BMW E36 3 Series Wheels

Lightweight forged & flow formed Apex wheels for your 1990-1999 E36. Includes 316i, 318i, 318is, 318tds, 320i, 323i, 325i, 325td, 325tds, 328i. Browse our inventory of BMW wheels.

Construction Type

All

Forged Sprint line

Forged Touring line

Forged Enduro line

Flow Formed Evolution line

Flow Formed Classic line

Finish: Anthracite

Backordered: ETA October 2024.
Backordered: ETA October 2024.

Total

$2,156.00

Overview

BMW E36 3 Series Wheel Performance

The stock E36 3 Series wheels standard on many models were limited in terms of both width and diameter. As an older chassis, smaller 15” and 16” standard wheels gave increased ride comfort but sacrificed brake clearance and compatibility with modern tires. One of the best modifications E36 owners looking to update their 3 series can make is a chassis-specific set of performance wheels. We created forged wheels like the EC-7RS, VS-5RS, SM-10RS and flow formed wheels like the ARC-8, FL-5, EC-7, and SM-10 to increase the performance of your 3 series. Find your perfect fitment on our E36 3 Series Wheel and Tire Fitment Guide.

About the BMW E36 3 Series

The third generation of the BMW 3 series dubbed the E36, was a major step up from its predecessors. Not only was the new generation much faster than the E30 it replaced, the E36 paved the way for the luxurious and GT like vehicles the brand is now known for. Produced from 1990 all the way to 1998, the E36 3 series offered a wide range of both 4 cylinder and 6 cylinder power plants. Transmission options came in the flavor of a 4 and 5 speed automatic with a 5 speed manual as standard. While the styling is rather boxy by today’s standards, the aerodynamic wedge shape was heavily influenced by aerodynamics and wind tunnel testing.

Available in a coupe, sedan, estate, and hatchback configuration, the E36 generation was intended to cater to the masses. The silky smooth inline 6 engine options gained popularity with the American market, offering plenty of power and torque in a sporty shell. While often out-shadowed by the later E46 3 series, the E36 was an icon of the 1990s.

What Makes it a Good Track Car

Like most BMWs from this era, the E36 is an extremely well balanced chassis. At the limits of grip, the E36 communicates every detail of the road surface to the driver through its cable actuated throttle and hydraulic steering rack. The silky smooth inline 6 engines found in most North America spec E36s provides plenty of power at all RPMs with unmatched smoothness. Best of all these cars are pretty darn reliable. Just remember that any car of this age will need its fair share of maintenance and replacement of worn parts.

In the case of the E36 generation, the M3 variant retained the same fenders as the base model. As such, non-M model owners don’t have to settle for a lesser wheel and tire setup. Being a momentum car, the E36 greatly benefits from added grip in the corners. Luckily we have a variety of E36 3 Series wheels tailor made to fit the E36.

Want to learn more about the E36 generation? Checkout the article below from our friends over at BMW Blog: BMW E36 3 Series Buyers Guide – What Model To Buy

ARC-8RT Specifications

 
Front
Rear
SKU
ARC8RT...
ARC8RT...
Wheel Size
17x8.5" ET40
17x8.5" ET40
Face Profile
Profile 2
Profile 2
Bolt Pattern
5x120mm
5x120mm
Center Bore
72.56mm
72.56mm
Centering Ring
N/A Direct fit
N/A Direct fit
Lug Seat
60 Degree Conical
60 Degree Conical
Center Cap
Gloss Black
Gloss Black
OEM Cap
Compatible*
Compatible*
Load Rating
1,500 lbs
1,500 lbs
Weight
17.7 lbs
17.7 lbs
Tested By
ITS
ITS
Test Reference #
C4516 R7842 I3224
C4516 R7842 I3224
Front Profile
Rear Profile
Product image
Product image

Fitment guides

Which Wheels Should I Get?

Check out our Fitment Guides, the most in-depth, authoritative guides for wheel and tire fitments, tailored for your vehicle and how you drive it.

