[Mani13]

Any recommendations on upgrading wheels on f30 320i. I have base 17" wheels, looking to upgrade to 18" 397 or 20 " 373.

Any recommendations which of these will work better or any suggestions for 19".

If anyone selling any wheels that could fit f30 let me know.

Thanks

[captainfast]

Maximum acceptable size IMO would be 19". There are many threads that discuss about design and fitment so won't be adding more here.

Personally, mine came with 18" 397 wheels and am happy with it so far, not looking to upgrade.

[J555]

Originally Posted by captainfast

Maximum acceptable size IMO would be 19".

Unfortunately, it ain't that simple. There are a lot more factors that influence the result than just a rim diameter (like suspension, rim weight, tire model, weight, width, sidewall, load index, inflation, or rim width/tire section width combination).

A real-life example can be:

1. 19x9 + 19x10.5 cheap casted wheels, 225/40 + 255/35 heavy tires with stiff sidewalls (even worse RFT's), high load index, and inflated to maximum pressures specified by BMW.
2. 19x8.5 + 19x9.5 forged wheels, 235/40 + 265/35 lightweight tires with softer sidewalls, low load index, correctly inflated.

The difference between these two options is night and day. Leaving aside the subjective preferences, that's also a big part of the answer to the question, why some people happily daily drive the bigger wheels, while others hate it; and why 19" setups can be better in most aspects (if not in all) than 18" ones.

Originally Posted by Mani13

Any recommendations on upgrading wheels on f30 320i. I have base 17" wheels, looking to upgrade to 18" 397 or 20 " 373.

Spend the time doing your research, as suggested by others. Before you go 20", I suggest a test drive with a similar setup. And when you decide the rims, carefully choose the tires, as they are a major factor in the successful result.

[AspektUSA]

18s are the best combination of looks and performance really, especially if you have crumbly roads near.

19s look great, but definitely are harsher on uneven pavement.

The biggest factor with wheels is weight, and light wheels feel amazing no matter what size.

[exE36M3]

Or just get 19s with a taller tire... this is my 435i with the STOCK springs. Two fingers to the fenderwell.
This set-up adds to the overall diameter of the wheel, so it fills up the wheel gap a bit without sacrificing ride quality.
Although riding on a forged wheel feels A LOT different.

BC Forged HW56, Matte black, aluminum center caps | Hankook, Ventus S1 evo3

235/40-19 front ET 32 - 19x9 (.4" bigger diameter)
265/35-19 rear ET 40 - 19x10 (.3" bigger diameter)

Caveat - wider rims and tires can be tricky. Even more so because the F3X cars don't have as much articulating camber like previous BMWs.
So while flush is cool, you'll may rub or hit the fender when the road is REALLY uneven.

[Mani13]

I'm looking only to upgrade to OEM or used BMW wheels only.
Will they affect the ride quality ?
I have narrowed down to either 18" 397 style or 19 " 442 m wheels.

[Heel328]

I had the same boring 17" wheels you probably have on your 320i, and I went up to these 18" which (to me) looks MUCH better without breaking the bank or sacrificing ride quality. They are staggered (which I like) and you just replace tires in pairs, which are less expensive than 19" tires. A 255 in the rear looks much meatier than 225. I almost bought a set of 403m 19" and I'm glad the sale fell through and I ended up with the new 400m for $150 more. Also less risk in bending a rim on a pothole etc.

Anyway, just my .02