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[Mike D.]

I'm considering getting OEM style 230 wheels for my 335i xDrive, but I am concerned about numerous reports of cracking rims, especially in the rear. Is this really a common problem, or a half-dozen isolated incidents? Are there people who live in places with poor roads who have NOT had this issue? Or would getting 19s commit me to a life of replacing cracked rims? I'm in Washtenaw County, MI, home of roads that wouldn't look out of place in Kabul.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Mike,

I am a very careful driver. I avoid potholes like the plague. Still on a road trip in the US driving 13,303 KM (some 8,266 Miles) I suffered 2 cracked rear wheels on my sDRIVE Z4 35i just some 4 weeks back now. I think it has to do with the combination of RFT and the 19 inch wheel (my wheels are the 296 type).

I say this since I drove a M3 fro 4 years also with 19 inch wheels and standard tires.

Did you Google "UK Watchdog cracked 19 inch wheels" you should then read all about it

Good Luck

PS. My RFT will go into the dump as soon as the tread wear calls for it.

[catch]

Im an extremely careful driver when it comes to potholes and crappy roads and I as well cracked BOTH of my rear 230s last summer

[bubbahead]

I have gone over the worst potholes...rims are still good from what i see! 230's RFT

[alloy]

I have 230/19's and Conti DWS (got rid of the rft's) on my 08 E93. I've had them on for over 5,000 miles now and Love them. There was so much body shake with the rft's running over road joints and expansion strips, I thought my vert was going to fall apart. When I hit the unavoidable pothole, the front suspension would sound like it was torn from the body of the car.
No cracking yet. She has 37,000 miles on her.

[02themax]

I think you're worrying too much, there are thousands of these rims on the road without any problems. This forum has such a small % of 335 drivers and you're going to hear about the complaints more often than not.

[IN54NITY]

Originally Posted by 02themax

I think you're worrying too much, there are thousands of these rims on the road without any problems. This forum has such a small % of 335 drivers and you're going to hear about the complaints more often than not.

The flip side of this argument is that some of these 335 (e9x) drivers, since they aren't on e90post.com or bimmerpost.com, may not be so "enthusiastic", and therefore aren't aware and won't check the ~insides~ of their rear rims, where most of the cracks are found. Granted this means their dealer/tire service company missed seeing the cracks too.

[IN54NITY]

Mike (OP), having grown up in Ann Arbor (Pioneer '85) I would stay away from 230s with RFTs. The safety trade-off between RFT vs wheel cracking with RFT is a shame. I presume you have a winter wheel/tire setup. Whatever you do, DON'T ride them in winter on A^2's roads! Good luck.

[Mike D.]

Originally Posted by aleckzandr

Mike (OP), having grown up in Ann Arbor (Pioneer '85) I would stay away from 230s with RFTs. The safety trade-off between RFT vs wheel cracking with RFT is a shame. I presume you have a winter wheel/tire setup. Whatever you do, DON'T ride them in winter on A^2's roads! Good luck.

I'll keep my stock 17s for the Winter. If I were to get 19s, I'd avoid RFTs and keep a spare in the trunk. In the grand scheme of things, I can't get too worried about 50 lbs of extra weight. Besides, it will balance out the weight distribution of my xDrive. Incidentally, we have a Mini with 18s and RFTs and a pothole destroyed a rim--a piece a few inches across just broke right off. The tire was fine!