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      01-15-2014, 08:52 AM   #1
chrisny
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thoughts on wheel spacers

So, I've been stuck for a while as many of you may know on winter vs. summer set up. I like the 19" m sport wheels we have, but hate how far they sit inside the rear wheel wells due to the m sport fender flares. Why BMW didn't stagger the wheels is beyond me.

Anyone have any thoughts on using spacers to get a cleaner look in the rear wheel wells? I don't necessarily need taller, as I don't want (trying not to want ) the low profile tires that would come with going up to 20" wheels.

I've never done spacers, so all inputs are welcome. I don't know if it would make enough of a difference to be worth it, if they have any negative impacts, etc… This of course wouldn't solve the issue of how damn skinny they look from the back of the truck, but I'm trying to pretend that doesn't bother me either

Thanks!
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      01-16-2014, 12:09 AM   #2
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My 20" comes staggered. I have 275/40 in front and 315/35 in the rear. Admittedly, I would like my fronts to come out a little more, but the rear looks almost flush with the fenders.

My 2 cents would be, get the 20s. Instead of ghetto-ing it by using spacers, do it right.

The ride quality is fine. Far better than the S5s we had.

Z.
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      01-16-2014, 04:43 AM   #3
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I had spacers on my m3. Looked great but I wouldn't recommend it. You're introducing additional elements such as vibration and ceasing if you leave it on for too long. I also didn't feel too safe about t hem.
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      01-18-2014, 10:52 PM   #4
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Thanks guys. I was walking behind our car, with the 19's, and they're just too skinny from behind. I think spacers would just make it look worse anyway and I too am not sure I trust them, especially on the car with my wife and kids in it all the time.

I think I'll just wait for now until I find some 20's I like better than the 467's. Maybe some 468's or 468 reps. Maybe the 469's if I like them better in person (I've yet to see them in person).
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      01-19-2014, 01:36 AM   #5
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Good call. Safety first.

Z.
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      01-19-2014, 03:25 PM   #6
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Porsche offers OE spacers on all their builds, I got them on a Cayenne and a 911, never had a single issue and the stance was greatly improved, no more than 7mm front and 10mm rear is fine.
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      01-19-2014, 06:22 PM   #7
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spacers are fine. i have always used h&r spacers, no vibration issues or any other negative behavior. just make sure they sit flat on the hub and you should be fine.
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      01-19-2014, 07:32 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Galion View Post
Porsche offers OE spacers on all their builds, I got them on a Cayenne and a 911, never had a single issue and the stance was greatly improved, no more than 7mm front and 10mm rear is fine.
I'm wondering just how much I would have to use to make it worthwhile. The tires sit a good inch inside the fender flares (I have an M sport with 19's, so we're talking 255's inside the fender flares meant for 315's when you get 20's…). So that inch translates to 25mm if I wanted flush but no way I'd go that thick on spacers.. So would 10mm even make much difference?
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      01-19-2014, 09:38 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chrisny View Post
I'm wondering just how much I would have to use to make it worthwhile. The tires sit a good inch inside the fender flares (I have an M sport with 19's, so we're talking 255's inside the fender flares meant for 315's when you get 20's…). So that inch translates to 25mm if I wanted flush but no way I'd go that thick on spacers.. So would 10mm even make much difference?
I ment 17mm on the rear wheels but no further, thats what Porsche considers on all the Cayenne line as an option when selecting 20"s instead of 21"s, so I wouldnt worry one bit. Take a look at the Porsche Cayenne configurator.
They really make a huge difference filling the gaps. Just go with H&Rs and make sure they sit flush to the wheel hub.
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      01-19-2014, 09:55 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Galion View Post
I ment 17mm on the rear wheels but no further, thats what Porsche considers on all the Cayenne line as an option when selecting 20"s instead of 21"s, so I wouldnt worry one bit. Take a look at the Porsche Cayenne configurator.
They really make a huge difference filling the gaps. Just go with H&Rs and make sure they sit flush to the wheel hub.
+1

i used to run 20mm & 25mm (rear) h&r spacers on my jwt twin turbo'd infiniti fx35 for good 2 1/2 years without any issue. 15-17mm will be just fine
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      01-22-2014, 11:09 AM   #11
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I use H&R spacers on all my cars. No issues with vibration or any other.
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      02-08-2015, 10:40 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Zipforia View Post
My 20" comes staggered. I have 275/40 in front and 315/35 in the rear. Admittedly, I would like my fronts to come out a little more, but the rear looks almost flush with the fenders.

My 2 cents would be, get the 20s. Instead of ghetto-ing it by using spacers, do it right.

The ride quality is fine. Far better than the S5s we had.

Z.
I don't know about ghetto, but I had spacers on my 12' X5d and the stance was awesome..... I did have 20 inch staggered Y spokes..... It looked incredible.............
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      02-08-2015, 10:43 PM   #13
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...............

