Anyone recognize this wheel?

[BMWCCA2]

They're being offered to me for a couple of bills. Supposedly 17x8 from an E34. Owner says they're M5 wheels but they're obviously a one-piece replica, I just can't tell who makes them or if they're even worth that.


-Phil


[Edit by BMWCCA1 on [TIME]1125028414[/TIME]]

[BKCowGod3]

I recognize that script... but it may just be the logo for Aluminum?

[RetiredDoc]

Here's of photo on a 1995 M540i. In the link they were referred to as sport wheels.

[Tim in N FL]

Hi Phil,
Not a bad looking knockoff but $2,000 is way too much for them or does 2 bills mean $200 these days?
I remember seeing the "JML" script (top left center in your photo) on a set of wheels I had on one of my Toyotas
back in the 80s...wonder if they are MIJ replicas? What skins come already mounted on the wheels? If they're
something relatively expensive (e.g., higher-end Michelin Pilots ) and with good tread depth then you could justify
a bit more. Again, $2k is way too high...IMHO.
Best,
Tim

ps.
RetiredDoc...not sure which photo from Charlie Kindel's site you were trying to show but
the ones on his '95 e34 M540i Sport appear to be two-piece alloys



[Edit by Tim in N FL on [TIME]1125064346[/TIME]]

[BMWCCA2]

Not a bad looking knockoff but $2,000 is way too much for them or does 2 bills mean $200 these days?

Actually, I did mean $200with whatever is left of the tires on them.

I remember seeing the "JML" script (top left center in your photo) on a set of wheels I had on one of my Toyotas
back in the 80s...wonder if they are MIJ replicas?

I believe that's a Japanese standards symbol equivalent to "DOT" or "TUV"

What skins come already mounted on the wheels? If they're
something relatively expensive (e.g., higher-end Michelin Pilots ) and with good tread depth then you could justify
a bit more. Again, $2k is way too high...IMHO.
ps.
RetiredDoc...not sure which photo from Charlie Kindel's site you were trying to show but the ones on his '95 e34 M540i Sport appear to be two-piece alloys

What he was showing here and in your image: M540i/M5 wheel are two-piece bolted-fan late E34 M5 wheels. I believe the owner of the wheels I'm interested in thinks that's what he has or maybe that's what he was sold, or maybe he's just a liar and a thief. My question is, with whatever's left of the Dunlops on them, assuming they are straight and approximately 20mm in offset, are they worth a detour after dropping my daughter off at college tomorrowfor $200? I really was curious as to who makes them but can't find any source.

-Phil

[Tim in N FL]

Hi Phil,
For $200 with usable rubber remaining....not a bad deal at all even if they are replicas.
If they were genuine e34 ///M5 throwing star wheels you'd be looking at about $1000 minimum, right?
Nice set of wheels for the money if they are straight even IF they need rubber right away. They look
nice.
Best,
Tim

[BMWCCA2]

"Usable rubber" is questionable. Anyone fitting 245/45x17s on 8" wheels on a 535is without rolling the fenders? I'll count on another $400 in rubber if I like the wheels when/if I see them.
-Phil

[Tim in N FL]

Phil,
Check with Azure (Tampa area) who just installed a new set of 17" BBS alloys on his M535i replica....
From what I recall Daryl N saying about this installation, they did have to trim the fender well lips to
make the wheels/rubber fit. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
Cheers,
Tim

[John in VA]

I thought "JML" was some Japanese standard notation - it's on my 2002tii's Panasports, too.
The only complaint I've heard about repli-wheels were the heavy weight.
Great deal for $200!

[Bryan in NC]

Worth it for the detour. Even if you decide not to keep them, I bet you could double your money on the bay.

[Jay in VA]

Phil,

I do believe those wheels are a true BMW wheel. The Styling 21's came on the e34 ///M5 and could be ordered as an option.
Feel free to check me on this, It's a super deal for $200 IMHO.

