BMW wheels on a 2nd gen

[Jeremy]

I got my wheels and tires installed and thought I would share some pics.

I made a custom center cap and it works great. I started with a cap from Armour All tire foam. It is the right diameter and has a tensioning rib on the inside. I cut it down to the right height and the Rondell center cap snapped right in. I covered the exterior of the plastic cap with brushed aluminum shelf paper of all things. It is actually an aluminum foil so it should wear reasonably since the car is garage kept. Everything snaps right in and is tight enough that it is not going to come off by driving, although I may put a little bead of silicone on the inside of the cap to make sure.

[44too]

lookin good. how does it ride though? any vibration issues?

[Jeremy]

I've only had it up to 50, but no problems. I torqued everything in slow, small steps with the tires off the ground. I suspect I won't have any problems, but I will get centering rings made down the road. Longer studs on the rear are first priority for piece of mind.

[larknut]

Let's see a close up of those center caps.

[Jeremy]

Here are closeups of the front and rear wheels.

[wayne70]

Hi Jermey those wheels look real good on your car,center caps are a great idea! I have put about 10,000 miles on my chevelle with bemer wheels and not a single problem. I have run it up to about 125 mph. with no vibration. Of course it was a closed track LOL.

[Damn True]

Looks good.

What are the dimensions of the wheels?

[jake72ss]

Wayne 70,
I sure would like to see some pics of your chevelle, with maybe some close up shots of the wheels.
I have thought of using BMW wheels but haven't seen another chevelle with them.
It would definately be appreciated.

[Jeremy]

My wheels are 17 x 8.5 with 13 mm offset (5.25 BS) with 275/40/17 tires front and rear. No problems so far and no rubbing, not even on the sway bar.

The wheel exchange has them in 17 x 8 or 10 inch as wheel. I think they had the same style in 18 inch as well. Customer service and shipping was top notch.

[Damn True]

How much?

[formula]

daddy like....daddy like a looooot. Great look! I've missed seeing you and your car around the boards...

What are you gonna do with your old wheels? hold on to them?

[Jeremy]

The firehawk rims are currently up for sale and are tenatively sold.

The 96 ws6 wheels have been sandblasted for refinishing. I haven't decided if I will try to sell them stripped and ready for paint/powdercoat, refinish them and try to sell for a higher price, or go for what will probably get top dollar and polish them. I should have them up for sale in a couple of months. If someone wanted them for a second gen, I could make a deal for the VB&P adaptors and all parts needed to make them work.

[Jeremy]

I got a chance to get on the highway today and everything is very smooth. No hints of vibration at all. I checked the lugs after about 20 miles and no signs of loosening either.

[79TransAm]

that looks soo hot man, does the place you got em from have a website? I am trying to get that style wheels for my 79. I'm looking at the Boze pro touring wheels right now. My cars going through a full resto starting with suspension then drivetrain then interior then engine then wheels and exterior. gonna be a while cars completly apart. :( Also is your car lowered at all or no? I'm just trying to figure out what bs and offset id need to fit a 275/40R17 front and rear with the front dropped 2" and the rear 1-1/2" with the hotchkis suspension kit.

[Jeremy]

The website is thewheelexchange.com. I was very pleased with their service and I don't think that you will find a better price for that style of wheel. They have a 10 inch wheel in the style as well. I almost thought about trying to get them to fit front and rear. The rear would not be a problem, but I am not a fan of staggered wheel widths.

They also have 18 x 8.5 and 18 x 10 in the same style.

[79TransAm]

nice i did find they're site, but it came up with different models of bmw's, which one did you go with? do you think i could fit the same wheels you did with the drop? did you have to take out your front inner fenders wells? those your stock brakes too? I'm looking at going with a baer brake kit and i wonder if it will fit under these. The other wheels i was looking at was the American Racing Razor in chrome its 17x9 6"bs and 24mm offset. These are decently cheap $940/set, I might go with these as my street wheels, and the bmw or boze wheels as my track wheels.

[Jeremy]

When you click on wheels search by manufacturer and look at Rondell. It should bring up the 58. On the BMW's look at wheels for the 5 series and up.

Mine fit quite well with factory wheel houses. Mine is lower than stock due to spring sag. There is no rubbing on anything. The wheels are light for a one piece wheel as well.

[amargari]

Very nice. I really like those rims. Something different from the TTs. Thanks for the information.

[Randy67]

One question I have is what style of lug nut does the wheel use? Is it the bulge acorn style? I have 1/2" long studs on my car and wondering if there is a lug nut that will work with that wheel and the studs I have. Thanks
Randy

[Jeremy]

I used the bulge as it gets a lot more contact with the taper than a traditional acorn. Most of the parts store lugs should have a chrome cap that should punch right off letting the long studs pass through.

[Randy67]

Thanks for the info, it helps alot. BTW, the wheels look great on your car.

[PT_79_TA_461]

ok, am i to underdtand that BMW wheels fit on sec gen f-bodys with no pob?

[instro84]

i curious about firment also. they bolt on the 4 3/4 with not probs?

[Jeremy]

No problems to this point. If you use a bulge seat lug nut, you get full contact on the taper. The .65 mm difference between the BMW pattern and the GM pattern has not been noticeable.

The 13 mm offset is perfect and the rims fit nicely in the wheel well.

[instro84]

anyone ever try them on a gbody?

[wayne70]

if the G body's have a 4"3/4 bolt pattern they should work fine.

[Randy67]

The only thing is the backspace (5.25") may be too much for a G-body, you will need to measure to be sure. I used to have a 79 elky and a 4.75" backspace wheel was close to the frame, so check before you buy.

[vaquero]

Hmm... You do have exellent taste....I picked mine from a M5 from a scrapyard, about 150$ for the set of 8,5x17 with 245/45-17 tires on them.

[Randy67]

Just to add some more info about these wheels, I checked with the wheel exchange about caliper to spoke clearance. From the wheel mounting surface, the deepest part of the spoke has 3/4" clearance. Unfortunately, my C5 front brakes need that much pretty much to the rim. So it appears they won't work on c5 brakes without at least a 1/2" spacer (or more). Hmm, I may take a chance on them yet, :hammer:

[gordonquixote]

I've seen tons of BMW wheels on ebay while looking for wheels for my '71 Camaro. Now I know they work...nice ride.

[Mr.VENGEANCE]

and you can check other wheels that have the BMW bolt pattern.