Thoughts on running wheels without the center caps?...

mile2424 · 06-22-2022, 04:07 PM

I am sure this is already a trend or been done for some time, but curious people's thoughts on this and any pro's or con's against? I believe it's purely cosmetic for aesthetics, but I have seen some pics of wheels without the center caps and in some ways they might look even better without.

NSX2M4 · 06-22-2022, 04:27 PM

I think they all look like shit without caps. Unless the car is full track duty.

bagekko · 06-22-2022, 04:28 PM

I've always thought they had a little function of keeping most water & dirt away from the hub to reduce corrosion and seizing up.

On the aesthetic side, personally I think it makes it look cheap, as if you lost them and can't afford new ones. A week before I traded in my 2106, one fell off magically on the highway and I had spares, pride wouldn't let me trade it in with one missing.

swagon · 06-22-2022, 04:31 PM

I don't run center caps on the track and it looks like shit with the rusty hub poking through lol

HarryTee · 06-22-2022, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mile2424

I am sure this is already a trend or been done for some time, but curious people's thoughts on this and any pro's or con's against? I believe it's purely cosmetic for aesthetics, but I have seen some pics of wheels without the center caps and in some ways they might look even better without.

I'm sure if you try without caps for a few days you'll get a reliable answer from yourself

hellokitty · 06-22-2022, 05:45 PM

Looks like crap IMO.

RugbyBro · 06-22-2022, 06:53 PM

It's a very motorsport look. On track wheels it looks great, on street wheels it's up to interpretation. I run center caps on the street but not at the track.

VRForged · 06-22-2022, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swagon

I don't run center caps on the track and it looks like shit with the rusty hub poking through lol

LOL!

Was going to say that many trackday organizers "require" you to remove caps on the track. I'd imagine this originated from plastic caps getting hot enough, warping, and flying off at the track, but I'm not sure that's much of an issue these days.

Agreed - When hubs are rusty, it can be a little displeasing... With the right build, stance, and cleaned up hubs, it can definitely work if that's the look you're after.

Final vote? Run centercaps when ya can!

Kilabyte · 06-22-2022, 08:41 PM

Yvette · 06-22-2022, 11:08 PM

Do it for the weight loss

Allen Aquino · 06-23-2022, 01:57 AM

I think they all look like shit without caps.....Why would you even consider doing that...LOl

whitecar.m3 · 06-23-2022, 01:59 AM

I have no choice to run no center caps

HarryTee · 06-23-2022, 02:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mile2424

I have seen some pics of wheels without the center caps and in some ways they might look even better without.

Yes, I've seen some cars running without tires. Do I want to try that myself? No!!!

RickFLM4 · 06-23-2022, 06:40 AM

If you are going for that "someone stole my center caps" look, then sure makes sense.

Keca10 · 06-23-2022, 08:45 AM

I don’t get this one at all.

N1rve · 06-23-2022, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yvette

Do it for the weight loss

It's unsprung weight too right?

E92Roni · 06-23-2022, 04:58 PM

Depends on the wheel and overall cosmetic / aero on the car. If your car looks bone stock with factory 666Ms and you decide to remove the center caps then it'll look out of place. But if your car is track built or track inspired with a racing wheel setup, no center cap will suit the overall image better. Just my opinion. I personally don't run them on my TEs.

krudmunk · 06-24-2022, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bagekko

I've always thought they had a little function of keeping most water & dirt away from the hub to reduce corrosion and seizing up.

On the aesthetic side, personally I think it makes it look cheap, as if you lost them and can't afford new ones. A week before I traded in my 2106, one fell off magically on the highway and I had spares, pride wouldn't let me trade it in with one missing.

Your hub will rust due to air and moisture. Whether you cover it up with center caps or not, it is still rusting. You could just paint your hub with a black paint to slow the rusting.

I think depends on the wheels. E88 and TE37 looks best without center caps. Other wheels look best with center caps. An HRE P101 without center caps looks like a Signature wheels. LOL. I ran HRE P101 without 1 center cap for a bit and it looked terrible.

