M parallel wheels for a 90 535i?

I would like to buy a set of OEM M parallel wheels for my 535i, but I really don't want 18" wheels. 16" or 17" is what I'm looking for. Did BMW make a 16 or 17 inch set? Will the 18's fit my car if I had no other choice? Offset the same?

Link is to an ebay auction of the wheels.

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TIA

Reply to
wjbell
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Fantastic!! A set of *USED* OEM 18" wheels with the rear tires worn to the nub and the starting bid is 1800 samoleans? Man... PT Barnum was right.

Let me put it this way: How do you know the wheels are straight and true? What will you do when your E34 shakes like it has Saint Vitus' dance after you mount those puppies?

-Fred W

Reply to
Malt_Hound

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Please reread my post. I didn't say I was buying those wheels, I was asking if those wheels were made in 16 or 17" versions, and if those type of wheels would fit my 535.

Reply to
wjbell

wjbell wrote in news:gBHie.18518$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr14.news.prodigy.com:

One resource for info about E34 wheel specs and fitment is here

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If at all possible, you want to avoid spacers or inserts. So look for a wheel with a 72.5mm hub centre.

As another poster already indicated, you ought to stay away from other people's headaches so avoid buying used wheels. The ones in the auction link are wildly over-priced. The seller has a 100% rating but the only current products you can read feedback about are for wireless devices, not wheels.

Since you are looking on eBay, check out

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Their current offerings can be seen here

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You can get new replica wheels and tires here for considerably less than the used ones offered in your link. I haven't dealt with them but I plan to and I am encouraged by their extensive, favorable feedback.

Alternatively, take a tour of

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and
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Ken R.

Reply to
Ken R.

they are made in 17" and 18" by FAST wheels, cheap and soft, - buy a spare. but they look great!!!! tirerack.com must have them, comes with bmw caps

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Reply to
SharkmanBMW

OK, sorry about that. Sure, I had read your introduction, but naturally I assumed it was a ruse to get people to look at *your* auction, not what you were actually stating.

I'd have just used a link to the wheels like this:

Now, with that misunderstanding cleared up, I would say that I personally would prefer a set of new "replica" or after-market brand wheels to a set of used OE wheel, *unless* I had some reassurance they were in A1 condition (say a balance test on a Hunter GSP9700) and a means to return them of I have a problem.

I know that the biggest replica wheel shop (link below) has replicas of style 37 wheels available and you can (should) get them complete with a new set of tires mounted and balanced (on a GSP9700) and ready to bolt onto your car. If there is any problem these places will take care of you. They have to if they want to expand their business.

Another alternative is The Tire Rack. But be 100% certain that any wheels that you buy there do not require hub-centric spacer rings. They will show on their web site that a certain wheel fits your car, but that is with the spacers. If you find a model of wheel that interests you, call and ask one of the sales advisors if that fitment requires the spacer rings. If so, I would pass...

They do sell BBS wheels at Tire Rack. I have never heard a bad word about these ever, except maybe for the price. BBS has one style that looks similar (though not identical to) the M parallel style 37. The thing is, you aren't going to fool anyone (that knows bimmers) anyway if you do get the M parallels, because that model car (E34) never came with that style wheel.

A set of decent wheels and tires is going to cost you between 1200 and

1500 dollars minimum. It seems prudent to do your homework, and have some sort of after sale support available, on a purchase of that magnitude.

Good Luck,

-Fred W

Reply to
Malt_Hound

Ok, thanks for the advice. I can see how it might look like I was trying to promote an auction. I should have stated that the link was for an example of the wheels only.

Reply to
wjbell

Reply to
SharkmanBMW

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