New wheels: decisions, decisions

[webster]

so for the past couple months i've been researching new wheels. first i was set on CSL reps (VMR VB3, Alufelgen CS-7). then it was ARC-8s. then it was OEM alloys (M-Pars, Style 71s, Style 264s, even looked at the 261s). then i found out Apex was making the EC-71 7-spoke wheel. at first i was set on them. however, after seeing them on some cars in the Apex gallery, i'm not so set anymore. something about them just looks off...

currently i'm leaning towards the VMR V710s (http://www.modbargains.com/VMR-V710-Wheels-18-Staggered-BMW.htm) in 18'' staggered setup. i really like the aggressive look and the direct fitment of these wheels. and the price is great. and they are about 5lbs lighter per wheel than the 135s.

thoughts?

[UdubBadger]

I personally prefer vb3 to v710s but it's your call. Love the arc8s still too, great lightweight wheel for some extra hp. BBS ck? What are you trying to spend?


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[johnrando]

Really like VMRs and I didn't realize what a good price they were! I was going to say the new Apex but you said you ruled that out... I haven't checked the gallery to see what they look like on the cars. Tough choice. The good thing is that lighter is better, so that's an easy choice and the right direction. Personally I'm going squared setup on my next set of tires (already have the wheels ready). GL deciding.

EDIT: I think I like VB3 a little more than VMRs too, but it's close.

[webster]

I personally prefer vb3 to v710s but it's your call. Love the arc8s still too, great lightweight wheel for some extra hp. BBS ck? What are you trying to spend?


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

trying to stay under $1k.


Really like VMRs and I didn't realize what a good price they were! I was going to say the new Apex but you said you ruled that out... I haven't checked the gallery to see what they look like on the cars. Tough choice. The good thing is that lighter is better, so that's an easy choice and the right direction. Personally I'm going squared setup on my next set of tires (already have the wheels ready). GL deciding.

EDIT: I think I like VB3 a little more than VMRs too, but it's close.

VB3 is made by VMR, it's their "CSL Rep" - they also have the V718 which is similar design but more concavity.

Apex wheels are lighter, but I'm just not smitten with either the Arc-8 or the EC-7. from certain angles they make me :drool, but from others i'm like "eh....they're ok"...whereas the V710 and VB3 are both gorgeous from every angle (and cheaper too). if i was gonna go to the VB3 though, i would probably get the Alufelgen CS7, which are stronger and lighter and basically the same design.

[johnrando]

Makes sense. I like all those VMRs so just deciding amongst those would be a tough decision for me.

[UdubBadger]

I'd think twice on cs7s. I compared both vb3 and them in person and came out with vb3 on top. If you like um more fine but I've had 3 sets of vb3s on my last 3 cars for a reason.




- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[webster]

I'd think twice on cs7s. I compared both vb3 and them in person and came out with vb3 on top. If you like um more fine but I've had 3 sets of vb3s on my last 3 cars for a reason.


word, thanks for the input. another wheel i'm very interested is the Avant Garde M359:


http://www.pyspeed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=AVG%2D359%2DBMW%2D1 8&CartID=2

those look SICK. they are a couple hundo more tho.

[UdubBadger]

Those look a lot more like the e9x m3 comp edition wheels. I like those a lot more than the cs7.


- Goin' H.A.M. Mobile

[webster]

yeah i'm liking the M359s more and more. this close to pulling the trigger...

[johnrando]

Really like the A.G.s

[UdubBadger]

my only concern is how they'd look on an e46 non m. they are so "beefy" (for lack of a better term) and I don't get that with a regular e46 non m (even a zhp). wonder if you can find some pix of them on a car to make sure it looks right.

[JupiterBMW]

I've settled on the VB3s myself. Part of me wishes they weren't so common, but at the same time, I looove them. Of course, if money is no issue, I reaaaaaly like the Dinan straight spoke wheels. I wish they came in something other than black and white, but I still like 'em!

http://www.dinancars.com/webresources/images/products/ee280d6c31b7441d984d8ee6af7b0da3.jpg

[johnrando]

Interesting... hadn't seen those before. You have a pic of them on an E46?

