E38 wheels on E34

E38 wheels on E34

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Discussion

Marshy

Original Poster:

2,749 posts

291 months

Monday 9th February 2004
quotequote all
I've read a lot of stuff on the web that suggests that E38 7 series wheels are a direct fit to the E34 5 series - no spacers needed etc.

Question is: are the rolling diameters of the wheel+tyre combos on both cars the same?

The reason I ask is that the guy that I sold my E38 seven to a couple of years ago replaced the 16" alloys and has offered them to me for nowt. The cross-spoke 15" alloys on my E34 are looking scruffy and old-fashioned, and it would be a nice cheap upgrade

Additionally, the current tyres on the E34 are 225s and the tyres on the free alloys are 215s. Am I going to notice the loss of a centimetre of tyre width and instantly slide into a ditch?

>>> Edited by Marshy on Monday 9th February 17:56

derin100

5,215 posts

250 months

Monday 9th February 2004
quotequote all
No problem...straight swap E38 to E34. My wife's E34 Touring is running 16" E38 rims. No need for spacers or even hubcentric rings as I was once led to believe.

www.thee32register.co.uk/attach/25276/Pict0026-embed.jpg

You probably won't notice too much difference between 215 and 225...assuming both are the same profile (ie 55) the difference in total rolling circumference is with acceptable levels ie. 215=642.9 mm versus 225=653.9mm that's a difference of about 1.7% You accelerate a bit quicker on 215 but cruise at higher revs...whether or not you'll actually be able to physically detect the difference?

>> Edited by derin100 on Monday 9th February 20:34