[mosquad]

Hello!
I'm from Montreal (Canada) btw ;-)
I'm about to get the 2009 323i, and of course, I HATE the 16' wheels... My goal is to use these in the winter, so the dealer proposed to upgrade me to the winter tires and give me a $500 credit for the 4-season tires. For the summer I wanna get nicer wheels 18 or 19' with summer tires or 4-season
so my questions are:
1. Should I keep the tires and sell them myself and get more than $500?
2. Where could I get some nice 18 or 19' wheels (I want original BMWs); any websites with prices? my budget is MAX $5,000 (including tires) but paying less is more than welcome
3. For the summer, should I get 4-season or summer tires? which ones last longer? (I would assume the 4-season ones? )

Sorry if the answers are in the forum already, I did a search but given my time constraint I thought I might get some help from those familiar with the forum

Thank you!

[OverDrive]

i don't think you could sell the tires for much more than 500 anyway, so its best that you just get the 500 credit from the dealer. And for original BMW wheel packages you're best bet is the dealer or Tischer BMW: http://getbmwparts.com/

good luck and welcome to the forums

[TheAcAvenger]

Originally Posted by mosquad

Hello!
I'm from Montreal (Canada) btw ;-)
I'm about to get the 2009 323i, and of course, I HATE the 16' wheels... My goal is to use these in the winter, so the dealer proposed to upgrade me to the winter tires and give me a $500 credit for the 4-season tires. For the summer I wanna get nicer wheels 18 or 19' with summer tires or 4-season
so my questions are:
1. Should I keep the tires and sell them myself and get more than $500?
2. Where could I get some nice 18 or 19' wheels (I want original BMWs); any websites with prices? my budget is MAX $5,000 (including tires) but paying less is more than welcome
3. For the summer, should I get 4-season or summer tires? which ones last longer? (I would assume the 4-season ones? )

Sorry if the answers are in the forum already, I did a search but given my time constraint I thought I might get some help from those familiar with the forum

Thank you!

1. I'd actually take that credit. 16" oem tires aren't very expensive. The market for them used is pretty small, and you'd also deal with the possibilty of having to pay for shipping. All of these would hamper your profit. A set of winter tires for 16s is usually less than 150 per tire for something high end. That's 600 total, 750 MAX after you pay for shipping and mounting. Subtract your 500 and you've only paid $250. Not too shabby.

2. getbmwparts.com is an e90post sponsor selling OEM wheels. There are usually a lot of excellent condition/low mileage wheels for sale in the E90post Private Sales section from people buying a new car and immediately buying aftermarket wheels for it. Ebay is a 3rd option.

3. From my experience, most people who have dedicated winter tires buy summer tires for the summer. The mileage isn't great, but it's not all that bad. When you consider that you're only using them 9 months of a year it becomes even less of a problem. However, if you don't push your car all that hard, you'd never notice the difference between summers and all seasons. I had a set of Pilot Sport A/Ss on my last car that I was completely satisfied with. So it's really just a personal choice.

[mosquad]

Thanks for the fast reply!!

[alanchan]

just a friendly advise, I have 4 snow tires on my 323i and I can't drive in the snow.
on 5 % slope road, it skids like hell.
you need a front wheel drive car or all wheels to be safe in winter.
good luck

check out the forum here if you want to buy OEM 18" wheels

[mosquad]

I know there are a couple of tough days... my best friend has a 2006 323i with winter tires and it's not that bad, 4-5 days a year it's not drivable though! but it's more fun to drive in the summer than an all-wheel.
Also I don't need my car to go to work so on those bad days, I'll just not use it, it'll stay in the indoor garage.
But thanks though, you're right for someone who HAS to drive even in a snow storm, a fwd or a awd is a must!
So I guess it snowed in Vancouver hein!? lol

[MRQturbo]

Originally Posted by alanchan

just a friendly advise, I have 4 snow tires on my 323i and I can't drive in the snow.
on 5 % slope road, it skids like hell.
you need a front wheel drive car or all wheels to be safe in winter.
good luck

check out the forum here if you want to buy OEM 18" wheels

i have no problems with winters on my car....if you can't drive in the winter..its not the car...i would take my car with snows over any all wheel drive car with all seasons any day....

for OP...with a 5g budget for rims/tires....get some nice aftermarket wheels....you have a whole range to choose from with this kind of money available.....

