Can I run 4 8.5 oem wheels, from the stock staggard set up, all the way around?

no the front ones will touch the under fender

What? I'm running 17x9 Forgeline's all 'round. You can definitely run the stock 8.5" ones all around....however you may need a 5mm spacer up front depending on what size tire you run.

Good luck!
Wes
'95M3

Yeah, Wes is right, you can definitely do 8.5 all around. It just matters what size tires you put on. Also it might matter on how much you have lowered your car too.

It also matters on the type of strut you are using as well. Bilstein sports have a wider lower spring perch than stocks.

What about the offset, won't a special offset be required in the fronts??

i was debating to do this and the final suggestion from people is put it on and if u need spacer, get one.

Originally posted by SilverStreak
What about the offset, won't a special offset be required in the fronts??

41mm offset of the rear rims works fine. the only problem i have heard about so far is with a coilover setup and that was with wide 245 tires. i've run my 8.5s on the front, with 235s, and had no trouble at all.

in my sig, you'll see forgelines on my LTW. those are 17x9s with a 41mm offset. they would actually fit, with 235 V700s, without spacers, but i run a set of 15mm to widen the track.

The sectional width is the area you must pay attention to if you're running H & R C/O and with factory 8.5 wheels(ET41) up front. I found that if you limit yourself to a SW of 9.6, you should be safe, otherwise you'll need spacers. The 245/40/17 Michelin Pilots have a section width of only 9.6. So with my Kumho MX's in the same size, and a SW is 9.9.. I have rubbing problems at the lower perch.

Now with the stock shocks bodies or non C/O's with lowering springs, I read that they run S-03(SW10") on factory 8.5" wheels without a problem. But again, this is just what I read.. and I'm not sure if they running camber plates/swaped hats, which I think make a difference.

Originally posted by SG_M3
Can I run 4 8.5 oem wheels, from the stock staggard set up, all the way around?

Yes, you can. If you have stock suspension, you may or may not need a minimum 5mm spacer in front, depending on your tires. I run OEM 8.5" M Double Spoke II's with 245/40 Michelin MXX3's all around with the 5mm spacer. Its a great setup.

If you have any suspension mods, you might need to run as much as a 15mm spacer up front.

The rears should never really be a problem as the 8.5" ET41 wheel with 245/40 tires is stock. Larger tires or wheels that move the outside of the tire out could be a problem with the close fender clearance.

Originally posted by Keith_M3-4
But again, this is just what I read.. and I'm not sure if they running camber plates/swaped hats, which I think make a difference.

camber plates and swapped hats will not make a difference in reference to tire/strut clearances. the entire strut assembly moves in and out with either swapped hats or camber changes, made with plates. what this does affect is the tire to fender clearance amount. there is a way to increase camber and reduce the gap between the strut and tire, though. if you were to shim the 2 lower bolts on the strut, below the pivot bolt, this will increase your camber by pivoting the tire/hub around the pivot bolt on the strut. this change will decrease the distance/gap between your tire and strut too. i did this on my LTW (no camber plates) and gained approx. 1 degree of neg. camber and it tucked the tires into the fenders nicely.

I'm running 8.5 X 17 wheels all around my non-M 328 and have had no problems whatsoever, and that's with the car dropped a good 1.5" front and rear too!! You should be cool!!:)

Originally posted by davistld01
I'm running 8.5 X 17 wheels all around my non-M 328 and have had no problems whatsoever, and that's with the car dropped a good 1.5" front and rear too!! You should be cool!!:)

A non-M 328 is not an M! As I stated above, with an M, he will probably need front spacers.

I'm running 245 35 18 p-zeros all around and have no rubbing problems on my M3. The wheels are bbs rs2 18x8.5 with a special 41 et and h&r race springs w/bilstein sports.

"camber plates and swapped hats will not make a difference in reference to tire/strut clearances."

I assumed this since Mmaigret doesn't have rubbing issues and I do.. and the only difference is his strut hats are swapped. The problem is actually the section width of the 245 Kumho MX.. it's a tad more than 5mm(.2" or 5.08mm) so even with a 5mm spacer.. it's just rubs slightly.

Originally posted by mmm97
I'm running 245 35 18 p-zeros all around and have no rubbing problems on my M3. The wheels are bbs rs2 18x8.5 with a special 41 et and h&r race springs w/bilstein sports.

any pics?? i would LOVE to see what that car looks like. please post what you have. thanks.

8.5's all around will fit...I'm running 17x8.5's all around without a problem at all.

MPHATIC: Sorry not pics yet, need new battery. Your cars look very nice. It looks somewhat like your 95 but on black. The 245s fill in the front wheel well nicely. I may have to run 255s in the rear to fill in the rear wheel well. Will post pics when I get a chance.

mmm97
I am thinking about putting 235/40-18 Yokohamas on 18x8.5s all around my 95 m3. it is dropped about 3/4". what do you think about that? Would they rub? stock strut housings, no coil-overs.
thanks for the input.

Originally posted by badbadm
On a stock E36 Evo US spec M3, they will fit just fine.

this guy thinks he's funny.

US Spec Evo M3?

A friend of mine is running 245 so3's all the way around on stock 8.5's. He is lowered on racing dynamic springs and has bilstein shocks. Now if so3's are possible then i think you can get away with anything. UNLESS YOU ARE REAL LOW

One way to find out for sure -- just swap your fronts and rears and take it for a drive. Expect handling to change a little, though...

///MD: Depending on your offset, I could not tell you for sure but there shouldn't be a problem with your drop. The only concern is the fronts.

Why would you want 8.5" wheels in the front if your car is primarily street driven?

Steering effort would increase, wouldn't it?

drive it, you'll see. auto-x benifits are a wider track up front = less push and better braking/control.

Sean,

I run 8.5's all around with 255 rubber for the track.

Jim runs 9's all around with 245 S03's on the street.

Depending on the front strut, spacers might be necessary, but that's no big deal.

I did notice that when going to wider front tires/wheels, steering becomes a bit heavier. . . makes the car feel lethargic in a way.

Originally posted by Big Lun
Why would you want 8.5" wheels in the front if your car is primarily street driven?

Steering effort would increase, wouldn't it?
Mainly to be able to rotate your tires for even wear. Steering effort does not change, but you do get less understeer which is fine as long as you know how to drive.

i have 17x8.5 all around with a 35mm offset on 225/45/17 tires.