Center hub cap on the steelies

[Keithry]

I need your help again! I need to identify what center hub I can fit on to my wheels.
I found two kinds on eBay. One that has smooth inside and lips outside and the other that has lip inside (attached). Do you know which one would fit on mine? Hmm now I look at the picture myself, it looks like mine has one painted over in the front wheel.

 

[adawil2002]

Best to measure the bearing dust cap in your wheel off photo & the difference in the wheel bore.

Usually E3s have a hub cap & not a center cap on the steel wheels. Those center caps are for Mahle BBS & Alpina open lug style wheels.

I have a NOS set of E30 center caps with a flange that may work, but need those measurements.

 

[bmw2800cs]

I have the same problem, I have center caps but they don't fit the fronts. The bearing dust cap is too big. Mine are 16 inch fake Alpina's.

 

[HB Chris]

The small center caps will never fit your steel wheels I believe.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

The small center caps will never fit your steel wheels I believe.

Correct. Even if you could find one the same size as the center bore to insert from the back of the wheel, the "lip" on the center cap would then not enable the wheel to center on the hub like it was designed to do.

The ones that insert from the front would not work because there is none of the steel wheel center showing and available to hold the cap.

This thread https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/stock-e9-e3-wheel-treatment.41741/page-2 shows how they can be used with stock (or similar), sand cast wheels.

 

[bmw2800cs]

Correct. Even if you could find one the same size as the center bore to insert from the back of the wheel, the "lip" on the center cap would then not enable the wheel to center on the hub like it was designed to do.

The ones that insert from the front would not work because there is none of the steel wheel center showing and available to hold the cap.

This thread https://e9coupe.com/forum/threads/stock-e9-e3-wheel-treatment.41741/page-2 shows how they can be used with stock (or similar), sand cast wheels.

Yep, I have this problem, what do you think of putting vertical slits in the cap where the lip is and then bending the newly made tabs inward? I'll give it a try and let you all know.

 

[Keithry]

Hmmm seems like I have to take the wheel out…?!