E46 Wheels on a Z4MR

Felix79

Felix79

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 30, 2018
Points
55
Location
Hereford
Model of Z
Z4MR
As I am trying to find the type of Alpina wheels I like for my E85, I seem to constantly come up with most stuff no longer for sale etc.

I know the CSL wheels will fit, but I was wondering if the staggered 18" Alpina's the B3 3.3 used or the E90 B3 Twin Turbo would fit my Z4MR?

I'm not to smart when it comes to offsets and the voodoo involved with getting the right wheels. I think 18" wheels suit my tastes better than the 19" rims I've seen and I want to avoid rubbing or an even harsher ride. Everything is standard with my cars suspension, which I've not seen people talk about how different wheels fit, as most threads they have put different shocks and springs on the car.
 
Do you have the rim width, size, and offsets for the wheels you are looking at? If you can find them, there are various tools online for working out the difference between your standard wheels and the ones you want. Something like this... https://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator

But happy to run the numbers if you can find the rim specs ;)

Also need to make sure that the centre bore and PCD (stud spacing) are compatible (easy peasy isn't it!)
 
These are the Alpina wheels I would go for. They are the 18" staggered set the E46 used. I think they look a bit better with more tyre wall on them, which is why I'm not going for the 19"s

I can strip and rebuild computer servers, I can build up multi layered networks, but this stuff just gets muddled badly for me with my Dyslexia. Numbers and letters always get messed up.
 
I'm pretty certain they will fit, I'm sure I've seen Z3's and Z4's with "turbine" BBS's fitted. Great choice, I've always liked those wheels.
 
Those tolerances are too much right?

Also, should I not use spacers with wheels? Are there problems using them with my type of car?

Alpina use to do this style of wheel for the Z4, but I don't think anyone choose them and I can't find a set online anywhere. Should I call up Synter Nottingham and see if they can help me?
 
@GazHyde I think you may have the specs the wrong way round? The Alpina wheels have a much higher offset meaning the will sit further in the arches, plus the rears are 1/2" narrower so they will sit even further in. They would fit, but would need spacers.

5mm spacers would get them to the same fit as the standard Z4M alloys on the fronts
Screenshot (13).webp


Rears have 14mm less clearance on the inside and sit a further 26mm in than the standard Z4M alloys. These would probably need 30mm spacers to get them almost the same as the standard fit.
Screenshot (14).webp


You need to find some with a similar offset to the standard alloys and ideally a similar width and you won't need spacers. To fill the arches with any genuine wheels you will need some sort of spacer for them to sit flush. Look for a set with 8" fronts around 42 offset and 9" rears with 30 offset. Most M models take a lower offset wheel on the rear, standards are normally 40 upwards.
 
Thank you for checking up for me. I was in North Oxford garage today at the parts counter and the guy who was helping dad and me, was called Miles and he was actually old school like many of us. He's even got a E39 B10! He told me I should call Synter up and see if I can get a set of the discontinued C01's for mine. I think they were meant for the standard E85 models.

Would spacers of the size you're telling me about cause me problems? Or is it with extreme sizes that cause things to wear or break quickly?

I can get the E46 B3 Alpina wheels for around £850 with the caps, locks and keys 2nd hand on eBay. I think I'm going to have to make compromises with using spacers, but I want to stick to the 18" rims, as I think I would find the ride a bit too tough with 19" with how my back dislikes being jarred with bumps.
 
They did an Alpina Z4, @Nodzed has one, but I think his wheels are 19"? Maybe he has the specs from his as you would need similar. If you want 18's then most of the ones that fit the standard E85 will have a higher offset, but will fit. Spacers are completely safe, many of the members run them on their zeds. I don't think many go much more than 20mm although you can get bigger ones. You can get the bolt through ones which will mean getting longer bolts or ones that bolt to the hub and then the wheels bolt to these with the original bolts.

For example if you found a set with the same inch rears but an offset of 45, you would need a 15mm spacer to bring them to the same spec as the Z4M wheel. It would effectively bring the offset down to 30.

