XSeries-forum

I have the chance to get some OEM 20" Le Mans alloys (Style 168) - I have an '05 3.0i SE and really don't want to ruin the ride. I drove a 4.8is ages ago so can't really remember if the ride was any worse, but was curious if anyone has any experience of doing this? I can accept a drop in ride quality but don't want it shot to pieces.

Have you got extended wheel arches?  You'll need them with the 20" set.

Cheers for that, didn't realise I'd need extensions. Will give it a miss then most probably.

It's a stick on kit that puts a wider lip onto the plastic that surrounds the wheel arch.  Adds about an inch either side.

you would proberly get away without it as i remember the wheels are still inside the standard arches the extension is more to stop all the shit spraying up the car

I had Le Mans wheels on my 54 3.0i Sport and the wheels were within the arches. The ride was absolutely fine too. I can't vouch for the SE model as I don't know if they have different arches. Perfect looking wheels for the E53 imo.

Easiest check is to place a long piece of straight material against the wheel, with tyre, and on the ground at normal load (1 person in the drivers seat, full fuel tank) and whilst keeping it flat against the wheel vertically (@12 & 6 o'clock) see if it touches the car vertically above the wheel.  If it doesn't then how big is the gap?

If it includes any exposed tread (even the edge of) at all then it is a Construction & Use regs fail.  It is not an MOT failure.

The check must be done at 'normal' load.  Only a DVSA Examiner or Police Vehicle Examiner is likely to spot it if it is that close though.

Hi

I had the 4.8i wheels on my 4.4 without the arch extensions for a while as as others said they didn't stick out, it was close

See pic below showing the standard arch and wheels

Looks nicer but ride is definitely harsher. Just recently I was driving a mates X5 which is on the 19 and couldn't believe the difference. But I will be sticking to my 20's


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My 20" Le Mans alloys and their Vredestein Sessanta tyres are gathering dust....the 18" winters provide a much more comfortable drive, so I tend to leave them on.  The Vredestein Wintracs seem to last pretty well too.
Thinking of selling the 20"s now!  The ride on them is just so much harsher, particularly as the roads seem to be getting worse and worse! 

It sounds odd but literally an inch makes all the difference (calm down lol), noticed the difference in ride quality in my old motor when I "upgraded" the wheels from 16" to 17", almost spine crushing.

I am running 19's on the X5 and I think the ride is a little harsh (but epic in a corner, so cant complain!) so the thought of going to a 20" wheel to me is a big no-no!

19's are about enough for me too.
Thoughts of going to 20" was on the cards once, but further investigation changed my mind.