M3 - 18" or 19"?
Discussion
Just ordered an M3 but did not go for the 19" wheels. I felt the 18" were big enough and the 19" may compromise the ride over the 18". Not driven one with the big wheels so I am just guessing. Dealer did not have a lot to say about it. Anybody got any comments before I take delivery and start wishing I had ordered the bigger wheels?
Journos at both EVO and Autocar agree that for handling, pick the 18" wheels.
Autocar ran a story that dealers pay a little more for 19" equiped cars on a trade in.
A Colleague in work has the 19" wheels. They Cannot be repaired using normal restoration methods. After the dealer grazed a wheel pre delivery, the repair they tried wore away over the winter. They have agreed to replace the wheel. There has been discussion on the M3 forum about this. I'm afraid that I dont know the URL tho...
Autocar ran a story that dealers pay a little more for 19" equiped cars on a trade in.
A Colleague in work has the 19" wheels. They Cannot be repaired using normal restoration methods. After the dealer grazed a wheel pre delivery, the repair they tried wore away over the winter. They have agreed to replace the wheel. There has been discussion on the M3 forum about this. I'm afraid that I dont know the URL tho...
www.bm3w.co.uk I think - I think the general consensus of opinion is 18s for handling, 19s for looks.
You pays your money....
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 1st July 17:36
You pays your money....
>> Edited by hughjayteens on Tuesday 1st July 17:36
I've had an M3 with 18" wheels (whcih was stolen
) and one on 19" wheels (current car). I cannot detect any difference in ride quality. Some more highly skilled drivers than me say they prefer the 18" wheels, but for most of us, I don't think any difference wil be noticed, even on the track.
The CSL has 19" wheels, so they are not just there to look pretty.
If you want to save the money then go ahead with the 18" wheels. It's a fantastic car with either.
) and one on 19" wheels (current car). I cannot detect any difference in ride quality. Some more highly skilled drivers than me say they prefer the 18" wheels, but for most of us, I don't think any difference wil be noticed, even on the track. The CSL has 19" wheels, so they are not just there to look pretty.
If you want to save the money then go ahead with the 18" wheels. It's a fantastic car with either.
I've never been convinced by the 19" wheels = looks argument. Given the brake discs don't change size, you end up with more space between the discs and wheel which makes it look like a Max Power car... so I went for 18" and saved my money.
It's a great car though, regardless of wheel size!
It's a great car though, regardless of wheel size!
otherwise... have you driven in anger on our lovely roads? 
I'd go for 17s. Actually now I think about the painful ride with my 200sx on normal roads I'd go for 16s and softer suspension 
I owned an E46 M3 for nearly two years and had both 19" and 18" wheels (one for the road and the other for the track).
On the road, there's virtually no difference in ride quality and, unless you drive like a fool, handlng.
On the track, there's slightly more understeer with the 19's although I suspect it's at a marginally higher speed than when the 18's start to break away.
The standard tyre widths for both wheels are identical but the 19" rear wheels are wider. This might mean a slightly tighter tyre wall compared to the front which might explain the understeer.
Advantages (in my opinion) of the 19's are looks and ease-of-cleaning. Main advantages of the 18's are slightly more neutral handling and a wider choice of performance tyre (e.g. semi-slicks for the track).
Ian.
On the road, there's virtually no difference in ride quality and, unless you drive like a fool, handlng.
On the track, there's slightly more understeer with the 19's although I suspect it's at a marginally higher speed than when the 18's start to break away.
The standard tyre widths for both wheels are identical but the 19" rear wheels are wider. This might mean a slightly tighter tyre wall compared to the front which might explain the understeer.
Advantages (in my opinion) of the 19's are looks and ease-of-cleaning. Main advantages of the 18's are slightly more neutral handling and a wider choice of performance tyre (e.g. semi-slicks for the track).
Ian.
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