06-22-2022, 04:07 PM	#1
mile2424 Second Lieutenant 200 Rep 217 Posts Drives: Join Date: Jun 2008 iTrader: (0)	Thoughts on running wheels without the center caps?... I am sure this is already a trend or been done for some time, but curious people's thoughts on this and any pro's or con's against? I believe it's purely cosmetic for aesthetics, but I have seen some pics of wheels without the center caps and in some ways they might look even better without.
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06-22-2022, 04:27 PM	#2
NSX2M4 Major 1405 Rep 1,371 Posts Drives: 2019 M4 ZCP- RIVIAN R1S QUAD Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: FTL, FL iTrader: (1)	I think they all look like shit without caps. Unless the car is full track duty. __________________ MGM Ext, SO int, Euro IKON, CS front lip, Carbon 1.5 diffuser, GTS/CS coding, M perf rear spoiler, & everything else STOCK. (Previous E39 and NA1 NSX owner) Those were the days!
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06-22-2022, 04:28 PM	#3
bagekko Major 817 Rep 1,080 Posts Drives: Lots of BMWs Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: RI/MA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 M4 Vert [0.00] 2006 Z4M Roadster [0.00] 1995 540i [0.00] 2008 BMW M5 [0.00] 2019 i3 Rex [0.00] 2021 X7 40i MSport [0.00]	I've always thought they had a little function of keeping most water & dirt away from the hub to reduce corrosion and seizing up. On the aesthetic side, personally I think it makes it look cheap, as if you lost them and can't afford new ones. A week before I traded in my 2106, one fell off magically on the highway and I had spares, pride wouldn't let me trade it in with one missing. __________________ 2008 M5 6spd, 1995 540i 6spd 2018 M4 Vert Comp, 2019 i3 120ah REX 2021 X7 40i MSport, 2006 Z4M 6spd
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06-22-2022, 04:31 PM	#4
swagon Major General 13568 Rep 8,185 Posts Drives: F80 6MT Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: . iTrader: (0)	I don't run center caps on the track and it looks like shit with the rusty hub poking through lol __________________
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06-22-2022, 05:45 PM	#6
hellokitty Brigadier General 2899 Rep 3,729 Posts Drives: '17 M3 ZCP DCT Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Southern California iTrader: (2)	Looks like crap IMO. __________________ 2017 F80 M3 ZCP / AA GESI DPs / Akrapovic Evo / BBS FI-R 19" / Bend Calibration ECUTEK Flex Fuel \| Bilstein B16 DDC + CS EDC / BMC Filters / BMS OCC / CSF HE / ESS CP / Nitto NT555R2 / PD Crank Hub / SPL Suspension / Uniden R7 / Wagner Top Mount IC 2021 Mini GP3 / BMC Filters / BM3 / Cary Jordan E30 / Wagner IC / Remus Race
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06-22-2022, 06:53 PM	#7
RugbyBro Brigadier General 7609 Rep 3,608 Posts Drives: M3 Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: SF iTrader: (0)	It's a very motorsport look. On track wheels it looks great, on street wheels it's up to interpretation. I run center caps on the street but not at the track. __________________ Current: F80 Prior: F82, F32
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06-22-2022, 08:41 PM	#9
Kilabyte I'm Batman! 3949 Rep 1,477 Posts Drives: Mineral White M3 6MT Join Date: Jun 2019 Location: Massachusetts iTrader: (1)	__________________ S55, 2JZ, M48.00
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06-22-2022, 11:08 PM	#10
Yvette Major General 761 Rep 7,408 Posts Drives: M Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (19)	Do it for the weight loss
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06-23-2022, 01:57 AM	#11
Allen Aquino Banned 269 Rep 162 Posts Drives: BMWM8 Gran Coupe Join Date: Jun 2022 Location: Stanley iTrader: (0)	I think they all look like shit without caps.....Why would you even consider doing that...LOl
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06-23-2022, 01:59 AM	#12
whitecar.m3 Private First Class 23 Rep 112 Posts Drives: 2015 m3 Join Date: Feb 2022 Location: philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 Bmw m3 [0.00]	I have no choice to run no center caps Attached Images
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06-23-2022, 06:40 AM	#14
RickFLM4 Brigadier General 10999 Rep 4,823 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: PB County, FL iTrader: (0)	If you are going for that "someone stole my center caps" look, then sure makes sense. __________________ Current: 2018 SO/SS F83 ZCP Gone: 2015 SO/SO F82
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06-23-2022, 08:45 AM	#15
Keca10 Lieutenant 439 Rep 502 Posts Drives: ‘18 M3 ZCP / '20 X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: USA iTrader: (1)	I don’t get this one at all.
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06-23-2022, 04:58 PM	#17
E92Roni Second Lieutenant 160 Rep 265 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 2012 M3 1999 328IS Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Depends on the wheel and overall cosmetic / aero on the car. If your car looks bone stock with factory 666Ms and you decide to remove the center caps then it'll look out of place. But if your car is track built or track inspired with a racing wheel setup, no center cap will suit the overall image better. Just my opinion. I personally don't run them on my TEs. Attached Images
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