Ready to order wheels, want opinions/thoughts

[s t e e z e]

Morning everyone.

I have a dilemma about fitting Diamond Racing Wheels to my E30.

I have a 1897 325e.

Looking to fit 16x8 with a final offset of 0 in the fronts and 16x10 with a final offset of 7 in the rears.

There are a couple ways to get those offsets. The rears are easy, I'll be ordering 16x10 ET12 and throw a 5mm spacer in the rear and be done.

The fronts I can either order 16x8 ET12 and use a 12mm spacer to clear the caliper brackets, or I can order 16x8 ET0 and grind the hell out of the caliper brackets.

All I want to know is what you all would recommend...is it a good idea to get the ET12 in the front and use 12mm spacers to get the offset I want, or is it better to just grind down the caliper brackets?

Any help would be great, especially with those who have experience in the matter.

[LateFan]

I have a 1897 325e.

Then you'll need these….

[s t e e z e]

HAHA

Good catch. Excuse my dyslexia.

[LateFan]

bump 'cuz I screwed up his thread….

[Madhatter]

Unless you are running a super stretched tyre, I don't think you are going to get 10's to fit under the rear with that offset. Use a spacer, don't grind down the brackets.

Order your wheels and fit them up using some washers behind the wheel to space them out. When you get enough clearance, measure the height of the washers and that will tell you exactly what thickness spacer you need. Wheel offset really doesn't just determine what size spacer you might need. It's really down to the design of the spokes and the back space of the wheel too.

[s t e e z e]

I am running a stretched tire, probably 215/40/16 on the 16x10s. Its been done before.



I ordered the 16x8 with an ET of 12 so I can mock them up and see what kind of spacer I need rather than grinding down the bracket, like you said. I was somewhat concerned about that as I would like my brakes unmodified. I'd have to buy a grinder anyways, might as well buy some spacers instead and be safer.

[Madhatter]

It's also way outside the guard and from the looks of that lip, it has been rolled/cut?

The lower the offset, the closer the wheels moves towards the guard. So if you have a low offset AND add a spacer, you are pushing the wheel even further out.

Should pretty much never think of grinding your brakes as a good idea.

Like I said above, super stretch might be enough to save you, especially if you run an undersized tyre, but I think you might run into rubbing issues otherwise. A 10" wide wheel is a pretty big wheel under the rear of an E30, it isn't simply going to be a case of bolt it on and everything is going to fit perfect.