More on E36 Wheels...

[Rick Lee]

Subject: '96 328ic convt.

My girlfriend is already getting the upgrade-bug, inherent in most new BMW and Porsche owners. She has factory 16" wheels and is already searching for 17" wheels on eBay.

Would 17" wheels require a speedo calibration? And what's the largest tire that would fit them? I'm telling her to go with Yoko AVS Intermediates. Please advise. Thanks.

[spinner]

It's not the wheel size but the overall diameter (wheel+tire) that may affect the speedo. As long as the diameter is close to factory, the speedo should be fine. As for tire sizes, you can go with 235/40-17 but would probably require fender rolling or else stick with 225/45-17.

Paul
97 328i
87 Carrera

[Nabeel]

BMW is known to exaggerate the speedometers in their cars, partly to compensate for owners who like to put on aftermarket wheels. I'd check out how accurate your speedometer really is, and then decide from there how much of an impact the wheels would make. I think the trip computer always shows the correct MPH, so then you could compare the trip computer to the apeedometer reading to see if your car has an optimistic speedometer like most BMWs.

[Rick Lee]

Wow. My '87 325is has an "exaggerated" speedo too. I just never cared enough to track down the problem. But if that's an inherent quality of Bimmers, then maybe she should just throw the wheels on and I'll pace her speedo with my Porsche, which I know is accurate.

Of course, my favorite way to test a speedo is to zoom past the giant radar speed-measuring displays the police sometimes put out on the Fairfax Co. Pkwy. I don't know if those things go to triple digits though.

[Wayne 962]

Right - if the outer diameter doesn't change, then you should be ok with the speedo. I'm not sure how easy it is to recal the speedos on these E36 units - it's something that I will ask our gauge rebuilder next time I'm there...

The M3 wheels are super-nice 17 inchers. Plus, you can fit a Brembo big brake kit under them.

-Wayne