My 2002 wants wheels. Good source for 15x7 alloys?

Wheels showed up today. It will be a while before I get tires mounted, because my Volvo wagon is currently down with a coolant leak.

Oh...I like those!

What do we think? I'm not instantly in love with them visually, but then I've only had two other sets of wheels on this car in 30 years, so some period of adjustment is bound to be necessary. Taking the car around my usual test drive loop showed that everything from steering to ride quality to handling to NVH is improved markedly from the old, rock hard BFGoodrich Sport Comps.

I like it! I think they go well with the blacked out bumpers and rubber spoiler with the later square taillights. In general probably a set of 14's with a bit more sidewall might suit the car better but the lack of good tires in that size makes the 15 and easy choice.

It wouldn't hurt to post more angles of the car though so we can better form an opinion (mainly to drool over it).

Enjoy it, drive it!

Not my style, but if they work and are an improvement over what you had, then its a win. 

Those are dope.  They look great on the car, imo.

I'd like to see a couple different angles as well. 

I think you're used to what you had on it and were comfortable with how it looked.  Since these are a way different design, it's a shock to your sense of aesthetic.

I think if you dropped the car a little, add a little bit of rake, that thing would look so mean.

Looks great as it is, I just think a little attitude would really wake it up.

Pretty good, the only thing I don't like about them is that the lip of the wheel looks busy with the indentations and lettering. Probably not visible at speed though

I will try to get additional photos tomorrow. One thing that doesn't really come through in the posted shot is that they are really bright silver, whereas they look more muted in the photo (late afternoon, shooting into the sun, phone algorithm doing its thing).

The car is actually lowered. The springs are ancient - like, they could be something like Miller & Norburn or similar; same for the sway bars. Super stiff, non-progressive. I've had the thought of swapping them out half a dozen times, but it hasn't happened yet. I don't know that I'd want to go a lot lower, in any case.

Some people do go for 195/55-15 (these are 195/50), but they rub on some cars, and I didn't feel like finding out if mine was one of them. If I want more sidewall, I'll just go back to 13s and buy something like the Pirelli CN36s. For now, these are fine.

02Pilot said:

What do we think?

In spite of myself, I really like it. I would have never chosen those wheels myself, but having seen them on the car now, they look a LOT better than I thought they would. The purposeful, straight likes and flat surfaces make a nice contrast with the delicate, pretty lines of the body. It works!

02Pilot said:

I will try to get additional photos tomorrow. One thing that doesn't really come through in the posted shot is that they are really bright silver, whereas they look more muted in the photo (late afternoon, shooting into the sun, phone algorithm doing its thing).

The car is actually lowered. The springs are ancient - like, they could be something like Miller & Norburn or similar; same for the sway bars. Super stiff, non-progressive. I've had the thought of swapping them out half a dozen times, but it hasn't happened yet. I don't know that I'd want to go a lot lower, in any case.

Some people do go for 195/55-15 (these are 195/50), but they rub on some cars, and I didn't feel like finding out if mine was one of them. If I want more sidewall, I'll just go back to 13s and buy something like the Pirelli CN36s. For now, these are fine.

Maybe if the front struts have rubber isolators for the springs, take them out - it doesn't need much at all, in my opinion, just a bit of rake.

When I had my E36, I thought it needed just a touch more front camber, so I got the cheapo Ireland units, and it gave me the exact look I wanted.  They were only good for 1 or 1.5 degree, but it was exactly what I wanted. 

I probably shouldn't have sold that car either, I wonder why I do that sometimes.  Eh, I digress.

Look forward to more pics of yours when you get a chance.

Got the 2002 out for its first proper drive in quite some time. Did a little over 100 miles. The car never missed a beat, happily running with traffic on the highway, as well as carving up some smaller roads. The new wheels and tires make quite a difference in the overall ride quality, and the Recaros I got from Woody are a great improvement. There are still things to work on to be sure, but the car is definitely usable as it is. I'm hoping to put some decent mileage on it this spring.

I'll admit I'm still not 100% sold on the look of the wheels (I miss my dished mesh look), but the performance and ride quality are undeniably improved.

In reply to 02Pilot :

I like them. Maybe paint them translucent candy sapphire blue over a brilliant white basecoat? Edit: Or just over the metallic silver that's already there.

In reply to 02Pilot :

The car looks fantastic. I'd really like to own one of these one day.

In reply to Woody (Forum Supportum) :

Thanks. Let me get things a little more sorted, then we'll figure out a time to meet so you can check it out in person and take it for a spin.

I like them. Don't love them. I'm like you I prefer a dishes mesh wheel for an 02 as well.

I agree that a half inch lower in front might help. 
 

Lovely car!

The front of this car has always seemed a little too tall. There's no spacers or anything like that in there - I've had the whole suspension apart at least twice in the 30 years I've owned it - so it's probably just a function of the springs. Conversely, the rear needed the tallest rubber isolators to get it where it is. As I'm writing this, I have to wonder if the fronts and rears have been reversed for all these years (the longer ones are supposed to go in the rear). If I'm pulling it apart again, I'd probably just get new springs, since these are at least 30 years old.

I had this weird thing in my E36 where I swear to god the rear would get lower over time and the front wouldn't. Not helpful, just wonder if it's a BMW thing! 

Car looks great! I dig the new wheels.