BMW E36: 18-inch tyre rubbing against top of wheel well

[Herr Odo]

Greetings fellas,


Recently changed my standard 205/60 R15 to 18-inch. Tyre shop added a rubber bushing to each of the rear wheels to fit tyres into wheel well.


But they didn't do a good job...although the rear looks level, it appears the rear right wheel is a little closer to the wheel arch than the left side.


so when going over any bump on roads, the rear right wheel tends to rub against the wheel arch.

one option is to add thicker bushing to lift the rear suspension and get better clearance between tyre and wheel housing. the other option is to get stiffer springs.


which is the best route to take in order to maintain optimum driving dynamics and not make the rear look unusually high? If changing springs is better choice, what brand and price?


front wheels are fine.


to those who have encounter a similar problem, pls advise.


/Klang Valley resident

 

[valvetronix]

Hi bro,

Where did they install the rubber bushing and why is it being added there? To increase the ride height? Last time I used to run 18s on my E36, the rear right wheel tend to rub under hard cornering. The car was pretty low though as it was on B12, rims were BBS RC302 (8.5j 32et 225/40/18). I could get away by rolling rear fenders but chose not to, in the end decided to put on back my M-contours and problem solved. The car drives way much better too.

I assume your bushes are in good nick, what you can do is roll the fenders first as its relatively cheap to do. This should give you ample clearance. Mind sharing your current suspension & rims setup? If your offset is too aggressive I guess theres nothing much you can do.

 

[jarance]

you did not mention what type of tyres you are using.

what is the rim offset?

 

[Herr Odo]

See photos


My tyre size: 225/40 R18


http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/platypus31/RearRight_2_zpsmy7rah4l.jpg

http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/platypus31/Rear_right_zpssklodetm.jpg


http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/platypus31/Looking%20vertically%20down_zpszhhz90xm.jpg


http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l502/platypus31/Tyre225%2040%20R18_zpsdpnxsinf.jpg






This is info gleaned from budnik.com tyre source


225/40 R18

Overall diameter: 25.1 inches
Overall (section) width 8.9 inches
Sidewall height 3.6 inches

Ideal rim width: 7.5-9.0


Looks like tyres are positive offset. The tyre shop slipped in the bushings into the bottom seats of the rear shock absorbers.


Yes, rolling the fender is an option. Several ways to do it but one of the best is from a YouTube clip which showed a guy with a wooden baseball bat and a heat gun. But i don’t want to risk damaging the paintwork….know any good workshop who really knows how to do this?

The alternative to avoid tyre rubbing is either stiffer springs/coilovers?? but i don’t want to spend hundreds to thousands of ringgit as i’m looking for a simple solution.

 

[jarance]

The problem is the rim lar. The offset is not correct.

I have used 255 tyres without any problem. 225 should be OK if the offset is correct.

 

[jarance]

 

[jarance]

 

[gendong]

wheel offset for e36 is 35-45, where as the style 166 rims ur using has an offset of 12 or 28, which does not fit correctly.

as Sifu Jarance has pointed out, the rim is the issue. or you can roll the fender.

reference:
http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/bmw/166
http://www.wheelfitment.net/bmw

 

[Herr Odo]

Thanks Jarance/Gendong /valve for the info.


Now that I realise the wheel offset is wrong, is it still safe to use the wheels? I have read that a wrong offset will have a chain effect such as shortening the life of the wheel bearings and ultimately other parts of the suspension. so i'm looking at 4 wheels that are going to cost me a bomb in repairs if i continue to use them.


Unless someone tells me different, it looks like the best thing to do is get rid of the rims and get a new set with the correct offset.


Really like style 89/85/71/32 (http://www.bmwstylewheels.com/3/E36). ---- where can i get them?


adios for now.