BBS and offsets...
- themilkguy
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
Eric: thanks for the intel. Beat me to the punch about not needing rear spacers so thanks for that, too.
Carl: true, the rubber that's on there now is shite. I'm sure they'll look much better with a new set of 215's.
Thanks guys
Carl: true, the rubber that's on there now is shite. I'm sure they'll look much better with a new set of 215's.
Thanks guys
If it floats, flies, or giggles in bed, it's cheaper to rent than to own.
1973 Euro 520. booyah.
1973 Euro 520. booyah.
yeah doesn't surprise me, what are you planning on wrapping them in? And please put pics up when you decide to throw them on I'm very curious of the fitamentthemilkguy wrote:Eric: thanks for the intel. Beat me to the punch about not needing rear spacers so thanks for that, too.
Carl: true, the rubber that's on there now is shite. I'm sure they'll look much better with a new set of 215's.
Thanks guys
1986 BMW 635csi | 1972 BMW Bavaria


- themilkguy
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
haha I have two roads I go down (haha so punny) if I want decent tyres that are for a commuter I go with the cheapest tyre les schwab or tyre rack has or Craigslist, if I want to put nice tyre on it depends on the purpose, if I want an all around kick a tyre I go with a conti extreme contact dw and if I want track/ auto x performance I go with direzza star specsthemilkguy wrote:Haha - I have no idea yet. I'm still in the welding phase. There is zero chance of having this car on the road this year, perhaps next summer.
Many, many fish to fry before I get into tire selection.
I should have my wheels by friend I'll go home and throw my car on my lift and do a test fitament and post up some pics!
1986 BMW 635csi | 1972 BMW Bavaria


- themilkguy
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada
I assume you mean their length? (there's the noob shining through!)wkohler wrote:You're going to have to do something about your studs.
We have an industrial and truck supply shop in town that seems to have every element and increment of bolt, nut, and stud. I imagine I can show up there with my present studs and pick up some longer ones.
What length do you recommend? Assuming I'm even on the right track with this.
If it floats, flies, or giggles in bed, it's cheaper to rent than to own.
1973 Euro 520. booyah.
1973 Euro 520. booyah.
I must be nooby too, maybe he means diameter though most likely lengththemilkguy wrote:I assume you mean their length? (there's the noob shining through!)wkohler wrote:You're going to have to do something about your studs.
We have an industrial and truck supply shop in town that seems to have every element and increment of bolt, nut, and stud. I imagine I can show up there with my present studs and pick up some longer ones.
What length do you recommend? Assuming I'm even on the right track with this.
To Koehler, is there a way to swap studs virtually pain free without swapping the entire hub assembly? Is it possible to go with a lugnut conversion? I've only ever dealt with newer cars with lugnuts
1986 BMW 635csi | 1972 BMW Bavaria


Re: BBS and offsets...
Not sure if your car will have the same clearance as an E12, but here is what I learned.themilkguy wrote:Hi all, I did some searching last night but I'm not sure I used the right phrases because I couldn't figure out the answer...
I just picked up a set of 16" BBS basketweaves from an E28.
They are 8Jx16H2 ET24
So, that's an 8" deep, 16" rim with a 24mm offset, right? Right.![]()
Does this mean I need spacers?
The ridiculous part are the 205/65's on the rims - the sidewalls are stretched so wide I have NO idea how they were installed. There is no way these things were safe to drive like this. Craziness.
I installed the following:
16x8 et24 225/50/16 on the rear....fenders had to be rolled.
16x7 et11 205/55/16 on the front...if I hit a big bump at near full turn, I can hit the fender (my driveway). The solution is to enter my driveway at a more reasonable speed:) But otherwise totally clear.
Hope that helps.
1977 BMW 530i
1973 R75/5 BMW (motorcycle)
1973 R75/5 BMW (motorcycle)
Re: BBS and offsets...
If I ran 16x 8" on my Bavaria on both front and rear, with 215 35 16 think I would have to roll my fenders?Blaise wrote:Not sure if your car will have the same clearance as an E12, but here is what I learned.themilkguy wrote:Hi all, I did some searching last night but I'm not sure I used the right phrases because I couldn't figure out the answer...
I just picked up a set of 16" BBS basketweaves from an E28.
They are 8Jx16H2 ET24
So, that's an 8" deep, 16" rim with a 24mm offset, right? Right.![]()
Does this mean I need spacers?
The ridiculous part are the 205/65's on the rims - the sidewalls are stretched so wide I have NO idea how they were installed. There is no way these things were safe to drive like this. Craziness.
I installed the following:
16x8 et24 225/50/16 on the rear....fenders had to be rolled.
16x7 et11 205/55/16 on the front...if I hit a big bump at near full turn, I can hit the fender (my driveway). The solution is to enter my driveway at a more reasonable speed:) But otherwise totally clear.
Hope that helps.
1986 BMW 635csi | 1972 BMW Bavaria


You need an extra 20mm for the wheels, plus an additional amount for the spacers depending upon what width spacers you use.themilkguy wrote:I assume you mean their length? (there's the noob shining through!)wkohler wrote:You're going to have to do something about your studs.
We have an industrial and truck supply shop in town that seems to have every element and increment of bolt, nut, and stud. I imagine I can show up there with my present studs and pick up some longer ones.
What length do you recommend? Assuming I'm even on the right track with this.
Member, Board of Dictators
1991 730i
2002 LS430
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
1991 730i
2002 LS430
2005 Toyota Tundra SR5
I saw these recommended on an E9 forum:
http://www.jegs.com/i/ARP/070/100-7715/10002/-1
You'd have to figure out the stock length of your studs, then add to it as Eric said. I just copied and pasted a part number I found. As you can see, they're not cheap. It's an unfortunate side-effect of running those wheels. They're beautiful wheels on E12s, though!
When it comes to bolts, the stock wheel bolt is considered to be 25mm measured from the base of the cone seat to the edge of the threads. A BBS bolt that would have shipped with the RAs is 44mm. Aftermarket, there are no 44mm bolts, but 45s are acceptable.
http://www.jegs.com/i/ARP/070/100-7715/10002/-1
You'd have to figure out the stock length of your studs, then add to it as Eric said. I just copied and pasted a part number I found. As you can see, they're not cheap. It's an unfortunate side-effect of running those wheels. They're beautiful wheels on E12s, though!
When it comes to bolts, the stock wheel bolt is considered to be 25mm measured from the base of the cone seat to the edge of the threads. A BBS bolt that would have shipped with the RAs is 44mm. Aftermarket, there are no 44mm bolts, but 45s are acceptable.
- themilkguy
- Posts: 122
- Joined: Tue Sep 29, 2009 1:52 pm
- Location: Nova Scotia, Canada