[exwon]

I want a more aggressive look in the rear, so I'm thinking about 15mm spacers for the rear. I have the standard 18"Alloy Style 569 (which I really like).

Any advice/expert opinion on this idea? For example, do you think the amount of geometric change is an issue?

Also, I'm thinking about adding Mud Flaps, which my eye views as aggressive. I've looked at pictures of a few people here with mud flaps. I'm not sure if it would diminish the look of the spacers though, so I'm leaning against it for now. Maybe just see how 15mm looks and decide then.

[spitpilot]

Originally Posted by exwon

I want a more aggressive look in the rear, so I'm thinking about 15mm spacers for the rear. I have the standard 18"Alloy Style 569 (which I really like).

Any advice/expert opinion on this idea? For example, do you think the amount of geometric change is an issue?

Also, I'm thinking about adding Mud Flaps, which my eye views as aggressive. I've looked at pictures of a few people here with mud flaps. I'm not sure if it would diminish the look of the spacers though, so I'm leaning against it for now. Maybe just see how 15mm looks and decide then.

The X1 is a front wheel drive car (even XDrive only powers the rears intermittently) so a wider track at the rear isn't needed to help rear wheel traction...15mm will get the rear tire faces out past the fender lips, at least at the rear, so you'll be need mud flaps for more than their looks!

[exwon]

Originally Posted by spitpilot

...15mm will get the rear tire faces out past the fender lips, at least at the rear, so you'll be need mud flaps for more than their looks!

Agreed. A little past the fenders is what I'm going for... I have 12mm on my e90 with 19" f14 wheels and it looks perfect to me. The X1's wheel well and offset are obviously less aggressive than the e90 car, but I'm thinking 3mm more can make up for it a little bit. We'll see!

Do you see any danger in the geometric difference between front and rear? I don't.

[spitpilot]

Originally Posted by exwon

Agreed. A little past the fenders is what I'm going for... I have 12mm on my e90 with 19" f14 wheels and it looks perfect to me. The X1's wheel well and offset are obviously less aggressive than the e90 car, but I'm thinking 3mm more can make up for it a little bit. We'll see!

Do you see any danger in the geometric difference between front and rear? I don't.

Danger...not really..but it it will make it understeer like a pig... widening rear track will make the rear end stick like mad...might want to consider adding same thickness spacers to front to balance the handling characteristics?????

[808X1]

I currently have 13mm spacers in the front and rear. The 13mm fronts put the wheel almost flushed with the fender. The rear can definitely go to 20mm for a flushed look. I would agree that if you go with the same front/rear set up, that would preserve the suspension geometry from front to back and thus minimizes more understeer; however, alignment may compensate for that understeer if done correctly.

[exwon]

Originally Posted by spitpilot

Danger...not really..but it it will make it understeer like a pig... widening rear track will make the rear end stick like mad...might want to consider adding same thickness spacers to front to balance the handling characteristics?????

good point. i'm still in the staggered mindset. maybe 12mm up front and 15mm in the rear will be sufficient.

[vince1288]

Mine was 9.5J ET45 at rear wheel. (see pic)
which is +25.4mm(7.5J to 9.5J)+6mm(ET51 to ET45)=31.4mm to the original F48 569 wheel (7.5J ET51)
And I got KW V3 coilover, which is lowered about 7-8CM. With 245-40-19 tire is ok.





Now with a 19" 8.5J ET32 wheel, and that is no problem as well.

[808X1]

^^^ Nice

What's your front set up?

[vince1288]

it was BBS CHR 19" F8.5J ET40 235-40-19, R9.5J ET45 245-40-19.

[exwon]

Originally Posted by 808X1

I currently have 13mm spacers in the front and rear. The 13mm fronts put the wheel almost flushed with the fender. The rear can definitely go to 20mm for a flushed look.

good info. i hadn't even thought about expanding a square set up lol. i generally don't like the fronts too spaced out but sounds like 13 or 12.5 for the X1 would look great. you have any pictures of the front and rear you could share?

I had been using 10 & 12.5 spacers for a winter 18" staggered wheel setup on my rwd 335. When I put my summer F14's on (19x8.5 et32 front and 19x10 et38 rear, wrapped in 235/35/19 & 265/30/19), I had to remove the front 10mm spacer due to rubbing. But I just realized I had left the rear 12.5mm spacer on with the 19" summer wheels for a year or two since there was just enough room. Only rubbed slightly over big bumps. I never noticed a difference in driving. The car always handles well. However, I did remove them this past winter to summer cycle just to give myself that little extra comfort/room on certain big bumps I drive through. ANYWAY, I changed the geometric offset between front and rear by 12.5mm and didn't notice a difference. But who knows, maybe my suspension will fall apart in a couple years

Originally Posted by 808X1

...I would agree that if you go with the same front/rear set up, that would preserve the suspension geometry from front to back and thus minimizes more understeer; however, alignment may compensate for that understeer if done correctly.

If I went with a staggered 12.5 and 15 for the X1, would compensating with alignment be with a toe adjustment? i'm not interested in changing much other than maybe toe or camber a little.

[exwon]

Originally Posted by vince1288

Mine was 9.5J ET45 at rear wheel. (see pic)
which is +25.4mm(7.5J to 9.5J)+6mm(ET51 to ET45)=31.4mm to the original F48 569 wheel (7.5J ET51)
And I got KW V3 coilover, which is lowered about 7-8CM. With 245-40-19 tire is ok.

