Correct Prototipo Wheel size?
- Thread starter Geor
- Start date
i would say that 350 is a bit small George. kind of a 2002 size. i have a nardi 360 and its a little small. the e3 is like the e9, 380 is perfect and 400 is also a good size.
so what year + color is your e3?
cheers
scott
so what year + color is your e3?
cheers
scott
Heres a Momo Prototipo (dished) 37.5cm which is the ideal size. Ive seen some cars with 35‘s which as Scott mentions are a bit small but if facilitated with power steering, still doable.
2nd pic is the same size but flat
3rd pic is a 35cm wheel
2nd pic is the same size but flat
3rd pic is a 35cm wheel
Hi @Geor,
I think that most folks feel that 350mm is too small. I can’t say that they have all driven an e9 with a 350, but aesthetically it is 70mm smaller than the factory wheel.
The prototipo that you are thinking of came in 320mm, 350mm, and 370mm. Both flat and dishes. My preference would be a 370mm flat followed by a 370mm dished. I think the dishes is a better shape for driving, but the flat is a visual indicator that the wheel is period correct.
With that said you will likely spend $1,500 on a flat 370mm prototipo, if you can find one. At that price point you can buy a nice Petri and call it a day.
If you want a 380mm wheel you can get a 390mm Nardi, brushed aluminum on black leather. You can also get a 380mm BMW motorsport wheel for $600 to $800.
If you land with a 350mm prototipo, a wheel from the early 80’s can be had for about 2x the cost of a new prototipo. These have the same logo, but the leather is much nicer (IMO).
If you get a new 350mm, I recommend the heritage model, with distressed leather.
i do like the look of the semi-dish prototipo. i know the flat is more typical.
Flat is actually much more difficult to source, and more valuable.
Thanks Guys!
I knew you'd have a view and be really knowledgeable.
Can't thank you enough for the insight. It looks like I need to look for 370 or 380 brushed spoke wheel.
I'm not really in a hurry so will (try to) be patient as I have seen them pop up from time to time.
Car is Fjord.
Much appreciated.
George
I knew you'd have a view and be really knowledgeable.
Can't thank you enough for the insight. It looks like I need to look for 370 or 380 brushed spoke wheel.
I'm not really in a hurry so will (try to) be patient as I have seen them pop up from time to time.
Car is Fjord.
Much appreciated.
George
you are correct Markos ... i meant more typical as the visually correct selection for vintage BMW
George ... i was curious of color as i used to have a '73 sahara beige e3 bavaria here in the ATL ... i have always wondered what happened to it. it was a very high mileage car - i bought it with 160k miles and drove it another 160k ... i didn't rebuild the engine or change the clutch during my ownership ... just maintained it well and it kept on running. they are solid great driving cars
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I love my early, flat 350mm Proto....
My theory/2 cents: 350mm wheels went in the early e9s cuz they had power steering and were in production. Later the wheels grew to the 370-380mm for the CSL cuz they had manual steering and needed more leverage/torque to turn at low speed. And by then BMW & Alpina had the demand and $$ to order them...
just my 2 cents...
My theory/2 cents: 350mm wheels went in the early e9s cuz they had power steering and were in production. Later the wheels grew to the 370-380mm for the CSL cuz they had manual steering and needed more leverage/torque to turn at low speed. And by then BMW & Alpina had the demand and $$ to order them...
just my 2 cents...
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Also worth a mention. The new 360mm MoMo California.
Moving to General Discussion...
that's a nice looking wheel too. i presume these would fit on an old nardi hub
They will fit an old Momo hub, or new. The momo
pattern is 70mm PCD. Nardi is 74mm PCD.
thanks Markos ... appreciate the information, that will keep me from buying one if they don't fit on the nardi hub.
Unless your hub is original you probably have both patterns on the hub. Also, you can buy an adapter ring from $10 to $30. Nardi actually makes them, but to fit Nardi wheels in momo hubs. Theirs are $30.
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