[SYT_Shadow]

Hi,

Background:
I got my second 330Ci in the US. I originally planned to change the wheels to the beautiful Style 168s like my other 330Ci (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=850128&highlight=) but with all the potholes that isn't going to happen anytime soon.

Part I of my modification is here: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=850143&highlight=

SPACERS:
I was then faced with the absolutely horrible offset the M68 wheels have. I find it hard to believe BMW took out the Sport Package with an offset that looks like it belongs in a base Civic.
I'm not part of the 'hellaflush' crowd, but this clearly some work.

The car rides on a stock sport suspension and has the 245/40/17 rear and 225/45/17 front tires that it's supposed to have.

I searched online and found that people were talking about 25mm rear and 20mm front. Everyone recommends hubcentric H&R so I got that.

Vendor: Vividracing.com.

Pics before:

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6109.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6110.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6111.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6112.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

The install is pretty straightforward. To ensure a good fit it's recommended to use a steel brush to clean out all the rust from the wheel and the hub. After that you just screw in the spacer and use your old wheel bolts to bolt the wheel onto the spacer.
Pics of the install:

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6113.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6114.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6114.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6115.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6116.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6117.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6118.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6119.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6119.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6120.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6121.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6121.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6123.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6124.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6125.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6122.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>



Pics after:

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6129.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6130.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6130.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6131.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6132.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6132.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6133.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6134.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6134.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6135.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6136.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=CIMG6137.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/CIMG6137.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00151-20110805-1832.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00151-20110805-1832.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

This pic has the front spacers removed, it's meant to show the rear better
<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00152-20110805-1832.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00152-20110805-1832.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00153-20110805-1832.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00153-20110805-1832.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00155-20110805-1832.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00155-20110805-1832.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Words of wisdom:

In the rear, 25mm rubs just a tiny tiny bit. It isn't enough to wear the tire down but if you really look at the tire you can see it. It only happens when going over a truly massive bump (the kind that makes me happy I have 17" wheels). As it does not wear the rear tires at all I'll leave it at that.
Here's a pic where you can see that it does indeed rub. If it weren't for the shinier part of the tire I wouldn't know, as it does not sound like anything rubs:
<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00156-20110805-1840.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00156-20110805-1840.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

In the front, 20mm is too much and there is actual rubbing that wears the tires a bit. I'm switching to 15mm and consider that the max without rolling/stretching fenders. The pics are taken with the 20mm ones on and you can see the tire sticks out too much.

Even with these spacers that are pretty big, removing all the rust from the wheels and hubs means that there were no vibrations at any speed. I didn't notice more bump steer or any other reason to not do this.

STEERING WHEEL
Another important upgrade is the steering wheel. The grey 330 has the sport steering wheel with leather in very good condition (which I'm selling BTW, pm me if interested) as the previous owner kept it covered with a wheel cover from the beginning. Basically it's been exposed only 8000 miles, since I bought the car.

The M3 one is much fatter, plusher and improves the overall driving experience a whole lot.

Vendor: Ebay member Keshav23. It's the second time I buy one from him and it's brand new!

To install you have to disconnect the battery. It takes some fiddling around but if you want a DIY I can send it to you, just PM me. You need to dismount the airbag to gain access to the bolt that holds the steering wheel in.
As it's the second time I do that (the blue 330 got one a long time ago) it took me 35 min from beginning to end.

Here are some pics:

Before
<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00173-20110807-1208.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00173-20110807-1208.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

Comparison:

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00178-20110807-1222.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00178-20110807-1222.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

After:

<a href="http://s1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/?action=view&current=IMG00179-20110807-1240.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/z372/SYT_Shadow/Spacers%20and%20Steering%20wheel/IMG00179-20110807-1240.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
I hope you've enjoyed the journal!

 

[OneOfaKindTrini]

That steering wheel is sweet, and those rims looks sweet now with the spacers.

 

[SYT_Shadow]

Thanks a lot!

 

[Burn535i]

I hope you realize you are not supposed to bolt the spacer to the hub like that. you're supposed to get longer lug bolts and put them through the blank holes (as if it was a part of the wheel if that makes sense) you will seriously f some **** up when your wheels start wobbling at high speeds.

