Stock E9/E3 wheel treatment

[Dick Steinkamp]

In this thread, @dave v. in nc suggested using small center caps instead of the larger hub caps on these stock E9/E3 wheels. I like the idea!

@Stevehose showed a picture of that look on stock 2002 wheels. The small center caps came stock on those wheels

I thought the center caps from the alternative stock spoked wheels might work...

All the above wheels have the standard BMW center bore (72.5, 72.6, 72.56mm ....depending upon the source) but there may be other reasons why the above center cap doesn't work on the wheels I've shown.

Has anybody used just center caps on the wheel shown? If so, what cap did you find that worked?

 

[stphers]

How big is the 2002 one? I don't have any tii's in the shop right now and no wheels to measure I can ask on FAQ if you want.

Thanks, Rick

 

[day66]

I’d say the “open lug“ style does look better

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

How big is the 2002 one? I don't have any tii's in the shop right now and no wheels to measure I can ask on FAQ if you want.

Thanks, Rick

From what I can find, 02s are 57.1mm. No go. But thanks for the idea.

 

[dave v. in nc]

...and we'll need some pretty lugs, too!

 

[bert35csi]

Previously discussed and possible solutions.

Looking for a solution to an aesthetic problem

Hi all - Not an earth-shattering problem, but I'm looking for advice... I have finally come to the conclusion that I dislike the center "dog dish" covers on my early 14" alloys. But I noticed that when I removed the hubcaps, the wheels themselves look very much like the early alloys on a...

e9coupe.com

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

...and we'll need some pretty lugs, too!

I just cleaned and polished a set of lugs for this purpose. Not perfect, but pretty nice....

These will fit under the stock cap if it turns out there is no solution for the center cap option, but I hate to waste them there. If it doesn't work out, I am willing to trade them for a set of the lugs that were used with these wheels. The center one in this picture...

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Previously discussed and possible solutions.

Looking for a solution to an aesthetic problem

Hi all - Not an earth-shattering problem, but I'm looking for advice... I have finally come to the conclusion that I dislike the center "dog dish" covers on my early 14" alloys. But I noticed that when I removed the hubcaps, the wheels themselves look very much like the early alloys on a...

e9coupe.com

Thanks for that link from 10 years ago! Big help!

It looks like the only possible option then was center caps that fit the TRX wheel...PN 36131117649.

The fit is still questionable. The cap is 2mm smaller than the center bore in the wheel. Expanding the base of the cap slightly, perhaps with some silicon or other adhesive might do the trick to keep them from coming off. Also, they need to fit over the hub grease cap...

There is about 20mm minimum clearance needed inside the cap

The caps are relatively expensive. I don't understand why. There can't possibly be any demand for them. Does anybody have any good used ones I could buy to experiment with? The Roundels are available and relatively inexpensive if they need to be replaced.

 

[stphers]

What about using the plastic center adapter/ spacer rings When you get a wheel that has a larger wheel center hole than your car has, these are used to keep your wheel centered , they come in a variety of ID and OD sizes

Thanks, Rick

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

What about using the plastic center adapter/ spacer rings When you get a wheel that has a larger wheel center hole than your car has, these are used to keep your wheel centered , they come in a variety of ID and OD sizes

Thanks, Rick

Agree...they need to be used when you use wheels with a different center bore than the stock BMW wheel since these BMWs are hub centric. The wheels shown are stock BMW wheels that were originally used on E9s and E3s so no adapter/spacer is necessary.

 

[stphers]

Hi Dick Yes, I understand that you don't need them for the actual wheels, I was thinking more along the lines of using them to take up space and help center one of the smaller center caps

Thanks, Rick

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Hi Dick Yes, I understand that you don't need them for the actual wheels, I was thinking more along the lines of using them to take up space and help center one of the smaller center caps

Thanks, Rick

Can you explain further?

 

[wkohler]

I have a few of the bottle cap center caps and a set of these wheels off the car so I’ll have a look and see how they work together.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Thanks, Christopher!

 

[bavbob]

I may have a set of original lugs if you need them. The bottlecap wheels have center caps that are the same size as those on the FPS wheels that came as an option for our cars.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Thanks for the lug offer, Rob. I'll let you know how this develops.

I'm pretty sure the center bore is the same on both the bottlecaps and the FPS wheels. I think the hope is that since the bottlecap center cap inserts from the outside of the wheel that it may work.

 

[bavbob]

I hope so, I really like the look.

 

[jefflit]

Funny, to each their own. I've always disliked seeing lug nuts. They invariably get beat up by sockets. To me, it is like exposing fasteners in fine furniture.

Shiny hubcaps are so "period", and the smallish center "hubcaps" on the stock wheels have always struck me as the perfect compromise between full wheel covers and having one's nuts exposed. I also run the stock center caps on the Rally wheels of my 67 Camaro to similar effect.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

Funny, to each their own.

So true...especially when it comes to wheels. I guess that's why there are so many styles and sizes.

... and having one's nuts exposed.

Not a good thing for sure.

 

[Dick Steinkamp]

I mounted tires yesterday and swapped out steel wheels with the aluminum E9/optional E3 wheels.

The steel wheels/hubcaps/trim rings are still my favorite but I like the stock aluminum wheels a lot and it will be nice to be able to change up the look every now and then. I still want to see if we can make the center bore cap and exposed lug nuts work. That will give me a 3rd look.