Will An E36 325is Spare Fit An E46 325i??

[SDSUe36]

So last night I blew a coolant hose on my E36 325is and pulled into a motel six to wait for a tow, then this guy with an E46 325i rolls in with a flat tire and his son who is late for some school dance thing, he didn't have a spare and when we learned they sent 1 tow truck for two of us (me being first) but we lived not far away, I gave him my spare (15" steelie...but still has BMW stamps) and said he could give it back in the morning. He was exctatic about the help but then called me this morning and said "hey thanks for the help..funny story actually that wheel was the worst thing that could've happened to me..." then said something about the lug nuts and damage???

My question is what would be the danger of running a 15" E36 spare on an E46 car?? I think his had 17"??? So now I kind of feel bad.

Another note is that the same rear right wheel blew out his original tire, then he had his full size spare that he blew out when I saw him, and now he had problems with my spare.....I'm thinking something on that rear end was already messed up.

[Speedy-325is]

he probably drove on it like a madman, without fully positioning it correctly....
it might not be exactly the same size tire.....but if you drive it like you should....there wont be any problems.
tell him, "the problem is between the seat and the steering wheel."

sounds like he has trouble beyond a spare.....and is just wrecking things by driving on them.

dont worry about it. you helped a stranded motorist out of kindness. good on ya!!!
what he does after that is his own gosh darn fault.

Mark

[Cruzin 323is]

ya, he must have not put the lugs on all the way!

bolt pattern is the same on e36 and 46! thats why you see alot of bmws with e46 wheels!

[94BMW325i]

So did he mess up your spare?

[drz]

You did well. Just make sure you get your spare back in good shape. The whell should have been a direct fit, so he or his car is doing something wrong.