Any regrets on the 19in wheels?

[curvehound]

I have a SO M3 that will be entering production next week or so. The car is a stripper (only option is the paint and the adaptive suspension). But now I am having second thoughts about not getting the 19in wheels. They definitely look better than the 18in OEM but I know some have said the ride is significantly more harsh on bad roads and I live in Boston, so I figured it was safer to go with 18in. Plus it is cheaper and I will be using snow tires/wheels 5 months of the year.
Anybody who lives up north regret getting the 19's?

thanks
Ian

[Naz24]

Originally Posted by curvehound

I have a SO M3 that will be entering production next week or so. The car is a stripper (only option is the paint and the adaptive suspension). But now I am having second thoughts about not getting the 19in wheels. They definitely look better than the 18in OEM but I know some have said the ride is significantly more harsh on bad roads and I live in Boston, so I figured it was safer to go with 18in. Plus it is cheaper and I will be using snow tires/wheels 5 months of the year.
Anybody who lives up north regret getting the 19's?

thanks
Ian

I'm in NJ and i love My 19s. If you have adaptive M, i would go with the 19s...

I personally think the 18s ruin the look of the entire car, and i get SO many compliments on my wheels.

[04RC51]

Regrets? Hell no! Those 18s look like balloons! Totally ruin the car. The only way I would get 18s was if I knew I was getting aftermarket wheels but even then I wouldn't have been able to get CCBs so it was a moot point.

[HuskyBMW]

I don't mind the design of the 18's but they are too small. The 19's are perfect. I like them better than aftermarket wheels I have seen which is too bad because I would really like to go a little wider all the way around.

[tom @ eas]

Appear to be in the minority here, but prefer the style 18s over the 19s.

[Ian1973]

THe 18's grew on me, especially in person, but still like 19's more. Most people think they are aftermarket, so no I don't regret them. With some spacers they look awesome.

[Bonzer103]

No regrets on 19s. I think they are perfect for this car.

[mephiska]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I don't like the 19's design at all. It's played out. The same basic twisted spoke 5 point star design is the same for almost the entire M line now, and there is even a less polished 17" version on the 3 series.

Now that I pay attention to the design I find it's pretty common for basic OEM wheels. I walk around my neighborhood and see Toyota Rav 4's use the design, Honda CRVs, there's more out there. It's just not a unique design, it's just more chiseled on the M line.

Personally I actually like the 18" wheels a lot. The online configurator doesn't do them justice, they look a lot better in person and in photos. They're actually an anthracite color and have a nice darkness to them. Plus they're lighter, ride better, and have less unsprung weight.

In an ideal world we'd get something like this from the E90, but I'm not spending an extra $1000 on wheels I just don't like.

[mlc]

Nope

[CanAutM3]

Nope

Nothing worse than Montreal streets, and the 19"s are perfectly fine. But I didn't have much choice, the 18"s aren't offered in Canada.

[rr006rbc]

Absolutely not. I love them and wouldn't order the 18s unless you plan on getting a set of aftermarket wheels. They don't seem to stay clean for long though because of the high gloss on them as opposed to the 18s.

[///M-er-gized]

I like the 18s, but this is the one pending decision I have. I've settled on everything else. I want a YMB M3, exec package, DCT, adaptive and HK with CF roof and trim. Believe it or not, it might come down to the negotiation process.

I know $1,200 is not a lot when you're spending this kind of dough, but sooner or later, you have to draw the line. If I feel like I'm getting a real good deal, then I might go with the 19s. If I feel like I'm getting squeezed, I'll stick with 18s.

[curvehound]

thanks for all the replies. I kind of assumed the consensus was going to be go with the 19's but it does sound like there are quite a few supporters of the 18s. I agree with Mephiska that the E90 competition pack wheels are great (I have them on my current e90). maybe I could find a used set of those (I assume they would clear the brakes on the F80)

Ian

[captainaudio]

After my experience with 18" RFTs with the stock (crap) OEM dampers on my 2007 335i I as very gun shy about 19s in NYC. On the 335i I destroyed 8 tires and bent 5 rims in the 7 years I had the car, and most of my driving was outside the city.

