I'm looking at purchasing a 2005 545i automatic, without the sport package (which comes with the 18 inch runflats (styling 124)) ... I find the ride with the sport suspenion too hard ... But I don't like the standard 17x7.5 wheels (styling 116) that the car comes factory with. Can I use the 17x7.5 as my winter tires and rims and purchase the 18 inch runflats (tires and wheels - styling 124) without having to make any changes to the car? (speed-o, etc) ... thanks in advance for your help ...

Welcome canada545!!

Yes you can....and sounds like a nice setup to me... :thumbsup:

It may be the run flats that cause the hard ride. You might want to buy the sport package, sell the run-flats and replace them with some non-run flats that have a better ride. I'm sure if 17's or 16's with the same ride height were installed the ride would be a lot softer.

Yah the 16s in look gooffy (ask me i own them :D ) but the ride is very confortable

Everything that I have read says the 18 inch runflats are NOT good in snow, so I know I will need to get winters anyhow, and 17 inch winters most likely will cost less and be better on the bad winter roads (pot-holes, etc) ... does anyone know if you can order your 545 with straight winter tires so all I would have to do is order 18 inch straight summer tires and rims and I'll be covered

I think alot of the ride harshness comes from the low profile RFT. I've checked out tirerack.com and read a few reviews about people replacing the dunlop RFT's take a good look before you jump.

There was a review of the M5 in a UK magazine (Autocar) a couple of weeks ago and they said that after the standard E60 on 16" rims which doesn't have RFT the M5 has the best ride, tellingly the M5 doesn't have RFT. I pick my car up next week and will be fitting new non RFT tyres almost immediately.

Thanks ... the 545 in Canada comes standard with 17 inch tires, I just think the non-sport rims don't look good at all ... the only accessory BMW rims I'm seeing from BMW that I like are 18 inch rims, but they are for RFT only ... I'll have to continue looking ... does anyone know where us Canadian's can look to see what's available in 17 or 18 inch which is not a RFT?

Thanks ... the 545 in Canada comes standard with 17 inch tires, I just think the non-sport rims don't look good at all ... the only accessory BMW rims I'm seeing from BMW that I like are 18 inch rims, but they are for RFT only ... I'll have to continue looking ... does anyone know where us Canadian's can look to see what's available in 17 or 18 inch which is not a RFT?
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someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but despite the accessories catalog describing the style 124 rims as coming w/ runflats, you can use the 124 rims with standard tires as well. Do a search on this forum, there have been several folks who, bothered by the noise of the runflats, have switched to regular tires on the style 124 rims. Buy the 124's and pick a good tire for your warmer weather driving.

Thanks ... the 545 in Canada comes standard with 17 inch tires, I just think the non-sport rims don't look good at all ... the only accessory BMW rims I'm seeing from BMW that I like are 18 inch rims, but they are for RFT only ... I'll have to continue looking ... does anyone know where us Canadian's can look to see what's available in 17 or 18 inch which is not a RFT?
[/quote]

someone will correct me if I'm wrong, but despite the accessories catalog describing the style 124 rims as coming w/ runflats, you can use the 124 rims with standard tires as well. Do a search on this forum, there have been several folks who, bothered by the noise of the runflats, have switched to regular tires on the style 124 rims. Buy the 124's and pick a good tire for your warmer weather driving.
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I will, thanks ... btw, will the compact spare work with 17 and 18 rims?