[Jay in VA]

M System II "Throwing Star" styling 21

5 Series (E34)
8J x 17 front ET 20
235/45 R17
Single wheel
36 11 2 226 706
$330.99

9J x 17 rear

ET 22
255/40 R17
Single wheel
36 11 2 226 707
$361.00

[BMWCCA2]

No, no, no! Those are the forged 5-spoke "I-beam" wheels with the "Vegomatic" fan blade that came on the M5 and the 850Csi. These are cheap one-piece copies of unknown manufacturer. I have found out the owner bought them from Tire Rack (no longer listed best I can tell) and had them on his E34 but they won't fit his E39 540i Touring so he's clearing them out. Tires are Dunlop 245/45x17 Sport SP 8000s withhang ononly 5,000 miles! The wheels are immaculate, spotless, unblemished and in the back of my van. The guy was a very nice CCA member who takes great care of his cars and even his spare wheels. I don't know if t they'll ever fit my E28 but it was just too good a deal to pass up. I'm home now. Hopefully I can recoup some of the money I spent on gas hauling my daughter to school. Sheesh! $40 a pop to fill the van these days. Works out to about 10 a mile just for gas.

Later,

-Phil


[Edit by BMWCCA1 on [TIME]1125266189[/TIME]]

[spinedocab]

Phil, If you are not going to use them and are willing to flip them to a needy board member, I would take them from you.

I just bought a set of 5 used wheels from a guy that were represented as "4 straight, but one has hit a pothole and has a bend on the inner lip. Can be used for spare"

Well the reality is that when I got them and spun them ONLY TWO WHEELS ARE ROUND/TRUE. I took them to the wheel straightener and they tell me that they are not fixable because they are "center bent". So I am hosed. The guy is not returning my emails, and his home phone has now been disconnected (although I knew he was moving at the time of the purchase.

So anyway, if you are not going to mount them on the car, and are willing to flip them for not a ton of $$ I'd be interested.

Thanks,
Andrew Baker.

[BMWCCA2]

I'll keep it in mind. When I get the time I'd like to find out from Tire Rack what brand they are, and I'll measure the offset soon and spin them to see if they're round. Of course I'll likely mount at least oneon the left rear!to check to see how far from fitting on an E28 they come. But first I'll get some sleep, do some work, and catch up with the kids still at home. Got in around 3am last night and my wife still hasn't noticed the wheels and tires in the back of the van....

Andrew, what car do you need wheels for, and what are your preferences? What 17s did you buy? I'm not sure 16" wheels aren't really better for our cars than 17's. I'll probably end up using the 16x7" E39 BBS that are on my '88 on my '87 and go back to 15" on the '88. The M5 brakes are just too close a fit with 15s on the '87. I'm talking 1mm clearance AFTER I took a file to them.

-Phil

[spinedocab]

These will go on a '86 535. The wheels I bought are Mille Miglia II's in 17x8.5 et15. I mounted up a tire on one and put it on the car at a front and rear position. Saw no interference, but the tire was a 225/45-17. It looked really good with them on there and I know the grip must be amazing compared the the 205/60-15 which are on the car now.

Now worries either way, and no rush on the project of any kind. I just am a bit bitter at the moment re: the money spent on the MM's and have to decide what to do about it...

Mayb I will try to find two to match the two good ones I have, or flip them to someone who needs two to match up. Maybe I'll recoup something.

Thanks Phil,
Andrew.

[Jeremy]

[QUOTE="BMWCCA1"]I'll keep it in mind. When I get the time I'd like to find out from Tire Rack what brand they are, and I'll measure the offset soon and spin them to see if they're round. Of course I'll likely mount at least oneon the left rear!to check to see how far from fitting on an E28 they come. But first I'll get some sleep, do some work, and catch up with the kids still at home. Got in around 3am last night and my wife still hasn't noticed the wheels and tires in the back of the van....

