need some help here badly...PLEASE

[wellyman]

Hey all:

Stumbled onto this forum while trying to research a 02 330xi I'm thinking about buying. I'm torn on it, and it's driving me crazy. I love the looks of the car, except the wheels, which I hate. I also don't like the wood trim that it has, but that's minor. I have found some wheel sites, and they just list that there wheels fit i/ci models, and none of them state xi. I know that the xi has some differences due to the AWD, wheelbase/ride height. I'm really wanting to know if I will be having any clearance issues with different wheels/tires as compared to an i model. I would really like to drop it some also, which probably isn't helping. I need to know if there are different offsets for the xi model and any factors that could limit my wheel selections. As a side note, what would I have to do to drop the car and inch or two? I'm sorry I'm not real knowledgeable with cars, but I'm trying to learn here. Am I thinking correctly that BMW's have coilovers that could easily adjust ride height? Sorry so many questions, but I couldn't find any answers to these questions with search. Thanks all.

[///M Power]

BMW does nto come stock with adjustable copilovers. Those are aftermarket items

[Furious]

hi and welcome to bmw-forums. as for Xi rims i think they are the same as the standard rims (what you need to look for is proper offsets not sizes). your best bet is to ask the dealership over the phone if said rims will fit.
someone correct me if im wrong though.

[wellyman]

I've been trying to find some rims that I like before i buy the car. I would have to swap them out right away. I like almost every OEM rim except the ones on it. I checked Circle BMW, and from what it appears there are only a few available. I love the double spokes, but from what i can tell none of them are available anymore. I'd like to stay around 1000-1500 for 17" rims. I know that the tire sizes are different for the xi vs. the i, so I don't know why this is and what the proper offset would be. I guess I'll have to call around, but was hoping there was a wheel guru here that could set me straight.

[Bert Smith Motorsports]

Any e46 99+ BMW wheel and tire will fit, all 3 series wheels and tires are interchangable except for the M. E36 wheels and tires will also fit, including the M.

[playdrv4me]

EBAY.

There are tons of OEM and Replica wheels on Ebay that will fit just right for an E46 and match the factories (even the M3 wheels) perfectly. You can get some of them complete with new tires for as little as 12-1500.00 and just about any past BMW style is available.

[EXtech]

Instead of lowering the car, you could just buy some tires/rims that fill the opening a little more

[jefft325i]

Regarding the wood trim, you can scrap that out for black or silver if you'd like. The car your looking at probably has the premium package if it has the wood trim (or the previous owner added it after the fact).

[Bert Smith Motorsports]

Originally posted by EXtech@Mar 4 2004, 08:18 PM
Instead of lowering the car, you could just buy some tires/rims that fill the opening a little more

No offense, but that isnt really the best advise. Getting bigger tires changes handling, speedometer readings, increases braking, higher unsprung weight, need I go on. Stick with your lowering springs, they are your best option.

[wellyman]

well I'm still torn here. I really like the car, minus the wheels which aren't too bad. I found that it doesn't have the cd changer as advertised.. I'm just not sure whether to get this xi or wait till I find a 330i, but I can't find one even near the price of the XI. Finding either an i or xi with under 30K miles for less than 30K is pretty hard to find here. The car was a lease, and was treated that way. A little wear and tear, more than I would have hoped, but I THINK its a great deal. I hate decisions. ghead