I loved the adaptive suspension in the 750Lix we had and would not r consider getting a BMW that did not have adaptive suspension. I went with the 18s on the M4, I like the way they look and am very happy with the way the car rides and handles. They do have more sidewall than the 18s on my 335i did so that may be a factor. Would I have had issues with the 19s? I honestly don't know.

The 335i was orders of magnitude better after I got rid of the RFTs and installed Koni FSD shocks.

[ZPinhead]

I love my black 19s!

[scott13]

Originally Posted by curvehound

I have a SO M3 that will be entering production next week or so. The car is a stripper (only option is the paint and the adaptive suspension). But now I am having second thoughts about not getting the 19in wheels. They definitely look better than the 18in OEM but I know some have said the ride is significantly more harsh on bad roads and I live in Boston, so I figured it was safer to go with 18in. Plus it is cheaper and I will be using snow tires/wheels 5 months of the year.
Anybody who lives up north regret getting the 19's?

thanks
Ian

Can't directly compare 18's and 19's, but can definitely would not call the ride harsh on 19's. Currently doing the daily commute to Cambridge on some of the most wretched roads in the known world and have no complaints about the 19's.


Scott

[M4 LF]

I was hoping to like the 18s. Even went to see it in person multiple times. But it just doesn't do it for me. I much prefer some 4 series wheels over that one. But if you like the 18s, you just saved yourself $1200.

Seriously if I can only have one option on this car, it will be 19s. Followed by DCT, adaptive suspension, HK stereo, and executive package. Actually DCT and 19s are very close calls for me.

[M3SSY]

people in the track section say there are more tire choices for the 18's

I like the 18's on my car, but I like the look of meaty side wall

[gatorfast]

I like the look of the 18s over the 19s. As for ride quality, there is definitely a noticeable increase in ride comfort going from 19s to 18s.

I say go for the 18s as chances are you will love them and they will ride better over rougher roads. You can always upsize in the future if you really want to.

[YasM3]

[W///]

Originally Posted by mephiska

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I don't like the 19's design at all. It's played out. The same basic twisted spoke 5 point star design is the same for almost the entire M line now, and there is even a less polished 17" version on the 3 series.

Now that I pay attention to the design I find it's pretty common for basic OEM wheels. I walk around my neighborhood and see Toyota Rav 4's use the design, Honda CRVs, there's more out there. It's just not a unique design, it's just more chiseled on the M line.

Personally I actually like the 18" wheels a lot. The online configurator doesn't do them justice, they look a lot better in person and in photos. They're actually an anthracite color and have a nice darkness to them. Plus they're lighter, ride better, and have less unsprung weight.

In an ideal world we'd get something like this from the E90, but I'm not spending an extra $1000 on wheels I just don't like.

Agreed. I think the 19s are pretty boring. The 18s look really good, but the car needs a drop to pull it off IMO.

Personally, I'd go for 18s just because I know there's a high chance I'd end up going aftermarket anyway.

[golovko]

Originally Posted by curvehound

I have a SO M3 that will be entering production next week or so. The car is a stripper (only option is the paint and the adaptive suspension). But now I am having second thoughts about not getting the 19in wheels. They definitely look better than the 18in OEM but I know some have said the ride is significantly more harsh on bad roads and I live in Boston, so I figured it was safer to go with 18in. Plus it is cheaper and I will be using snow tires/wheels 5 months of the year.
Anybody who lives up north regret getting the 19's?

thanks
Ian

As someone who checked every box except for 19s, I have 0 regrets. I think the 18s look a lot better than the two toned 19s. If you have not seen them in person they look nothing like the BMW configurator. I was leaning to the 19s because the 18s look awful online until I saw them in person.