The Perfect 17" BMW E36 And E36 M3 Fitment

APEX ARC-8, 17X9” ET42

This is by far the most popular wheel set up for E36 and E36 M3 owners looking for a wide track, autocross, or street fitment for their cars. There are a few reasons this is “The Perfect 17” E36 Fitment”: wheels and tires are generally much less expensive than 18″, the wheels and tires are lighter, and they can fit big brakes*.

SPECIFICATIONS

The specifications are meant to help you understand why and how this fitment works. Some of the information may seem inconsequential but we have seen fitments not work because of what would normally be considered foregone conclusions, such as rear camber:

A customer couldn’t get a known, easy fitment to work and we went back and forth for weeks only to find a mechanic had set their rear camber to 0. On their E46 non-M, stock camber in the rear is -2 degrees. The 0 degree camber caused rubbing on the fender and there was no way for us to know.

• Car/chassis: E36 M3
• Wheel model: APEX ARC-8, Satin Black
• Wheel size: 17X9” ET42
• Spacers: 12 MM in front to clear strut
• Tires: 245/40/17 Hoosier R6
• Suspension: JRZ RS Coilovers
• Camber plates: Vorshlag camber plates. Camber plates are required for this fitment.
• Alignment: -2.5 ft. & -2 rr. camber
• Fenders: Rear fenders rolled. Depending on your tire choice/size, you may need to shave the inside of the of the rear fender where it meets the wheel arch. See Fender Modifications: Rolling and Shaving.
• Other body modifications: None
• Brakes: OEM.

ADVICE

The 17×9″ ET42 ARC-8 fits a 255/40/17 extreme performance tire very easily as well as 245 and 255 width R Compound tires. With the wider wheel and tire, you must use at least a 10mm wheel spacer in the front to clear the strut. We prefer 12mm spacers as some 10 mm spacers can have fit issues with wheel hubs and coilovers.

Your suspension plays a large role in wide wheel and tire fitment. Spring length, spring type, and strut design are the key factors in this. Whether you have a stock strut, coilovers, or an aftermarket sport strut, the main issue is where the lowest part of the front spring is in relation to the tire and wheel. The spring perch should be above the wheel and tire for optimal clearance. Some coilovers utilize a cone shaped, progressive spring or a helper spring, which positions the perch and spring lower, next to the tire. A significantly thicker spacer, sometimes up to 20mm in thickness, will be required with this kind of suspension**. If you encounter this clearance issue you can, use a thick wheel spacer, replace your spring with a shorter spring, remove the helper spring, or raise your ride height.

Clearance in the front is more easily maximized with adjustable camber plates. When using a 245 or 255 width tire on the 17X9″ ET42 Arc-8, you must use camber plates. This allows the wheel to tuck inside of the fender wheel and to clear the fender. A huge benefit to camber plates is that they allow you to tune your suspension to significantly increase corner grip.

FENDER MODIFICATIONS: ROLLING AND SHAVING

Fender modifications are common on BMWs when fitting wide wheels and are nothing to be afraid of. There are many performance shops that specialize in this and with a proper rolling tool and experience the results are perfect. For this fitment, the front fenders do not need to be modified but the rear fenders do. They need to be rolled at the lip and inside the wheel well. The rear bumper may also need to be shaved where it meets the wheel arch. This is not mandatory as your tire choice has a lot to do with this. If you do need to shave a little material off of the inside of this portion of the bumper you can’t tell it’s been done unless you put your finger inside of the fender/bumper. See the 4th image below.

SUPPORT

As always, feel free to email us at info@apexraceparts.com or call us at (888) 499-9135 with any questions you may have. We can walk you through fitment potentials for your car and make sure you get all of your questions answered.

*The 17X9” ET42 ARC-8 has been proven to fit brakes as large as the StopTech 332 with ST60 caliper. ** If the spacer required is so thick the wheel sites outside of the wheel well then you may need to choose a narrower fitment.

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.