Andrew, what car do you need wheels for, and what are your preferences? What 17s did you buy? I'm not sure 16" wheels aren't really better for our cars than 17's. I'll probably end up using the 16x7" E39 BBS that are on my '88 on my '87 and go back to 15" on the '88. The M5 brakes are just too close a fit with 15s on the '87. I'm talking 1mm clearance AFTER I took a file to them.

-Phil[/QUOTE]

Phil -

I for one would be very interested in knowing if you can get that wheel/tire combo to fit. I have a set of real throwing stars that have 245/40R17 (or were they 245/45? don't remember now) Goodyears on them that I haven't tried to fit yet. I know they're about an inch taller than the 225/50R16 wheels I put em next to.

Jeremy


[Edit by Jeremy on [TIME]1125254912[/TIME]]

[BMWCCA2]

[QUOTE="Jeremy"]I for one would be very interested in knowing if you can get that wheel/tire combo to fit. I have a set of real throwing stars that have 245/40R17 (or were they 245/45? don't remember now) Goodyears on them that I haven't tried to fit yet. I know they're about an inch taller than the 225/50R16 wheels I put em next to.[/QUOTE]

I misspoke. They are indeed 245/45x17, and one has a plug right smack in the center of the tread. Looks like it wasn't in long before they were taken off the car. I also measured the offset at 20mm on the button. Cleaned off the backs real good and there's still no offset measurement listed, only casting dates which look like they are in DIN format so perhaps this is a German replica. This tire size is a good 1-1/4 inch taller than a worn 205/60x15, or (for the geometrically challenged) a bit over 1/2 ride height difference. Even a bit taller than the 225/55x16 E39 wheels and tires on my '88meaning too damn tall!

[spinedocab]

I have mounted up one of the bent MMII's I have with 225/45 rubber and they fit fine front and rear.
The wheels are 8.5x17 et 15, So I think they should be about equivalent in relative position, what with the
extra half inchin width, but the 5mm difference in offset. Within a millimeter or so, anyway.

The tires may be too big, but I think the wheels may be fine.

Andrew.

[BMWCCA2]

[QUOTE="spinedocab"]I have mounted up one of the bent MMII's I have with 225/45 rubber and they fit fine front and rear. The wheels are 8.5x17 et 15, So I think they should be about equivalent in relative position, what with the extra half inch in width, but the 5mm difference in offset. Within a millimeter or so, anyway.

The tires may be too big, but I think the wheels may be fine.[/QUOTE]

I'm not surprised to hear they fit in static mode. Yours should have at most 1-mm more clearance problem at the front strut than mine assuming actual measured tire width is the same. Your extra 1/2 inch wheel width equates to roughly 6mm added to the inside which makes your 15-mm offset about 1-mm closer to the inside than my 8" 20mm offset wheels. However, I'll be real surprised if either of us can go down the road without severe rubbing at the left rear wheel opening, over bumps or loaded. I've even experienced it with 205x15" tires from some manufacturers.

Have you weighed your wheel/tire combination yet? Mine tipped the scale at 51-lbs. compared to 34-lbs. for the 205/60x15" Yokos on BMW E34 cross-spoke rims. These things are heavy!

-Phil

[spinedocab]

I did actually roll the car and turn the wheel lock to lock while driving forward and reverse. This with the assembly mounted onto the left front. I DID not drive the car with the thing bolted up to the left rear, but the clearance LOOKED to be sufficient..

And nope, I didn't weigh the things. I would like to because I DON'T want to add unnecessary mass to the rolling stock. That would seem to be a direct torque eater. ~_~

Andrew.

[BMWCCA2]

As surprising as that weight was to me, according to what I've been able to find on the web, it's only 2-lbs. heavier than the real BMW Motorsport throwing star wheel with fan and hubcap mounted with a similar tire. What must all that 17-lbs. of extra un-sprung weight do to the handling of a little E28? What say you, 17" wheel owners?

-Phil