I really like the style 135 Msport wheels since that is what the performance package 330i cars (ZHP) came with here in the US. I recently bought a set to swap onto my wagon so I'm a little biased in my opinion.

However, I really like the CSL style wheels as well. I did a quick search and found this thread that shows them on a white touring. I believe these are VMR VB3's, which are now called V703.

I usually prefer silver wheels on darker colored cars like yours.

Help me choose AG M359 vs CSL Rep (sportline)

I'm looking to purchase either of the wheels in 18" for my Alpine White ZHP Price being the same, which would you choose. I know the Sportsline CS.16 have a 4 lb weight saving advantage

www.e46fanatics.com

 

I really like the style 135 Msport wheels since that is what the performance package 330i cars (ZHP) came with here in the US. I recently bought a set to swap onto my wagon so I'm a little biased in my opinion.

However, I really like the CSL style wheels as well. I did a quick search and found this thread that shows them on a white touring. I believe these are VMR VB3's, which are now called V703.

I usually prefer silver wheels on darker colored cars like yours.

Help me choose AG M359 vs CSL Rep (sportline)

I'm looking to purchase either of the wheels in 18" for my Alpine White ZHP Price being the same, which would you choose. I know the Sportsline CS.16 have a 4 lb weight saving advantage

www.e46fanatics.com

View attachment 915481

Having spent a bit more time looking at CSL style alloys, I reckon the VMR VB3 / V703 is the closest to genuine CSLs. They have the subtle triangle shape where each spline meets the outer rim. This might be because VMR actually supply BMW, they are listed on VMR's website as "Produced exclusively for BMW". They are spendy new though, so I've just updated my Ebay saved searches.

 

Also found this one, although it looks like these are 19's and it has some front fender mods to fit the CLS bumper.

 

Thanks @///Mark_D, the photo of the white touring is exactly what I was looking for, it looks really nice with silver 18" CSLs. Personally I prefer subtle mods, so I much prefer it to the blue touring with 19" CSLs, which to me looks a tad too showy with it's M3 wings and aftermarket body kit.

In the UK we didn't have the ZHP, but we did have the M Clubsport, which had the same suspension and styling as the ZHP, but with sound deadening removed, style 71 alloys (I'm not a fan), optional SMG gearbox (pre-DSG technology), and also unfortunately without the performance ZHP camshafts. I would definitely have taken the camshafts over the SMG gearbox.

Style 135s are quite common on E46s in the UK, where as CSLs are rare. Also BBS alloys hold a special cachet in the UK as they are uncommon and costly, and BBS manufacture OEM rims for many German performance car models. You do tend to see a lot more of BBSs in Germany though. We all like what's harder to get!

 

If you like BBS wheels there are plenty of cheap OEM options for the E46 like Style 78 composite and Style 101.

 

I'm not exactly sure which wheels these are but are similar spoke style as the CSLs. One of my favorite builds over on ZHP mafia.

peter's Touring project

EDIT: original first post below. just had a thought to revisit this and see what how my plans changed for the car since this post - and while i was planning to use a different motor/rear end, it still became a 330iT, just a 330iT ZHP now. :) it's an absolute riot to drive. with the addition...

www.zhpmafia.com

 

Think those are Apex ARC-8s.

 

If I'm honest. Any APEX Wheels look great on E46's.

 

That is one good looking car.

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3000 using Tapatalk

 

We had the SMG, or rather SSG, available here as well. The first car that I test drove when I started shopping for mine was a steel gray over black 325i touring with SSG. The car itself was pretty nice, but I hated that transmission in both manual and automatic modes, and then when I crawled under the car and saw how the thing was leaking from every hydraulic connection I knew that buying that car would mean a mandatory trans swap.

 

Yes I've read that SSG / SMGs weren't reliable. I went for a manual / stick shift 330i as even the non-SMG autos can go wrong at higher mileage if the oil wasn't changed earlier on. The manual is a little notchy changing gear, but the lack of a torque converter means more BHP at the wheels.

 

Sportline also has some CSL reps.

Sportline 8S 18" Gunmetal Wheels For BMWs

Give your BMW a classy/aggressive appearance without sacrificing performance with a set of Sportline 8S Wheels.

modbargains.com

 

If he thought the VMRs were expensive he sure isn't about some forged wheels!
Lol

 

Are the standard MV2 M Sport wheels forged or cast?

 

I added spacers to my 135s... 5mm in front and 10mm in the rear. A subtle change but I think it makes a big difference.

 

These look ok..17" with a 225 tyre but would easily run 235 - 245s ..chur

 

Lovely looking touring, Im in the same boat as you (albeit a 330d) and running MV2s and wanting a change of wheels. Like they say those VMRs and Apex' would suit it nicely, also like the Style 32's, and the styling 189s from the e90 I think suit the tourings.

MV2s do look better with spacers, and lowered a touch which I'm tempted to do before I change the wheels. Cant decide on a set I fully like or which suspension route to go looking OEM+

 

I've having second thoughts about the ARC 8s. They look really nice on the touring:-

 

Yes they do!

 

Damn, they look good! Do you have the full specs of the wheels/tires?

 

For reference, the gray car above has the ARC-8s that are in the ~ET40 range, mine are in the ET30 size so that I could get the more dished face.

 

APEX EC-7 ET35 8.5, 245/40R18 Square

 

I'm a total newb when it comes to wheels -- Would 18x9 with ET42 fit a stock E46? I want a flush wheel face, unlike Vicks, so with the high ET, I feel like I'd be getting that .

-Ted

 

Wheels are always a tough purchase. I think I like a set only to get that design or color on my own car and not love it. I'm also considering Arc-8 vs the style 135 which the PO had installed. If I go Apex than square 17's with some meaty tires or 18's in either square or staggered.
From what I've read 18x9 et 42 is good for the rear but can't help confirm the front.

 

I also have a 6MT. Originally had style 68 then got MV2s. Alghough heavier they are a classic, and good original ones are hard to come by now. Don't have Arcs over here - which look nice. MV2s really suit a facelift touring IMHO

 

Technically you do have ARC-8s in Europe because ARC-8s are just replica wheels. The originals that they copy are the BBS RC 300 series wheels, although finding a good set of those isn't easy these days.

 

Here is my car on BBS rk

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I am going with style 68 this time around. I want staggered, but so far I have been able to collect 3 fronts and 1 rear wheel in good shape. If I score either one more front or one more rear I will get something mounted.

 

dang you guys have such nice wagons! sick stands

 

Can't go wrong with the 135

 

I'm picking up a set of Style 193s to put on this weekend. We'll see how it looks on the touring, but on an E46 sedan it seems actually pretty decent:

(image not mine - this is some ZHP for sale in the Bay right now that I came across while trying to find a representative visual)

 

has anyone put style 22's from a 95 e36 m3 on their e46 wagon?

googling is turning up nada.

like this, but on an e46.

7.5x17 et41:

 

i have a set of those on my ZHP sedan for winter use. they look rad but really need some spacers, especially in the rear. they're pretty light.