[wazzawgm]

Can anyone explain how to check for rubbing or a simple test to see if my new wheels will create issues for me. Got some lovely M3 replicas and changed to Hankooks non RFT. The ride is great but am concerned that the rear looks quite tight. What checks/tests could I make to reassure myself...??

[wazzawgm]

Can anyone help me?

[DavS1]

no real easy test other than fill the boot with heavy items and try get it as low as you can.

depending on the rest position of the rear suspension arms, you could tell if the top of the wheel will push out or pull in on bump

i.e. if the top suspension arm is pointing down from chassis mount at rest, on bump the wheel will be pushed out so therefore could cause a problem, or if the arm is level or pointing up from chassis mount then the wheel should be pulled in at the top on bump so therefore shouldn't cause you a problem.

[wazzawgm]

Originally Posted by DavS1

no real easy test other than fill the boot with heavy items and try get it as low as you can.

depending on the rest position of the rear suspension arms, you could tell if the top of the wheel will push out or pull in on bump

i.e. if the top suspension arm is pointing down from chassis mount at rest, on bump the wheel will be pushed out so therefore could cause a problem, or if the arm is level or pointing up from chassis mount then the wheel should be pulled in at the top on bump so therefore shouldn't cause you a problem.

Thanks, I think i'm going to have to do that. Searched some threads and everyone talks about tyre size and offsets which doesn't make too much sense. I had the BMW M Sport 19inch wheels with Bridgestone RFT'S. Have not changed any sizes other than these wheels appear to be offset further out. Not sure by what. Just hoped someone might be able to say, test this and that etc.

[Captain Chaos]

Should be able to tell the offset from the inside of the hub - the picture makes it look like they may be around the ET25 mark..? Look for some markings on the inside of the rim (obv need to take a wheel off) that will say something like 8.5Jx19 and ET25 or something..

From your pics, if it doesn't rub then it'll certainly be close!

[11ker]

Et25 on a coupe would rub on sport suspension..check the offset if it's below et30 at the rear then most certainly will rub..what tire size are you running also.?

[wazzawgm]

Originally Posted by 11ker

Et25 on a coupe would rub on sport suspension..check the offset if it's below et30 at the rear then most certainly will rub..what tire size are you running also.?

All i know is that they are 19 inch rims, could i measure the offset somehow?

Tyres are;

fronts 225 35 19
rears 255 30 19

The make of tyre is Hankook

here is another pic of the back

[wazzawgm]

Surely there must be a way to tell if its rubbing / will rub??

[11ker]

From the looks of it I think it looks pretty flush and looks nice..from tire size I'm guessing it's a 9j rim if you can take one alloy off and check for the offset..I got 19inch 9.5j et27 rims with 265/30/19 tyres on my e90 did get the arches rolled slightly.. I'm guessing anything above et30 your fine..

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by wazzawgm

Surely there must be a way to tell if its rubbing / will rub??

If it is rubbing you will hear it and see signs of the rubbing on the sidewalls of the tyres.
To find out if it will rub get two adults to sit in the back and go out for a drive.

[m1bjr]

Originally Posted by wazzawgm

Surely there must be a way to tell if its rubbing / will rub??

Well unless someone else has already tried this combination, no.

The ONLY sure fire way is to dop the lower outer arm bolt and lower damper nut, and remove the spring.
Refit the bolt and damper and cycle the wheel through its travel to the bump stop.

You could add more camber to increase clearance - another degree would help a lot.
All road cars noramlly gain camber as the suspension compresses so it may not be as tight as you think.

Steve

[YvesD]

Originally Posted by wazzawgm

Surely there must be a way to tell if its rubbing / will rub??

Dead simple, smear some copper slip or other gungy anti fling stuff on your inner arches and drive as normal.

Chalk also works if its bone dry on the road.

You will see straight away if its touching anywhere.

BTW, judging by the pictures, I'd be amazed if your tyres arent rubbing at the point the rear bumper meets the metal bodywork.....been there, done that....

[Captain Chaos]

Originally Posted by YvesD

Dead simple, smear some copper slip or other gungy anti fling stuff on your inner arches and drive as normal.

Chalk also works if its bone dry on the road.

You will see straight away if its touching anywhere.

BTW, judging by the pictures, I'd be amazed if your tyres arent rubbing at the point the rear bumper meets the metal bodywork.....been there, done that....

[wazzawgm]

I'll try the chalk etc later today, a little wet out at the mo.

In the last 3 days i've only heard one strange noise when i hammered her around a roundabout in a dip!

Let you know the results soon.

[wazzawgm]

OK, i rubbed chalk around the rear fender arches, on the car body. I went for an aggressive spin, albeit no passengers. I heard a couple of squeaks but not sure if that was the suspension or not!

Chalk was still all in tack!! Guess I need to load the boot down now and do it again...???

[wazzawgm]

So i'm still none the wise, get a squeak over large bumps in the road but most os the time its fine! Whats the worst that could happen??

I'll take a wheel off tomorrow to see if i can work out the offset.

Here are some more pics - what do you reckon?

[wazzawgm]

OK i took the rear off.

It says 'Not OEM', ET-23 and it's 19.5 J

Will i get in trouble, if so i just want to take them back.

Also any recommendations?? Maybe spacers with my old 19' M Sport ones that came with the car?

[wazzawgm]

I work it out that the M3 (Replica) alloys have the following offsets, I have indicated the effect versus OEM 19's.

F 8.5J x 19 ET29, 2mm less inner clearance, extends further 14mm
R 9.5J x 19 ET23, 10mm more inner clearance. extends further 22mm

Will it be OK???

Can anyone please help....?

[marmac]

Don`t know if you have done a search but you may get info from the American side of the forum

[wazzawgm]

searched for days, might be searching wrongly...

I'm not technical at all, just believed the guy who sold em so I must be naive..

I might put the original 19 inch alloys (M Sport Coupe, ones that had complaints of cracking) and put spacers on..

Know of any good Mod's companies in the UK that know all about E92 BMW's????

[gtaguy]

im no expert... but ideal on a coupe is et33, and should not rub with 9.5 x 19, 265/30/19 tires. et30 may rub with 265 tire, depending on the brand because some tires have narrower sidewalls.

I think in your case with et23, you are poking, but because you have 255 stretched tire, that gives 5mm more clearance on each side of the tire. My guess is that you will rub without a fender roll

[Captain Chaos]

ET20/9.5J rubs like a b*tch on my e92 with a 255/35 or a 265/30 tyre. You've got 3mm more clearance, which may just be enough coupled with SE suspension, but it's really close - as it looked from the pics.

Ultimately the biggest clue will show on your dash. I'd get 2 mates in the back and/or some heavy stuff in the boot, find a bumpy roundabout and give it some pedal round it. If the DSC warning light starts yelling then you're rubbing, in which case I'd be tempted to wash my hands of them (coming from someone who's run plenty of mods on cars in the past).

Ultimately the one time you need your car to be settled is mid-corner at speed - if the tyre rubs and unsettles the car on a quick wet corner when you're not ready for it then it could get messy.. Might be over-cautious, harder to offer an opinion when I can't see it for myself, but I wouldn't want to see anything happen when it's so easy to get wheels the right size.