18x11.5s on an E46?

[Jorge]

Okay, so I've spotted some nice what look like CCWs for sale.

Problems already and I am just browsing, they are 18x10 and 18x11.5. Very high offsets too though so can set them perfectly with spacers if I got the wheels.

The guy attempted to fit them to an M5, but they caught both the arch and the suspension strut which makes me think they are offsets around 40-50 and makes me worry as the M5s have big arches... E46 non Ms do not.

Main question is though, you think its physically possible to fit an 18x11.5 rim on the back of an E46? I have about 5mm clearance at my current height with a 17x9 on a 205 tyre. Sticking another 2.5 inches on there will cause nothing but trouble, surely?

[Ollie]

18x9.5 +25
18x11 +22


Very aggressive but probably doable. Do a little math (compare his specs to your current wheels and see how much room is on the inside). Or PM him and ask him. I have a feeling he went the widest he could though and his offsets aren't terribly low so his wheels are probably pretty snug in there.. but if there's 15-20mm of clearance left on the inside somewhere I'd def go for it, or if you're cool having a bit more poke than that. I'll let an e46 guy chime in though.

[Jorge]

Thats an M though, which have a standard rear offset of 27, whereas non Ms are nearer 50 :/

Found this picture

18x12s on an unknown german 325ci

[Jorge]

http://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=205&aspect=40&diameter=17&wheelwidth=9&offset=20&width2=245&aspect2=30&diameter2=18&wheelwidth2=11.5&offset2=30&Submit=Submit

Kinda what I was thinking, but I think that will catch the strut and I'll have to go for something more along the lines of ET20-25. 20 would give me roughly the same back clearance as a standard E46 wheel with 65mm extra poke

[Han]

Thats an M though, which have a standard rear offset of 27, whereas non Ms are nearer 50 :/

Offset is a measurement of backspace and centerline (which is width dependent). You cannot calculate an arbitrary offset of say '27' without a width associated with that.

[aar0n.]

That car above is also not an M3

[Jorge]

Is it not? Got me fooled proper those rear arches look huge. But now you've said it, those front arches def aren't from an M.

And I know I can't just calculate it on standard figures, but its a good start. Although that figure is null and void if the above isnt an M! Hmmm. Tempting.

[Han]

And I know I can't just calculate it on standard figures, but its a good start. Although that figure is null and void if the above isnt an M! Hmmm. Tempting.

No, you definitely CAN calculate it on standard figures, but WITH the widths as well. Offset means nothing without the width that it's calculated from.

Read here:

https://www.rsracing.com/tech-wheel.html

[Jorge]

Okay, I get what you are saying, and yeah I know. I'm not totally new when it comes to calculating offsets and the wheel position, but with the current clearance I have with 9s, I was just wondering how (and if) other people have managed to fit anything bigger and wider.

Extremely crap mobile picture I took last night, shows my concern. Obviously I'll need to roll that arch flat...

[Joakim H]

18x9.5 +25
18x11 +22

only thing i know is that this one looks like shit from the rear

[Han]

but with the current clearance I have with 9s, I was just wondering how (and if) other people have managed to fit anything bigger and wider.

Wider means it goes wider on the inner side as well, not just the outer side

[aar0n.]

^
Agreed, that car does zero for me. Way too much camber and it just looks very meh

[Jedidiah]

^
Agreed, that car does zero for me. Way too much camber and it just looks very meh

Seriously Aaron? Doesn't do "anything" for you?


did you pick back up on that grass again? What did I tell you...

[Han]

I think it's too tall for all that stretch, poke and camber.

[Jedidiah]

I think it's too tall for all that stretch, poke and camber.

I would agree with you there... methinks he might be running 40 profiles.. 35's could potentially cure that..