BMW 5 Series Wheel Swap: Which Rollers Will Fit?

Your BMW can take on a whole new look with different wheels, provided that the offset is right.

There is a myriad of ways to give your BMW 5 Series a unique look, but the easiest addition is a new set of wheels. The problem with swapping to unique wheels is that not every wheel will fit on the car without rubbing. That leads many people to come to the forum to ask if a specific set of wheels if they will fit on their BMW.

Fortunately, 5Series.net forum member “JayArras” put together a quick post explaining the key numbers in figuring out whether a certain set of wheels will safely bolt up to your BMW sedan.

BMW Wheel Fitment Introduction

When the OP shared his information with the forum, he provided a concise explanation of wheel offset, which is the biggest obstacle in applying aftermarket wheels to your BMW 5 Series, or any other vehicle.

“I often see questions on the forum from people who are wondering if the particular wheels that they have will fit on their car. A major source of confusion is offset, commonly referred to as “ET”. Hopefully, the following explanation will help clarify this topic.

-The smaller the offset number, the more the wheels will stick out. Conversely, the larger the number, the more they will be more tucked in.

-The ET offset numbers are in millimeters (mms), so going from say, ET34 to ET44 will tuck the wheel in 10 mms (about 0.4″) or from ET44 to ET34 they will push them out about 10mms.

-Rims with too low an offset can cause troubles with the outside edge of the tire rubbing on the fender or wheel well. Rims with too high an offset can cause troubles with the inside edge of the tire rubbing on the suspension or wheel well.

-In the example above, 1/2″ shouldn’t matter much, but it does get a little tricky if the tire used is also wider than the old setup.

-Wheels with too high an offset can be fixed with spacers. Wheels with too low an offset are SOL — you have to roll the fenders to keep them from rubbing.

Hopefully that helps! Two sites where you can find useful information concerning the differences between two sets of wheels are:

–https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/
–https://www.willtheyfit.com/”

Other Things to Consider

If you are buying aftermarket wheels or take-offs from some other model BMW, offset is the key obstacle, but it is not the only number you to check. You need to make sure that the bolt pattern of the wheel matches the bolt pattern on your car. If you are going to a markedly larger wheel, you will want to make sure that the package fits inside the fender.

Finally, depending on local laws, you will need to make sure that the wheels don’t extend too far outside of the body. That can be dangerous and it is illegal in some places.

If you have any questions about wheel fitment for your BMW 5 Series, click here to ask in the thread.

Images: BMW Media

Join the 5Series forums now!

Patrick Rall

"Before I was old enough to walk, my dad was taking me to various types of racing events, from local drag racing to the Daytona 500," says Patrick Rall, a lifetime automotive expert, diehard Dodge fan, and respected auto journalist for over 10 years. "He owned a repair shop and had a variety of performance cars when I was young, but by the time I was 16, he was ready to build me my first drag car – a 1983 Dodge Mirada that ran low 12s. I spent 10 years traveling around the country, racing with my dad by my side. While we live in different areas of the country, my dad still drag races at 80 years old in the car that he built when I was 16 while I race other vehicles, including my 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat and my 1972 Dodge Demon 340.

"Although I went to college for accounting, my time in my dad’s shop growing up allowed me the knowledge to spend time working as a mechanic before getting my accounting degree, at which point I worked in the office of a dealership group. While I was working in the accounting world, I continued racing and taking pictures of cars at the track. Over time, I began showing off those pictures online and that led to my writing.

"Ten years ago, I left the accounting world to become a full-time automotive writer and I am living proof that if you love what you do, you will never “work” a day in your life," adds Rall, who has clocked in time as an auto mechanic, longtime drag racer and now automotive journalist who contributes to nearly a dozen popular auto websites dedicated to fellow enthusiasts.

"I love covering the automotive industry and everything involved with the job. I was fortunate to turn my love of the automotive world into a hobby that led to an exciting career, with my past of working as a mechanic and as an accountant in the automotive world provides me with a unique perspective of the industry.

"My experience drag racing for more than 20 years coupled with a newfound interest in road racing over the past decade allows me to push performance cars to their limit, while my role as a horse stable manager gives me vast experience towing and hauling with all of the newest trucks on the market today.

"Being based on Detroit," says Rall, "I never miss the North American International Auto Show, the Woodward Dream Cruise and Roadkill Nights, along with spending plenty of time raising hell on Detroit's Woodward Avenue with the best muscle car crowd in the world.

Rall can be contacted at QuickMirada@Yahoo.com