Hi.

I am considering buying a 2004 M3 Coupe. Looking through the option list, I
noticed that they offered 19-inch double-spoke forged alloy wheels as an
option (for $1,750). I am wondering what the pros and cons are of getting
this option, and would appreciate your opinions.

First, I don't care too much about the ride of the car. If it were very
important, I would not buy an M3. That said, if the 19-in. wheels
sacrifice a lot of comfort without gaining too much performance, it may not
be worth considering.

Second, the road condition in the Seattle area isn't all that good. There
are lots of potholes and rough road surfaces. I understand that very
low-profile tires/wheels are more prone to those bad conditions. I don't
want to end up buying a replacement wheel a few months after I get the car.

Last, weight is another concern for me. The 19-in. wheels are forged alloy.
Does it mean they are lighter than the cast-alloy wheels of the same size?
If the 19-in. rims/tires turn out to be a lot heavier than the standard
18-in. package, then could it offset any performance gain achived by the
option?

Thanks in advance!
Dai

--
Daigoro F. Toyama
1999 M3 Coupe

The 19's are forged and weigh almost exactly the same as the 18's, which are
cast. The ride is a little rougher, but I like it that way. Most track
guys use 18's as the wheel of choice, but I think a lot of that is simply
what they're used to. I have 19's on my M3 and won't go back to 18's. They
just look too damn good. Hope this helped.

M Power

2003 ///M3 Coupe SMG - 320 RWHP / 375 HP at the crank / 70 lbs lighter than
stock. "I love Corvettes!" They taste just like chicken".
MODS: GruppeM Carbon Fiber-Kevlar CAI / Eisenmann Sport Exhaust / Super
Sprint X-Pipe / Super Sprint S-Pipe / Evosport Under-Drive Pulleys /
Eurobahn-Superchip Software / Denso Iridium Spark Plugs / Hawker SLA Battery
(35 lbs lighter than stock) / ACS E-Brake and Pedals / Painted Reflectors,
License Frames and Keyhole Cover / Silver Roundels / 30% Tint / Hardwired V1
with remote display in ashtray.

"Daihard" <daihardM3@yahoo_NOSPAM_.com> wrote in message
news:39pib.549693$Oz4.492822@rwcrnsc54...
I
not
car.
alloy.

Without a shadow of doubt the 19" 's look much, much better than the 18"
's...

The car has much more of a presence with 19" wheels...


"Daihard" <daihardM3@yahoo_NOSPAM_.com> wrote in message
news:39pib.549693$Oz4.492822@rwcrnsc54...
I
not
car.
alloy.

On Mon, 13 Oct 2003 03:40:47 GMT, Daihard <daihardM3@yahoo_NOSPAM_.com>
wrote:


Okay, fair enough.


They will be a considerably harsher ride than the 18s and offer not much
more resistance to sidewall flexing. There is a significant 'law of
dimishing returns' in effect on wheel sizes. The benefit from 15" to 16" is
massive. 16"-17" is still a significant improvement, 17"-18" is more an
aesthetic improvement (in some people's opinions) than a genuine
performance one. 18"-19" is more of the same - even less of a performance
gain.

With 19" wheels, I wouldn't want to be driving on anything rougher than a
billiard table.


I hope you don't mind forking out every 5 minutes for wheel repairs then.


Apart from obviously being a *much* harsher ride, the car will also
tramline like a bitch and you'll be severely limiting your options with
regard brand and models of tyres you can purchase. If that isn't enough,
then you should be aware that because of the increased width of a 19" wheel
to maintain the same volume of air inside (and thus the load capacity),
wheel balancing becomes *very* critical indeed. Just the slightest out of
balance force which would not be a problem on a smaller wheel will give you
a wheel shake on a larger wheel. When for instance you lose a little bit of
tread in one of those potholes you constantly have to drive through, the
only solution will likely be to replace the entire $500+ tyre if you don't
like the steering wheel vibration that results.

The weight difference will be so minimal that you can forget about it. When
you get to these sort of wheel sizes, you'll quickly realise that the tyre
is the significant mass and not the actual wheel anymore. Especially since
that mass is now being spread further and further away from the hub with
the extra width.

19" is a very big wheel size indeed. It looks ridiculous on all but the
very biggest of cars. A 3-series BMW is not a big car by any stretch of the
imagination. It will likely make the usually very impressive brakes look
decidedly small and insignificant because they won't fill the wheels. It
looks really tacky when you can see straight through the wheel and to the
road under the car.

Ask youself this... how many genuine, real, racing cars (as opposed to
boy-racer cars) do you see with 19" or even 18" wheels on them?

None. Partly because in many categories they're banned to control costs,
but also because they offer nothing much more than aesthetic differences
over smaller wheels.

I can tell by reading your post below that you do not own a E46 M3 that has
19" wheels. I do. It used to have the stock 18" wheels, and I then went to
the OEM 19" wheels a few months after purchasing. It is only *slightly*
harsher than the 18" wheels. I've had zero problems with my wheels with
regards to potholes or anything else. You absolutely can't go wrong with
the 19" wheels on this car.


"DRP535" <drp535.nospam@softhome.net> wrote in message
news:a5okovsbnsi2bl6qfctojrink971qh3p4d@4ax.com...
list, I
getting
not
is
car.
wheel
you
of
alloy.
size?
When
the

Daihard <daihardM3@yahoo_NOSPAM_.com> wrote in message news:<39pib.549693$Oz4.492822@rwcrnsc54>...

The heavier weight of the wheels will almost certainly be offset by
the lighter weight of your wallet as you buy these wheels in the first
place and as you continue to buy replacements when you bend them. But
then, there's the marginally slower acceleration you'll see from the
larger diameter wheel & tire combination.

Maybe you should be a little more specific about *what* 'performance
gain' you expect to see by going to 19" wheels.
--
C.R. Krieger
"Ignore 'em, m'dear; they're beneath our dignity." - W.C. Fields

Try reading posts prior to your own. It may help. I'll repeat
again...since the OEM 19" wheels are forged, and the OEM 18" wheels are
cast, they weigh essentially the same. The M3 club I belopng to has more
owners of 19" wheels than 18". Like 30 or more owners. No one has bent a
rim yet.


"C.R. Krieger" <warp2_shadow@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:a8a578a8.0310130758.1e261f47@posting.google.c om...
news:<39pib.549693$Oz4.492822@rwcrnsc54>...
list, I
getting

run of thumb 17" or 18" wheels are for performance
19" and up are for possers - a 19" wheel will not improve your performance

330xi@canada.com


"Daihard" <daihardM3@yahoo_NOSPAM_.com> wrote in message
news:39pib.549693$Oz4.492822@rwcrnsc54...
I
not
car.
alloy.

If your primary goal is appearance, then just buy what you think looks
good. However, I've done a lot of reading with respect to recommended
tire/wheel options and the overwhelming majority of informed sources
indicate that optimum performance is achieved with 18" wheels. This
applies to extremely aggressive driving, most observations made under
track tests.

Just FYI


Daz N wrote:

Tom Burns wrote:


Hi.

I must confess that look *is* a factor. Almost all the pictures in the 2003
and 2004 M3 brochures show the 19-in. wheels, and they look great. The
question I keep asking myself is, is the improved look worth $1,750 if the
19-in. wheels don't help gain performance? I hear myself say "no," and I
am leaning towards staying with the standard 18-in. rims.

Thanks for your advice.
Dai

--
Daigoro F. Toyama
1999 M3 Coupe