[avandss]

Originally Posted by alanchan

just a friendly advise, I have 4 snow tires on my 323i and I can't drive in the snow.
on 5 % slope road, it skids like hell.
you need a front wheel drive car or all wheels to be safe in winter.
good luck

check out the forum here if you want to buy OEM 18" wheels

thats funny, i have a 2009 323 with brand new winter tires and my car drives just fine in snow, also note that my previous car was a a4 so....if im not complaining about it ....it must be fine

[avandss]

Originally Posted by mosquad

Hello!
I'm from Montreal (Canada) btw ;-)
I'm about to get the 2009 323i, and of course, I HATE the 16' wheels... My goal is to use these in the winter, so the dealer proposed to upgrade me to the winter tires and give me a $500 credit for the 4-season tires. For the summer I wanna get nicer wheels 18 or 19' with summer tires or 4-season
so my questions are:
1. Should I keep the tires and sell them myself and get more than $500?
2. Where could I get some nice 18 or 19' wheels (I want original BMWs); any websites with prices? my budget is MAX $5,000 (including tires) but paying less is more than welcome
3. For the summer, should I get 4-season or summer tires? which ones last longer? (I would assume the 4-season ones? )

Sorry if the answers are in the forum already, I did a search but given my time constraint I thought I might get some help from those familiar with the forum

Thank you!

what 5000$ on wheels.... easier said then spend.... on a 323 thats crazy but thats just me,

there is a local company in montreal that sells high quality replica wheels for bmw for a very good price, you could probably get a set of 18'' style 162 with tires for 2000$ !!!

[avandss]

http://www.replicawheelscanada.com/

[mosquad]

Driving in the snow is an "art"... 2 days ago, my friend was trying to get it out of a parking spot, and he was having trouble, so I asked to him to let me, so he was like "bro, it's my car so you can't just do it if I can't!" so I convinced him to let me and I indeed got it out... it's all about avoing making the wheels spin... ;-)

MRQturbo, I'll wait a couple of months since it's still winter, so I'll have time to do a thorough research. Thanks for the advice!

[mosquad]

Originally Posted by avandss

http://www.replicawheelscanada.com/

Thanks! I guess I'm gonna be saving some cash and go for a vacation instead! lol

[Road Cone1]

Why not invest the $5000 and upgrade to the 328i?

I have a Blizzacks and RWD and it is amazing in the winter, but then again I learnt to drive in a 300hp Camaro with summer tires-in the winter
Stability Control makes it super easy to drive in the winter, even a monkey can do it

Be sure to get good winter tires, not cheap ones.

[mosquad]

Originally Posted by Road Cone1

Why not invest the $5000 and upgrade to the 328i?

I have a Blizzacks and RWD and it is amazing in the winter, but then again I learnt to drive in a 300hp Camaro with summer tires-in the winter
Stability Control makes it super easy to drive in the winter, even a monkey can do it

Be sure to get good winter tires, not cheap ones.

It's funny cause I'm analyzing the 328i "upgrade" but I would still have to get nicer wheels for the summer. I'm building a spreadsheet with all different scenarios lol will keep you posted ;-)

[Nikos335i]

Originally Posted by mosquad

It's funny cause I'm analyzing the 328i "upgrade" but I would still have to get nicer wheels for the summer. I'm building a spreadsheet with all different scenarios lol will keep you posted ;-)

You will find a wheel/tire package for much less then 5000$ rest assured I would say more in the 2000$-2500$. I will most likely sell my stock 19's this summer I just haven't decided if I will keep them or sell my 18's instead (I want to keep one set as a spare set for Montrel pot hole season!!!). you can see some pics of the wheels in my profile to get an idea.

G/L and welcome to our little BMW community!

[avandss]

regardless of what you buy 323 or 328, you will have a blast, bmw's are awesome machines

in 2009 i dont see that much of an upgrade from 323 to 328, specially if you take it with the premium package! it even comes with a heated steering wheel!!!

[Road Cone1]

Why not a 2008 335i?
You can likely get one for the same price as an '09 328i.

[ctgazer]

yea...throw in that extra $5k on a 335i and all you need to a drop to look badass

[FKhanro]

I was/am in a similar position. I just picked up a 323. I did the math and I wanted to keep to a good lease cost so I went for the 323. Especially this year with the upgraded equipment list, the only real things missing between the cars was Xenons, power seats and 25 horses (I'm sure I'm missing a few things but these were the ones that were on my mind.)

My plan was to use the stock wheels for snows and keep the OEM runflats to return on the car at the end of the lease. My summer plan was to grab some take off OEM 18"s, specifically the 189 style wheel. I found a set on ebay from a local guy and got them with rubber for $1400US.

