Well, I am doing it......Building Custom 3 piece Roadstars v1.0

[jonesmechanical]

Well guys, the time has come. Its a great community centered around one of my favorite all time cars. I have to pinch my self everyday to see one in my garage. Fortunately they are as fun or more to drive than they are to look at.

Thanks to Andy (IRPancake) for inspiring me with his amazing 3d model of the epic BMW wheel we all enjoy as the roadstar. Ever since I saw it, I thought, wow, thats a start.

I have spend hundreds of hours helping my friends here on my favorite forum. Mostly with wheel fitment. Within my PM conversations, once again, another member mentioned something about wishing something that I have always wanted, a larger diameter and width Roadstar wheel. I have now hooked up with someone with enough passion, skill, and vision to help me with my own design that will pull 100% on the design of a larger 3 piece version of the roadstar wheel.

Having worked with just about every wheel manufacturer helping us Z3's get it just right, I figure its time to get it 100% right.

I will be posting the design process over the next few months. Just tonight, I spoke with my Designer, and the machinist. I am pricing Billet Profiles, I have already a good source on wheel halves and hardware, and now I have a machinist that has extensive experience building amazing wheels, that is willing to turn them out for me. Finishes will be almost unlimited. I am looking forward most to raw/anodized finishes.

I will be looking to all of you guys for your input on design, because its going to have to be just right.

I will be building the wheel one of two ways. Either in 18" or 19". 3 piece exposed bolt design on both diameters. Each diameters will share the same inner center section. One with flat lips (18") and one with stepped lips (19"). The billet profiles from which the centers will be made will be from the same material that forgeline, hre, fikse, CCW etc use. Same for the shells. The wheel center will clear big brakes of 14" in the front and 13" in the rear while still maintaining large lips. If stock brakes are used, more lip will expose!

I anticipate that with BBK fitments, 2" front, and 4" lips rear will be easily possible. 1/2"-1" more without big brakes. Sizes will be 8.5"-9.5" wide in the front, and 10.0"-11.5" rears. Of course, everything could be modified for even wider applications.

Primary fitments will be for the M coupe and Roadster, with Non MZ3 fitments available also.

Weight will be a priority, but not the most important. Quality and Style are going to be top of the list.

Final cost target will be between $4,000 and $5,000 for a full set (19" 9/11" widths). I know its a lot of money, but I believe that its going to be one of those things that you do once, and you do it right. If this niche was filled, or someone was out there about to fill it, I wouldn't bother. But there are no options that are even remotely like this.

Please be patient, this design process is going to be important, but I know it will take longer than I think. I am so excited and am confident that its not something that is going to fail. I have the right people involved, and this is what they do for many others in similar markets.

This is not a product for sale thread. Consider this a one off custom build for myself, with the intentions of sharing it once its embraced by the community. When the time is right, I will become a vendor here on the forum. Even my wife is excited that finally all of the talking/helping here on the forum will actually lead to something that I have to show for. I think this project will finally put an end to my never ending desire to change wheels on the Coupe. Of course, that won't do anything for the same issue I have with my 510. That will come later.

Update 3/22/2015, The project has been realized:
Originally Posted by jonesmechanical

[jonesmechanical]

Here is an example of how I want this to evolve (utilizing one my favorite cars as an example, the porsche 964 turbo wheel, then evolves into the famos, classic and much replicated "speedline for porsche" wheel, the 3.6 turbo wheel).

From this:


To this:

[dion]

OMG!!! I cannot wait!!! Please update this often!

[RemedialMoFo]

Ohhh me so horny Ohhh me so horny . Freakin awesome man, showing some love for those roadstars. This is gonna be crazy, I can't wait! Fresh paint and body or some bad azz wheels hummmmmm there goes my paint plans for next year lol. Anyway, congrats these is going to be huge .

[DrSasha]

subscribed. maybe that's how ill be able to enjoy roadstars on my wide, non m Z roadster.... just need to sell a paired organ.

[Z3speed4me]

Oh my! This I would buy in 18, and if you are helping in the build and design process they are going to be gorgeous. Definitely will be keeping an eye on this, regardless of how long it takes...

Sent from my DROIDX using BF.com

[coupe du jour]

interested to see how this progresses. personally, i wouldn't consider these in anything but 18"...but i'm happy to see someone finally going after this!

[tmaher]

Make 'em very light..

[CLWNSHU]

once these are complete guard them with your life!!!

[jonesmechanical]

I knew the response was going to be like this. There is a pent up demand. I already have one forum member that is holding off completely on a set I was helping with. I understand that this something that every z3 guy may not dream about. For those that either the budged doesn't work for, or you like another design, don't think I won't help you with fitment as I always have. I'm not doing this for the money, its that finally, the itch got so bad, that I have to do something about it. The costs were more reasonable that I anticipated.