 

[peytonracer4]

I hope you realize you are not supposed to bolt the spacer to the hub like that. you're supposed to get longer lug bolts and put them through the blank holes (as if it was a part of the wheel if that makes sense) you will seriously f some **** up when your wheels start wobbling at high speeds.

yeah this ^ is wrong. with a spacer 20mm or bigger you have to bolt the spacer to the hub. that long of wheel bolts would be dangerous.
you did it right op.
i'm pretty sure H&R knows a thing or two when it comes to this kind of stuff...

 

[Burn535i]

only speaking from experience on this one. but on the plus side the car looks good so far, especially with the new steering wheel

 

[MercForHire]

Hey great thread! I didn't know what spacers were until I saw this. It's like having wider tires.
Great M3 steer wheel upgrade, I'll look into that sometime in future for mods.

 

[SYT_Shadow]

I'm glad you all like the new look.

Regarding the spacers, these are the Trak H&R ones that are meant to be installed like I installed them. The 15mm and lower usually work with longer bolts only, but when they get this big things change. As a side note, they were tested at 'high speeds' by a pro driver in a closed course, etc etc etc

 

[SYT_Shadow]

I can't get over how much better the new wheel feels! Everyone with an E46 should have it!

 

[01330cifirstbmw]

first a diy on lip spoilers and now a diy on spacers?? are you kidding me? Oh yeah its always good idea to have you rim face down on the pavement. :facepalm:

 

[Guest021715]

first a diy on lip spoilers and now a diy on spacers?? are you kidding me? Oh yeah its always good idea to have you rim face down on the pavement. :facepalm:

Its not a DIY dooosh

 

[01330cifirstbmw]

Its not a DIY dooosh

^^^Look at the title^^^^

 

[SYT_Shadow]

first a diy on lip spoilers and now a diy on spacers?? are you kidding me? Oh yeah its always good idea to have you rim face down on the pavement. :facepalm:

What's your problem? It takes a long time to take the pics and post them with a writeup.

I don't know what DIY on lip spoilers you're talking about.

Spacers are pretty easy to install, but I wanted to show the sanding before/after process as people always talk about it but don't know it.

The wheel face down on the pavement is just fine. The rubber protects the wheel perfectly well unless I throw it off a balcony or something.

These threads are meant to show the mod process of my car. I also do a little DIY. I agree that the spacers aren't hard to install, but my previous DIY was about replacing interior plastic parts and was much harder.

If you don't like it, don't read it. You must prefer the posts asking questions that have already been answered 1000 times than someone like me actually adding content to E46F

 

[SYT_Shadow]

^^^Look at the title^^^^

Title clearly says Grey 330Ci Build Part II. Then is the DIY+Pics part. It's good you're too advanced to need pics of a spacer install, but others may not be so lucky

 

[AlbertW 16]

:yikes: Wow, found it a little scary that you were working on the car in flip flops while it was held up in the air on the scissors jack.

 

[SYT_Shadow]

:yikes: Wow, found it a little scary that you were working on the car in flip flops while it was held up in the air on the scissors jack.

Probably wasn't the best idea in the world, but I wasn't anywhere near the bottom of the car so if something had failed I wouldn't have been hurt.

Since I started doing lots of DIYs under the car a couple years back, I first lift the car and then try to shake it around to make sure it's stable. I won't actually get under it unless I have full tripods holding it up, and sometimes I'll leave the jack in there too just to be safe.

 

[AlbertW 16]

Probably wasn't the best idea in the world, but I wasn't anywhere near the bottom of the car so if something had failed I wouldn't have been hurt.

Since I started doing lots of DIYs under the car a couple years back, I first lift the car and then try to shake it around to make sure it's stable. I won't actually get under it unless I have full tripods holding it up, and sometimes I'll leave the jack in there too just to be safe.

Well be safe it only takes one freaky thing to ruin your day and more. I had a limosine fall off ramps on my once.

 

[Guest021715]

^^^Look at the title^^^^

Oh you're from San Francisco?

 

[SYT_Shadow]

Well be safe it only takes one freaky thing to ruin your day and more. I had a limosine fall off ramps on my once.

You're right. That's why I take so damn long to lift my car. It takes forever as I'm very careful with it, and then once it's up I make sure to try to shake it to see if it's stable.

 

[SYT_Shadow]

Oh you're from San Francisco?

Hey, thanks for the lip DIY, you inspired me to buy one last week!