When I picked up my car just before the new year I realized that I really hate the stock wheels, both the look and the size. I went to my friends at Steelcase Tire and got a phenomenal deal on a set of 17" alloys and Continnental Snows (not much choice in tires as supply has really run down here in TO but so far decent tires). When I say phenomenal, how does $875CDN out the door, wheels and tires sound?

At this point I've spent $2275 on a set of 18" summers, 17" snows and I still own my brand new set of factory 16's. And my car payment is cheap--$525CDN tax in for my 323 with premium, auto and metallic paint.

Not the fastest of the bunch but a nicely equipped car with a great looking winter and summer set up.

[mosquad]

Originally Posted by Nikos335i

You will find a wheel/tire package for much less then 5000$ rest assured I would say more in the 2000$-2500$. I will most likely sell my stock 19's this summer I just haven't decided if I will keep them or sell my 18's instead (I want to keep one set as a spare set for Montrel pot hole season!!!). you can see some pics of the wheels in my profile to get an idea.

G/L and welcome to our little BMW community!

Thanks ;-)

I saw the pics, sick!! let me know if you wanna sell the BMW ones ;-)

Originally Posted by Road Cone1

Why not a 2008 335i?
You can likely get one for the same price as an '09 328i.

Originally Posted by ctgazer

yea...throw in that extra $5k on a 335i and all you need to a drop to look badass

I really don't like the mustache on the 2006-07-08 models... the 09 was slightly re-designed; if I go with an '08, it would be the coupe...

As of right now, 1:29pm, my options are:

1. Get the 2009 323i (or 2009 328i with nav; if the incremental cost is not too high)
2. A friend of mine buys cars in auctions and he's telling me I could get a 2008 328 coupe for a pretty good price. Warranty is important to me, so I don't want an older car and end up with the risk of paying for repair$$

The other issue is about the Run-Flat tires... I'm reading about it on the forum and there is so much info and different opinions. My feeling is that they're not great for the following reasons:
1. Takes a long time and $$ to fix a flat/broken tire
2. Increase the risk of breaking parts of the car when you hit a pothole (I'm from Montreal ;-) ) given that they make the car ride "rougher" (similar to a sport suspension; that's why I don't wanna add the sport suspension (that would be on the 328 of course) to the mix lol)
So I'm wondering how to fix the problem... still reading those 1,234,567 threads! on the issue.


My target price would be 35,000 CDN (all taxes/fees included) for a 2008 328 coupe with a max of 20,000 km; if more than this, I would just get a brand new 323/28. Will keep you posted on this... I'm meeting my auction friend soon...

ps thanks for the replies, you guys are the best source of info

[mosquad]

Originally Posted by FKhanro

I was/am in a similar position. I just picked up a 323. I did the math and I wanted to keep to a good lease cost so I went for the 323. Especially this year with the upgraded equipment list, the only real things missing between the cars was Xenons, power seats and 25 horses (I'm sure I'm missing a few things but these were the ones that were on my mind.)

My plan was to use the stock wheels for snows and keep the OEM runflats to return on the car at the end of the lease. My summer plan was to grab some take off OEM 18"s, specifically the 189 style wheel. I found a set on ebay from a local guy and got them with rubber for $1400US.

When I picked up my car just before the new year I realized that I really hate the stock wheels, both the look and the size. I went to my friends at Steelcase Tire and got a phenomenal deal on a set of 17" alloys and Continnental Snows (not much choice in tires as supply has really run down here in TO but so far decent tires). When I say phenomenal, how does $875CDN out the door, wheels and tires sound?

At this point I've spent $2275 on a set of 18" summers, 17" snows and I still own my brand new set of factory 16's. And my car payment is cheap--$525CDN tax in for my 323 with premium, auto and metallic paint.

Not the fastest of the bunch but a nicely equipped car with a great looking winter and summer set up.

Not bad... so you understand the business of having other wheels for the potholes and salt lol
The 189 are pretty nice... I was thinking about the 199, but now I'll wait for a good deal... there is no rush...

[montreal red]

if youre deciding between a 328 coupe and a 323 facelifted sedan, i'd still go with the coupe. just cos coupes have better lines to it... of course the big questions is whether or not you are ok with having less space in the back ... and if you need replica wheels, i have a few contacts here in montreal that i can share with you with good quality summer wheels and tires. just send me a pm. a good bmw rep wheel with summer tires should not cost you more than CAN$2k to $2.5k .... if youre thinking of spending 5k, thats forged wheel category already