wide wheels...with suspension?

[E36 325I]

whats up guys,

im putting the Bilstein PSS coil over kit on my car within the next two months..92 325I...i have 5 spoke borbet wheels on the car but they are 8.5 inches wide...Bilstein does not recommend this kit to be used with anything more then 7.5 inch wide wheels on the front end. I was wondering if anyone had any input on how i can make the wheels work with this kit because i really love the german style 5 spokes i have....Im thinking about buying two new wheels of the same style just with a width of 7.5...does anyone know how it will affect the handling of my car with the coilover kit installed?? I really want my car to handle so would it be a better idea to just sell the wheels and buy 4 brand new wheels that are only 7.5 inches wide???

Thanks for the help...you guys are some of the most knowledgable people i know when it comes to bimmers! Any advice is highly appreciated

[93 325i]

i think you should be alright.. i am on none coilovers. But it seems to vary from car to car and on what kind of tire. The only real test is to do it and deal if it is a prob.. I would say you'll be ok tho.. goodluck

Edit: i am running 18x8.5 all around, not the listed ones in the sig

[///M Power]

Youll run 8.5's just fine. Dont worry! My friend has PSS with 8.5's and on top fo that he is running 255 width R compounds.

[E36 325I]

thanks alot guys. the wheels arent on the car right now. but after i put the coilover kit on and save up enough to mount all the wheels with new tires ill put them on. Thanks for the advice. Would anyone suggest going with a tire with a little bit of a smaller width then the rim so the sidewall stretches? A couple of my buddys with cars said that that might help out also.

[catalyst.]

Dish out the extra 500 for the PSS9's, you mine as well just get koni's and springs if your not going for the full coil over system.

[E36 325I]

Originally Posted by catalyst.

Dish out the extra 500 for the PSS9's, you mine as well just get koni's and springs if your not going for the full coil over system.

Please Catalyst explain to me how the PSS kit is not a true coilover kit.

[///M Power]

PSS9 has adjustable dampeners whereas PSS is just adjustable height. From experience you will ajdust the stiffness more than anythign and this is why PSS9s are considered better. Really you could get Koni's and adjustable H&R springs (M3 only) or h&r sport springs (your car) and get a similar effect. I wouldnt agree with catalyst that Koni's with springs would work just aswell, because coilovers have a lot of research behind them to match the spring perfectly with the strut/shock. Youll be happy with PSS's, besides going with Koni's and springs is almost the same price as PSS's.

[97alpineM3]

I got some H&R coilovers... with max drop... running Hamann HM2 8.5 all around with 225s in the front... and 265s in the rear... no problem...

Thus... wider is better....

Les