ARC-8RT features

Modern Performance, Classic Design

Based on Apex’s first ever design that captivated the hearts of BMW drivers across the globe. As the second forged iteration, the ARC-8RT features improved strength, stiffness and weights compared to its flow formed counterpart, while still staying true to the original wheel’s timeless design.

Stiffer Spokes

Wheel stiffness matters but it gets overlooked and undiscussed. Our engineers were able to redesign the ARC-8RT with thinner, yet deeper spokes than their flow formed counterparts while still retaining the brake clearance Apex customers expect. The result is a lighter, yet stiffer spoke design.

Sprint Inner Lip

The ARC-8RT borrows the race-proven Sprint Spec inner lip from our Sprint Line wheels, providing critical strength to the unsupported inner lip of the wheel. Adding 32% more material where it matters most. Don’t settle for under-engineered wheels, attack both the track and your cities potholes with confidence.

50%

more reinforcement

than a standard inner lip

Learn More

10K Tons of Pressure

To make our forged wheels the strongest we can, we applied as much pressure as possible using a 10,000 ton forge. This extreme pressure increases the strength of the aluminum by eliminating porosity and improving the grain structure.

True Motorsport Blanks

Many companies use 3rd-party blanks intended for non-motorsport wheels which can severely limit sizes, concavity, spoke design, and critical brake clearance. We designed our very own blank profiles from scratch to give us total control over the final product.

Learn More

Independently Tested

We don't rely solely on computer simulations or unverifiable in-house testing. We believe independent testing is critical to protect consumers in this unregulated industry. Our Touring Line wheels are independently tested by ITS at their Michigan facility following JWL standards but pushed to much higher loads and much longer durations.

Learn More

Big Brake Clearance

From day one, Apex has been on a mission to build wheels that clear big brakes. We utilize 3D scans to produce vehicle-specific spoke profiles, and our wheels feature an innovative high-clearance barrel design.

Deeper Concavity

Our new forgings enable us to use an extra deep profile 4 face when possible. Our forging blanks allow us to make any profile, from flat to deep and everything in between, each optimized for a specific application using 3D laser scans of factory and aftermarket brake kits.

Built for Impact Sockets

Don’t settle for wheels that require undersized tuner lugs or thin walled sockets. All Apex wheels accommodate over-sized race lugs and impact sockets to make swapping wheels lightning fast.

32mm

Socket Diameter Clearance

OEM Center Cap Compatibility

Love that OEM+ look? Us too. Our engineers went the extra mile and incorporated OEM center cap support into the ARC-8RT. Whether you want to show off your included Apex center caps or stick with the infamous roundel, the ARC-8RT will seamlessly accept both.

Laser-Engraved Specs

As car enthusiasts ourselves, we know how frustrating it is to locate and decipher wheel specs that have been hastily marked on a wheel or become unreadable over time. Our Touring Line wheels have laser-engraved specs on the barrel, in plain sight, making them easy to find and read.

Additional features

Hub Centric

All Forged Touring Line wheels are purpose built for select vehicle applications. Very few applications require centering rings.

Center Caps

All Apex Forged Touring Line wheels come with our gloss black cap included that is interchangeable with the OE cap. We also offer additional colors for select fitments.

Wheel Hardware

Wherever possible, Apex wheels are designed to be used with OEM mounting hardware as well as high-quality wheel spacers, stud conversion kits, wheel locks, and more. See our Accessories pages.

TPMS

All Apex wheels accept OEM and aftermarket Tire Pressure Monitoring Sensors and standard fit valve stems. If you don’t have sensors, then select from our metal stems available in multiple finishes.

A Wheel You Can Depend On

Accidental damage replacement

Curb rash or pothole damage on the street? Make an oopsie at the track? We’ve all been there. APEX is proud to offer 50% off replacement wheels, no matter the damage.

See terms and conditions.

Lifetime warranty

All APEX wheels come with a lifetime structural warranty against defects in workmanship and materials, plus a 1 year finish warranty. Exchanges are fast, easy, and hassle-free.

See terms and conditions.

⁴ All wheels compared with equivalent 18x10” ET25 5x120mm / 72.56mm fitment

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