Firstfives.org

I seem to have an issue running wheels on my M535i.

I do not wish to modify my fenders. Here's the issue I'm having:

The stock wheels work great. Super.

On my E28s, I've run the classic staggered setup of a 16x7 ET11 wheel in the front and a 16x8 ET24 wheel in the rear. I've run Alpinas, BBS RS and BBS RAs with no issues. Tires were 205/55/16 and 225/50/16 respectively.

On my E12, I get some pretty severe rubbing, particularly on the left rear with a 16x8 ET24 wheel in the rear. I've had a set of wheels redone for the car and am starting to think I cannot use them. 'tis a bummer. The left rear is more prone to rub because the rear of the car doesn't sit level due to a mis-matched shock absorber (Bilstein sport - PO's selected perch setting is too low relative to the stock Bilstein on the right rear). There are no issues on the trailing arm side. Simply a fender interference issue.

As a newcomer to E12s, I cannot quite figure out why it's the case. I've stared at the two cars side-to side (my 533i and M535i since they're the closest in height) and it appears as though there might actually be less room due to a slight change in the shape of the rear quarter - it appears to taper back, while the E28 is more how do you say, slab-sided. I thought I had seen the reason there.

The car is now sitting on a set of square 14" wheels I have (some sort of 2-piece Enkei meshy thing). It appears to me as though the rear track on the E12 is actually wider than the front. Of course, I'm more likely to believe there's some sort of issue with my particular car, but I'm not sure why. I've seen plenty of E12s with staggered Alpina wheels. What is the issue that I'm having that isn't present on those cars?!

I briefly considered that perhaps my car has the wrong rear brakes or something, but then I was reminded that the wheel fits on the hup properly and the wheel bolts hold the wheel on. I guess that goes out the window, unless there is actually something incorrect in the rear.

I have looked at the Wheel Offset FAQ. I found the Alpina wheels listed at the top, below the stock wheels. The author said that there is no interference provided "tie-down hoops" are removed. I have gone through the ETK and cannot find the aforementioned. What are they and could they actually help my issue.

I'm pretty confused and I want to do this correctly. I'm not opposed to just running the stock wheels, but if I can come up with a way to make my 16x7/8 wheels fit without modification, I'd be quite satisfied...on this issue at least. :sigh:

I'd appreciate any insight you might have. Thanks!

not sure if this will apply, but my 79 euro 635 is on
235/40/17 on 8.5x17 (et 13 iirc) front, any larger rubs on tight turns
255/40/17 on 10x17 (et25 iirc) rear, I plan to go up to 255/50/17 looks like they will fit.
I have rolled my fender lips under for clearance.
good luck
marc

Oh yeah,
I forgot to mention my 635 has e12 based suspension like you 533

Thanks for the reply, but the E24 is a totally different animal as far as wheel clearance. There's a lot more room.

Maybe more blabby than help. See COM May 2002, silver has Alpina wheels: Michelin Pilot 205/55/HR 16 front, 225/55/ HR 16 rear.

You are correct: My '79 euro 635 has the same wheels, tire sizes with more fender clearance obvious. Never crossed my mind there may be fitment problems, as the silly wheels appear on all sorts of Alpina 5 series photos.

Busted a rear tie down loop a long time ago. Still can't visualize how, but it did, so cut it off now, or later when you're welding the crack in the body.

Rolled the fenders, which worked until I rebuilt the rear shock assembly, installed new Bilstein HD's with Eibach lowering springs. The drat things don't like the two perch settings, or the springs get to the edge of floppy with the shock fully extended. Not catastrophic, I just don't haul around ramps on the edge of two wheels.

Thinking about doing it right with Sports, I noticed a tiny fender mark on the rear tires. Sure enough, wiping the rolled fender found some rubber on the inside surface. Again, nothing major, only a note saying the clearance isn't there. No hauling until it is.

Because the car isn't show room it's crossed my mind to ask about the NASCAR fender flair technique: stick a bat or proper diameter pipe between the tire and the fender. That or go back to the roller for another quarter inch.

As you can do the rear shocks yourself, I'd un Mickey Mouse the side to side
problem today, or next weekend. After that it will be your version of the above listed adventures.

Thanks for reply. I'm confused, but that's alright.

Any other ideas? Seriously.

and rolling the fenders is completely out of the question.

Yes. 100% out of the question. How do these wheels fit on other cars without rolling the fenders?

Chris, does the M535i have vented rear brakes? That might be the problem. I've got staggered 16X7-8 on mine with 225-50s all around and they seem to fit fine, much to my surprise I might add. I don't know the offset, but I pulled them off a E28 at a yard long ago. Japanese, not the more common ones FWIW.

Several other things come to mind, as you know, different brands/models of tires not only aren't the same size, but aren't even the same shape, so it might be the exact tire you're trying to run. Also to check for clearance, jack it up and pull the lower shock mount, it's then easy to run the wheel/tire up through it's arc without compressing the spring. And where does it hit in terms of the length of travel, right at full compression? If so put a small rubber spacer on top of the shock, I used an E23 lower radiator mount on my E28 to prevent rubbing under bumps with a heavy load. Just that 3/8 or maybe 1/2" was enough to stop it from hitting, although it did only happen under the most extreme conditions when it was probably bottoming out.

marc79euro645 wrote:not sure if this will apply, but my 79 euro 635 is on
235/40/17 on 8.5x17 (et 13 iirc) front, any larger rubs on tight turns
255/40/17 on 10x17 (et25 iirc) rear, I plan to go up to 255/50/17 looks like they will fit.
I have rolled my fender lips under for clearance.
good luck
marc

On my first e12 I have tried these setups:

Front - Alpina rims - 8.5x17 (et 12) - 235/45/17 - no problems
Front - Alpina rims - 8.5x17 (et 14) - 235/45/17 - no problems

Rear - Alpina rims - 9.5x17 (et 24) - 265/40/17 - no problems
Rear - Alpina rims - 10.0x17 (et 28 ) - 265/40/17 - no problems, but with 9 mm flange

As Marc wrote - I've also rolled the lips of my fenders - but only the lips.
I did it after using a winter setup (it was a gift) with 225/60/15 with et20 rims. The outer diameter of these tires is even bigger, compared to 235/45/17 or 265/40/17.

And, I think, 255/50/17 is too big tire even for e24

Alexander

Mike W. wrote:Chris, does the M535i have vented rear brakes? That might be the problem.

Mike, I think that e12 535i has solid 272x10 mm rear discs. Only the first e24 (e12 based 630, 633 and 635) have vented 272x19 mm rotors. And the hub for the vented rotors is shorter to correct the offset, so to use similar rims and tires, as for the solid rear rotors models.
Of course, everyone can customize his e12 rear brakes and upgrade to ventilated rotors - as I'm planning for my second (not everyday) e12.