Wheel spacers

[Alan W]

Been looking at all styles of staggered wheels, both oem and a multitude of aftermarket ones, but whichever way it's gonna cost a few hundred quid for refurbing 2nd hand plus cost of new tyres... or biting the bullet and getting new carlos fandango rims and rubber all round.. but my own personal feelings are that my style 64s really go with the style and era of the car... but the only thing l don't like is the way they don't fill the facelift rear arches very well (width-wise). So l'm starting to think that some 25mm/1" spacers could be the way to go and eBay is awash with them. I was advised not to get the ones that bolt on to the hub but what l need to know is the name of the best makes.. l found one set of black ones that were about £70 but don't want to buy them on the basis that the higher priced ones must be the best.. l just want the best ones for safety's sake.. any recommendations anyone?

 

[Antm72]

I have ran a 20mm set to the rear of my zed for 7 months only removing as i have changed the wheels.
They are the extended bolt type and hubcentric as long as they are tourqued correctly they haven't caused me any issues.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Spacers are CNC machined steel discs so can't see how an expensive set can be better than a lower priced set. They don't do anything other than sit between the wheel and the hub so they can't wear out.
If you have access to a machine shop at work you could make your own. The difference between a high cost set and a cheaper set can be a coat of paint.

 

[5harp3y]

Buy steel ones.
Dont worry about bolt on or extended bolt versions.
i ran bolt on spacers on my 200bhp mk1 golf for 2 years with ZERO issues.

check the BMW buying groups on facebook, ive seen some recently for £25-30

 

[abh29]

I would consider the quality of the longer bolts is the major factor.

 

[t-tony]

I've used hub-centric alloy ones for 2 years, on 2 different cars with no problems whatsoever. Only thing I did was to increase the wheel bolt torque figure by 10nm (as per Autodata programme at work).

Tony.

 

[Jack Ratt]

Spacers are held in compression so as long as they are metal and as long as the load is uniformly distributed, ie the wheel nuts are torqued to the same value it shouldn't matter what metal they are made from.
Aluminium alloy is used to make industrial hydraulic jack bodies so aluminium spacers will be fine on your car

 

[Grumps]

I have 20mm hub centric ones on the rears. Extended bolt type, I've had no issues at all and they've been on a year or so now. Touqued them up twice since just to check but never had a loose bolt. Paid £40 off eBay.