**Update** Went with the OEM 19" M3 wheels. Picked them up on 5/6/12.


I am posting this here because I know which wheels they'll say on the BMW-related forums. Plus you all know me and I trust your judgement.

The first set is OEM M3 19" wheels that were optional on the E46 M3. The second set is OEM 19" wheels from a 7-Series. Let's assume price for wheels and tires is the same for either set. Which do you like more?

I think the first set looks "cleaner" and won't ever go out of style. Although they will be harder to clean and I don't think I'm crazy about the polished look. The second set is really popular in the BMW community as well as the "stance" community if you know what I mean, because of their concavity and measurements. They'll be easier to clean but I think they may look dated once everyone hops on a different bandwagon in a year.




Specs:
Front – 19”X8”, 47 mm offset
Rear – 19”x9.5”, 27 mm offset






Specs:
Front - 19"x9", 24 mm offset
Rear - 19"x10", 24 mm offset

My car how it currently sits:

 

Chris out of the two you mention certainly the OEM E46 M3 wheels in 19". Please don't do the latter.

I know you mentioned only the above but once I grab my new daily E46 M3 I'm planning to slap on some good ol LMs.

 

LM's are a great wheel and look great too, but are a lot more expensive. I'll be around $1,000 for wheels and tires for either of these sets. I considered the Varrstoen knockoffs but I don't want to have to clean into all those spokes. Varrstoen also makes a Volk TE-37 knockoff that I'm considering also but that's going to push me above the $2,000 mark.

 

Get them powder coated gloss black. lol

 

I like them both. But I'd rather have more tire than wheel. The first set will always look good as it is a classic Bmw wheel. The second one does look cool and like the concaveness(mp?). But not a fan of the wheel sticking out farther than the tire. But than again I looking at the picture on my phone and it gives than illusion. . Good luck with the decision, its going to be a hard one.

 

I will second Nandska's opinion. I like the 2nd wheel option, but there is far too skinny a tire on them. Way too easy for a pothole to bugger up the edge of the rim. Not to mention street curbs! I think part of the appeal is the uniqueness. You see the first wheel all the time on 3's. I really like the wheels that were on my E39 M5. Can you stuff a set of those under the fenders?

 

I think that the first set looks a bit too stock to me.... The second set would look nice in a color other than silver! What about a set of m parallel's? Always loved those wheels, but not sure if they fit your application or not

 

You could always opt for the 06 M3 competition wheels similar to the European M3 CSL - far better than both of the above.

 

I'd go with the 7 series wheels. I haven't seen anyone with those on an e46

 

I put my M6 reps on my wife's 325xi wagon after I sold the couPe. I think they are a crisp looking wheel. I have a full set of Bfg KDW II tires in 19s if they are on your wish list.

 

Whichever set I choose, I'll probably go with a very slight tire stretch but nothing extreme like that white one I posted. I'm not going for the hellaflush look. Just flush

I don't know what it takes, but I've seen it done before. Couldn't find a pic of an M3 very easily but here's a 3-Series:



Hadn't thought about parallel's...might be work considering. Here's a set on a 3-Series.



I've heard those are very soft and I know multiple people personally who have had those wheels crack on them. It's even a problem that BMW admits to.

Not a fan of the M6 wheels. They can work on certain cars but I don't like them on E46 M3s.

 

I also like the look of Volk TE-37s. Rota and VarrStoen both make reps.

Rota:



VarrStoen:

 

I haven't done the dilligence on sizes/offsets, load ratings etc. but regardless I would not put a wheel designed for a 2 ton 7 series on a M3. Could you make it fit if you put a tire 10x too small on it twisted a bunch of camber into your car??.... probably, but I can almost guarantee you if you dug into the fitment numbers of the wheel(s) there is will something that will be a meterial/substantial misfit and will for sure in one way or another substantial impede the performance of your car if not tweak the hell out of the hub assembly / driveline. Not too mention again the load rating of the wheel and tire intended to be fitted to it. The hub geometry of your car has to be substantially different than what that 7 series wheel was designed for..... BMW engineers are better than that. And keep in mind when it comes to performance, unsprung weight - or lack thereof (of which wheel package is obvsly a component of) is of magnified importance to overall weight, and then within that rotating weight - axels, wheels/ tires etc. it is the most important weight component to performance .... esp. acceleration. Those 7 series wheels are basically truck wheels. Don't sink BMW to the VW crowd mantra of "if you can udersize the tire enuff and still have it hold air and can stuff it in the wheel well run it!!" LOL.

