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[arctic330i]

I have searched and have done all of my research so please don't call me lazy, I just do not have a proper ruler at the moment. I am having trouble estimating what size spacers I should get for my rear wheels (fronts I think I can handle). My friend had a ruler with just inches on it, after converting we kept getting anywhere from .5 inches to an inch, or 12mm-24mm. I just suck at measuring because I can't get the right angle to look at it from.

i have attached a few pics, 20mm just seems huge, I am in a 06 e90 330i with stock suspension (nonsport) and BMW oem 197 type wheels (the 328i coupe sport wheels)

So, what size spacers do you think by just looking at the pics?

Thanks so much guys! I appreciate anything

[CollinsE90]

just remember the wider the spacers the less comfortable of a drive

id go no bigger than 15mm

[I335]

If you're going to stay with those wheels and ride height I'd say 20's would work well for you, but it's just a guess...

[arctic330i]

Originally Posted by CollinsE90

just remember the wider the spacers the less comfortable of a drive

id go no bigger than 15mm

Well that sucks... My guess was 15mm, but then I got as high as 24mm. I know that must be wrong.

Originally Posted by I335

If you're going to stay with those wheels and ride height I'd say 20's would work well for you, but it's just a guess...

20's I bet would fill it nicely, I just hope the ride isn't as rough...

[I335]

I didn't realize that spacers degraded the ride - never heard that before. Can anyone elaborate on that a bit?

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by I335

I didn't realize that spacers degraded the ride - never heard that before. Can anyone elaborate on that a bit?

Never heard that either. I added 17.5 to my rear, no difference in ride quality, but a slight improvement in cornering.

He is like mine non sport, so no need to worry about rubbing, can go as out as he wants. On mine 20 would be flush with the top fender lip, so I went with 17.5.

I don't know how he came up with such a huge range. Use a construction 4' level, make sure the car is on a level ground, lean the level against the top fender surface, make sure the level is plumb (like mine, I don't think you will have problem with this even with the negative camber on the rear wheel), then measure the distance from the most outward rubber surface at the top of the wheel, to the inner edge of the level, you get the size of the spacer that will make the top of the wheel flush with the top of the fender. Choose a spacer up to that size.

What you mean you can't find a ruler with mm on it?

[CollinsE90]

let me rephrase that, it CAN affect but not often

their are a bunch of people on here who have successfully put that size spacer on their car without losing ride quality...

[PeteW84]

I wouldn't go any bigger than 15mm. Had 12mm rear on my old set up, and did not notice any changes in ride comfort. If you decide to go with spacers I highly recommend the RogueEngineering spacers.

[arctic330i]

Originally Posted by dtc100

Never heard that either. I added 17.5 to my rear, no difference in ride quality, but a slight improvement in cornering.

He is like mine non sport, so no need to worry about rubbing, can go as out as he wants. On mine 20 would be flush with the top fender lip, so I went with 17.5.

I don't know how he came up with such a huge range. Use a construction 4' level, make sure the car is on a level ground, lean the level against the top fender surface, make sure the level is plumb (like mine, I don't think you will have problem with this even with the negative camber on the rear wheel), then measure the distance from the most outward rubber surface at the top of the wheel, to the inner edge of the level, you get the size of the spacer that will make the top of the wheel flush with the top of the fender. Choose a spacer up to that size.

What you mean you can't find a ruler with mm on it?

Thanks for the great info! I will use it for sure when I get the right ruler. I was with my bud who had a dumbed down ruler with just inches on it.
And is it bad to be flush? Or was it personal opinion to go with the 17.5 for looks?

Originally Posted by Pete84

I wouldn't go any bigger than 15mm. Had 12mm rear on my old set up, and did not notice any changes in ride comfort. If you decide to go with spacers I highly recommend the RogueEngineering spacers.

Thanks, I will check them out!

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by Pete84

I wouldn't go any bigger than 15mm.

Why is that?

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by arctic330i

And is it bad to be flush? Or was it personal opinion to go with the 17.5 for looks?

I don't know if it is bad to be flush, above I asked Pete84 the question too.

But I read from the turnermotorsport instructions to be a little less than flush, so I did. I bought my 17.5 from them too because not every vendor had such size.

[JhnR]

adding spacers does not make the ride quality worse. makes the handling better in corners. more stability.

you can do more than 15mm if you want. you just have to put offsets with tires good together.

[michaelthepsycho]

Spacers shouldn't degrade ride quality. They just place more stress on the bolts. If you got the money, just sell the OEMs and buy a flush setup.

[SaviorSelf]

It puts extra stress on the wheel bearings also. I'm going to run spacers until I find a set up I like. I'm going to run 15 front and 20 rear. If you want the flush look go for the spacers you will be fine running them without any ill effects. Make sure you run quality spacers tho.

[nenadbogar]

im pretty sure 25mm back and 15mm front would look very good. my friend has 18mm in the back and its not enought at all.

ive put 15mm on e92 18" wheels and it looks cool but even there it could go more. on front ive put 10mm but i will reduce to 5mm since its too much. on the ride quality i would say no change

[remmib]

Those wheels has the same specs as the 162, and most people puts on 15 to 20mm on the rear with those.

[dtc100]

Originally Posted by michaelthepsycho

Spacers shouldn't degrade ride quality. They just place more stress on the bolts. If you got the money, just sell the OEMs and buy a flush setup.

With BMWs, the wheel sits on the hubcentric lip of the rotor, not on the bolts. Spacers made for BMW should have their own lips too. Since the lip can be as much as 11mm long, according to Turner, you should use spacers at least 12mm in size. Ten mm or less requires custom fitment so the weight is not on the bolts.

[rantexan]

I'm about to do 197s on an E90 as well. I want to add spacers...would 10mm front and 15mm in back work or do you all reccomend a different setup? I don't want rubbing, but want a more aggressive look...and I'm in an 07 non sport 335.
Thanks!!!

[rantexan]

Originally Posted by rantexan

I'm about to do 197s on an E90 as well. I want to add spacers...would 10mm front and 15mm in back work or do you all reccomend a different setup? I don't want rubbing, but want a more aggressive look...and I'm in an 07 non sport 335.
Thanks!!!

Maybe 15mm front and 20mm is better???

[notnow]

I ran 20mm front and 30mm :O rear spacers for 2 months when I had to run a set of back up wheels because of clearance issues. Felt completely normal to me.

[rantexan]

Originally Posted by wonton1017

I ran 20mm front and 30mm :O rear spacers for 2 months when I had to run a set of back up wheels because of clearance issues. Felt completely normal to me.

On the e90 - 197 wheel setup!?!

[///M3NACE]

20mm spacers would be best. To tell you some input I would not spacers on my e90 330i due to vibrations it may cause and more stress on bolts. I buy wheels that actually fit my car the way I want it. I run 19x9 et24 and 19x10 et24 and its lowered and 225 front and 265 rear setup.

Currently my winter setup is 189 and people always ask me why is it so sunken in. I tell them its my winters and these are stock off the sport package 335i wheels. They look funny on my car only on the rears since im flush in the rear and so sunken with the style 189.

18 vs 19s are a big different and want 18x10/11 setup in the rear with 275/285 tires.