Ordering a 335xi Sedan. Time to Think About Wheels.

optimistic · 01-09-2009, 08:59 AM

Hey everyone -

(I know this topic gets lots of action in other threads (that I read frequently), but not so much with the x-drive and no-drop details, so I'll throw this out there anyway.)

I'm about to order a 335i X-Drive Sedan / Monaco Blue / Saddle Brown / 6MT / Navigation / Premium / Sport / Cold Weather / Logic 7 / HD Radio / Comfort Access / Sunshades / Park Distance Control / Ipod. Very excited to go from my E92 coupe into this car.

Being in the Boston area, I'm opting for the 17s with all-seasons. (I don't plan to tune, so I'm not too troubled by the lack of an oil cooler.)

I'm not a big mods guy, but I hate the 17s that come on the 335xi w/ ZSP, so now I need to figure out wheels/tires. . . . I think I'll keep the 17s with all seasons til it warms up. Then I'm thinking of 18s or 19s with summer tires. Maybe V710s.

The only thing is that I don't want to drop the car or mod the suspension. Do you guys think that will look silly? (I recognize it won't look as slick as most of the dropped cars, but I'm ok with that -- I just don't want it to look off.)

Any insights / guidance / love you guys can share would be a big help!

Thanks!

borisivan · 01-09-2009, 09:41 AM

I recommend dedicated snows for the winter.

YOU WILL have better traction/stopping/etc with the snows instead of all seasons.

Can you get by throughout the winter with an xi and all-seasons? Yes. But not as well.

Disclosure: I have a 335xi. Dedicated snows in winter, performance in summer.

Best of luck!

Deda · 01-09-2009, 04:49 PM

i always use winter tyres for winter even i have x drive!

Gary@TireRack · 01-12-2009, 09:48 AM

Agreed. Xdrive gives you a great advantage in getting going, but has no advantage in braking over rear wheel drive models. Snow tires make a big difference, even on all-wheel drive cars.

BMWAutoXer · 01-12-2009, 06:36 PM

Do not drive in snowy climates without winter tires - all wheel drive does not help you turn, stop, or stay in a straight line at speeds on the freeway (long time Subaru owner). I personally prefer winter sport M3s from Gary, but any snow tire will be a huge help over the all seasons/summers that come on any car.

mmm def · 01-12-2009, 06:44 PM

+1 for snows. Get a dedicated summer and winter set and you'll be happy as a clam!!!

optimistic · 01-12-2009, 06:53 PM

Thanks everyone! So I'm definitely sold on 2 sets of wheels/tires. . . . now, I'll be running a x-drive sedan and I don't want to mod the suspension at all. Think 19s with the 4x4 gap will look funny?

I'm wide open to summer rim suggestions if anyone wants to toss out ideas to complement my searching.

optimistic · 01-13-2009, 08:55 AM

Ok. . . some I'm thinking about LC dynas, Z2s or Z20s. Or V710s.

meyergru · 01-14-2009, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gosox

Thanks everyone! So I'm definitely sold on 2 sets of wheels/tires. . . . now, I'll be running a x-drive sedan and I don't want to mod the suspension at all. Think 19s with the 4x4 gap will look funny?

I'm wide open to summer rim suggestions if anyone wants to toss out ideas to complement my searching.

I'd suggest to use tires one size larger than stock to fill the gaps if you are not going to lower it. I did that with 225/45 R18 and 255/40 R18, but that should work as well with 225/40 R19 and 255/35 R19.

See this thread or this one.

danniexi · 01-14-2009, 12:57 PM

1. Take the all-season tires off the car. Sell them, and purchase winter tires. Slap the winter tires on the 17"s you have now. 1 set complete.

2. As for 19"s, it shouldn't look THAT bad with the xdrive. I believe the gap on the 09' sedans aren't as bad as the previous generation of xi cars (08') so you might luck out. Get a set of 19" (dedicated summer wheels/tires). If the gap really bothers you, purchase springs or better yet, coilovers. Job done!

optimistic · 01-14-2009, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danniexi

1. Take the all-season tires off the car. Sell them, and purchase winter tires. Slap the winter tires on the 17"s you have now. 1 set complete.

2. As for 19"s, it shouldn't look THAT bad with the xdrive. I believe the gap on the 09' sedans aren't as bad as the previous generation of xi cars (08') so you might luck out. Get a set of 19" (dedicated summer wheels/tires). If the gap really bothers you, purchase springs or better yet, coilovers. Job done!

Thanks. This is the plan, except I probably won't sell the original RFTs -- I'll hold onto them and put them back on right before my lease ends. (If I were an owner, I'd no doubt sell them.)

yamazaho · 01-14-2009, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gosox

The only thing is that I don't want to drop the car or mod the suspension. Do you guys think that will look silly? (I recognize it won't look as slick as most of the dropped cars, but I'm ok with that -- I just don't want it to look off.)

To be honest, if you are not going to do suspension with X-drive then don't bother getting wheels. For all the X-drive I have seen so far (since 06), the car WILL look weird with just wheels. Sure you can get 19s or 20s and attempt to fill the gap, but then your car will be like half way in the air.

But again, that's just me. The most important thing is you do what you like.

Firefly6 · 01-14-2009, 10:54 PM

Dropping it also means more scraping at angled driveways - and in Boston - you'd probably want a little more clearance over frozen slush and ice.

