gorillamunch

Still trying to figure this one out ... it seems that the 2008 US Spec 535xi sedan w/ sports package comes with style 124 rims, 18 x 8 up front (ET43) and 18 x 9 (ET55) out back. However, the 2008 US Spec 535xi touring w/ sports package comes with style 124 rims, 18 x 8 (ET43) all round.

Is there a reason for this? Is there possibly something about the xi touring (self leveling suspension gear maybe) that will not accomodate the 9" rims? I used the offset calculator from http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp (thanks ExGMan) and it says these rims will have 25mm LESS inner clearance. If this rubs, would a spacer do the trick or is it just too tight?

In the same vein does anyone know whether the 19 x 9.5 M3 CSL rims (the VB3's to be specific) will fit the back end of a 535xiT? They are ET45, so accordig to the offset calculator they will have 21mm less inner cleance and stick out an extra 17mm. Again, would a spacer this?

Any help would be appreciated as I really want to put 275s on my '08 535xiT MSport, which I am picking up tomorrow! Thanks

KAF

Long story and covered here beofre in depth, might find more info via the seacrh option.

But my understanding of the situation in a nutshell is, BMW have to get TUV in Germany for all cars produced, this included the wheel set up.

It is an expensive and drawn out procedure and they did not do so for the E61 with a staggered set up, so it is not offered as an option.

There is however no reason why the staggered wheel set up cannot be used and a number of members have used the sedan set up on the tourer.

The high priest of wheels is member 'Olli_535d'

His knowledge is extensive and if you have any lingering doubts a pm to him should allay them.

C's Bimmer

Oh boy....another xi member with wheel questions. JK! You can do staggered rears if you want on the touring. However, BMW uses the same size at all 4 corners with the touring only. There's a member on here that actually did the same, 19" wheels I have, on his xi touring (note that I have the sedan, but it's the same set-up except for the rear suspension). I can't remember who it is, but I helped him with his purchase last year. It worked out perfectly!

If you have questions, feel free to PM me. If you do a few searches on xi wheels, you will see MANY posts from me over the last 2 years. I did EXTENSIVE research on wheels, offsets, what works, what doesn't on our model cars. I've helped pretty much most of the xi members on this forum, so feel free to ask away.

zoink

Just curious.... do you know any negative impacts to the x-drive having staggered wheels?

I've been researching also for my E61 535xi and got some conflicting information on staggering the wheels - some say it's OK... some say it's not OK.

But it seems most of them say that I could upgrade to 19" no problem....

So I may be able to use yours as another data point.

C's Bimmer

It's fine. When someone says it's not, ask them this question...

"If it's not OK, how come the X5 4.8i Sport w/ the optional 20" wheels, comes with a staggered set-up of 275 in the front and 305 in the rear?"

gorillamunch

Cmansbimmer, you are wise and knowledgable, and I agree that the staggerred setup is not an issue for the x drive (I had a 330xi MSport which came with the staggered setup). What I am having trouble resolving is the inner clearance for the rear 535xiT.

As you know, BMW USA (I'm in Vancouver) specs the style 124 rim in a 9" width (ET55) for the 535xi. However, they do not for the 535xiT. Also realoem.com indicates that the only acceptable 8" rims are ET43 adn that no 9: rims are acceptable. The offset calculator tells me that if I put the 124 rims on the 535xiT it will reduce the inner clearance by 25mm, and that the 9.5" CSL/VB3 rims will reduce it by 21mm.

I did see that HUK put the M3 CSL rims from Velocity Motoring on his 530xiT, but he put the 8.5" all round ... I haven't seen anyone on this board or bimmerfest (believe me I've looked) who has installed the 9.5" VB3s on their wagon ... I would be glad to be corrected on this as I am concerned that if I order a set of staggered VB3s the rears won't fit ....

The 2008 5 series manual (USA) states that the load rating on the 275s for the 535xi is 95, which is higher than the 93 spec'd for the 535xiT, so that can't be an issue. I am worried that there is something particular to the North American version of the wagon (the combination of x drive and self-leveling suspension pehaps) that makes BMWNA not spec anything bigger than 8" for the rear of the wagon ...

I'm picking up my 535xiT MSport this week so I will measure the inner clearance from the 18x8 style 135 it comes with and see how much room there actually is. Cheers,

C's Bimmer

Wow. You've obviously done your homework. Let me run some numbers and see what I come up with. I could have sworn that a member with a 530xiT has staggered in 19's. Will get back to you.

C's Bimmer

OK...I remember who the member is. It's Jed Peter. I just shot him an IM and asked him to reply to this thread.

Here is his car:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=...mp;#entry415506

I think his wheels are staggered, but I'm not positive. Come to think of it, I don't think they are, but let's see what he says when he replies.

He may also have some insight into why it won't work. You guys should have just gotten the sedans. This would make it so much easier on our brains!

Jed Peter

No staggered...just 40ET offset wheels.

BTW: The Rials are crap. Cheap crap.

BlaSTiWi

I think I've seen somewhere you can not go staggered setup due to some sort of Touring rear suspension specific, the thing I'm not so sure if it's related to the US-xi Touring here or the regular Euro-i Touring. As cmansbimmer mentioned about the X5 setup it's probably not being xi specific limitation.