Photoshoot: 19″ EC-7 Wheels on Dakar Yellow BMW E46 M3

There’s nothing better than the look of deep concave spokes on a BMW. Fitting them on the back of a BMW E46 M3 is easy, but if you can also get those deep concave spokes to fit up front, it changes the car’s entire personality. This Dakar Yellow E46 M3 is running a slightly aggressive staggered 19″ EC-7 wheel fitment for street use. Tires are Hankook V12 tires, and the car is lowered on Ground Control Coilovers. Ground Control coilovers utilize a Koni shock with linear Eibach springs, which is compatible with our 19×9.5″ ET33 EC-7 wheels without the need for spacers. For an E46 M3 looking for a an aggressive fitment with the deepest concavity while trying to avoid a large amount of negative camber in front, the 19×9.5″ ET33 (Profile 3) & 19×10.5″ ET22 (Profile 3) EC-7’s with 255/35/19 and 275/30/19 sized street tires would be the answer. The front wheels are not the most aggressive, but it does sit flush with the fenders and provides the deepest concave Profile 3 face, which is a unique feature to only the 19″ EC-7 wheels. The 18″ equivalent size uses the more conservative Profile 2 face. The ET33 offset combined with the most aggressive face profile allows for an easier fitment of deep concave wheels on the front of the E46 M3 without making a huge amount of compromise with unnecessary amounts of negative camber on the street. The rear fenders are rolled, the tires are slightly undersized and stretched on both the front and rear wheels, and the car is lowered a decent amount. This fitment sets the wheels more flush with the fenders than the OEM wheels, and allows for noticeably wider wheels and tires to be used. When using high performance summer tires, or R-compound tires, the rear would require additional negative camber, or rolled/flared rear fenders, in order to properly clear without rubbing. In comparison, the OEM fitment is a conservative 19×8″ with 225 front, and 19×9″ with 255 rear. With an inch and a half wider width on both the front and rear compared to the OEM wheels, this wheel setup allows for a better looking stance while still being compatible with the OEM suspension and factory alignment settings. The concave 19×9.5″ ET33 EC-7’s can clear the majority of big brake kits available for the E46 M3 with up to 380mm sized rotors.

The wider front wheels will require a spacer for E46 M3’s that are utilizing progressive V-shaped springs properly, such as those from KW/ST and Bilstein, since the extra width of the wheel reduces the amount of strut clearance available. If one is looking to run a less aggressive wheel and tire in front, the 245/35/19 can work with the 19×9″ ET35 (Profile 2) EC-7 wheels, which is a little more conservative but still has a nice concave face, and is wider and more flush with the fenders. The 19×9″ ET35 front wheel can be paired with the less aggressive 19×10″ ET25 with the 275/30/19 sized tire for an easier rear fit, as it is a direct fit for most street tires on the E46 M3. If a lot of extra wheel and tire width is not needed, there is an even more conservative fitment available. For a fitment that is wider than stock, but fits with ease, you can run the 19×8.5″ ET35 (Profile 1) wheel up front with a 245/35/19 tire. The 19×8.5″ wheel is typically paired with the 19×9.5″ ET22 (Profile 3) rear wheel running a 275/30/19 tires.

There is also the most aggressive front fitment for those who want to run the most aggressive face profile, combined with an aggressive offset. You’d have to be willing to make the compromises necessary to make it fit though. That fitment is the 19×9.5″ ET22 (Profile 3) up front, usually paired with the 19×10.5″ ET22 (Profile 3) in the rear with 255/35/19 and 275/30/19 tires respectively. This fitment is only for those that are willing to roll their fenders and dial in significant negative camber to fit a wider, lower offset wheel with the deepest concavity. For an example of how aggressive that fitment would look, check out our aggressive E46 M3 on EC-7’s write-up, or our aggressive E46 M3 on PS-7’s write-up. There are also many other wheel models available for the E46 M3 with similar wheel fitments, including the PS-7’s and ARC-8’s in both 18″ and 19″ fitments.

EC-7 DESIGN:

The 19″ EC-7’s are manufactured using three unique face profiles ranging from moderate to extreme concavity. This wide range of vehicle-specific 19″ fitments allows for maximum concavity, proper brake caliper clearance, wider tires, and an overall ideal setup. The EC-7 wheel’s design has been tweaked to further enhance functionality and appearance. The center pad depth has been increased on all sizes to further accentuate spoke concavity on the EC-7 wheels. The wheel’s inner lip was thickened to increase strength as well as better handle the abuse from low profile and stretched tires. These wheels include a newly redesigned sleek black center cap made from a more heat-resistant material for increased durability in track environments. The OEM BMW center caps and TPMS sensors are still perfectly compatible with the 19″ EC-7’s.. The EC-7 wheel line was originally created to address the concerns of more and more racers and track day enthusiasts: long term durability, fit and performance. With the increase of faster and heavier cars being used in racing, HPDEs, and spirited driving, the EC-7 was designed and engineered to handle extreme abuse on the track & street and offer a wide range of direct fitments, all while producing a lightweight wheel. We’ve taken these strength and endurance features even further with the 19″ line to produce a very stylish and functional wheel.

Tom M.

Tom is a BMW Fitment Expert at APEX Wheels. Prior to joining the company in 2019, he worked for BMW of North America as Fleet Manager: Portland (OR) for the ReachNow car-sharing program, and as Warranty Administrator/Loaner Fleet Manager at BMW Portland. In addition, Tom has extensive training in BMW TSBs (Technical Service Bulletins) as well as in-depth knowledge of all BMW chassis and their wheel fitment options, with and without aftermarket brake and suspension upgrades. His high-performance driving experience includes autocross events in southern Oregon and track days at PIR in his 2004 E46 330i with 17x9 ET42 APEX ARC-8 wheels. Vehicles he owned prior to indulging his passion for BMWs include a 1989 Jaguar XJ6 and a 2006 S197 Ford Mustang. Fun Fact: Tom is a huge Formula 1 fan. Have questions about wheels for your BMW? Use our contact form and ask for Tom.