Just bought these:

[timjbart]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... otohosting#

They're to replace my steel ones as I think they look pretty crap and I'm properly fed up of them! Do you think they look ok? Is there a market on ebay for steel wheels or should I hang on to them?

[Davenotouring]

They will look ok on your E30 I would have thought!

I would hang onto the steelies, you won't get much for them and they will probably come in useful sometime!

[SCOTT325SE]

tbh mate, id have hung onto your steelies and saved yourself Ԛ£169+Ԛ£29p+p. save another Ԛ£50 and buy a set of bbs 15s with tyres. sorry to be negative, just not my type of alloy. If you like them though, thats the only important thing!!!

[Dom]

gotta beat the steelies

Don't think the steels would be worth much

[timjbart]

yeh I do like the 5 spoke design. I have been advised many timeson here to go for the BBS 15" but I just don't like them at all! I must be in the minority because you all seem to worship them as a great wheel but I just don't think they look very good! I'll post some pics when I eventually get them on to my car and you can see what you all think then!

hope i don't hate them!

[Ziggy]

Yeah I'd probably have gone for bbs instead... but they could well look ok! Think we'll have to wait & see some pics!

Your steelies are worth about 10p, so if you've got space, keep em & use em on a track sometime!!

[Richy325iTouring]

I'll give you 10p for the steelies just to kill on the track

[timjbart]

why do you guys use steel wheels on the track? strength? I thought the alloys would be better cos they're lighter...

[johnono]

if u mash em up it dont matter

[Davenotouring]

Only to use the spare rubber which is on there really, no other reason really?!

[timjbart]

I've never owned a set of alloys for either of my cars, just out of interest, willl they come with the correct bolts? My bolts are all dark and dirty & a bit rusty so I don't really want to use those. Do I want to buy new studs to fit them?

[Davenotouring]

Ideally, they will come with bolts.

You match bolts to the wheel, not the car.

You will need to enquire with the supplier about this.

[timjbart]

just out of interest, is it legal to use 15" steel wheel as a spare for the set of alloys? think the tyres are a bit thicker on the steel rim so the car might be at an angle but it'd be enough to get me home in an emergency surely?

[Davenotouring]

Absolutely legal.

I have 17's and a 14" spare.

Just drive carefully if it ever happens.

Cars with alloys these days often have 13" spacesaver steel wheels with massive profile tyres to make the rolling circumference the same.

In short - yes it's fine.

[placey]

i believe that there is a maximum speed limit applied to cars running different width wheels on the same axle - it's either 50 or 60mph. that's your only consideration with your different spares.

paul

[timjbart]

Just got them delivered and after a brief inspection I found a nail in one of the tyres! Shall I pull it out and see if it has effected the tyre or shall I ring them up and have a word. What do u think they would do about it? How much can I expect a repair to cost?

Also, what is the legal minimum tread depth as 1 out of the four looks decidedly dodgy.

[MISSY30]

Don't pull it out! Wait until you are at the tyre garage. If the puncture is anywhere near the edge don't get it repaired, any good tyre places won't repair it near to the edge anyway as it will be dangerous. National Tyres normal price is Ԛ£16 to fix a puncture.
The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm which isn't very much! (The rest of Europe is 2mm) but it needs to be across the width of the tyre, good tread on the outside and no tread on the inside edge is no good.

[placey]

this may be obvious but never ever skimp on tyres or brakes. the only thing dodgy or cheap tyres are good for is drifting or hanging over water and swinging on. alright then just drifting. if in doubt replace the nailed tyre with the best you can afford.

[SCOTT325SE]

this may be obvious but never ever skimp on tyres or brakes. the only thing dodgy or cheap tyres are good for is drifting or hanging over water and swinging on. alright then just drifting. if in doubt replace the nailed tyre with the best you can afford.

ditto on all counts!!!!!

[Kedge]

The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm which isn't very much! (The rest of Europe is 2mm) but it needs to be across the width of the tyre, good tread on the outside and no tread on the inside edge is no good.

Just a query about this as i got through an MOT on my last car when there was about an inch wide strip on the inside of the tyres which was pretty much bold, he just advisec me to change them in the near furture for my own safety. So could it just be a percentage of the tyre has to have that much tred?

