[Sicily1918]

1.) What size is the emblem on the center caps? I need to buy replacements for all four wheels. If you have suggestions on best place to buy that would be great.

Edit: upon further research on realoem.com it appears the center caps measure 68mm. Interesting coincidence. Please, correct me if I'm wrong.

Yeah, they're all the same (on the E46... and quite a few other models). Part 36136783536.

BMW changed them a few years ago so they look slightly different (the older ones have a white outer lip and look like they're 3-piece, while the new ones are two and look concave) -- since you're getting all 4, you should be good to go.

www.getbmwparts.com has them for $11.60 each...

2.) I currently had 225/45/17 around all four tires. I am in need of new ones and in my research I found that my car came with staggered tires. Front - 225/45/17 Rear - 245/40/17 So my question is what would the benefit be of going back to those two different measurements? Does it justify the cost and inability to rotate the tires?

*Bonus: I'm also wanting to get run-flats (which is what I was currently running). I'd like to hear some pros and cons.

I kept my 325 square when I went 18" (225/40R18) because I like to rotate the tires and extend their life. My ZHP's staggered, and I kept the 225/40R18 and 255/35R18 setup.

To your questions: If you like understeer, wider rears are a pro, and I can see why you might want it with the power behind a 330. Having had said that, I do miss the feel of non-understeer (my wife took the 325). Of course, this is coming after 120,000 miles and 13 years on my 325 on squares, so I'd grown used to a certain response that's different on my ZHP. I'd say it's really personal preference, except that you [should] have staggered M68 rims -- if that's the case, then you can't rotate the tires anyways, even if you kept it square rubber, and the point becomes moot. At the very least, you probably shouldn't run wider, heavier rims in the front.

As for cost, looks like a difference of $60 (total) for staggered Michelin SuperSports (assuming that's what you went with), so it's not much -- $525 vs. $585.

Lastly, I considered run-flats, then decided against it. They offer a harsher ride and handling that the E46 was not designed for, they're much more expensive, and they're more difficult to repair (can you plug a RF tire, so long as the sidewall's OK?). Also, I only run Michelin SuperSports, and they don't come in run-flats, so...

 

[Sicily1918]

I don't buy this. The 68 is the lightest factory 17" E46 wheel. An 8.5" style 68 (the widest factory 17") is still lighter than most of the narrower factory wheels. It's a bunch lighter than the 18" and 19" wheels that everybody wants to put on. And it's lighter than many aftermarket wheels.

So yes, it's heavier than a 7.5" style 68, but that's no justification for not using it.

Buy it only with the whole package; yeah, 8.5" in the front is not unusual, especially with aftermarket rims, BUT, would you ever actually run 8.5" rims -- with their more aggressive offset and weight -- up front while running the exact opposite -- lower offset and weight -- 7.5" rims in the rear? Think about how that would affect the handling.

I mean, you couldn't even have a true 'square' setup, as half of the tires would either be stretched or bunched in relation to the other two.

 

[Sicily1918]

I guess I can see where that came from, but that's not what I meant.

My point is the OP should first confirm he still has the staggered wheels. I've seen threads where people found out they have 3 of one wheel and 1 of another. Or with non-staggered tires already, maybe he's got 7.5" all around.

My 2nd point was there's no benefit to staggered wheels or tires on our cars with 50/50 weight distribution and not a heck of a lot of power.

I've just finished a hunt for a pair of 8.5" style 68s so I can run squared 245s on 8.5s on mine, and got my new tires last week.

And then if he wants to be able to rotate the tires, I kind of made a logic jump, without actually saying so, that he'd need square wheels.

Ah, well, then that makes sense.

I found the OEM center caps x4 for $10 on amazon.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AUJI35U/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ummm... I suppose it's possible, but I find it hard to believe that anyone could sell new OEM center caps for $2.50 when they go for over $10 each. According to some of the reviews, they're knock-offs.