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[iqraceworks]

Looking at installing some wheel spacers on my 07' 335i. I found several kits on amazon that look like they would work. Anyone ran a kit like this Good quality, or total junk?

https://www.amazon.com/Complete-Stag...7J5XM3B3&psc=1

[Vivek.]

I'm so wary of Amazon car parts I would DEFINITELY not risk it on something as crucial as these. If you're chasing down vibrations from a badly machined spacer or god forbid lose a wheel because the seller lied about the bolt hardness rating, the ~$100 you're saving on these over a proven vendor such as Motorsport Hardware isn't gonna look too good anymore.

The linked product has 2 ratings and 0 written reviews, so to me those ratings mean nothing--chances the vendor contacted someone to leave a rating are very high. This combined with the fact that every car part I've seen on Amazon has been complete trash makes me think it's just not worth the risk.

[iqraceworks]

I did check on the grade of steed that's used for the studs...and it's a 10.9, same as all of the "better known" brands out there. Not saying that alone makes the parts "quality" , but at least they aren't made out of some cheap china mild steel or something.

[filhotran]

I recently got Motorsport Hardware studs, lugs, and spacers for my e92 and their quality is great. Pretty affordable too

[iqraceworks]

Well, I got that Venom brand spacer and stud kit in. The quality of the spacers and studs is actually really nice. The studs have nice and clean threads, and the spacers are machined very nice.

They say that the studs are grade 10.9.....but I'm not really sure if there is any way to tell for sure.

[whyzee125]

Just get some used vrsf/bms/turner/macht schnell, etc. on here. Used sets can be had for about $60-70 shipped all day.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Well, I got that Venom brand spacer and stud kit in. The quality of the spacers and studs is actually really nice. The studs have nice and clean threads, and the spacers are machined very nice.

They say that the studs are grade 10.9.....but I'm not really sure if there is any way to tell for sure.

Well I sincerely hope that you wheels stay on and you have no issues.

I'm not really sure if there is any way to tell for sure.

This ^ is my main concern. They can say it's made of just about anything...does that make it true, or even likely to be true? Who knows

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by whyzee125

Just get some used vrsf/bms/turner/macht schnell, etc. on here. Used sets can be had for about $60-70 shipped all day.

Honestly...used studs would make me more nervous.

[whyzee125]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Honestly...used studs would make me more nervous.

Most people are driving on 10+ year old wheel bolts with zero issues. I was more talking about the extended lugs rather than a stud conversion.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Honestly...used studs would make me more nervous.

So you perceive something that has proven to work as being less reliable than some random unknown company out of China with 0 reviews?

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

So you perceive something that has proven to work as being less reliable than some random unknown company out of China with 0 reviews?

Used studs.......think about it. Why would someone be selling a set of used wheel studs?

Would you buy a used serpentine belt? Used idler pulley?

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Used studs.......think about it. Why would someone be selling a set of used wheel studs?

Plenty of reasons. Switched wheels and the studs are too long to fit under the center caps would be one of them (ie a BBS-style cap that covers the lugs). I'm not even sure what you're trying to imply as a nefarious reason for selling their studs....

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Would you buy a used serpentine belt? Used idler pulley?

These two items you listed are wear items, wheel bolts/studs are not.

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Vivek.

Plenty of reasons. Switched wheels and the studs are too long to fit under the center caps would be one of them (ie a BBS-style cap that covers the lugs). I'm not even sure what you're trying to imply as a nefarious reason for selling their studs....


These two items you listed are wear items, wheel bolts/studs are not.

Yes....wheel studs and nuts are definitely a wear item. Research them....after so many wheel changes and torquing over and over.. they stretch and wear and need to be replaced.

[Vivek.]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Yes....wheel studs and nuts are definitely a wear item. Research them....after so many wheel changes and torquing over and over.. they stretch and wear and need to be replaced.

Sweet, read a 9 page thread about it on the m3 section. Here's a couple things I noticed:
-everyone in the thread had either dedicated track cars or tracked their cars heavily. Based on your past posts this does not reflect your usage
-not a single one of them ever considered using a Chinese set of studs
-the vendor they concluded was best came in at $355 per set, which everyone felt was a very reasonable price

So my conclusion is that while you're technically correct that some people replace them as wear items, I don't think this applies to your use case. Let's be honest here, if you're buying unknown quality fasteners to save 50 bucks are you ACTUALLY going to be replacing them every year or two? Everyone who replied advised against the ones you bought and you didn't care for their advice... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[iqraceworks]

Great idea.....buying used wheel studs and nuts. Like you said above...people replace them for a reason. Why would anyone buy a set of used ones?

Congratulations.....you won the internet ��

[Raptor04]

FCP euro also sells wheel studs. They are very similar to the studs that come in the venom kit. I have both. Also the venom spacers aren't the lightest but I used them for a couple years. Only issues were the end of the stud stripping when removing it, but that's probably from the threadlocker and not getting it hot enough or overtigtening the stud when installing. This led me to replacement studs at FCP Euro.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/90m...12x15-90mm-brs

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...12x1590mmbrskt

[iqraceworks]

Originally Posted by Raptor04

FCP euro also sells wheel studs. They are very similar to the studs that come in the venom kit. I have both. Also the venom spacers aren't the lightest but I used them for a couple years. Only issues were the end of the stud stripping when removing it, but that's probably from the threadlocker and not getting it hot enough or overtigtening the stud when installing. This led me to replacement studs at FCP Euro.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/90m...12x15-90mm-brs

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...12x1590mmbrskt

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I took a closer look at the Venom studs last night. I've seen a bunch of cheap China hardware over the years, and I've also seen a lot of good quality stuff like ARP. These Venom studs have nice rolled threads, and a good coating on them. I'm not saying they are up to par with ARP, but I don't think they are trash either. I had the manufactured send me some documentation stating that they are in fact 10.9 grade....so at this point, I'm going to run them. The shear strength of a 10.9 12mm bolt is something in the thousands of ft/lbs. With 5 of them holding the wheel on, unless they come lose...they are not shearing off.

And yes......if you try to back out the studs with that allen head on the end of them, it's going to strip out. You need to "double nut" them to get them out...it takes about 250ft/lb-ish to break them lose with that red locktite.

Thanks again!

[Raptor04]

Originally Posted by iqraceworks

Thanks for the feedback. Yes, I took a closer look at the Venom studs last night. I've seen a bunch of cheap China hardware over the years, and I've also seen a lot of good quality stuff like ARP. These Venom studs have nice rolled threads, and a good coating on them. I'm not saying they are up to par with ARP, but I don't think they are trash either. I had the manufactured send me some documentation stating that they are in fact 10.9 grade....so at this point, I'm going to run them. The shear strength of a 10.9 12mm bolt is something in the thousands of ft/lbs. With 5 of them holding the wheel on, unless they come lose...they are not shearing off.

And yes......if you try to back out the studs with that allen head on the end of them, it's going to strip out. You need to "double nut" them to get them out...it takes about 250ft/lb-ish to break them lose with that red locktite.

Thanks again!

Heating it up with a torch also works and then you can back them out pretty easily.

[haaken675]

motorsport hardware makes great quality stud kits. Run them n my e30 track car.