Help with Lowering, Spacers, and wheel size please

[tripleog]

Hey everyone. I'm a new X5 owner, xDrive 50i M Sport. I've always lowered my rides and put larger wheels with no issues whatsoever. But I've been researching on here regarding lowering the X5 and changing wheel size and I've been finding so many contradictions with the opinions on here. Just hoping someone can provide clarification.
So, I have the Hamann suspension and exhaust, and I purchased some 20"x10" fronts and 20"x11" rear wheels. There is one picture floating around on this forum of a white X5 that's lowered and the 20" wheels are sitting sooooo far inside the fender that I can't stand it and people keep saying this is what it looks like if you lower the X5 without spacers. But my question is how could I be going from a 9" width rim to an 11" wide rim and not be filling that space better? And how could lowering it just 1.1" in the rear and 1.8" in the front be so detrimental to the wheel arch spacing? Every other car I've lowered and put wider wheels on just looks fantastic, drives great, and has no need for spacers. Is this not the case with the X5? Do I need spacers too?

[aligazi]

My opinion only, you need either 21 or 22s. 20s are still too small.

[tripleog]

Originally Posted by aligazi

My opinion only, you need either 21 or 22s. 20s are still too small.

But the width of the 20"s are the same as the width of the 21"s. And since the tire is a bit larger on the 20" the overall diameter of tire+wheel is almost identical between 20" and 21" rims.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by tripleog

But my question is how could I be going from a 9" width rim to an 11" wide rim and not be filling that space better?

back spacing on the wheel itself combined with the conservative offsets makes you land in almost the exact same spot you started off in.

Originally Posted by tripleog

But the width of the 20"s are the same as the width of the 21"s.

not sure which you purchased but they are not the same if you are comparing oem to oem.

20x10, 275.40.20 et40 front
21x10, 285.35.21 et40 front

20x11, 315.20 et37 rear
21x11.5, 320.21 et38 rear

Originally Posted by tripleog

Do I need spacers too?

yes. 20, 25 or 30mm. on a 469m wheel the 20mm will push it about 3/4" out, 25mm 1" and get you nearly flush, 30mm will put you out ~1.25" a hair past the extended fender trim depending on how squared off the tire is.

12mm Front


15mm Rear:




*Please purchase the appropriate wheels bolts which match the amount of spacing you're offsetting the wheel by.

[tripleog]

Damn that X5 looks awesome. Thanks for the info man. So do I have to wait and get everything measured befor I order the spacers or can I just take your recommendation and get me some 25mm spacers? Never had to use them so this just confuses me a little bit. I appreciate your assistance.

[r33_RGSport]

It is all in the math.
If you have the specs, I can do the calculation.

[tripleog]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

It is all in the math.
If you have the specs, I can do the calculation.

Just got the exact specs and this is what the manufacturer told me:

"the 20x10 will be a 35et and the 20x11 will be a 30et", the Hamann suspension lowers the car 45mm front and 30m in the rear. I wouldn't recommend spacers with this set up as you will be almost flush with the fender without them."

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by tripleog

Damn that X5 looks awesome. Thanks for the info man. So do I have to wait and get everything measured befor I order the spacers or can I just take your recommendation and get me some 25mm spacers? Never had to use them so this just confuses me a little bit. I appreciate your assistance.

this is subjective to personal taste and preference. if it were me i would do 15mm front and 20mm rear with the appropriate bolts on the 469 wheels. YMMV.

i have used spacers on many different vehicles that i did not have custom wheels for and it works out well if you just take the time to do the math and then get the appropriate alignment afterwards. many say you don't have to align after spacers alone but i am stickler for details and considering you're going to lower as well i would highly recommend an alignment about a week after you install the springs and spacers.

[evandro13]

i have 20mm all around on my 20" 469 and i highly recommend at least 20mm, many people on the forums saying 20mm is too far but it looks great, with even a possibility to do 25 in rear. obviously its all personal preference, just my opinion, hope this helps

[Jokerk]

Nice carbon front and back, looks great.

[stewy604]

If I can chime in, H&R 15mm front and 20mm rear with my OE 469M's. I've got the ACS springs/links as well, and am very happy with the stance both height and width wise. To me, this is how it should ship from factory. That said, being a 'wee bit' lower would be nice. Worst case, you mount the wheels and want them spaced out a little, buy spacers...very easy solution.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by tripleog

Just got the exact specs and this is what the manufacturer told me:

"the 20x10 will be a 35et and the 20x11 will be a 30et", the Hamann suspension lowers the car 45mm front and 30m in the rear. I wouldn't recommend spacers with this set up as you will be almost flush with the fender without them."

I would do 5mm front and 15mm rear.

[mdallas]

this is H&R spring kit for air leveling rear. 5mm spacers in front 15mm in the rear (per Ben's suggestion).

you are going to want these, trust me: https://www.rallysportdirect.com/par...FdNahgode7oKuw

[r33_RGSport]

mdallas , looks good.
Believe it or not, H&R start realizing the issue and the last batch that I have sold, came with the spring sleeve rubber.

[tripleog]

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

mdallas , looks good.
Believe it or not, H&R start realizing the issue and the last batch that I have sold, came with the spring sleeve rubber.

I've seen a lot of complaints regarding spacers having a negative effect on the ride of the X5 and the awd, any experience with that? Thanks for all you input.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by tripleog

I've seen a lot of complaints regarding spacers having a negative effect on the ride of the X5 and the awd, any experience with that? Thanks for all you input.

Nope.
Search my post regarding spacer.
A lot of name brand TUV approved company and even OEM supplies spacer on their car.
Simply put, wider stance, better traction and handling.

[alphaod]

I'm wondering if the car will look any good without lowering springs, but with spacers...

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by tripleog

I've seen a lot of complaints regarding spacers having a negative effect on the ride of the X5 and the awd, any experience with that?

Porsche offers a wheel spacer option from the factory. Spacers do not have any affect on AWD system. AWD systems are affected by changing rolling diameters on same axles or all around. If anything it will change the wear point on the tire itself shifting it to a different area than it normally would wear but outside of that the other areas you mentioned are unchanged.

Originally Posted by r33_RGSport

Simply put, wider stance, better traction and handling.

how does a spacer improve traction?

Originally Posted by alphaod

I'm wondering if the car will look any good without lowering springs, but with spacers...

the height of the vehicle will not change but the wheel gap will look larger when the wheel is not as recessed from the factory.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I'm wondering if the car will look any good without lowering springs, but with spacers...

The picture of my car with spacers on my spacer thread is without lowering. It looks better regardless the car is lowered or not.

[r33_RGSport]

Originally Posted by iconoclast

how does a spacer improve traction?

It gives you more tire surface in contact with the ground on turns.
It is acting similar as if you have wider wheels and tires setup. More tire contact toward outside of the car that will give you traction.

[stewy604]

Originally Posted by alphaod

I'm wondering if the car will look any good without lowering springs, but with spacers...

I threw my spacers on first (15mm front / 20mm rear) before I installed my ACS springs/links, as they arrived first. It looked 'ok' in my opinion, but looks much better once lowered.