[timjbart]

Ok I've been down Best Tyre in Exeter and they checked it out and thankfully it wasn''t punctured. They put them on that car for me with new bolts for a tenner. they retyred one though because I had apparently been sent 3 right wheels!! They took one away and tuned the tread round. Does this sound normal or were they havin me on!? Didn't cost much anywayso not too bothered...

They look really good on my car! Very pleased with them, I'll get some pictures either later or tomos but I think they look great. I'm a bit concious of looking like a rude boy now because I've got a shaved head, but at least I'm doing it in an E30 and not a Vauxhall Nova!

[Davenotouring]

They are probably telling the truth, they were probably directional tyres.

There is a massive amount of difference in grip between good quality and crap tyres. Buy the best you can afford.

The tread on tyres has to be across 3/4 across the centre or something similar, check the highway code!! So you might slip through with less than 1.6mm right on the inside or outside edge, but this isn't recommended!

[Jhonno]

yeah - its 3/4 of the way across that has to be be over 1.6mm

[SCOTT325SE]

Get some pics up of the car with them on then. lol we all like pictures! (of e30s)...lets keep the smut in our heads gents

[MISSY30]

Yeah it is roughly 3/4 that needs to be at least 1.6mm, You shouldn't have more than a inch wide without pattern but even if it's less area it can't be through to the next layer of rubber. At the end of the day it's down to the discretion of the MOT tester.

[timjbart]

sorry they're not better quality but it's startin to get dark here in Exeter! what do ya think? I'm sure the E30 purists will be sickened by my car but I love it!


HOWEVER...just been out driving in it and when I got to 60 there was a noticeable amount of wobble so I think I'm gonna have to get them all rebalanced. It's not too expensive is it, just labour costs surely? I don't trust the balancing of the company off ebay seeins as there was a nail in one, and they sent me 3 right wheels!

[MISSY30]

Shouldn't cost much more than Ԛ£20 to get all four balanced, that should sort it.

[Davenotouring]

Hopefully none of them are buckled.

As long as it's not too bad, a balancing should sort it!

Need to lower it now!

I would be having words with the company you bought them off mate, especially with the nail in one. wankers!!

[Simon13]

is your tracking ok? did you get any wobbles before with the old wheels? worn suspension bushes can give a wobble at speed even with straight wheels. Are you at uni in Exceter cos yateley is walking distance from crowthorne!

[timjbart]

i did get a wobble at about 80 with the old wheels but at 50 it seems to be worse with the new ones...havent taken it past that speed yet.

What exactly are the suspension brushes because my dad has said that the suspension needs doing next time I go back to Yateley (from Exeter uni!). Is it worth waiting until me and him do work on the suspension and shocks in a few weeks before paying money to have the tracking done and the wheels balanced?

I was planning on lowering a few mm when we do the suspension

Do you think a screw in the tyre and 3 right wheels are enough to warrant a negative feedback on ebay?

[Simon13]

If the item is described incorrectly then yes. how many miles has your car done not many? most bushes will need changing mainly because they are rubberand age.

Front control arm bushes, top mounts possibly

Rear axle carrier bushes, top mounts. the axles i wouldn't recommend doing yourself unless you are very good DIY mechanic. There's a BMW specialist in Aldershot who will supply and fit etc for under Ԛ£150. I have his number when or if you need it
Shocks tend to last about 100,000 i think probably should do springs then too. A Bilstein 40mm kit would probably suit your needs think it is the streetline kit Ԛ£300

HTH

[timjbart]

thanks for the info.

I'll speak some more to my father. The wobble was quite pronounced, more so than I've ever experienced on my cars, it even made the steering wheel wobble! I thought tracking and balancing were more to do with vibrations at high speeds rather than pure wobblage!!!

[Simon13]

i would seriously check those wheels are all straight cos if they are not a refund is on order

[charlE30]

I like that 'wobblage' I'm goin have to remember that one

Good luck with the wheels timjbart

[timjbart]

got them rebalanced...but I've just been out for a drive and lost one of the wheel caps that do in the centre of the alloy!!!! Where can I get replacement caps? Please don't tell me that each set of alloys has a different size cap hole!!!