at the office I’m more confident in this solution as a short term spare.

Again I would never argue with the Tischer Spare Tire Option, but I think this is acceptable and rock solid plus a lot less expensive.

Originally Posted by ervjohns

Picked up my new 335i xDrive yesterday and noticed the cargo hooks (as someone else already observed) have been eliminated, leaving just the 2 loops below the trunk latch. Anybody figured out a good way of securing the spare with their 2010/2011?

Thanks

Go to the dealer like I did, spend $100 and have the front latches installed. Or you can do it yourself. The tapped holes are there behind the trim and the hardware itself is about $10. The only challenge is making the cut outs look professional.

Originally Posted by onodon

Go to the dealer like I did, spend $100 and have the front latches installed. Or you can do it yourself. The tapped holes are there behind the trim and the hardware itself is about $10. The only challenge is making the cut outs look professional.

are you 'effing kidding me....i was complaining about this in another post. they took out two hooks that cost $10 out of a $50K car....nice going BMW, what a way to piss off a customer!

i retrofitted the hooks in my 2010. i was doing the alpine upgrade at the same time-- easiest way to cut the lining for the hooks is to mark the center of the bolt then trace around the plastic piece and cut.

Originally Posted by vpr80

are you 'effing kidding me....i was complaining about this in another post. they took out two hooks that cost $10 out of a $50K car....nice going BMW, what a way to piss off a customer!

Agreed.

Originally Posted by vpr80

are you 'effing kidding me....i was complaining about this in another post. they took out two hooks that cost $10 out of a $50K car....nice going BMW, what a way to piss off a customer!

10 bucks from every car made adds up....welcome to mass-produced, bean counter car manufacturing.

Look I get it, manufacturing is not cheap and costs are rising, BUT! 1) The day that the bean-counters take over manufacturing and design is the day the company might as well close it's doors. 2) I find it even worse considering that those hooks were there on previous years and were REMOVED for 2010 onward. So let's see, MSRP climbs steadily every year, but contents of the car go down. I must be missing something in this logic.

Has anyone verified or seen themselves if the kit from Tischer,

http://www.trademotion.com/partlocat...catalogid=4462

Fits under our trunk floor into the empty spare tire compartment for those of us with 328i's?

unless your trunk is different than mine (335xi), I only had small pcokets in there for the jack and tools....not even close for a wheel

Originally Posted by vpr80

unless your trunk is different than mine (335xi), I only had small pockets in there for the jack and tools....not even close for a wheel

our trunks are different, you have a different exhaust. 328s have a huge spare compartment. but i dont know if its big enough for this kit. i dont think that it is but was curious if anyone had tried.

in that case you can just check it yourself....the diameter and circumference of the spare and your current wheels is the same. drop one of your wheels in there and see how it fits, or just measure it. the spare is like 4.5" wide but otherwise the same size.