Torn on wheel decision

[hooligan_G01]

OK, so I'm on the fence about two different wheel options - aesthetically they are very different, but I like both styles.

Looking at Apex ARC-8 and the D-Force LTW5. Comparable in price and weight, with the LTW5s being a tick lighter, but I would want/need to run spacers with the D-Force as they are +40mm.

Anyone running either of these wheels on their X1 or other BMW?


LTW5:





ARC-8:

[mreric]

i would go for the lighter wheel. but if you have to add spacer that would make it heavier again.

they are both very good looking wheels.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by mreric

i would go for the lighter wheel. but if you have to add spacer that would make it heavier again.

they are both very good looking wheels.

Precisely my thoughts, plus, the LTW5s are only about .5lbs lighter per wheel than the ARC-8s, so not really much of a difference.

[Turbod]

I like the look of the ARC-8's more but this is going on your vehicle, not mine.

[bucketfoot]

Personally I would go with something that can be used without the addition of spacers, but then I may be biased as I use the Apex ARC-8 for my track tires

[hooligan_G01]

I think the ARC-8s are where I'm leaning for the reasons above - I slightly prefer the aesthetic, and I would rather not use spacers.

bucket - you got any pics with your track setup installed?

[LevinBR]

Go with used, BMW wheels instead. Wheels placed on production cars from factories are always built and tested to tighter tolerances and higher standards than aftermarket wheels. In fact, the same even goes for tires! No tires are of better quality than the ones placed on production cars by their manufacturer. Crazy, I know, but true.

Bonus: you are keeping your BMW a BMW and may not need spacers if you find the right set.

[hooligan_G01]

Originally Posted by LevinBR

Go with used, BMW wheels instead. Wheels placed on production cars from factories are always built and tested to tighter tolerances and higher standards than aftermarket wheels. In fact, the same even goes for tires! No tires are of better quality than the ones placed on production cars by their manufacturer. Crazy, I know, but true.

Bonus: you are keeping your BMW a BMW and may not need spacers if you find the right set.

Sure, what 18x9 OEM wheels are out there that are sub-20lbs and priced around $300/ea? Oh, and anthracite or similar dark color.

[mreric]

i would do my best to avoid the spacer if possible,
as the means more labor, cost and more work during a rotor change

but more importantly spacers does add stress to the suspension as it changes the intended geometry

[mreric]

Originally Posted by LevinBR

Go with used, BMW wheels instead. Wheels placed on production cars from factories are always built and tested to tighter tolerances and higher standards than aftermarket wheels. In fact, the same even goes for tires! No tires are of better quality than the ones placed on production cars by their manufacturer. Crazy, I know, but true.

Bonus: you are keeping your BMW a BMW and may not need spacers if you find the right set.

not always true. look at what happened to the explorers in the 90s and the recent ones too.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by hooligan_COLD

bucket - you got any pics with your track setup installed?

Here you go...

[kiloTHREE]

Originally Posted by LevinBR

Go with used, BMW wheels instead. Wheels placed on production cars from factories are always built and tested to tighter tolerances and higher standards than aftermarket wheels. In fact, the same even goes for tires! No tires are of better quality than the ones placed on production cars by their manufacturer. Crazy, I know, but true.

Absolutely balderdash.
So many oem wheels that are forged.
I had more written but I just don't care enough since this is borderline flat earth and antivaxx thinking.

I like the D-Force because they look easier to clean and I'm too old to be microfibering wheel windows.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by LevinBR

Go with used, BMW wheels instead. Wheels placed on production cars from factories are always built and tested to tighter tolerances and higher standards than aftermarket wheels. In fact, the same even goes for tires! No tires are of better quality than the ones placed on production cars by their manufacturer. Crazy, I know, but true.

Bonus: you are keeping your BMW a BMW and may not need spacers if you find the right set.

Apex wheels were developed specifically for BMW racing usage, so I'll take them for both weight and strength over the OEM wheels!

[bucketfoot]

FYI, there are occasional group buys on Apex wheels available through groups like BMWCCA or NASA Pro Racing.

I know there is one right now through Rocky Mountain BMWCCA (but only on 19" wheels).

[bucketfoot]

Also, when I looked Apex did not specifically list a model for the X1, but the ARC-8 in an ET30 offset works with no rubbing.

