spacers on wheels

[slow328]

i have some 17 by 8's and i wanna put them on my 328 would it be a good idea to put some spacers on? if so what size?

[supertack]

You'll need to put the new wheels on the car first, then do your measurements. There is a whole set of procedures to make sure your buying the right size spacer. Of what I remember, you extend a straight edge from the ground into the well (along front of wheel), then measure the distance from the front of the wheel to the inside lip of the fender. You then deduct a certain amount (can't remember off hand), & the remaining amount is the maximum spacer size. The fronts are a whole other can of worms, cause after you do the measurements (just like the backs), you have to have someone else sit in the car & turn the wheel to the point when it comes closest to the edge of the fender. There is something else you have to do with that calculation. I'd get a BMP catalog, cause I know they give detailed instructions there. I guess Porsche has used the spacer technology for many moons, so maybe some of the Pelican 'Porschies' can give ya more insight. I have a 328is (with sport pkg), & know when I did my measurements to see if spacers would work, there was really no room to fit them in. I'm not sure if the sport pkg (lowered suspension) had something to do with it, or if there not really intended for an E36. Of what I've seen, most of these spacers are sized for an E30 bimmer. Oh yah, you also need longer lug bolts depending on what size spacer you get.

http://www.bmpdesign.com/products/acc/wheels/spacers.shtml

[slow328]

what size rims do u have on ur 328?

[supertack]

16" dual 5 spokes.

[blkongry]

What is the specified offset on the wheels? That will tell you if you need spacers and how big. Most manufacturers of spacers have already done the work in finding out what matches with what to ensure clearance.

[slow328]

the rims are a 41mm offset.............the are the oem 42 rims the bbs