I have a 02 325xi with a crapload of bent rims thanks to a lovely New England winter. I want to get a set of 18's. stock is a 205/50/17. Does anyone know how wide my stock rims are (sport pkg multi-spoke), and how wide I can safely go on an 18 inch rim?

If you are bending rims get, or stay with, 17's, the extra side wall will help.

If the stock size was 205 you probably have 7" rims or less.

You are safe with 245 width all around if you get the proper offset which is about 42mm.

If you're having problems with bending rims, going to a bigger wheel package means you will have less sidewall making it easier for the wheels to get bent.

Your stock wheel width I believe is 7" and can easily with 8" wide wheels.

If you are set on getting aftermarket wheels, Id look for something that is a 17". Also, you may want to get a tire setup that will have slightly more sidewall than stock. For example, if you get 17x8" wheels using 235x45r17 tires will increase your sidewall, and decrease the chances of bending your wheels.

Heres a good site to play around with different tire width/aspect ratio configurations.
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Thanx for the info. I bent two rims when I went on a little off road excursion durring a snow storm. I drive carefully on pot holes so I dont think thats my problem. All wheel drive is REALLY fun in snow:) I think I'll jump up to an 8 in wheel if I dont have to worry about fenders. Just one more q though, should my offset change going to a wider wheel or will I stay with 42. Alot of the wheels I see have a 38mm offset.

I just noticed the rims on Jerons bimmer are quite simmilar to the ones I was looking at. The car looks great, love the paint.

I need to get a better pic. That pic was in the evening shade and it makes the paint color look a bit off.

If you are getting 17 x 8" rims the offset will not be as critical assuming you get a 40 profile tire. I'd guess 38-45 will all work.

Thanx again. did you upgrade those brakes? They look Massive. The stockers on my 02 are the smallest of any car I've owned. But they wok pretty well.

Nope stock brakes. Those are 17" rims.

I thought the xi got the same size as the 330 but it look like you got 1" smaller. You must not have worked on many small cars though, the BMW brakes are fairly large. MY Nissan, Toyotas and Mazda all had small brakes.

Nope. My last was a 02 Avalanche 2500. Massive 2 piston clampers front and rear. I've had a few Crown Vics., an SS Impala. Mostly amercian muscle. Gotta say though, I've owned some expensive and FAST amercian cars in the past but none have impressed me as much as this BMW. Its not fast but wow can it carve a corner. Its like driving my bike. And I do all my own work, and BMW is the best enginered car I have had to work on.