Wheels!

[haledj]

I have an opportunity to get MINI cooper s wheels for cheap.  I realize the centerbore is wrong and i have to macine that out, and I am OK with that.  The offset on the mini wheels is 50ET, and I believe stock ours is 37.  Is this a problem? 13 mm does not seem like a lot. is the problem that they would look bad or will it just not fit?  The wheels are 17 by 7 inches.  I really like the idea of new BMW MINI wheels on an old bmw. how do white coloured wheels look on e30's, or more specificly mini wheels on e30 318is's.  there is so much different/wrong info out there please help me out
thanks, doug

oh and what size tyres would i run?

[D. Clay]

I have 17 X 7's with a 25mm. offset. They clear the strut by 1/4". Offset normally is 18-25mm depending on rim width and the "dish" or "lip". Hubcentric spacers are about $100 and the cost of machining the Mini wheels may not be low so low cost.

[haledj]

Im not quite sure what offset is a measurement of, Does a larger offset put the wheel closer of farther away from the car?
oh and I have no plans as of now to lower the car.
thanks, doug

[D. Clay]

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/techpage.jsp?techid=101
How to get offset in mm: my daughter told me this when she saw me converting inches to mm. In a tone that only a know-it-all 8th. grader can have, she said, "Dad, just get a metric tape measure and read what it says."

[haledj]

my daughter told me this when she saw me converting inches to mm. In a tone that only a know-it-all 8th. grader can have, she said, "Dad, just get a metric tape measure and read what it says."

pssssh those kids, they'll never learn, the hard way is always best,
ok so the mini wheels will sit to far INTO the wheelwell,  and it sounds like the spaces would need to be pretty big around an inch, so maybe the 17X7's wont work(right?), what about smaller MINI wheels?
thanks
doug