Have a look below which shows the ideal range you need to be looking for without using spacers

Screenshot (15).webp


The ones you were looking at above would need a 5mm spacer upfront and at least 25mm spacer at the rear for them to sit the same as the Z4M wheels. I would say you could get away with a 7mm or even 10mm spacer at the front and 30mm spacer at the rear for them to be bang on with the arches.
 
g8jka said:
@GazHyde I think you may have the specs the wrong way round?
Click to expand...
Haha, my bad tried to work it out in a rush before wok... well spotted sir :thumbsup:

I'll delete my post so as not to confuse.
 
g8jka said:
They did an Alpina Z4, @Nodzed has one, but I think his wheels are 19"? Maybe he has the specs from his as you would need similar. If you want 18's then most of the ones that fit the standard E85 will have a higher offset, but will fit. Spacers are completely safe, many of the members run them on their zeds. I don't think many go much more than 20mm although you can get bigger ones. You can get the bolt through ones which will mean getting longer bolts or ones that bolt to the hub and then the wheels bolt to these with the original bolts.

For example if you found a set with the same inch rears but an offset of 45, you would need a 15mm spacer to bring them to the same spec as the Z4M wheel. It would effectively bring the offset down to 30.

Have a look below which shows the ideal range you need to be looking for without using spacers

View attachment 93769

The ones you were looking at above would need a 5mm spacer upfront and at least 25mm spacer at the rear for them to sit the same as the Z4M wheels. I would say you could get away with a 7mm or even 10mm spacer at the front and 30mm spacer at the rear for them to be bang on with the arches.
Click to expand...
Hi

My Alpina has the staggered Dynamic wheels (most common on the Z4 Alpina) the Classics were an option (only these two types were available on the Z4) here's the figures for the Dynamics, I assume the spec was the same for the classic Alpina wheel. I am currently running 15mm spacers on the rear and 10mm on the front and it certainly improves the look IMHO

Fronts
8.5j x 19 ET 50
235/35/19 Tyres

Rears
9.5j X 19 ET 50
265/30/19 tyres

EDIT: These wheels will fit any E85/86 Z4


Niall
 
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So even the Alpina wheels for the Alpina Roadster were 19"s?

I'm really glad you guys have posted this, as it should help me get me a set of classic style Alpina's in the new year.
 
Felix79 said:
So even the Alpina wheels for the Alpina Roadster were 19"s?
Click to expand...

As far as I know this was the standard option, but given Alpina is a bespoke company that hand builds their BMW conversions I guess you could opt for different set ups, its probably just about how much you wanted to spend. The standard options were Dynamic or Classic 19" setup
 
To get the same setup as @Nodzed's I think you would need a 13mm spacer upfront and a 28mm spacer on the rears.

If you wanted the same look as the standard Alpina without spacing to make them fill the arches, you still would need a 3mm spacer upfront and a 13mm spacer on the rears, plus you are an inch less in diameter if you run 18's. This would push them in slightly further than the Z4M wheels also.
 
@Felix79 as you're not really that far from me you are welcome to pop over to the Glos Zedshed and try the wheels on your car to see how the setup would work with 19s. We could have them swapped over easily enough. (I'll lock the gates though :whistle:)
 
I was on the PH forums and was talking about wheels an E46 M3 had and I was telling another user about the wheels I love on BMW's.

One of my all time favourite wheel designs is the OZ Speedline's . I had over the years seen them on a few E30's, but was wondering if they could/would work with a black Z4M like mine?

If you don't know the wheel I am talking about...

Xt42GCC.jpg
, naturally they HAVE to be white, although I have seen chrome ones on a plum E30 320is (mega rare E30!).
 
I love these and think it can definitely work on a Z4 as long as the ride height is right and appropriate WRC aero addenda added :D

There are some updates variations of this theme by other manufacturers now - I think 3SDM and Bola do some?
 
Dino D said:
I love these and think it can definitely work on a Z4 as long as the ride height is right and appropriate WRC aero addenda added :D

There are some updates variations of this theme by other manufacturers now - I think 3SDM and Bola do some?
Click to expand...

I will have to take a look tomorrow and see if I can come across anything that fits the bill. Which size would you go for? Is it better to have an 18 or 19 inch rim?
 
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