When I talked to Kodiak wheels 3 years ago about this, he wanted $5000 deposit to do design and prototype work. At that point, my business was doing so well, that was I may have done it, but they totally dropped the ball, and wasted about 11 months of my time in unanswered questions and progress of any type.

Weight is a big issue for me. If I can get them to the weight of my forgelines, that would be amazing. Sub 20 lbs for 19's would be awesome. But the design is going to require what it requires to look good. If the weight gets in to the upper twenties, then I would consider that a fail.

I personally like the idea of flat lips on 18's. It makes brake clearance possible on BBK cars, and also I think it pays a bit more homage to the flat lip stock rear wheel. We have all seen some of the widened roadstar projects here on the forum, and they look amazing. The flat lip 18"/stepped 19" options makes satisfies most everyone, keeps the weight lower on the 19's. Most of all, it makes it economical do to two different sizes with one center.

[Eyebrakel8]

PLEASE consider an 18" stepped lip... if so you can bank on my buying a set.

[Wojtek79]

I know that the "fashion" today is to go with the biggest wheel possible, hence the 30" rims on cadillacs, but I think 18" would be most practical and probably get the most interest.

[clintjg]

Glad to see you seeking your unicorn man!

Consider contacting rotiform as well. then can probably reproduce an OE wheel with matching dimensions in an 18 or 19" one piece version....

[CaliAgents]

I can't wait to see some progress pics/ CAD designs Greg.

These are going to be amazing. Just don't let the baller's of vwvortex get their hands on a set. Proper wheels call for proper carne.

[jrmartin03]

Awesome...looking forward to everything about this project.

[jonesmechanical]

PLEASE consider an 18" stepped lip... if so you can bank on my buying a set.

Doing 18" stepped lips would just cost more money, the proportions and design would have to be completely different. If there is a demand for it, then the design work may justify it. Doing a 18" stepped lip would limit that center to only 18" with steps or 17" with a flat lip (if it exists?, I'm not sure that it is). I agree I would normally want stepped lips, as I am a fan, but this design kills two birds with one stone, and I think I may like the flat lips of the 18" I may become a fan of with the design of the center.

[jonesmechanical]

I know that the "fashion" today is to go with the biggest wheel possible, hence the 30" rims on cadillacs, but I think 18" would be most practical and probably get the most interest.

The thing about 18's and 19's on our cars, is you can go with either and they both work extremely well because there happens to be great tire choices that match the diameter of what the z3 cars need. Obviously there is a synergy with any modification you do on a car. Generally, with shorter sidewalls, to look right, the car needs to be lower. Suspension upgrade quality is a huge factor in how wheels factor in. Wheel weight is a big factor in all of this to maintain the proper performance of what our cars offer, and that is one of the design parameters. The response so far has been more 19" than 18" in my pm box about real live buyers. But you better believe that I will have a set of both.

Make not doubt about this, this is a selfish project, it's for me, and I am hoping if I approve, you all will also (that seems to be this community here for me). And I'm willing to share. I'm not looking to get all exclusive on my self and have the only set of wheel out there like this.

[yash]

subscribed. maybe that's how ill be able to enjoy roadstars on my wide, non m Z roadster.... just need to sell a paired organ.

Kidneys anyone!......gotta start saving ASAP.......can't wait .

[JWin]

Boo, in for 17s.

[Itsablurr]

This sounds awesome. I agree with the 18" flat lip config. Normally I am very biased towards step-lip designs, but the Roadstar wheel center I think goes best with a flat lipped outer rim half.

[DrSasha]

Ditto on the 17'

[jonesmechanical]

Boo, in for 17s.

I'll be happy to build you a custom set of single piece ones in 17". The fronts will be 7.5 wide offset 41 and Rears will be 9" wide offset 9.

They are ideal sizes and offsets in case you need to run snow chains. Those sizes also allow for the widest variety of tire choices that are available in 17". You can run anywhere from a 245 40 17 all the way up to a 275 40 17 on the rear. There are other tires that are wider, but they are too tall for the z3m.

I'll even do them for less than 1/2 price at $2200 per set. Just don't be mad when they have a BMW part number on them .

I stand corrected!!!! There is a 315 35 17. That would be a hot one. Time to get cutting and welding on that roadstar and add 1.44" to the backside, and .56" to the front side of the rears.

[Joemamaman]

pm'd

[mcoupemindy]

Please, for the love of god, design the center to enable the use of 17" lips. If you use 17" lips, you're going to have a load of racers interested. Also, considering designing the center to use standard lips (either 20 bolt fikse or 40 bolt kenesis). Designing just the center will mean not reinventing the wheel (whoa, bad pun - LOL!).

Contact me offline please (jonathan.michael.thayer at gmail dot com) if you need an investor in the project. I think that if sufficient demand is present, that margin could be made on such an adventure in addition to providing a great service to the community.

[Amuro Ray]

Square setup 17 -18. That stanceworks roaster with the widened roadstars has the right idea. Weight also needs to be sub 20lbs for the 18"