View Full Version : 18's? Too small?
As per the title... I'm eagre to get onto the modding route but have this thing about modified cars on standard rims... therefore i'm stuck until i upgrade the rims.. I can afford to get the rims now but if i upgrade to 19" i will need to buy new tyres as well (unfortunatly the 19" BBS CH's from my Audi woudn't fit).
So, if i just replace my MV's with another set of 18" alloys (keeping my existing tyres) would they look too small? Am i better of waiting a couple of months for the 19" ones.....
Oh, and also what offset do i need to completely fill the arches? I'm happy to get them rolled if need be just want them completly filled :) .....
Cheers
Ade
MistaSmiff
15-06-2005, 08:46 PM
Ade, I'm definately feelin ya on this. I 've seen a few cars running different 18" rims but they looked smaller than the MV's. Personally I would save for 19" mate.
h4pry
15-06-2005, 09:06 PM
go for 19's mate. The E46 looks so damn right with them on it.... Like you I have standard MV's as per my sig however new rims are deffo on my list....
lee330sport
15-06-2005, 09:52 PM
I dunno really, also depends on the ride height of the car. If your running really low and have 18's they can look ok as they fill out the arches. Im getting some 18" volk (hopefully) so ill see what they look like.
Whats wrong with the ones you got lee :eek:?...sheeesh you women :p. Keep buying new shoes.
evil_elmo
16-06-2005, 12:57 AM
Whats wrong with the ones you got lee :eek:?...sheeesh you women :p. Keep buying new shoes.
i'm sorry but LOL!!!
anyways 19" or bigger i say :)
Har5ha
16-06-2005, 01:04 AM
I have 18s..and looked really small so I lowered the car..so it looks ok now!
Before anyone asked me to post pics...my camera is broken..and the car wasn't lowered at HIN!
I did want to get 19s..but was a bit worried about the ride quality after..so went with the safe option!
19s def look nicer...but more expensive!! Good luck making ur decision...I pondered what to get for ages..but got CH 18s eventually (found a good deal so helped me make up my mind)
lee330sport
16-06-2005, 06:23 AM
Whats wrong with the ones you got lee :eek:?...sheeesh you women :p. Keep buying new shoes.
Im keeping the iforge, 18's will have semi slick yoko's on. And they weigh next to nothing.:D
It really depends bud. I have 18s but that is because like you I wanted to just transfer my tyres, also, I prefer the ride quality of 18s and they are better for handling ;) .
You can see from my sig, my car is not lowered, and everyone who has seen them have said they look slick and in keeping with out being OTT. Also, as you will know from already owning your BBSs, they will always fill the arches due to the aggressive offset.
Good luck with your choice.
Chaos
16-06-2005, 07:34 AM
You know, I'm not down with all this 18-19 handling stuff. I've driven both, back to back, and I'll almost guarantee that 99% of people couldn't tell the difference and certainly not unless they took it to a track and really pushed the envelope. If you're a bit concerned about it and not bothered about the small difference between the look of 18s or 19s then sure, like Harsha, head for the safe option. But personally I wouldn't use that as a reason not to go 19s specifically, especially if it's the look you're after, it just doesn't hold water with me. Just my opinion.
19s will fill out the wheel arch much better. Lowering it will make an 18 look bigger (optical illusion, but works quite well) but a 19 always fills out the wheel arch front-to-back aswell as top-to-bottom. Difficult to explain it simply, but basically a lowered ride on 18s will look good, a lowered ride on 19s looks perfect. If it were me, I'd hold for the 19s and make sure you don't end up thinking "I wish I'd got those now..".
kris d
16-06-2005, 08:01 AM
My car had 19inch Breyton Magic's on when I got it. I changed them for 18inch Schnitzer 3's and personally I felt a lot of difference. The car feels lighter, you get the feeling of a quicker pull away, and yes definately less bumpy.
The Breyton's were wider and larger than the ACS3's, and in my oppinion there is quite a lot of difference between the two wheels in the feel of the ride. With the spacers and Eibach kit, the 18's look good IMO.
