16X9's

[WoodlandIX]

I have an 86' 325e that I'm building for a track car. I'm putting in a turbocharged M30B35 that will run about 300whp or so. I found a set of 16X9" wheels for the car with a ET15 (I can choose my offset but this is what I figure I'd need). I'm lowering the car 2 1/2" in the front and 2" in the rear. Im also going to run a -3.5 camber in the front and -2.5 in the rear. How much if any do I need to roll the fenders to get these to fit?
Thanks!

[JGood]

Mind if I ask why you want to go that low on a track car?

[DSP74]

Lower center of gravity......

I would be looking to run LESS negative camber in the back.

[WoodlandIX]

How far should I go for camber? I was looking at -2 to -2.5. I think that 2.5" in the front would be good. The engine is pretty heavy and with the added weight of the turbo kit I think lower= better. I think that 16X9's would work well with that kind of power. Am I wrong?

[Brew]

Might want to rethink your drivetrain if this is going to be an all-out track car. That thing is going to understeer like a pig with all that weight up front. Maybe built M20 2.5 with a TCD turbo kit?

[WoodlandIX]

I already have the M30 built and ready to be put in. I've been in a few E30's with M30's and with the right suspension you can't feel much of a difference. It's not really a pig of an engine if you drop the AC.

[Erick]

All of this talk and the tire size, which is one of the key components to figure out what we're doing here, has still yet to be mentioned.

But let me get ahead of you and answer your question. Yes, you will massively have to roll your fenders.

Why?

You are building a track car with a 300whp torque frenzy motor with a low offset wide wheel. You COULD get away with 215/40/16s and a minor roll, but you won't expect any traction from the rear tires.

Buy over fenders.

[AlarmedBread]

[WoodlandIX]

Would traction be a problem with a smaller width wheel like a 16X8 or so? I don't want to have trouble getting off the line with too much wheel spin, and this will be driven on the street as well so I want it to be safe.

[Erick]

You keep talking wheel width but the problem lies on the tire width mainly. You could have a 16x12 with a 205/50/16 tire, and you still wont grip for your life.

[jms16v]

You keep talking wheel width but the problem lies on the tire width mainly. You could have a 16x12 with a 205/50/16 tire, and you still wont grip for your life.

He speaks the truth.

[blck325is]

You keep talking wheel width but the problem lies on the tire width mainly. You could have a 16x12 with a 205/50/16 tire, and you still wont grip for your life.

Yeah, I'd say that if it's gonna be purpose built for the track, roll the shite outta your fenders or get over fenders, cause you're gonna want to have some meat on those things, not stretch.

[WoodlandIX]

I'm not planning on stretching. No worries there. I was thinking a 215/35/16 or a 215/40/16. Would that work or is even rolling fenders out with that size?

[PУCCKAЯ_e30ka]

I'm not planning on stretching. No worries there. I was thinking a 215/35/16 or a 215/40/16. Would that work or is even rolling fenders out with that size?

common sense should tell you that 215/40/16 streched on 9in wide wheel would leave you with almost same, maybe even less contact surface then 205/60/15 because of the camber

[ldsbeaker]

I run this setup. Borbet Type T Et 15 16x9 215 40 16. Stretched, obviously.
In order to avoid the front strut, 10mm spacers are a minimum. (had mine custom made, search for my thread) This gives you a pretty good amount of poke. As far as the rear is concerned, I have 20mm spacers, but honestly haven't been under there to see what kind of clearance I have, maybe I could run a smaller spacer. (probably 10mm, right?)
As it is, the car is pretty much slammed, and I have serious inner tire wear on the rears. I have replaced both rear tires since November. I thought I would be okay, but I did a peg leg burnout that corded my tire again, so a fix is definitely necessary soon.
I will be ordering and installing the toe/camber adjustment kit from BimmerWorld, and then have my favorite race shop install it, then suggest a setting for aggressive street use/less tire wear. Install the LSD, and things should be better.
You will have to roll the fenders. How much tire you can "fit" all depends on how much you want to lower it. If you like slammed, stretch, and poke, then 215 40 16 is great. If you want a wider tire, you're either going to need the fender extenders or just have tires hanging outside the fenderwell with a less dramatic drop.(which looks like ass, if you ask me)
How does it handle? Okay, I guess. Bossing it around with it so low is a recipe for a cracked oilpan, but I'm going to give it a try at VIR soon, if I can.
My plans are the same as yours. Turbo'd M30.