Best way to get 20" style 214 wheels on X5 35d?

I have a 2010 X5 35d on order. It's mainly my wife's daily car, but also our shared long distance car too for trips and visiting family. Which means I get to drive it on the open road which I'm VERY excited about!!

Two questions I would love your collective expert opinions on...

1. I think the X5 looks great with the 214 wheels on it... But of course that wasn't an option when ordering the 35d. What's the best, most efficient way of adding them (and tires to fit) post delivery?

2. I ordered the Sport Package for its aesthetics, but did not get the Adaptive Drive/Sport Suspension (wife balked at the add'l $3,500). That in mind will the 214s still look good? I've seen them on some 30i's and w/o sport package and they look odd, riding a bit low. Is there a correlation between the height of the suspension and the wheels/tire look?

Thank you all in advance. This forum is a terrific resource!

1. Find a used set (here or on xoutpost or craigslist or something).
2. Adaptive drive does not change the ride height. There should be no difference in looks.

Originally Posted by jaaX3

1. Find a used set (here or on xoutpost or craigslist or something).
2. Adaptive drive does not change the ride height. There should be no difference in looks.

Thanks. Will I need new tires too? And will I need to re-calibrate anything as a result of the new size?

Originally Posted by jaaX3

1. Find a used set (here or on xoutpost or craigslist or something).
2. Adaptive drive does not change the ride height. There should be no difference in looks.

Also... Any value in doing it immediately upon arrival so I can trade in my current wheels/tires while they're new with no miles on them?

You will need new tires, and if you didn't opt for the spare tire on your order you will want them to be run flats. The tires for those wheels are staggered, so you will need 275/40-20's for the fronts and 315/35-20's for the rear. You can move your factory TPMS units from your factory wheels or buy new ones. You will also need a wheel well flare kit. I was looking at doing this to mine (when I get it) and it was going to be very expensive for factory wheels at more than $4k. There are aftermarket brands and refurbished OEM's on the market but I'm unsure of their quality.

Originally Posted by 2010X535D

You will need new tires, and if you didn't opt for the spare tire on your order you will want them to be run flats. The tires for those wheels are staggered, so you will need 275/40-20's for the fronts and 315/35-20's for the rear. You can move your factory TPMS units from your factory wheels or buy new ones. You will also need a wheel well flare kit. I was looking at doing this to mine (when I get it) and it was going to be very expensive for factory wheels at more than $4k. There are aftermarket brands and refurbished OEM's on the market but I'm unsure of their quality.

So if I do this through the dealership I'm looking at approximately $4k minus the value of my current tires and wheels?

I would expect the dealer to want more like $6k. Here are the links on Ebay I've been looking at:

Wheels:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...item1e58ca26f0

Wheel Caps:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-F...item255391ea68

Wheel Arches:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-B...item1e58cd8b97

Tires at DiscountTire.com:

Fronts - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...14745&sw=false

Rears - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...14745&sw=false

I've seen the new 19" sport wheels that come on the X5 35d on e-bay for $2000 so you might be able to make the difference closer to $2000 - $2500 depending on the new tires you choose.

I also think if you were willing to go with aftermarket wheels you could make it more like $500. Here is a link for a guy on Ebay who appears to really know OEM wheels and he offers an aftermarket one for a reasonable amount. I was thinking of going this route with matching wheel sizes so I could put the 275/40-20's all the way around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand...item1c05c3cdb9

I hope this helps.

Originally Posted by 2010X535D

I would expect the dealer to want more like $6k. Here are the links on Ebay I've been looking at:

Wheels:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E...item1e58ca26f0

Wheel Caps:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-F...item255391ea68

Wheel Arches:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-B...item1e58cd8b97

Tires at DiscountTire.com:

Fronts - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...14745&sw=false

Rears - http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/fin...14745&sw=false

I've seen the new 19" sport wheels that come on the X5 35d on e-bay for $2000 so you might be able to make the difference closer to $2000 - $2500 depending on the new tires you choose.

I also think if you were willing to go with aftermarket wheels you could make it more like $500. Here is a link for a guy on Ebay who appears to really know OEM wheels and he offers an aftermarket one for a reasonable amount. I was thinking of going this route with matching wheel sizes so I could put the 275/40-20's all the way around.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Brand...item1c05c3cdb9

I hope this helps.

Terrific info! Thank you.

Is this something you're considering too?

Yeah, I've been thinking a lot about this upgrade. I really like the way the wheels look on the vehicle. I'm saving my final judgment until after I take delivery of the car and see how the 19" sport wheels look in real life. I really didn't study them that closely before I ordered.

When do you take delivery?

I'm not sure the car went into production Oct. 23rd, but its been stuck with no status update for a couple of weeks. So I'm not sure. I'm hoping early December, but at this point its just a guess.

You would spend $4000 for wheels that are ONE INCH bigger, yet pass on adaptive drive? Wow. I drive an M5 and a 996 Turbo, and the handling of my X5 is impressive. While I haven;'t driven one without the adaptive drive, the ability of the X5 to settle in turns truly belies it's mass.... I can understand not wanting to spend $3500, period- but one wheels?!?!?

JMHO

A

You would spend $4000 for wheels that are ONE INCH bigger, yet pass on adaptive drive? Wow. I drive an M5 and a 996 Turbo, and the handling of my X5 is impressive. While I haven't extensively driven one without the adaptive drive, the ability of the X5 to settle in turns truly belies it's mass.... I can understand not wanting to spend $3500, period- but on wheels?!?!?

JMHO

A

I totally agree with you ARD.

It's an awkward situation for me to be in because our CA didn't highlight the new 2010 difference to us with the Sport Package until after my wife was sold on the X5. And at that point he downplayed to her the adaptive drive as unnecessary and expensive for her needs.

I wish I could go back. But I can't. The car is already in production.

With regards to the 214s... It's not the 1 inch per say, it's the overall design and look of them I like better. But at that price difference it probably isn't a very prudent decision. Certainly worth exploring though, thus this thread.

Originally Posted by TeX5d

The car is already in production.

Bummer.

Bide your time and you may pick up a take-off set of 20"s... DO be careful of cheap, heavy and untested knock off "OEMs" that show up on ebay. Find out the BMW part numbers for the wheels you want and insist on pictures of the part number from the wheel....

GL

A

My dealership is willing to give me new 214 wheels, arch kit, new front & rear tires, installation, labor, etc all in for $1,800 total for my X5 35d to be delivered next week.

There's another customer buying an X5 that has the 20" 214s on it but wants the standard 19" five spoke wheels. So it's a swap they're willing to make and only charge cost. Well at least that's their version of the story.

Seems like it would be just as much, probably more, if I went the route of Discount Tire and ebay...

Does that price seem reasonable?

Smoking deal. If you don't want them, I will buy them.

Originally Posted by 2010X535D

Smoking deal. If you don't want them, I will buy them.

Willing to drive to Salem, Oregon?

Nope. But I would be willing to cross ship them.

How necessary are the fender flares? Anyone with pictures of the 214s without flares?

Originally Posted by Pootz19

How necessary are the fender flares? Anyone with pictures of the 214s without flares?

Wondering the same thing...