Dumb Wheel Question

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W8MM

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My wife has a restored '72 CSi (2261995) that is currently shod with staggered Alpina 16" wheels. She would like to obtain a "correct" set of OEM wheels to side-step the inevitable whole or half point deduction judges assign to 16" wheels when showing the car. The Alpinas are just fine for touring around.

So, after checking out some potential parts sources, one vendor's listing would seem to indicate that CSi's had different stock wheels than CS's. Is that true?

I would love for a wheel maven to set me straight on what part number wheel should have been originally delivered on her car.

Thanks in advance,
 
Stock wheels on a Csi

Not sure about a '72. My '74 3.0 Csi (11/73 build date) came stock with 6x14" Alpina style wheels made for BMW by F.P.S. I've since replaced them with similar Alpina style wheels also made for BMW by F.P.S. but in 7x14".
 
My euro '72 had the original wheels and the PO replaced them with the BBS Mahle basket weave (for BMW), both 14". I believe that euros came with the 5 spoke Originals.
 
CS and CSi coupes were all fitted with the same wheels, so no special fitments for the injected coupes. 6X14" 5 spokes with the center caps were fitted to all coupes up to mid 1973 and the 6X14" 20 spokes were mounted on coupes from late 1973 to end of production run for the 1975 model year. 7X14" Alpinas rims were fitted on all CSLs.
 
Weren't the finned alpina-style 20 spoke wheels an option on all coupes?

bert35csi said:
CS and CSi coupes were all fitted with the same wheels, so no special fitments for the injected coupes. 6X14" 5 spokes with the center caps were fitted to all coupes up to mid 1973 and the 6X14" 20 spokes were mounted on coupes from late 1973 to end of production run for the 1975 model year. 7X14" Alpinas rims were fitted on all CSLs.
Click to expand...
 
I have a set of what I believe to be the original wheels that came on my Euro-delivery CSi that you could have for the price of shipping from CA. Don't be fooled - they need tires and a bit of TLC but were driving when the car was delivered.

Let me know if you're interested as I'd need to dig them up to take pics. I figured these were going to the junkyard when my resto was done.
 
rb1971 said:
I have a set of what I believe to be the original wheels that came on my Euro-delivery CSi that you could have for the price of shipping from CA. Don't be fooled - they need tires and a bit of TLC but were driving when the car was delivered.

Let me know if you're interested as I'd need to dig them up to take pics. I figured these were going to the junkyard when my resto was done.
Click to expand...

PM sent!

Thanks!
 
bert35csi said:
CS and CSi coupes were all fitted with the same wheels, so no special fitments for the injected coupes. 6X14" 5 spokes with the center caps were fitted to all coupes up to mid 1973 and the 6X14" 20 spokes were mounted on coupes from late 1973 to end of production run for the 1975 model year. 7X14" Alpinas rims were fitted on all CSLs.
Click to expand...

Bert,

Thanks so much. This was exactly the info for which I was looking.

Cheers,

Mike
 
bert35csi said:
CS and CSi coupes were all fitted with the same wheels, so no special fitments for the injected coupes. 6X14" 5 spokes with the center caps were fitted to all coupes up to mid 1973 and the 6X14" 20 spokes were mounted on coupes from late 1973 to end of production run for the 1975 model year. 7X14" Alpinas rims were fitted on all CSLs.
Click to expand...

Bert,

Do you know the exact cut-off for the changeover? What is the source for this information?

Thanks!
 
The parts book does not list the wheels per any specific VIN. I just know that US 74s got the 20 spokes. Since yours is a 72 and not a CSL I would think it would have had the earlier wheels but the others may have been an option. We need Andi or Peder to chime in.
 
Update

OK, this is THREE years later. I bought the wheels from IVES and they arrived 3 years ago and I stored them.

Last week I got some new Coker 195/70VR14 Vredestein Sprint Classic tires to mount on the rims. When the tire shop went to put them on the car (after removing the 16" Alpinas), they wouldn't center on the concentric hub ring. They were too small in inner diameter of the mating feature.

What's happening? Any ideas?

I have a concours coming up on 8 June and am suffering a mild panic
 
Last edited:
Did you have the wheels refinished? Oftentimes, refinishers will coat the mating surface of the wheel, which in effect shrinks the hub bore by twice the thickness of the coating. It will also lower the offset of the wheel by the coating thickness as well. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to take a flap wheel on a Dremel or similar rotary tool and just remove the coating on the bevel to start. Don't get too aggressive and once you see metal, stop. You don't want to open it up any more than necessary. From there, make sure the hub is really clean and the wheel *should* fit.
 
most important:

DontPanicAndCarryATowel.jpg
 
Big relief!

The inside diameter was clogged by a tiny film of paint that made the hole a tiny bit too small. The spec is 72.56 mm inside diameter and my wheels were closer to 72.1 mm. A touch of sand paper to the wheel bore and all is right!!!!

Thought you'd like to know ;-)
 
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