[JupiterBMW]

No, I don't... and Google provided nothing... Hmm... Of course, at $6800 for rims, It doesn't surprise me that nobody has them...

[UdubBadger]

look fairly similar to the Advan RS wheels which are now made in replica form by VMR in the V701

Great wheels but maybe not for an e46. I feel like you need an E9x or 1 series to pull them off well.

[JupiterBMW]

Sweet!! I love the ZCPs too, so definitely post pics. I'd love to see angle/side shots too to see how that offset works for you. :thumbsup

[webster]

word, thanks for the input. another wheel i'm very interested is the Avant Garde M359:


http://www.pyspeed.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=AVG%2D359%2DBMW%2D1 8&CartID=2

those look SICK. they are a couple hundo more tho.

bought these today...was assured they would fit by a sales rep. we shall see...i'll make 'em work either way...

[zhpnsnv]

Those look awesome. Anyone know the weight on them?

[webster]

i believe they weigh around 24-25 pounds depending on F/R

[BimmerWill]

Theirs a set of silver bbs lm reps f'd on here if you'd be interested in those for 790 including shipping...awesome deal. Id pick them up if I had the $$ not exactly the style you've been looking at but they look sick.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[webster]

Theirs a set of silver bbs lm reps f'd on here if you'd be interested in those for 790 including shipping...awesome deal. Id pick them up if I had the $$ not exactly the style you've been looking at but they look sick.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

appreciate the heads up, but i already bought these (LMs are not my taste anyway):


got a call saying the wheels i ordered (AG M359 18" staggered) would not fit out back, LOL...this after the sales rep repeatedly assured me they would fit.

so then i had to decide between running squared 18x8.5 ET35 of the AG M359's OR go with the AG M310s in 18x8 / 18x9 setup. decided i like the M310s enough to do the latter, so i changed the order to these:

http://i47.tinypic.com/fz7rpz.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/ac6hpi.jpg

and they were about $150 cheaper anyway...

[JupiterBMW]

Hey Wes... I've been comparing the CSL and ZCP wheels a lot and I'm starting to lean more towards the ZCP wheels... Soo, that being said, I think I'm going to go to a squared setup of the AG M359s... Did they say the 18x8.5 ET35s would fit all the way around? I'd like to avoid spacers if possible...

[UdubBadger]

just saw this too... look hella good but you saved some $

http://www.modbargains.com/VMR-V710-Wheels-Dark-Gunmetal.htm

[webster]

Hey Wes... I've been comparing the CSL and ZCP wheels a lot and I'm starting to lean more towards the ZCP wheels... Soo, that being said, I think I'm going to go to a squared setup of the AG M359s... Did they say the 18x8.5 ET35s would fit all the way around? I'd like to avoid spacers if possible...

yes the 18x8.5 ET35 should fit all around with no problems, and actually is probably the perfect setup for a sedan. really liked the M359 ZCP wheels...actually they were my favorite. but i wanted to maintain the staggered setup (optimal for coupes IMO, plus my V12s have only 4k miles on them) and the 18x9.5 ET33 weren't gonna fit out back without stretching/rolling etc.

PYSpeed.com ended up price matching to $999.99 shipped for the staggered 18'' M310s (18x8 ET35/18x9 ET38). overall i'm happy...but i do wish AG made the M359 in direct-fitment for the E46 non-M...

[JupiterBMW]

Werd, thanks for the info. I am really close to pulling the trigger, but I am also kind of wanting to get my hands on an intake too.

Do you know off hand the weight difference? Are the 359s lighter than the 135s?

[webster]

the 8.5 M359 should be about 23-24lbs, so yes almost 5lbs weight savings per wheel...not as light as ARC-8s but still improvement.

[webster]

per Fedex tracking the M310s should be delivered Monday!

[webster]

fedex truck just showed up!!

http://i47.tinypic.com/2ue49rt.jpg

getting them put on @ 5pm. pics to follow shortly :)

edit: just put one of the 18x8's on the scale: 23.6lbs. not too shabby!