Which size wheel with larger brakes?

[RCV7]

Couldn't find anything with the search function. I'm going to be doing an engine and trans swap. Most likely will be doing an 328i or "is" but if I find an M3 donor for cheap, I'll do that. My question is: if I install larger front brakes from either donor car, what should I be looking at as far as wheel size and and offset. Any of you swappers running larger brakes with your wheel setup? I do have some 16X8 Racing Dynamics wheels, the 5 star ones with no tires yet. Would those work or would I have to move up to 17's? Thanks in advance.

[zoner]

My understanding is that with the E36 M3 brakes (315mm rotor diameter), a 17" wheel is the minimum size you can run and still have proper brake clearance. I'm not sure about other E36 sizes, but since non-M E36's also ran 16" wheels, I would assume that a 16" wheel would also provide enough clearance for a non-M setup.

[BimmerBum]

Only a very few 16 inch wheels will fit over the 315mm E36 M3 front brakes.

If you end up with a 328 or 325 your stock 15's will work fine as the brakes are no bigger than your ti's, they are just vented... unless you have a ti built after 4/98... those have the same brakes as the 328.

16s will allow you to upgrade to 300mm rotors from the E46 328/325 but likely not the M3 brakes.

[cooljess76]

I'll add that even some 17's may have clearance issues with M3 brakes. Not so much rotor clearance, but caliper clearance. My e39 style 5's rubbed on the caliper "nubs" which had to be shaved a little to clear the spokes. I suspect it was because of the new pads which caused the calipers to sit further out on the carriers.

[spidertri]

Sticky in the brake forum.

http://www.318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=24547

[studio2]

I'm wondering if anyone has information regarding specific 16" wheels that DO fit over the M3 set up? I've started A/Xing my 332Ti and I'm wanting a set of dedicated "race" wheels (and tires) that will help offset my LSD's 2.93 highway gearing. Thinking about a 8-9" wide wheel to start.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[tiFreak]

the 16" AT Italia Contour replicas will fit, I think they're only 7" or 7.5" wide or so though

[macilona]

I have a set of MSW style 14's, from tirerack, 16x7, and they "barely" fit over the M3 brakes. Not sure how the wheel size will offset your diff ratio, unless you use very low profile tires, to reduce the outside diameter of the tire.

[studio2]

Thanks guys, did a little research and you're right about these rims maxing out at 7.5". 16" tire availability isn't so good either.... so I guess I'll focus on 17" solutions in the furture.
(I'm currently running 245/35-18 Kumho Ecsta XS's on 8" TR Motorsports rims = 24.8 Diam....)