Yep, I follow you. My wheel (the standard) is 225/50ZR18 95W 7.5Jx18 ET51. So you were able to push out 31.4mm, and lowered. Goes to show 20mm spacers would fit no problem - I just don't want to put a spacer on that big. And I actually like the height of the X1 as is.

That rear shot with a 19" 8.5J ET32 wheel looks awesome. That's similar to how my 335i looks with 19 F14's and 12.5mm. Amazing to achieve on an X1. I had H&R sport springs on the 335 and will be putting them back on now that I have the X1. I should have done coil over like you but was saving money. I suffered thru winters and had to remove them. But no more...

[mr_lab_rat]

Once you go to 20mm or more you can get a spacer that bolts to the hub and then your wheel mounts to them using the standard length bolts. I'm not sure if H&R make them for the F48.

Edit: ok, it looks like H&R doesn't have the DRA type spacer for the X1 yet.

[ttimbo]

On the subject of spacers, just be aware that in some jurisdictions they are illegal to fit to a roadgoing car unless supplied that way or as an option by the manufacturer. This is the case in Australia. The upshot of this is that when fitted, your car is deemed "unroadworthy" and thus your insurance company may not cover you in the event of an accident. Important to check the situation where you live before going too far down this path.

[808X1]

Rear 13mm:
Attachment 1671494

Front 13mm:
Attachment 1671495

If alignment is need, then camber and toe is what I would touch. Question is how much camber does the stock suspension allows?

Originally Posted by exwon

you have any pictures of the front and rear you could share?

If I went with a staggered 12.5 and 15 for the X1, would compensating with alignment be with a toe adjustment? i'm not interested in changing much other than maybe toe or camber a little.

[808X1]

I believe H&R does make a 20mm spacer for the F48, but it's not a spacer that bolts to the hub. Rather, it's the standard hubcentric spacer with a lip that is held by extended bolts.

Originally Posted by mr_lab_rat

Once you go to 20mm or more you can get a spacer that bolts to the hub and then your wheel mounts to them using the standard length bolts. I'm not sure if H&R make them for the F48.

[exwon]

Originally Posted by 808X1

If alignment is need, then camber and toe is what I would touch. Question is how much camber does the stock suspension allows?

Thanks for the pictures! Looks good. Any chance you have a side or side-angled picture from a little further away to see the overall vehicle look?

Haven't measured the space between the wheel and the suspension. We know there is at least enough to safely accommodate an 8x19 ET47 wheel over the standard 7.5x18 ET51. Half inch wider wheel is about 12mm, but its offset pushes it out 4mm more from the suspension. So just by BMW specs, which could be conservative, there is already at least 2mm.

But I don't expect to need a change in alignment unless I do only rear spacers. Instead, I'm leaning towards something similar to yours with 12.5f but little more aggressive in the rear with 15.

[808X1]

Front 3/4 View

Attachment 1672552


Back 3/4 View

Attachment 1672553


Planning to install 20mm rears soon.

[TSiSPY007]

Originally Posted by mr_lab_rat

Once you go to 20mm or more you can get a spacer that bolts to the hub and then your wheel mounts to them using the standard length bolts. I'm not sure if H&R make them for the F48.

Edit: ok, it looks like H&R doesn't have the DRA type spacer for the X1 yet.

A buddy at a local shop here in Richmond, BC (Canada) tells me he can get such a 20mm spacer by H&R that will fit the OEM MSport 19's (but I also could not find on H&R site)...I wanted to go this route since the aftermarket 19's we have gives it about a 20mm spaced fit and love the notably hunkier look.

Fred

[mr_lab_rat]

Originally Posted by TSiSPY007

A buddy at a local shop here in Richmond, BC (Canada) tells me he can get such a 20mm spacer by H&R that will fit the OEM MSport 19's (but I also could not find on H&R site)...I wanted to go this route since the aftermarket 19's we have gives it about a 20mm spaced fit and love the notably hunkier look.

Fred

I'm not sure he realizes that the X1 uses different bolt pattern than all other BMWs. I have the 20mm DRA spacers for my e46 and they are awesome.

[spitpilot]

Originally Posted by mr_lab_rat

I'm not sure he realizes that the X1 uses different bolt pattern than all other BMWs. I have the 20mm DRA spacers for my e46 and they are awesome.

Different bolt pattern and also hub diameter!!! Here's all the specs...

https://www.wheel-size.com/size/bmw/x1/2017/

Current X1 uses same hubs as current MINI's...but front brakes on the X1 are much larger, so you'll need to run 10mm spacers to use a set of MINI wheels...say for winter set....Picked up a set of MINI take off's...not a scratch on em 17X7 to run 225/55's for winter for $200 off Craig's List...so even with a $100 set of hub centric spacers and extended lug bolts...still $200 less than replacing one stock wheel from a snow filled pothole strike!

[exwon]

Originally Posted by 808X1

Planning to install 20mm rears soon.

Thanks! Looks good as is but a switch to 20mm in the rear should look awesome.

I'm going with 12.5f and 15r. And maybe replacing the tires with 235-50 when the P7 RFT's lose tread or I lose patience.

I also picked up some mud flaps but I might hold on to them for now.

[808X1]

12.5/13 fronts and 15 rears along with 235/50 should look proper.

Originally Posted by exwon

Thanks! Looks good as is but a switch to 20mm in the rear should look awesome.

I'm going with 12.5f and 15r. And maybe replacing the tires with 235-50 when the P7 RFT's lose tread or I lose patience.

I also picked up some mud flaps but I might hold on to them for now.