Im keeping the iforge, 18's will have semi slick yoko's on. And they weigh next to nothing.:D
:eek: :eek: You are taking it to the next level dude :cool: . How much you reckon itll improve your 1/4 mile with smaller/lighter rims?
lee330sport
16-06-2005, 12:41 PM
:eek: :eek: You are taking it to the next level dude :cool: . How much you reckon itll improve your 1/4 mile with smaller/lighter rims?
No idea. Really stuggling with grip at the minute so hope these will improve it.
h4pry
16-06-2005, 02:15 PM
Pic of 18's below with the Eiback pro kit. Still looks too small IMO.
19's look just right and as Peppernick says "form over function" :D
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/H4PRY/bmwl3.jpg
330ciSport
16-06-2005, 05:09 PM
Pic of 18's below with the Eiback pro kit.
You sure?
It might just be me (and I'm not calling you a liar as its probably your own car) but that looks like 18's with standard sport springs. Every one that I've seen (including my own) sits much lower than that. On that photo you could get three fingers under the arches. On mine, I struggle to get two fingers in but then again, I've always been popular with the wummin' ;)
peppernick
16-06-2005, 05:18 PM
Depending on which alloys. Certain 18" can look large for the size, especially those with spokes that extent all the way to the edge. On my old 330, I've had 2 sets of 18"s, both are reknown for looking larger than they are, especially when slammed with coilovers :D
BBS CH 18X8.5 all round
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/4364birds.JPG
ACS Type 3
h4pry
16-06-2005, 06:05 PM
You sure?
It might just be me (and I'm not calling you a liar as its probably your own car) but that looks like 18's with standard sport springs. Every one that I've seen (including my own) sits much lower than that. On that photo you could get three fingers under the arches. On mine, I struggle to get two fingers in but then again, I've always been popular with the wummin' ;)
Quite sure...
Not saying that you don't know what you talking about either... ;)
This was my car before the eibachs were fitted.
http://hometown.aol.co.uk/H4PRY/myhomepage/bmw325ci.jpg
As per this thread: http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=963&page=3&pp=10&highlight=eibach
Bugger! Just as i convinced myself that it has to be 19's Nick goes and post those pics. IMO they both look fine but the Q is - Will they still look that good with just an Eibach lowering kit and we're you using spacers when those pics were taken?
I really don't want to go the coilover route just yet......
Cheers
Ade
Quite sure...
Not saying that you don't know what you talking about either... ;)
This was my car before the eibachs were fitted.
As per this thread: http://sankeys.demon.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=963&page=3&pp=10&highlight=eibach
Blimey! :eek: Did you do much off roading back then LOL :D ... I can see what your saying but i have to agree with 330ciSport as mine in standard form looks more like yours is with the eibach kit on. I guess the Sport models are already lower as standard.....
Ade
h4pry
16-06-2005, 06:19 PM
The camber of the road makes that picture quite extreme.... :D
Car doesn't look much like that anymore :cool:
The picture of the front wheel was 1 day after the springs were fitted so they had not totally settled, however I would say that it did not really drop much more....
peppernick
16-06-2005, 06:24 PM
but the Q is - Will they still look that good with just an Eibach lowering kit and we're you using spacers when those pics were taken?
I really don't want to go the coilover route just yet......
Cheers
Ade
Hope this will help you decide ;) 18" BBS CH on Eibach Sportline springs with stock Sport shocks.
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/4364Dcp_0217.jpg
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/4364Dcp_0220.jpg
Depending on offset, you do not have to always use spacers. The BBS CH are offsetted at ET35mm, you don't need spacers. The ACS Type3 are ET44mm, they come with 7mm spacers to bring the wheels out to ET37mm, so will look better with spacers.
:D :D ....you sure you're happy with 18"s?...... :D :D Have you seen them in 19"s? :cool: :cool:
Yep, your right.. The 18's do look fab but the 19's are the bee's knee's. I had 19's on my S3 which was a smaller car so deep down i knew it woiuld have to be the 19's. The pics have just confirmed it... Guess i'm gonna have to wait for a month or so :(
Thanks for your help guys,
Ade
MistaSmiff
16-06-2005, 06:41 PM
18" + Sportsline = :)
19" + Sportsline = :eek:
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