New 3 series - which wheel size to go for?

[RobM77]

My Dad's just about to order a new 320d SE and was wondering which wheels are best? The standard 16 inchers look like a nightmare to clean, but I remember my 330i had a really bad ride on its M-sport 18 (or was it 19?!) inch ones.

As an aside, I find the idea that you can order any size (and mass) wheels rather perplexing given that I assume the suspension geometry and damper rates stay the same? Or do they change these to suit your order of wheel?

[CatherineJ]

I have an M Sport running on 18" wheels.

I have had cars with worse ride, but undoubtedly the 17" would suit the car better.

[bennno]

Its undoubted that all cars ride better on smaller wheels, but mr bangles creations (esp 3 series) require the largest wheel size to look half decent.

The 3 series on 16" wheels looks base spec. As soon as the first set of factory run flats wear out you just swap to conventional tyres to improve ride

Bennno

[MitchT]

I'm with Benno here - Anything smaller than 18" looks lost on a new 3er... in fact, even 18s looks small. The only new shape 3er that I've seen with half-adequate looking wheels was an E92 with M6 wheels.

[RobM77]

Thanks for the responses. My Dad isn't worried about how the car looks - just that it rides and handles well and is easy to clean

[bennno]

it looks and handles best at speed on 18's

if you want a soft ride then avoid sports suspension and leave it on 15 or 16" wheels.

bennno