01-09-2009, 08:59 AM	#1
optimistic Private First Class 5 Rep 136 Posts Drives: '07 E92 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Ordering a 335xi Sedan. Time to Think About Wheels. Hey everyone - (I know this topic gets lots of action in other threads (that I read frequently), but not so much with the x-drive and no-drop details, so I'll throw this out there anyway.) I'm about to order a 335i X-Drive Sedan / Monaco Blue / Saddle Brown / 6MT / Navigation / Premium / Sport / Cold Weather / Logic 7 / HD Radio / Comfort Access / Sunshades / Park Distance Control / Ipod. Very excited to go from my E92 coupe into this car. Being in the Boston area, I'm opting for the 17s with all-seasons. (I don't plan to tune, so I'm not too troubled by the lack of an oil cooler.) I'm not a big mods guy, but I hate the 17s that come on the 335xi w/ ZSP, so now I need to figure out wheels/tires. . . . I think I'll keep the 17s with all seasons til it warms up. Then I'm thinking of 18s or 19s with summer tires. Maybe V710s. The only thing is that I don't want to drop the car or mod the suspension. Do you guys think that will look silly? (I recognize it won't look as slick as most of the dropped cars, but I'm ok with that -- I just don't want it to look off.) Any insights / guidance / love you guys can share would be a big help! Thanks! __________________ Now: Monaco Blue/Saddle Brown E90 335i x-Drive \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| Logic 7 \| HD Radio \| CA \| Sunshades \| PDC \| iPod Before: Space Gray/Black E92 328xi \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| iPod \| Sirius
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01-09-2009, 09:41 AM	#2
borisivan craptastic 21 Rep 281 Posts Drives: 2010 335xi Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: hell in a handbasket iTrader: (0)	all-seasons in boston winter.... hmmm I recommend dedicated snows for the winter. YOU WILL have better traction/stopping/etc with the snows instead of all seasons. Can you get by throughout the winter with an xi and all-seasons? Yes. But not as well. Disclosure: I have a 335xi. Dedicated snows in winter, performance in summer. Best of luck!
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01-09-2009, 04:49 PM	#3
Deda Major General 572 Rep 7,033 Posts Drives: BMW M5 comp Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	i always use winter tyres for winter even i have x drive!
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01-12-2009, 09:48 AM	#4
Gary@TireRack Moderator 372 Rep 4,742 Posts Drives: Formerly 1995 M3 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: South Bend, IN, Tire Rack HQ iTrader: (2)	Agreed. Xdrive gives you a great advantage in getting going, but has no advantage in braking over rear wheel drive models. Snow tires make a big difference, even on all-wheel drive cars. __________________ Gary. Tire and Wheel Forum Moderator. Tire Rack Sales Rep Gary@Tirerack.com http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AH8&url=index.jsp Please refer to 'Gary/E90 Post' as your previous contact when you order online to help support this forum.
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01-12-2009, 06:36 PM	#5
BMWAutoXer No Cones 14 Rep 104 Posts Drives: F31 330 xDrive Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: MI iTrader: (0)	Do not drive in snowy climates without winter tires - all wheel drive does not help you turn, stop, or stay in a straight line at speeds on the freeway (long time Subaru owner). I personally prefer winter sport M3s from Gary, but any snow tire will be a huge help over the all seasons/summers that come on any car.
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01-12-2009, 06:44 PM	#6
mmm def Colonel 146 Rep 2,611 Posts Drives: 21 330, 19 ND2 RF, 11 RX350 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	+1 for snows. Get a dedicated summer and winter set and you'll be happy as a clam!!!
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01-12-2009, 06:53 PM	#7
optimistic Private First Class 5 Rep 136 Posts Drives: '07 E92 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone! So I'm definitely sold on 2 sets of wheels/tires. . . . now, I'll be running a x-drive sedan and I don't want to mod the suspension at all. Think 19s with the 4x4 gap will look funny? I'm wide open to summer rim suggestions if anyone wants to toss out ideas to complement my searching. __________________ Now: Monaco Blue/Saddle Brown E90 335i x-Drive \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| Logic 7 \| HD Radio \| CA \| Sunshades \| PDC \| iPod Before: Space Gray/Black E92 328xi \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| iPod \| Sirius
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01-13-2009, 08:55 AM	#8
optimistic Private First Class 5 Rep 136 Posts Drives: '07 E92 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	Ok. . . some I'm thinking about LC dynas, Z2s or Z20s. Or V710s. __________________ Now: Monaco Blue/Saddle Brown E90 335i x-Drive \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| Logic 7 \| HD Radio \| CA \| Sunshades \| PDC \| iPod Before: Space Gray/Black E92 328xi \| 6MT \| ZPP \| ZSP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| iPod \| Sirius
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01-14-2009, 12:57 PM	#10
danniexi Brigadier General 3255 Rep 4,447 Posts Drives: 2022 F97 X3M Comp LCI Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (15) Garage List 2022 BMW X3M Compet ... [10.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [10.00]	1. Take the all-season tires off the car. Sell them, and purchase winter tires. Slap the winter tires on the 17"s you have now. 1 set complete. 2. As for 19"s, it shouldn't look THAT bad with the xdrive. I believe the gap on the 09' sedans aren't as bad as the previous generation of xi cars (08') so you might luck out. Get a set of 19" (dedicated summer wheels/tires). If the gap really bothers you, purchase springs or better yet, coilovers. Job done! __________________ BMW MY22 F97 X3MC LCI - CURRENT BUILD THREAD\| Instagram: @danniexi BMW MY16 F80 M3 - GONE BMW MY08 E92 335XI - GONE BMW MY06 E46 325XI - GONE
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01-14-2009, 10:54 PM	#13
Firefly6 Lieutenant 13 Rep 412 Posts Drives: 2018 330i Xdrive Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (2)	Dropping it also means more scraping at angled driveways - and in Boston - you'd probably want a little more clearance over frozen slush and ice.
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