Wheel adapter idea

[JRowe]

One of the chief complaints many e30 owners have is the lack of selection for affordable aftermarket wheels. Some people even do a five lug swap simply for the greater wheel selection. I too want greater wheel selection. One way to go is the hubcentric spacers so the fwd vw/honda wheels will fit. Not a bad way to go, but not ideal. Anyway, if you're going to go with spacers, why doesn't someone try the following (I might sometime later this year. Right now it's not a priority but will be later).

This machine shop owner on ebay will make custom spacers/adapters for in any configuration for $140/set. Here's the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2460957506

I haven't contacted him yet, but what about the following spacer: Bolts to 4x100 pattern and has the 57mm hubcentric opening on the inner face. The outside has the five lug pattern with studs and the larger, 78mm (if I remember correctly), hubcentric lip. Overall thickness could be 20mm.

With this adapter, e36 and e46 wheels (usually around 40mm offset) could bolt right up to an e30. You can score factory bmw basketweaves and bbs style rims for cheap on ebay for these cars in 15 and 16 inch diameter. Perfect for the e30. Sounds intriguing. If it can be done for $140, it sounds like the way to go.

So, what do you think? Yea or nay?

[aaron_silva]

Nay.

[rscheiring]

I recall looking into a similar thing when I was trying to make round pegs fit in square holes. If I recall, they had to be even thicker than 20mm, but even at that, that is awfully thick - BMWs have enough balancing/vibration issues to begin with.

In the end, I wish I had been a part of this group before I bought the wheels I did. A great set of BBS RZ's were for sale here last week - IMHO nothing else offered for 5 bolt would be better than those!

[Rob]

I am not a fan of spacers, and even less of adapters. but, it would definately be cool seeing as how many e36+ wheels there are out there

[bimmerphile]

I am not a fan of spacers, and even less of adapters. but, it would definately be cool seeing as how many e36+ wheels there are out there

:stupid:

I remember eLuke pursuing this pretty agressively in the past. You might want to discuss it with him too.

[Digitalwave]

Its been discussed over and over, it always seems to turn out to be a bad deal and never gets made.

[diegom6]

Uhmm check this...

I can also do custom machine work on wheels, fill and drill, centerboring, back facing, drilling and inserting

If he can do this...--->

fill and drill

it's possible to do this in the wheel of 5 lug that I want and showed in the other post that I made...a guy told he can doit here...looks like I wil do it.. :P

[ColdAccord]

i'd rather do a 5 lug swap

[nando]

the adaptors in that ebay listing are a lot better quality than other 5 lug adapters I've seen and that have been discussed here in the past. If you wanted a set of 5 lug wheels really bad it might be worth a try. However, are E36/46 wheels really ET40? I find that hard to swallow.

[Digitalwave]

nando, most 18" rims I've seen used on E36's are ET38.

[Widebody325]

I have contacted all the guys I could find on ebay that manufacture adapters, because of my widebody conversion. All of them have said that you need a double adapter to go from 4x100 to 5x114.3. Since you need a double adapter, the minimum thickness of it is gonna have to be no less than 1.75inches. You will also have to pay more, which worked out to be like $340 plus an additional cost for hubcentric. What I am doing is going with some wheel studs, and spacing the front 1 inch and the rear 1.85 inches

[diegom6]

I have contacted all the guys I could find on ebay that manufacture adapters, because of my widebody conversion. All of them have said that you need a double adapter to go from 4x100 to 5x114.3. Since you need a double adapter, the minimum thickness of it is gonna have to be no less than 1.75inches. You will also have to pay more, which worked out to be like $340 plus an additional cost for hubcentric. What I am doing is going with some wheel studs, and spacing the front 1 inch and the rear 1.85 inches

you are going to do what? do you have pics or something? I would lke to do the same as you, not sure what you are ging to do but I will like to make fit 5 lu wheels in my e30

[Schnell 318]

if you guys really want 5 lug wheels like that, then get the ones made by h&r for 4x100 vw's. they are made to fit a 5 lug porshe wheel. tuv approved.

[diegom6]

if you guys really want 5 lug wheels like that, then get the ones made by h&r for 4x100 vw's. they are made to fit a 5 lug porshe wheel. tuv approved.

yes? what bolt patern are Porsche Wheels? 5x120 as BMW, if so...I'm starting to save money...cuz Iwon't buy any porsche wheel in the future...it will cost more than my bimmer...lol

[diegom6]

This is what I asked at the guy whos build those adapters

Do you build from 4 lug -4x100 to 5 lug 5x120 ? it's for my BMW E30 and time long was searching something like this...also, for the offset? my car need a wheel of 40-45mm offset...so, with this adapter how much will be required of offset in the wheel to fit correctly?

Wich will be the price for two front and two back adapters?

Thanks

and this is what I got in his reply..

I can build an adapter that is 42mm thick...that will work....what do you
think...thanks JR

any comments?