[Lagunatic]

Called a couple shops for spacer install quotes and a few won’t do it due to complaints and safety issues. I didn’t realize it was that bad. Any thoughts?

[BackOnBlack]

It depends

https://suspensionsecrets.co.uk/why-...heels-spacers/

[M2siast]

If I had a shop, I wouldn't install your stuff that you brought with you.

I could probably test and homologate my own and install those, but that's a specific niche market of tuning.

Spacers can cause issues in your bearings. Suspension issues. Wheel fitment issues. Vibration. Longer bolts can shear, especially if they are not made with the proper steel and manufacturing.

Lots to go wrong for a simple "install" where the installer is held liable. It's a simple thing to do at home, though.

[WhiteRqbbit]

It makes sense and doesn't make sense simultaneously, and I could never really wrap my head around the difference between a spacer and the same effective offset being any different. Not all spacers are made the same, hubcentric is important.

[Albator_IIII]

Originally Posted by WhiteRqbbit

It makes sense and doesn't make sense simultaneously, and I could never really wrap my head around the difference between a spacer and the same effective offset being any different. Not all spacers are made the same, hubcentric is important.

Introducing a spacer adds a link to the "chain". The more links a chain has, the more sources of vulnerability there are. If you have to push the wheels out more, a more aggressive offset>spacers.

[WhiteRqbbit]

Originally Posted by Albator_IIII

Introducing a spacer adds a link to the "chain". The more links a chain has, the more sources of vulnerability there are. If you have to push the wheels out more, a more aggressive offset>spacers.

That makes sense, adding a failure point. The part that confuses me is the effects on the bearings and the geometry of the other linked post. Taking the failure point aspect out of it, like if I welded the spacer to my wheel, would that be the same as changing the offset? lol

[BackOnBlack]

Originally Posted by WhiteRqbbit

...if I welded the spacer to my wheel, would that be the same as changing the offset? lol

Don't even kid about 'welding' a spacer please

The additional load on the bearings, IMHO, is not significant. The bigger concern is the load increase and the amount of 'work' that the control arms, steering connectors, toe links, shocks, etc. will have to endure. There is a long-term effect. It is impossible to determine the effect without knowing the metallurgy of those links as manufactured by BMW.

That being said, with the G8x, the general consensus by professional motorsports shops, including Turner, BimmerWorld, etc. is that 10-12 mm spacers appear not to cause significant issues with either the load on parts or the negative effects of changing the scrub radius. But of course, don't quote me on this or take it as gospel, I am not a spokesman for them. Also, anything above 12 mm hasn't been tested, to my best knowledge, under load. I use 10 mm spacers on my G80 and put load on them. I only have few hundred miles on them wihout issues, but we'll see in a year

[Bearded-Driver]

spacers for some reason freak me out i think its the horror videos i have seen of wheels falling off the trucks with too aggressive fitments and probably more than likely its the low quality parts that fail.

[WhiteRqbbit]

It has always been an interesting topic. Often, it's just regurgitated information someone reads on the internet and not often backed by anything other than that. I've seen some purpose-built hill climb / race cars using pretty thick spacers without issue - I think the difference is the quality of the parts. Most people slap poorly fitting spacers and never check to ensure they are still torqued to specification.

I don't recommend spacers, but I'll be running spacers to hold me over until I order a proper set of wheels.

[mike@x-ph.com]

100% safe if installed correctly.

[c1pher]

I threw one at a person once and it really hurt them. I'd say no.

[rons e92]

Depends on the manufacturer.

The first spacers I got were from Turner. They were unusable. They were not hubcentric and did not have a place for the wheel to mount onto. That's what I get for not researching. They're still brand new in the box at home. I can't even sell them in good conscious because I don't want someone to get hurt.

Next set I bought was from Dinan. Not a knock on Dinan, I love their stuff, but I had 10mm spacers on my ZTK wheels on my M240i. The car always felt a little weird with the spacers. I don't know how to describe it other than weird. When I removed them, it was clear that the spacers were rotating inside of the wheel under lateral load. That's where the weird feeling was coming from.

On my M2 I use spacers from Future Classic.
They actually bolt to the hub and it's physically impossible for them to rotate. I haven't had any of that weird feeling and it's been over 6,000 miles with the stock 930Ms and the 827Ms I have now.

You're mileage may vary.

[gcmak]

Originally Posted by rons e92

On my M2 I use spacers from Future Classic.
They actually bolt to the hub and it's physically impossible for them to rotate. I haven't had any of that weird feeling and it's been over 6,000 miles with the stock 930Ms and the 827Ms I have now.
You're mileage may vary.

I'm also running FC spacers and their included extended lug bolts. Since getting a square setup of wheels for the track, I'm only using them in the rear cause the fronts sit nicely without spacers given the new wheel offset. I'll continue to run them and see if anything develops but so far so good. All the hardware included and the spacers themselves fit very well and don't worry me.

[M Division]

I went for a "conservative" 8mm all around with extended lugs. Install with wheel hangers, non seize grease, wire brush, correct torque. Take your time fitting them and your wheels and not much can go wrong.

Looks great, performs great.

[Game]

I've run spacers for 10+ years without issue. If you put them on correctly, I don't see how an issue can arise.

[aerobod]

Assuming the wheel spacers are hubcentric with both an internal counterbore to fit the BMW hub boss and an equivalent boss on the spacer to hang the wheel, they should be safe, as long as they have the right chamfers on them. As I've mentioned before, an F87 lost a wheel at a track day when the wheel stud kit studs sheared off after only a few hours of use, due to incorrect chamfering of the wheel spacer. This video explains: