e30 wheel offset

[moutraklas]

Hi everybody, I 'd like to ask the following:
Do you know whether the wheel offset is different for e30 cabrio 1,8lt and cabrio 2,5 lt? The thing is i own a 318 cabrio and want to put new wheels (alpina replica 17x7,5"). I thought offset ET20 is fine. Yet, i have plans (but i cant be 100% sure) to upgrade my 318 to 325, which means changing all mechanical parts. I never thought the wheels would be a problem but i read somewhere that the wheels offset for 325 cabrio is ET35! Is this true? And why?If its true what should i do in order not to throw away my new wheels when (and if)i do the modification?
Still, there is a possibility the only problem to be that by widening the wheel (i think BMW originals were up to 15x6") i should change the offset (from ET35 to ET20). But i am not sure what is going on... Are you???

[BMWE34M5]

The correct offset for all E30's except the 325ix,is 20 mm in a 17"x7.5" wheel size.
The 325ix uses a 35 mm offset wheel.

[Mystikal]

Yeah, all non-M and non-iX E30s have the same hub geometry. The 17x7.5" ET20 wheels will work fine on either car.

[moutraklas]

thank you, thank you, thank you...

[decay]

there isn't really a blanket-statement "correct offset" for our cars.

there is only how they had it from the factory, and decisions as to how you would like to deviate from that setup, because what decisions you make will depend on your idea of both aesthetics and how you want your car to behave (& in the e30's case, whether you have a car with early or late arches).

stock setup on an e30iS is 6.5" wide, 30mm offset.

http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html

that util will help you understand the difference between stock and whatever you're considering upgrading to.

my opinion is that you want to keep the inside edge as close as you can to factory setup, while "filling out" the outside edge as much as you have room for.

but you know what opinions are like ;)

[nefarious7907]

Okay, so the offset of the bottle cap wheels is 20mm? I have an 84 ETA and I thought that it was 35mm I am looking at wheels and most of the 4x100 I have looked at are 42mm offset. Any help?

[Mystikal]

Okay, so the offset of the bottle cap wheels is 20mm? I have an 84 ETA and I thought that it was 35mm I am looking at wheels and most of the 4x100 I have looked at are 42mm offset. Any help?

The bottlecaps are ET33.

[nando]

Okay, so the offset of the bottle cap wheels is 20mm? I have an 84 ETA and I thought that it was 35mm I am looking at wheels and most of the 4x100 I have looked at are 42mm offset. Any help?

The bottlecaps are ET35.

;)

The offset you need depends on the rim width. but typically, you can use a 38mm offset wheel if you get a spacer (15-20mm). make sure they are hubcentric though.

[nefarious7907]

I saw contraversy in the fact that in the faqs section in the forum the offset for bottles was 35mm and people now are saying that they are 20 or 25mm and I am putting on baskets whether that is 15" cab wheels or 14" wheels I dont know and I would like to know the offset spacer required for either. I have bottle caps right now.

[decay]

i can confirm that the b-weaves are 6.5"w, ET30 (car came with them).

[Mystikal]

I saw contraversy in the fact that in the faqs section in the forum the offset for bottles was 35mm and people now are saying that they are 20 or 25mm and I am putting on baskets whether that is 15" cab wheels or 14" wheels I dont know and I would like to know the offset spacer required for either. I have bottle caps right now.

Who the hell said bottlecaps are ET20?

And like nando said, the offset changes depending on the wheel width and tire size. Cars don't have offsets.

[Digitalwave]

It's stamped right on the bottlecaps that they are ET35.

[moutraklas]

are the dimensions of a wheel written somewhere on it?

[Digitalwave]

Yes, towards the center of the rim right around where the center cap is.

[nefarious7907]

I just want to know the offset needed for switching from ET35 to ET 30 or ET24