E53 wheels on E70

[Pradaman]

Quick question, will 19" E53 wheels fit on an E70 3.5d sport. Needingy wheels painted and need wheels to use the car when other ones are getting painted.

[sid10]

hi no they have different centre bores 74.1 on the E70 , 72.6 on the E53
  E71 X6 wont fit either as they have different centres front to back 74.1 fronts , 72.6 rears !

[Pradaman]

That's a bit of a pain

[RenoHuskerDu]

[quote="sid10"]
hi no they have different centre bores 74.1 on the E70 , 72.6 on the E53
  E71 X6 wont fit either as they have different centres front to back 74.1 fronts , 72.6 rears !
[/quote]

Hmm. My winter wheels came off an E71, so I had better test fit them soon.  I'd be very surprised at the dealer sold me the wrong wheels.

[X5Sport]

You'll need to machine the rears for them to fit, so yes the Dealer has sold you the wrong ones.  The E71 has a completely different rear drive system (with electronic torque distribution controls) to the E70.

You can go E70 to E53 by using Spigot rings all round, and even E71 to E53 with spigots on the front.  But not the other way around.

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

[quote="X5Sport"]
You'll need to machine the rears for them to fit, so yes the Dealer has sold you the wrong ones. [...]
[/quote]

Is there a thread out here which details the needed machining? We do have a prototyping machine shop at the factory. I guess I should introduce myself properly: www.dangel.com is our family company. I don't work there anymore but was marketing director for a few years.

[X5Sport]

You just need to machine out the centre bore to match the drive shaft end.  Take it from the 72.6mm to 74.1mm.  Not much needed, just carefully increase the centre bore dia by 1.5mm and keep it concentric with the overall centre point.

You'll need a big chuck to hold the wheel steady, or a decent size milling machine that can cope with that.

As always, measure three times and cut once!!

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

Yes, we have a large CNC mill and a few lathes. The mod should pose no problem.  I'm grateful to learn of the issue before I find out on a frosty November day!  :xmassad:

[RenoHuskerDu]

I pinged a German BMW forum and got an answer that the X6 starts on 19s as base equipment. It didn't come with 18" wheels, so my wheels probably originated on an X5.  I'll just measure the center bores to be sure.

[sid10]

hi check the part numbers on the back of the wheels on alloywheelsdirect as they did 19" alloys in various styles & sizes for both X6 & X5 !

[X5Sport]

[quote="RenoHuskerDu"]
I pinged a German BMW forum and got an answer that the X6 starts on 19s as base equipment.
[/quote]

Correct.  19's were standard with 20/21" upgrades.  I specced 20" 214's on mine.  My winters are 19" staggered.

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

I tried to measure the center hub bores but can't get my micrometer in there fully, so the measurement is imprecise. It seems to be just under 74mm. That might be due to accumulated winter crud from the PO running them on an X6 with no centering shims.  The PO was running them on an E71 but I don't know if he in turn had purchased them used from an E70 owner. 

Does anybody recognize these 18" wheels as originally from an X5?
The casting numbers say "BMW 6 770 200" and "Ronal 1640"

[X5Sport]

That part number is for BMW Style 209 wheels from an E70.....so you should be fine.  Not even listed against the X6 - which tend to be 19".

Realoem reference page.

Richard

[RenoHuskerDu]

Thanks!

[kenniff]

One final suggestion: try fitting one before you NEED to. Better to find out now.