Wheels are on!

[onebluemcm]

Inside photos only so far - just got them on, the car hasn't rolled even a few feet (the 4x4 look may be partly due to bound suspension from raising the car up). I'd say the offsets are pretty aggressive. Better outdoors photos coming this weekend. Curious to hear comments on the look and the offsets. To be honest, right now I'm undecided if I like the offsets on this car. The wheels rock, no doubt there.

Just to reiterate from the previous thread
18 x 9 et38 w/ Conti Extreme Contact DW 255/40
18 x 10 et27 w/ same tire, 285/35

Gained about 1.25" of contact patch width for each front tire over the 225/45 PS2s, and right at 1" more contact patch width for each rear tire. The 285s look like monsters compared to the 255s, and running 255s up front is so much more tire than the 225s. Can't wait to get it out, but probably won't be until Friday or Saturday...

Once I can get it out and get the suspension settled, I can get better photos to demonstrate the offsets more true to life - tough to do in her little garage space with a wide angle lens...

[Johnny Lin]

Looks clean

[MakoBimmer1]

[inTgr8r]

Dang... those wheels are sik!
I absolutely love the style with a smooth concave into the hub & spokes that come right to the rim.

Definitely my favorite wheels seen on a coupe.

[bavarian19]

nice!

[Blind32]

Looks great! Couldn't have picked a better color car to put them on too

I'm looking forward to the pictures this weekend!

[gatorfast]

Beautiful! They flow with the car perfectly.

[Juice84]

I personally like when the whole wheel concaves, these look great though. Something about that just screams for a giant center race lug to me

[ARISIN]

Looks really good. Waiting to see the outdoor pics. On a side note, did you ever consider putting darker colored rims?

[Quickid]

Looks great... what rims are those? Are you on stock suspension?

[onebluemcm]

Originally Posted by Quickid

Looks great... what rims are those? Are you on stock suspension?

RAC Monolites RG63. ~ 40 sets made in 19" for E9x series, 30 sets made in 18" for E46 M3.
For those who might care and do not already know, RAC Monolites is a custom wheel builder, evolved from the mutual interest and pasion of two good friends and performance car enthusiasts. The two owners of RAC MONOLITES (Ralph and Chuck) are very well known BMW members over on Roadfly. They started this company a few years ago because of the lack of world class quality wheels available for the BMW community. They have spent a a lot of time, effort, and money out their own pocket to give us better quality options. They believe (as do I) that a wheel should be built with the best possible materials and manufacturing techniques available FIRST, then focus on the apperance SECOND.(at each and every price point) I really wish more wheel companies had that philosophy. Don't misunderstand me here. I'm not against buying a "pretty" wheel, it just shouldn't be the only thing that matters. I enjoy looking at an esthetically beautiful wheel as much as the next guy. Unfortunately, I have discovered over the years that for most companies, 'looks' are what come first (about 95% of the time), and quality construction is somewhere lower on the priority list. (and sometimes not at all)

Specifics:

* 6061 T6 HEAT TREATED Aluminum Alloy (currently the best wheel material available)

* 8000 TON SPREAD FORGED MONOBLOCK WHEEL

* 18 x 9 Front , offset is +38, 18.62 lbs

* 18 x10 Rear , offset is +27, 20.14 lbs

* Wheels have a 72.6mm center hub bore so they are HUBCENTRIC (the fit is perfect, no centering rings needed)

* Can accommodate any 365mm or smaller BIG BRAKE KIT without spacers

* Powder-coated in a high quality finish of your choice

* Can accommodate tire sizes up to a 265F/295R.

* Wheels will accept the OEM roundel centercap. (RG63's will be designed from the factory to use the OEM E46 M3 centercap)

* The wheels will be forged in Japan at one of the finest manufacturing plants in the world, and normally take 30 days just to clear U.S. customs.

And yup, stock suspension. As I said before, these pics were taken immediately after installing the wheels and the suspension always is bound up a bit when it is lowered back on the ground. I believe once I get it out, it will settle a bit. I'll also be putting Dinan springs on, perhaps this weekend, for a subtle drop which i think will help the overall look out a lot without killing ride quality - hopefully helping handling a bit. And, for $150, lots more affordable than coil overs - for now....

[fitchesbass]

Looks good!

tires look mighty meaty

[onebluemcm]

Originally Posted by fitchesbass

Looks good!

tires look mighty meaty

Yeah, compared to yours on the RGRs, they do - but that's what you get with 18s. First drive today - outside in natural light, holy s#it - they look fantastic on the car. I have not pushed it at all because of the tires being so new. That said, going from 225/45 & 255/40 PS2s with 3/4 to half of the tread left on them to brand new Conti EC-DW 255/40 & 285/35 initial impressions are that the Conti's feel similar to if not more responsive than the PS2s in quick lane changes - for example, driving along this morning I had to swerve to miss some debris in the road - very snappy and smooth feel. They are at least the same in road noise as the PS2s if not a bit quieter. As you all know, road noise varies with the road surface type - I think on the smooth asphalt roads I drive, the Conti's are quieter but on the older, slightly rougher surface asphalt roads they are the same or maybe slightly louder than the PS2s. For tires that are substantially wider all around with larger contact patches, I can't complain at all if they are the same in noise level as the PS2s. Also, weight wise, I lost about 3-4 pounds per rear wheel and 4-5 pounds per front. Obviously, I need much more time in the car to give a more meaningful tire review but at least on initial impression, very happy. Granted, they are brand new and I know that figures in to things too (reaslitically and psychologically....) Gotta get some nice pics up here....

[vortex_tuning]

Looks great!

[ZStig]

nice