will e46 wheels fit an e39? - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

metzger · 17th February 2003, 17:32

I am thinking about putting 19's on my M3 cab, and my brother, who has a 99 540 sport is interested in my 18's if they'll fit his car. Does anyone know the answer? I know the e36 wheels weren't interchangeable, but don't know about the e46. Thanks for your help.

Mike

MrGrant · 17th February 2003, 20:40

Hi mike,

I dunno about the technical requirments of fitting but I've seen two e39's (both 530i's) with e46 M3 18's. It looks kinda weird. I don't know if they are copies?

They looked like the real thing (from driving past)?

I've also seen an e46 with e39 M5 18's. Now THAT looks strange.

Personally I don't like the 18" M3 wheels. The 19's on the other hand, luuuuverly...........

good luck,

MrGrant

HaroldC · 17th February 2003, 21:08

Stock E46 wheels will not fit onto the E39 chassis without major work done to the wheels. The E46 uses a 72.6mm center bore, while the E39 uses a 74.5mm (I think) center bore.

It is easier with aftermarket wheels since they use hubcentric rings to change the center bore. This means it is as easy as getting the correct ring for the hub. But there are no rings on OEM wheels.

The only way to get an E46 M3 wheel to fit on an E39, you would have to have someone bore out the hub area on the wheel, and make sure that it is hubcentric. Not an easy task, but it's been done before. Then you would have to get spacers to move the front wheels out to the proper offset.

I do like the way the OEM 19"s look on the E39, but it would be a lot easier to just get aftermarket wheels that fit.