hello all! im heresy's sister.

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SHANNON

New Member
#1
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Norfolk. VA
#1
Hey guys and girls.. my brother is desperately trying to help me out with this tire situation... and I have now been told even by BMW that I have these special ordered metric rims (even though they didnt see the car) I told them what Merchants said about having to order special Metric tires and they said only in rare occasions but from what I read them they agree that the tires are $300 a pop..,, unfortunately Im at work now and the car is at a different shop and I cant read the tires to you all (who by the way are nice to try and help me out) but from what I remember they said something like 220/something/390r does that sound bad?
Cant I find a tire that will fit? My fiance tried putting a 15'' tire but it was not quite big enough :( surely I cant just really be up the creek like I am can I puhlease help me :)


Shannon
 
B

Big Daddy

Senior Member
#2
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#2
What year and model BMW are we talking about? Some BMW's did come with metric rims and require metric tires. They can be more expensive here because they are not as popular. Try and post the tire information when you can. Other than I suggest the Tire Rack, Discount Tire and any other major chain in your area. PS welcome to the forum!
 
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SHANNON

New Member
#3
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Norfolk. VA
#3
I thank u for your help - I have a 1992 525i and the car is prestine .. I love it = Im not lucky enough to have the hottie car that you have but baby steps ... I will be there one day. I think I am just going to have to suck it up about these rims.. these men here though (especially in VA Beach) will take advantage of "a damsel in distress" if you will...my brother was nice enough to post on my behalf yesterday... wow... $300 a tire... can you immagine? Thats what its looking like I need... I just dont want to throw and old rim up there.. I like the clean look of the BMW rim as opposed to what was on there when I bought it.. that is most likely why it had those "crome nasty looking thug things" on there to begin with - whoever had it previously couldnt afford these tires im going to have to get!
 
vlad

vlad

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#4
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#4
Yep, the TRX wheels/tires cam on 5-series around that time. Blame Michellin for this fiasco.

Are the numbers similar to;
200/60 V/R 390

If so, you have TRX tires and wheels. And yes, these tires can be a bit expensive.
 
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SHANNON

New Member
#6
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Norfolk. VA
#6
yes those #s listed by vlad look familiar.. what a fiasco this is indeed! I believe now that I am better off buying rims/tires but trust that I will make sure not to get those metric things again! Wow I just cant believe my eyes!
 
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SHANNON

New Member
#8
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Norfolk. VA
#8
it said that they couldnt find any matches.. if u did put anything in.. i will just have to go intown again and see now whats available as far as rims/tires..... im sure if i went on ebay it would be an arm and a leg to ship = id be better off buying something here .. especially since i have no time to travel anywhere either.
 
brahtw8

brahtw8

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#9
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#9
SHANNON said:
I thank u for your help - I have a 1992 525i and the car is prestine .. I love it = Im not lucky enough to have the hottie car that you have but baby steps ... I will be there one day. I think I am just going to have to suck it up about these rims.. these men here though (especially in VA Beach) will take advantage of "a damsel in distress" if you will...my brother was nice enough to post on my behalf yesterday... wow... $300 a tire... can you immagine? Thats what its looking like I need... I just dont want to throw and old rim up there.. I like the clean look of the BMW rim as opposed to what was on there when I bought it.. that is most likely why it had those "crome nasty looking thug things" on there to begin with - whoever had it previously couldnt afford these tires im going to have to get!
Click to expand...
Don't buy the TRX tires. They are extremely overpriced and represent tire technology from the early 1980s. They pretty much suck by todays standards.

Your 525i did NOT come from the factory with TRX rims. They were added later by someone else. That car came with 15" rims from the factory, and you can buy a set of those with real tires for less than you can buy a set of TRXs.

You should be able to pick up a used set of rims for $150-200. Try ebay, the classifieds at www.bmwcca.org and post on bmw@digest.net. There are a lot of these rims around, and they won't make your car look thugged out. You can also use the rims from the other E34 (1989-1995 US) and E39 (1997-2003 US) 5 series, as well as the E32 (1988-1994) and E38 (1995-2001) 7 series. These rims are around. Try your local junk yard.

Let me repeat: DO NOT BUY THE TRX TIRES.
 
brahtw8

brahtw8

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#10
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#10
Here is what I found searching ebay for BMW and rims:

These are what your car came with from the factory:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43956&item=2434503059

Here are some from an E39 5er that should fit:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43955&item=2434444629

Here are the same rims with tires for $425:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=43955&item=2434521630

These would be the coolest IMHO (and cost about the same as the TRX tires alone, for a set of M-Parallels with tires!):

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=38662&item=2434467205

Happy hunting. [thumb]
 
CosmosBlack

CosmosBlack

Active Member
#11
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Location
Florida
#11
Hi Shannon! Welcome onboard! You are a lucky damsel in distress, we sure do have a good handful of gentlemen to your rescue[:D] .

I think the originals for your car on ebay (researched by brahtw8) are inexpensive and the best solution.

Oh by the way, do you have some pics of you to post on the board...errr...I mean pics of your wheels [:)] .

Good Luck!
 
mikev

mikev

Active Member
#12
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Location
Bournemouth, England (but still at my desk)
#12
Guys sorry for seaming a little confused but. I live in Europe there are NO cars that i know of using metric wheels. especially in england. i don't see how/why/when anyone decided to fit metric wheels to the 525i. It seams like a dealer con so that you'd always have to pay too much for tires. Change the wheels and escape the loop.
I've got a US engine in my boat 4.3l v6 chevy derrived unit. half of the bolts are imperial and half metric. i mean for crist sake is the whole world just out to make us spend another grand on tools that are ever so slightly different.

Change the wheels and escape the loop. go NOW...RUN.......RUN.............RUUUUUUNNNNNN!
 
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SHANNON

New Member
#13
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7
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0
Location
Norfolk. VA
#13
hi cosmo and mike - thanks for the posts - oooh the thanks i have to give my brother for turning me over to such a good concerned group! Hee hee, the tires - the tires the tires! Wow... I found yesterday a guy who had tires for sale for the rim/s that I have... I am currently having my boyfriend investivgate this for me.... I have some pics by the way.. I need to get my genious of a brother to post them for me... Im am surely one of "the older" generation who knows little about computers and less about cars... at the ripe old age of 29 ha ha... Isnt it great to be a girl :)
 
brahtw8

brahtw8

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#14
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Location
Milwaukee, WI
#14
GET RID OF THE METRIC RIMS.

Even if you can find used TRX tires for cheap, you should still get new rims AND tires.

If you ever want to sell the car, the metric rims/tires will be a huge negative for any knowledgeable buyer. A reduction of $500-1000 in price is common for cars with TRXs.

The TRX tires are CRAP by today's standards. Tire technology has progressed considerably in the last 20 years.

What if you get a flat? It is getting harder and harder to find TRXs.

Find a set of the correct BMW 15" rims and buy some modern tires.

Don't make me say I told you so.
 
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SHANNON

New Member
#15
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Location
Norfolk. VA
#15
yes sir! :) i certainly dont want to get branded with the scarlet letter I for "i didnt listen" ha ha.. I really do get the drift.. hopefully I will post soon with "good news"
 
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