Are Wheel spacers a safety compromise?
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My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
running 12.5mm Turner Motorsport (TMS) spacers all around since I picked up my m3 (about 4 months now). No vibrations or noise or problems. I like the design of the TMS spacers as they have small notches around the edge where you can insert a flat head screw driver or pry tool if/when you need/want to remove the spacers. Other brands do not have this, leaving you solely to rely on anti seize (need to apply during installation) and/or some serious elbow grease.
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Joined: Jan 2008
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From: So. Cal (SFV)
My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
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My Ride: 04 525i sport, premium, winter, xenon. xm satellite radio, navwithtv dvd system, 1 jl 10w7 sub powered by xtant 1001x amp. 20x8.5/10 on nitto nt555 rubber. acs roof and decklid spoiler, breyton front spoiler.
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My Ride: Mach5 05' 530i Black Sapphire Metallic w/Auburn Leather Seats, Heated Front/Rear Seats, Cold Weather Pkg, Premium Pkg, Sports Pkg, Xenon Headlights, NAV, Mud Flaps, 20" 166 Style Rims
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Senior Members
Joined: Aug 2004
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From: long island, ny
My Ride: 04 525i sport, premium, winter, xenon. xm satellite radio, navwithtv dvd system, 1 jl 10w7 sub powered by xtant 1001x amp. 20x8.5/10 on nitto nt555 rubber. acs roof and decklid spoiler, breyton front spoiler.
No standard wheel locks will not fit on BMW. Someone may make long bolt locks, but ice personally never seen them before.
The spacers decrease the offset.
For example, if you have a 9" wide wheel with an offset of 20mm (ET20), and you install it with a 15mm spacer, the total offset will be 5 (ET5). The spacer pushes the wheel more out from the wheel well.
The smaller the offset (ET number), the more wheel is pushed out.
- Antti -
That's negative.
The spacers decrease the offset.
For example, if you have a 9" wide wheel with an offset of 20mm (ET20), and you install it with a 15mm spacer, the total offset will be 5 (ET5). The spacer pushes the wheel more out from the wheel well.
The smaller the offset (ET number), the more wheel is pushed out.
- Antti -
The spacers decrease the offset.
For example, if you have a 9" wide wheel with an offset of 20mm (ET20), and you install it with a 15mm spacer, the total offset will be 5 (ET5). The spacer pushes the wheel more out from the wheel well.
The smaller the offset (ET number), the more wheel is pushed out.
- Antti -