[bucketfoot]

A couple more just for fun...

[TyHardaway]

Originally Posted by hooligan_COLD

OK, so I'm on the fence about two different wheel options - aesthetically they are very different, but I like both styles.

Looking at Apex ARC-8 and the D-Force LTW5. Comparable in price and weight, with the LTW5s being a tick lighter, but I would want/need to run spacers with the D-Force as they are +40mm.

Anyone running either of these wheels on their X1 or other BMW?


LTW5:





ARC-8:

I was looking at the apex arc 8s myself I have seen some on here with them they look good IMO

[LevinBR]

Originally Posted by hooligan_COLD

Sure, what 18x9 OEM wheels are out there that are sub-20lbs and priced around $300/ea? Oh, and anthracite or similar dark color.

I'm not going to do your shopping for you, but I'm talking about used BMW wheels (CL or FB marketplace), not new from BMW. I paid $300 TOTAL for all 4 wheels off a 7 series and they fit my X1 with identical specifications. Then, I had them powdercoated for $500 - good as new. Total brought me to $800, $200 per wheel. Just a recommendation.

Originally Posted by kiloTHREE

Absolutely balderdash.
So many oem wheels that are forged.
I had more written but I just don't care enough since this is borderline flat earth and antivaxx thinking.

I like the D-Force because they look easier to clean and I'm too old to be microfibering wheel windows.

Kilo, I'm recommending this because I learned it from my good friend who works for Hunter Engineering and deals with wheels of all sorts constantly. It's a fact that OEM factory wheels are made with higher standards than aftermarket. That's not to say that all aftermarkets are bad... just that they don't have the same level of quality control.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by LevinBR

It's a fact that OEM factory wheels are made with higher standards than aftermarket.

That statement is not a fact in any way.

It is a fact that OEM wheels are made to a higher standard than some aftermarket wheels, to a comparable standard as other aftermarket wheels and to a lower standard than some aftermarket wheels.

You are trying to generalize something that most definitely cannot be generalized.

On top of that you are completely ignoring the risks associated with buy used wheels that could have been impeccably maintained or thoroughly abused.

I'm certainly not saying to avoid used wheels, as I bought a second set of used OEM wheels to use for my winter tires. You just need to more careful where you buy them from than you would buying something new.

[LevinBR]

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

That statement is not a fact in any way.

It is a fact that OEM wheels are made to a higher standard than some aftermarket wheels, to a comparable standard as other aftermarket wheels and to a lower standard than some aftermarket wheels.

You are trying to generalize something that most definitely cannot be generalized.

On top of that you are completely ignoring the risks associated with buy used wheels that could have been impeccably maintained or thoroughly abused.

I'm certainly not saying to avoid used wheels, as I bought a second set of used OEM wheels to use for my winter tires. You just need to more careful where you buy them from than you would buying something new.

Originally Posted by bucketfoot

That statement is not a fact in any way.

It is a fact that OEM wheels are made to a higher standard than some aftermarket wheels, to a comparable standard as other aftermarket wheels and to a lower standard than some aftermarket wheels.

You are trying to generalize something that most definitely cannot be generalized.

On top of that you are completely ignoring the risks associated with buy used wheels that could have been impeccably maintained or thoroughly abused.

I'm certainly not saying to avoid used wheels, as I bought a second set of used OEM wheels to use for my winter tires. You just need to more careful where you buy them from than you would buying something new.

True, not a fact. Just advise from an expert in the industry. And yes, buying anything used should be approached with due diligence. I still trust used OEM wheels more than new aftermarkets. To each their own.

[bucketfoot]

Originally Posted by hooligan_COLD

Sure, what 18x9 OEM wheels are out there that are sub-20lbs and priced around $300/ea? Oh, and anthracite or similar dark color.

If you opt for the Apex, which color are thinking of going with?

[Mr_Jack]

This is my second set of Arc 8. Had 19s back in 2015.

Continental Extreme Contact Sports are the tires being used.
I went with the following
18x9 ET30(added a 5mm spacer to make it ET25 and move the tire away from strut as well) 255/40R18
18x10 ET25 295/35R18

There is NOTHING wrong with quality spacers and lug bolts.