But boy do I have a deal for you!! How about a set of the finest wheels you can buy period?, all custom made to order in the good old US of A, this set made for BMW e90 335 will fit your car perfect, mounted with very good abt. 75% treadlife rubber for abt. $2.5k?? You can even pay me in installments. Specs below.

Ignore "delta to stock" that relates to when I was comparing to new Z4 stock wheel set. Excuse the dumb dumb question but does e46 M3 have TPMS? if so that would almost for sure be one issue you'd need to deal with if you wanted it functional.

I can get you weight figures too if you want.

HRE Model = 780RRetail for size = aprx. $1.7k ea.740Rs replaced within past 18 mo.s or so by model 790R retail for size = Aprx. $1.9k ea."R" stands for "reverse" = for reverse mounted (hidden) hardwareThey are true 3 pce. wheels with rear-mounted hidden hardwareHRE Fitment # Front : R8H19P387015 Translates to : 19" Diameter / +38 Offset / 7.0" Width Inner Rim Half / 1.5" Outer Rim Half / 8.5" Total Rim WidthHRE Fitment # Rear : R8H19P447025 Translates to : 19" Diameter / +44 Offset / 7.0" Width Inner Rim Half / 2.5" Outer Rim Half / 9.5" Total Rim WidthTires : Kumho Ecsta SPTHRE FrntHRE RearTire Width (mm)235265Delta to stock (mm)1010Tire Aspect Ratio (% of width)3530Tire Aspect Val. (height) (mm)82.2579.5Wheel Diameter (inches)1919Conversion Inch to mm25.425.4Wheel Diameter (mm)482.6482.6Wheel+Tire Diameter (mm)564.85562.1Delta to stock (mm)17.6515.65Wheel+Tire Diameter (in)22.2422.13Delta to stock (in)0.140.12



HRE Model = 780RRetail for size = aprx. $1.7k ea.740Rs replaced within past 18 mo.s or so by model 790R retail for size = Aprx. $1.9k ea."R" stands for "reverse" = for reverse mounted (hidden) hardwareThey are true 3 pce. wheels with rear-mounted hidden hardwareHRE Fitment # Front : R8H19P387015 Translates to : 19" Diameter / +38 Offset / 7.0" Width Inner Rim Half / 1.5" Outer Rim Half / 8.5" Total Rim WidthHRE Fitment # Rear : R8H19P447025 Translates to : 19" Diameter / +44 Offset / 7.0" Width Inner Rim Half / 2.5" Outer Rim Half / 9.5" Total Rim WidthTires : Kumho Ecsta SPTHRE FrntHRE RearTire Width (mm)235265Delta to stock (mm)1010Tire Aspect Ratio (% of width)3530Tire Aspect Val. (height) (mm)82.2579.5Wheel Diameter (inches)1919Conversion Inch to mm25.425.4Wheel Diameter (mm)482.6482.6Wheel+Tire Diameter (mm)564.85562.1Delta to stock (mm)17.6515.65Wheel+Tire Diameter (in)22.2422.13Delta to stock (in)0.140.12

 

^^^ here see if this is better. Last post didn't like my table

 

[QUOTE=Tonk;3531613]Whichever set I choose, I'll probably go with a very slight tire stretch but nothing extreme like that white one I posted. I'm not going for the hellaflush look. Just flush



I don't know what it takes, but I've seen it done before. Couldn't find a pic of an M3 very easily but here's a 3-Series:





Now that looks sharp. I especially liked that "shadow chrome" or whatever they called it. Accented the 3D texture of the spokes nicely.