[e92liv]

I know its only August but I'm trying to get my winter setup sorted

Currently got 19" style 351M alloys on the car

I've been looking around for a suitable set of style 350 18" alloys, but not had much luck

I'm considering aftermarket alloys, but want to keep a OEM look, I don't want to chav up my car

Opinions on these? £440 for four alloy wheels LINK

Theres even a picture of them on a 5series on their homepage

[IanS100]

I was looking at very similar wheels & was just about to place an order when I thought to ask if they had the recess for the pressure sensors, the answer was no - I went on to ask if they had any similar wheels WITH the recess but I never received a reply, so I'm guessing the answer was no.

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I was looking at very similar wheels & was just about to place an order when I thought to ask if they had the recess for the pressure sensors, the answer was no - I went on to ask if they had any similar wheels WITH the recess but I never received a reply, so I'm guessing the answer was no.

Is that for the new style system where it shows you the actual tyre pressure psi in idrive?

I've got the old style system on my car that just detects if the tyre is flat?

[Junebug85]

I have these borbet wheels (17" ones) for my winter option with Dunlop winter sport tyres. Used in winter just gone. No complaints. Alloys are good and solid. I too looked at getting OEM wheels for winter but saw these and they had good reviews so took the plunge. My dad also has these on his 3 series.

I know a few others on here also have these wheels.

Few pics of how they look on the car:

[martin mustang]

I am also planning to get this time around tyres and alloys, managed the last couple winters with switching only rubber on my M Double-spoke style 350 M, I did find the Vredestein perfectly fine for the job.
I always thought changing only the tyres over was the chance to complete a wheel alignment once a year by the dealer with the right software. Hence was never fully convinced with the need to get a complete new set, this time around I may opt for both.

[Pottsy]

I have the 17" Borbets too (with the new style pressure sensors). Good quality, good value.

Here's mine with a summer on the rear and a winter on the front (mid wheel swap):

[e92liv]

Thanks for posting pictures guys, they look good!

It turns out Borbet are a German brand and supply wheels to BMW & VAG which is reassuring, I've read horror stories over the years about certain aftermarket wheels!

I just need to decide which winter rubber to wrap them in. The above website want £650 to put the Dunlop 3d RFT on. Does that sound reasonable?

[Pottsy]

For winter, a narrower tyre is always recommended. The 17" option has 225 tyres, the 18" you are looking at has 245 low profile tyres, which will be worse in the snow. Might be worth considering the 225's, which I think is the BMW recommended size of winter tyre for the F10.

I used Avons on my Merc and loved them, Dunlops on my Jag and didn't love them - now Avons on the BMW. They are very good in snow, quiet and comfortable, but only moderate to good in cold+wet. The Dunlops I had were a different type to the ones you are looking at, but were slightly better in the wet and noticeably worse in the snow. Overall I am very happy on the Avons.

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by Pottsy

For winter, a narrower tyre is always recommended. The 17" option has 225 tyres, the 18" you are looking at has 245 low profile tyres, which will be worse in the snow. Might be worth considering the 225's, which I think is the BMW recommended size of winter tyre for the F10.

I used Avons on my Merc and loved them, Dunlops on my Jag and didn't love them - now Avons on the BMW. They are very good in snow, quiet and comfortable, but only moderate to good in cold+wet. The Dunlops I had were a different type to the ones you are looking at, but were slightly better in the wet and noticeably worse in the snow. Overall I am very happy on the Avons.

I appreciate that the thinner 225 17" would have better performance in snow, but for the usual cold wet wintery conditions the wider 245 18" will be fine, and they will still perform much better in snow than my summer 275/35 19"!

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by e92liv

Is that for the new style system where it shows you the actual tyre pressure psi in idrive?

I've got the old style system on my car that just detects if the tyre is flat?

Yes, it's a 2015 F10 so the new style sensors which add about £150 to the cost of the wheels

[e92liv]

Ordered the Borbet 18" wheels from mrwinterwheels and a set of Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 RFTs from tyreleader
£1k delivered
just need to take to local garage to get tyres fitted

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by e92liv

Ordered the Borbet 18" wheels from mrwinterwheels and a set of Pirelli Winter Sottozero 3 RFTs from tyreleader
£1k delivered
just need to take to local garage to get tyres fitted

What was the reason for getting the Pirelli over the Dunlop 3D offered by Mr Ww?

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by IanS100

What was the reason for getting the Pirelli over the Dunlop 3D offered by Mr Ww?

From the reviews I read I decided to go with the Pirellis, Got them for £555 delivered from Tyreleader

MWW wanted £650 for the Dunlops fitted. Tyreleader had them for £580 delivered

MWW price for the Dunlops is a good one, and includes fitting. Certainly cheaper than most online tyre retailers, black circles want £835 fitted!

[IanS100]

I had a look at the Sottozero reviews & came to a similar conclusion so Borbet 18" Wheels, Sottozero 3 Tyres & TPMS ordered.

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I had a look at the Sottozero reviews & came to a similar conclusion so Borbet 18" Wheels, Sottozero 3 Tyres & TPMS ordered.

Nice one!

So wheels do not need a recess for the special TPMS valve sensor thingy?

[IanS100]

I don't really know, either these wheels have the recess or it's not needed, nobody else I asked seemed to know but I can't see Mr WW selling wheels with TPMS fitted if it's inappropriate, I suppose I'll find out more when they arrive & I see whether the recess is there or not?

As these wheels are supposed to be made specifically as 'winter wheels' I wonder what is winterised about them, extra tough paint maybe?

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I don't really know, either these wheels have the recess or it's not needed, nobody else I asked seemed to know but I can't see Mr WW selling wheels with TPMS fitted if it's inappropriate, I suppose I'll find out more when they arrive & I see whether the recess is there or not?

As these wheels are supposed to be made specifically as 'winter wheels' I wonder what is winterised about them, extra tough paint maybe?

Pottsy above has them with the TPMS option so doesn't seem like a problem anyway

I've ordered some Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour, which i'll be applying to the wheels to help keep them protected through winter

[e92liv]

Wheels & Tyres have arrived, very pleased!
Replaced the Borbet centre caps with some new BMW caps

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by e92liv

I've ordered some Gtechniq C5 Wheel Armour, which i'll be applying to the wheels to help keep them protected through winter

Now this is getting plain weird, so have I

[e92liv]

Originally Posted by IanS100

Now this is getting plain weird, so have I

You, Sir, clearly have great taste in automotive products

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by e92liv

You, Sir, clearly have great taste in automotive products

It seems I had a good teacher.

[IanS100]

Originally Posted by IanS100

I don't really know, either these wheels have the recess or it's not needed, nobody else I asked seemed to know but I can't see Mr WW selling wheels with TPMS fitted if it's inappropriate, I suppose I'll find out more when they arrive & I see whether the recess is there or not?

As these wheels are supposed to be made specifically as 'winter wheels' I wonder what is winterised about them, extra tough paint maybe?

The Borbet wheels have arrived, excellent service from both Mr Ww & Tyre Leader and I can confirm than the wheels do have a recess for the TPMS