Handling/ride issues with 17's

[bss325i]

Hi, thinking of 17's for my tech2 but would like to know how badly affected the handling/ride will be. I plan a Bilstien shock&spring kit (-40) first so am only really cocerned about it with this set up. I know it will obviously be affected but how bad? I used to have a mk4 escort turbo with 17's and 205/40R17 -40 drop and that was horrible and kept eating front wheel bearings!

Thanks,

[bmwe30mtech]

I had 17's on mine, and they handled appaulingly.

I have since seen the light and gone back to 15"

The handling difference is HUGE. People will tell you otherwise, but many peple who have had 17's anf 15's will tell you the same thing.

HTH

[shazE30]

17s on my cab not ever a single problem

[gareth]

17's RUINED mine!!! absolutely awful handling! i've had 15" BBS, 16" alpina and 17" alpina.

if you go for good 16" genuine alpina or 16" replicas like i have it'll looks sweet and handle about the same as 15" BBS. imho the current setup actually handles better than the BBS i had on. i'm runnning 215/40/16's too which have a smaller rolling diameter than the 15's as well

[maxfield]

My dad moved up to 18 and preferd the handling

[eko]

Ive had 16" Hartge,15" BBS and current 17" BK thingys all on the same car and the Hartges win hands down!

[bss325i]

Think it will have to be genuine 16 alpinas, jus gotta find a set for reaonable price!!!!!!!!

[gareth]

the replicas are very hard to tell apart and unlike ALL 17" replicas there are no quality issues. as far as i can see, they're a direct ripoff of the 7J16 alpina wheel and worth about £300 / 400 less!

[e30Pats]

the replicas are very hard to tell apart and unlike ALL 17" replicas there are no quality issues. as far as i can see, they're a direct ripoff of the 7J16 alpina wheel and worth about £300 / 400 less!

Do you know where the replicas can be found?

[Gouki]

the replicas are very hard to tell apart and unlike ALL 17" replicas there are no quality issues. as far as i can see, they're a direct ripoff of the 7J16 alpina wheel and worth about £300 / 400 less!

Do you know where the replicas can be found?

try ebay, there's loads on there.

[e30Pats]

There's lots of 17" but I'm after 16"

[gareth]

they're probably rarer than real alpinas!!! and afaik haven't been made for a while. they usually go for about £150 - 200 a set depending on tyres

[bss325i]

I checked today and genuine 16" alp's are still avail new, 16x7 £265 each 16x8 £285 each, centre caps £69 each.
Bloody expensive am seriously considering, have checked ebay for months but no luck!!!!!!!!!!!!

[gareth]

fookin hell!!!!

[bss325i]

and not fogetting decent rubber!!!!!

[gareth]

1.6k all in at least!!!

[clubfx2]

BSS

I have run many different combinations, but one thing you are safe with, BM's don't eat up parts like your ford did.

Another thing you need to keep in mind is that there are many things with the E30 you need to consider when discussing the wheel size choice.

With these is all about the suspension setup, wheel size and the rubber that goes on it. Its the selected combination that makes it a winner.

My current E30 setup eats up the handling and road holding compared to my E36 and E46.

I am running a koni suspension setup 40mm and stiff koni dampers. I have 25mm spacers on rear and 20mm on front. Have 17" TSW Hocks that are 8J wide , 215/45/17 on the front and 225/45/17 on the rear with no rubbing and no rolled arches. Also some camber on the front. Haven't poly bushed the suspension but it is very vey good, on corners and general handling.

Hope you get the right mixture for your BM, don't go cheap when its the suspension and tyre choice.

[bss325i]

Thanks clubfx2,
will prob go for -40mm Bilsein setup, have heard good things about that setup and the are a OE suplier.

Thinking of uprated anti roll bars, eibach do a kit, anyone know how good this is?

Also will M3 offset rear bushes work with all this?

[clubfx2]

I suggest you go for a 215/45/17 tyre, that won't be so hard on the ride.

[ian332isport]

Just saying that 17" rims will upset the ride/handling is not really accurate. It realy depends on what 17" rims you use. Heavy old BK 171 (Alpina reps) will mess things up, but a good quality lightweight wheel will not.

My 17" BBS rims are lighter than a standard 15" BBS cross spoke, and don't upset the ride or handling in any way.

Shit wheels = shit ride/handling.

Ian.

[gareth]

agreed, the problem is that most 17's are crap! nice BBS's excluded of course!

[sam325is]

i dont agree with that at all. after using 17 alpina reps since i've had my car switching back to 15" bbs was a nightmare on corners, the back end just wants to fly out far to easily, where as the 17 bk171 reps you can fly round corners. and if you want to get the back end out you can. in my experience bbs 15" are better in a straight line at high speed in terms of stability but on corners the reps win for control hands down.

[gareth]

tyre choice must be having a big influence there...

[sam325is]

lol i was using some nankang ditch finders .... im using toyo proexxs t1-r now though

[gareth]

well there you go then!

the other thing that often comes up on 17's is the tyres used are also heavy and crap as good 17" tyres are a lot more expensive than good 15" ones.

[fuzzy]

i cant say my handling has been adversely effected by fitting 17's,in fact i think my car handles pretty well with them and bilstein 60/40 suspension.i also use toyo t1-r tyres .the back end can kick out relatively easy but thats more to do with power and a heavy right foot