Forgot to mention that I had no problems, no vibrations..................
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      02-09-2015, 12:22 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoloYueng//M614 View Post
I don't know about ghetto, but I had spacers on my 12' X5d and the stance was awesome..... I did have 20 inch staggered Y spokes..... It looked incredible.............
This. I had a 12 50i and had h&r spacers 15mm in the front and 20mm in the back and everyone loved the stance.
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      02-09-2015, 02:31 AM   #15
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A lot of people will talk negatively about spacers whiteout any facts, the fact that porches is using them oem as an option says it all. do it, hate that skinny look, it corrupts the hole car ))
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      02-09-2015, 08:39 AM   #16
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i have aggressive spacers... i think either 25mm or 30mm all the way around? my post somewhere has the stats. but they bolt to the hub and then wheel bolts to the spacer....i prefer the extra lugs at standard length then extended lugs due to the weak sheer strength.

i have used spacers on every one of my vehicles to get the perfect stance...merc GLK, Bmw 335i, jeep wrangler 4 door lifted and 35inch tires, and audi S6...never a hitch
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      02-09-2015, 11:20 AM   #17
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Spacers are fine as long as the fitments are precise, and made from quality brand. My Hartge wheels come with spacers to make the stance very aggressive with 7mm + 295 in the front and 15mm +335 in the rear. No problem, zero vibration whatsoever.
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      02-09-2015, 11:35 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paicapo View Post
A lot of people will talk negatively about spacers whiteout any facts, the fact that porches is using them oem as an option says it all. do it, hate that skinny look, it corrupts the hole car ))
I can speak with facts and experience. Porsche uses spacers on the wheels/hub and spindles because they were engineered to use spacers. I know because I worked on Porsche track cars for nearly 12 years.

The thought of slapping spacers on a car and thinking they will work because Porsche does it makes no sense - they are assuming without facts.

I am one of the few who will not use spacers because of the negative impact to handling, the negative impact to bearing additional weight on the spindles and bearings. Think of it this way. Hold a broomstick with both hands on top of a block. You can put a lot of downward pressure without fatigue to your hands. Now, move the broomstick further away from the block. Its harder to hold the same pressure and your hands become more fatigued faster. So do all the components of your suspension, including premature wear on the inside of your tires.

Personally, I don't care what others do regarding spacers - it's your car and why you own it. But you cannot compare an engineered part, like Porsche's spacers, with internet dis-information.
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      02-10-2015, 02:45 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 42pilot View Post
I can speak with facts and experience. Porsche uses spacers on the wheels/hub and spindles because they were engineered to use spacers. I know because I worked on Porsche track cars for nearly 12 years.

The thought of slapping spacers on a car and thinking they will work because Porsche does it makes no sense - they are assuming without facts.

I am one of the few who will not use spacers because of the negative impact to handling, the negative impact to bearing additional weight on the spindles and bearings. Think of it this way. Hold a broomstick with both hands on top of a block. You can put a lot of downward pressure without fatigue to your hands. Now, move the broomstick further away from the block. Its harder to hold the same pressure and your hands become more fatigued faster. So do all the components of your suspension, including premature wear on the inside of your tires.

Personally, I don't care what others do regarding spacers - it's your car and why you own it. But you cannot compare an engineered part, like Porsche's spacers, with internet dis-information.
Working on Porsche track cars is hardly the same thing as providing insight and facts how bmw running line manufacturing and engineering process is different then the same engineering and manufacturing at Porsche where OEM spacers are an option. You have to come up whit better facts then that to make your case. Whit your argument you couldn’t even change the same size wheel from say an ET 45 to a wheel whit ET 40.
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      02-10-2015, 03:46 PM   #20
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wheel spacers are a never ending argument. it's an issue on every car forum. i think the issue with spacers are what people are trying to accomplish with them.

if you are daily driving and want the look of the flush wheels to fenders, i think they serve their purpose fine. if you're doing driving events and track days, i would suggest getting the appropriate wheels with the appropriate offsets because spacers present another variable in things that can go bad. for the latter, i'd rather get a wider wheel with stickier rubber than doing spacers to push out the track for "better handling" as the manufacturers claim.
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      02-10-2015, 05:16 PM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paicapo View Post
Working on Porsche track cars is hardly the same thing as providing insight and facts how bmw running line manufacturing and engineering process is different then the same engineering and manufacturing at Porsche where OEM spacers are an option. You have to come up whit better facts then that to make your case. Whit your argument you couldn’t even change the same size wheel from say an ET 45 to a wheel whit ET 40.
Sorry, I don't follow any of that except for the last point of ET. It is up to the engineer to decide what the range of ET can fit on the car. And no, I wouldn't buy a wheel that's not correct for the application.

If you want a wider track on your car, buying wider wheels is the answer - not spacers.
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      02-10-2015, 06:20 PM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 42pilot View Post
Sorry, I don't follow any of that except for the last point of ET. It is up to the engineer to decide what the range of ET can fit on the car. And no, I wouldn't buy a wheel that's not correct for the application.

If you want a wider track on your car, buying wider wheels is the answer - not spacers.
ok I will rephrase for better understanding:
post your facts that are backing up your statement that spacers is a cause of malfunction on a daily driven BMW

Last edited by paicapo; 02-10-2015 at 06:32 PM..
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