HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

[kokchoon]

Hi folks,

Help needed and appreciated here

Need to replace my front rims as the steering wheel starts to vibrate a little when I reach 110kmph. LS checked for me and told me that one o my front rim is not entirely round which might be the cause of the problem. I found recently a US dealer with some balance stock of te rims I am using but he could not find any information of this model, guess this model is for the Asian market only then.

Anyone knows where I can find information about the offset of my car?

Thanks in advance for your help and advice.


Chees
KC Tay
9666 7935

 

[davidtch]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Check here:
RealOEM.com   Online BMW Parts Catalog
http://bmwfans.info/

If i don't rem wrongly, it should be:
7J: ET20
8J: ET20

 

[kokchoon]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Thanks David,

Wow, this site is amazing and really appreciate your lightning fast respond.


Cheers
KC Tay

 

[davidtch]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

U might b able to pick up a set used E60 wheels to fit. Otherwise, i m sure whether Milk can help u to find a set of E39 wheels.

 

[foxfrc5]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

IIRC E39 wheels have a different hub size from all other BMW wheels. Best to check with PML or tyre shops that are familiar with BMWs and this model.

+1 on davidtch's idea to get a set of used wheels from Milk/ Propel. Not easy to find new ones in the local tyre shops as the model is long out of production - I know as I have tried.

 

[davidtch]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

IIRC E39 wheels have a different hub size from all other BMW wheels. Best to check with PML or tyre shops that are familiar with BMWs and this model.

+1 on davidtch's idea to get a set of used wheels from Milk/ Propel. Not easy to find new ones in the local tyre shops as the model is long out of production - I know as I have tried.

foxfrc, thanks for the info on hub size. I found further info here:
5 Series Hub Sizes e60 > e39 > e34? - DTM Power BMW Message Board Forum

Which tyre shops are familiar wif E39?

 

[foxfrc5]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

foxfrc, thanks for the info on hub size. I found further info here:
5 Series Hub Sizes e60 > e39 > e34? - DTM Power BMW Message Board Forum

Which tyre shops are familiar wif E39?

Good spot -- I never knew the actual numbers. Cutting and pasting the relevant info for easy reference of other forumers: "the hub diameter of the E39 is 74.1 (mm) and all others have 72.5 (mm)". It also says that the offset on the E39 is ET20. Wow.

I always use Chin Wah on Killiney Road. They sometimes supply to PML IIRC. Ask for Wendy.

I suppose you could also check with Hurry on Bukit Timah Road (next to Serene Centre) and South East Tyre (the Kaki Bukit branch).

 

[kokchoon]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Thanks davidtch and foxfrc5,

You guys are amazing, thanks again for your help.

I have actually bought a pre-owned set of Breyton, 19" with 8.5J front and 9.5j rear. The rear rims are way too big for my E39 but I really love the view from behind the car, thus decide to keep them

I bought my tyres fro Leong Seng at Ubi and they provide very good service in my person opinion. Just ordered a set of OEM 19" 8J (non-staggered) rims for my wife's Benz B200 from them last month, should be delivering end of this month, quite reasonable price I must say

Back to my car, should I keep the Breyton or change to something that suits the E39 better?


Cheers
KokChoon

 

[davidtch]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

I have actually bought a pre-owned set of Breyton, 19" with 8.5J front and 9.5j rear. The rear rims are way too big for my E39 but I really love the view from behind the car, thus decide to keep them

What do u mean by "rear rims are way too big"?

I m not familiar wif aftermarket wheels. However, if this set of wheels is build based on E39 wheelhub size, it should fit nicely.

 

[kokchoon]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Hi David,

Sorry did not make myself clear.

The rear rims are 19" 9.5J, with the 275/30ZR19 tyres. It is so wide that the tyres actually came out of the wheel housing! Yes, you can see the rear wheels when you look from the front or back of the car....

My mechanic is suggesting that I widen the wheel fender so that it will not cause any problem when the car "bounces" at high speed. I already have some marks/peelings on the rear tyres due to the same reason.

Will see if I can take some photos to show you later.


Cheers
KokChoon

 

[davidtch]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

It is normal that 19" to be protruding out of wheel arch because of wheel width & offset. By changing to 19", u might need to change to stiffer suspension.

Anyway, ur E39 looks very fierce.

 

[foxfrc5]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Wow, 19 inch is a plus 4 upgrade from the original 15 inch rims on the base 520. You would probably have to roll both front and rear fenders.

I remember seeing a set of used 19 inch Breyton rims for the E39 at Autovox many years ago -- wonder whether it's the same set. Quite rare.

 

[kokchoon]

Re: HELP NEEDED! 1998 E39 523i Wheel Offset

Hi,

No, my ride is a 1998 523 and it came with the stock rims of 16" or 17", can't remember.

Only recently that I fitted the Breyton Magic Racing on, front is okay as it is 8.5J but yes, I'll need to roll the rear fenders


Cheers
KC Tay