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[DakarDude]

I've just bought an approved used 330i SE saloon/sedan. I'm really liking it, its my first 6 cylinder Bimmer and its even better than I was expecting.

One thing is bugging me though - and I think its the weight of the OEM 162 wheels. The feel through the steering seems like the wheels have a much stronger centrifugal effect, and even though the suspension soaks up road bump really well so I dont feel them in my seat, I do get the feeling (and its just a feeling) through the steering or the seat that the suspension is having to work hard to stop the wheels at the top of their travel.

So, can anyone suggest rims I could replace the 162s which match these requirements:

- Still need to be 18s, the roads in the part of the UK I live are pretty rough, I want more rubber than you get on 19s
- Lighter than the 162s, which wont be hard to accomplish, they are over 30 pounds a corner right?
- Can take Run Flats. I dont feel comfortable with no spare and relying on a patch up kit. My car is 2005 so it doesn't have TPMS, it senses flats by rotation speed.

To give you guys an idea of the rims I really like the style of, they are all 10 spoke, straight spoke style, but they all have problems:

- VMR V701 (not in 18s, difficult to get in the UK)
- Volks CE28N (difficult to get in 114mm stud layout in the UK)
- Advan RS-D (next to impossible to get in the UK)

I would be grateful of any suggestions,

Thanks in advance, Andy

[MassBimmer]

VMR V701's will likely be coming in 18" this summer...Advans would win IMO out of that group

[DakarDude]

Vividracing.co.uk seem to have the CE28N in BMW stud fitment at a reasonable price. Does anyone know if you can or cannot fit RFTs to these rims?

[MassBimmer]

Depends if you're going to be running all-season or summer tires...RFT's don't come in all-season applications in 18"+, only summer applications

[DakarDude]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

Depends if you're going to be running all-season or summer tires...RFT's don't come in all-season applications in 18"+, only summer applications

It would be Summer tyres. I don't know anyone that lives in the south of England that has 2 sets of wheels and swaps them when it gets cold. Our winters are usually only below 0C overnight, and are either overcast or raining during the day. The current really bad snow and frost is a rarity (it's only happened twice in my lifetime).

[edit]
And those 3 rims are not the only ones I like the style of, they are just my favourites. The combo of 10 spoke & the concave look the V701s have are probably perfect. But I generally like any straight spoke wheel that has 7 or more spokes. Oz Superturismo style would be too much thought (are they 16 spokes?). So between 7 and 14, let's say, with 10 as optimal.