18" Bi-color Wheel Design

LindrelT · 05-17-2023, 10:31 PM

I finally caught on that the base 18" Bi-color wheel is a two piece design - wheel + trim ring. Any idea why BMW has revived this approach? Last I saw that design it was on vintage BMW models.

I guess it may be a cost saving thing? Or saves curb rash damage - just get a new ring? Weight?

MontyB1 · 05-18-2023, 03:15 AM

They are moving towards aero style designed wheels to improve vehicle efficiency. So I presume that this design saves weight and gains efficiency.

Or they don't want to create the lower wheels to look as good, who knows. Tesla does similar with its wheels to be fair these days.

lotus1818 · 05-18-2023, 03:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LindrelT

I finally caught on that the base 18" Bi-color wheel is a two piece design - wheel + trim ring. Any idea why BMW has revived this approach? Last I saw that design it was on vintage BMW models.

I guess it may be a cost saving thing? Or saves curb rash damage - just get a new ring? Weight?

My dealer just called me my replacement cover in the first picture has arrived. I lost it last month when I hit a pothole with an over-inflated tire and I have been driving with the bare metal trim piece as shown in the second picture for more than a month now.

STE92VE · 05-19-2023, 10:03 AM

I actually like the look of the wheel without the trim ring. Is this an easy modification to accomplish?

JFDIT · 05-19-2023, 10:05 AM

I agree, prefer it without the trim.

STE92VE · 05-19-2023, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotus1818

My dealer just called me my replacement cover in the first picture has arrived. I lost it last month when I hit a pothole with an over-inflated tire and I have been driving with the bare metal trim piece as shown in the second picture for more than a month now.

Can you take a pic of your X1 without the trim ring on the wheel?

SpaceSilverX1 · 05-19-2023, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Can you take a pic of your X1 without the trim ring on the wheel?

I think the X1 looks pretty good with those wheel covers removed.

in fact, I think most people probably won't notice that the covers are missing.

check out this video:

STE92VE · 05-19-2023, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceSilverX1

I think the X1 looks pretty good with those wheel covers removed.

check out this video:

That's exactly what I wanted to see, thanks! Now I'll definitely remove those trim rings. One of the cheapest mods ever, right next to debadging!

JFDIT · 05-19-2023, 12:01 PM

👍

tex2670 · 05-19-2023, 12:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceSilverX1

I think the X1 looks pretty good with those wheel covers removed.

in fact, I think most people probably won't notice that the covers are missing.

check out this video:

I have to agree that I like those wheels better without the covers.

SpaceSilverX1 · 05-19-2023, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

That's exactly what I wanted to see, thanks! Now I'll definitely remove those trim rings. One of the cheapest mods ever, right next to debadging!

I thought about debadging... but decided against it. Too many people telling me "I like your new X3!"

I do not like the X3 and do not want to be mistaken for the X3.

STE92VE · 05-19-2023, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceSilverX1

I thought about debadging... but decided against it. Too many people telling me "I like your new X3!"

I do not like the X3 and do not want to be mistaken for the X3.

I've been debadging all my cars, as long as there are no pins, since my 1992 Civic Coupe. If you love your X1 and want to debadge, you shouldn't care what other people think. Think about those that drive around in this....

enjay77 · 05-19-2023, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpaceSilverX1

I thought about debadging... but decided against it. Too many people telling me "I like your new X3!"

I do not like the X3 and do not want to be mistaken for the X3.

Mine is being de-badged as I hate it when they show wear, especially the black parts of the xdrive logo.

SpaceSilverX1 · 05-19-2023, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

I've been debadging all my cars, as long as there are no pins, since my 1992 Civic Coupe. If you love your X1 and want to debadge, you shouldn't care what other people think. Think about those that drive around in this....

I love the Beetle(old or new) in *any* color!

lotus1818 · 05-19-2023, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

Can you take a pic of your X1 without the trim ring on the wheel?

Here is the picture

STE92VE · 05-19-2023, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotus1818

Here is the picture

Thanks. IMHO, definitely looks better without the trim ring and probably better ventilation for brakes without them too.

lotus1818 · 05-20-2023, 10:09 PM

wheel cover replaced:

JFDIT · 05-21-2023, 04:28 AM

Better without the trim imo

Flying Trout · 09-10-2023, 03:50 PM

I didn’t realize these wheels were two-piece until I hit a curb and the plastic trim popped off. ( took me a while to realize there was a part of the trim designed to fit near the tire valve, otherwise it won’t fit back on). I chose the 18 inch wheels because none of the 19 inch looked that much better, but had I known there were two-piece I would have made a different pick.

DerekS · 09-10-2023, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STE92VE

That's exactly what I wanted to see, thanks! Now I'll definitely remove those trim rings. One of the cheapest mods ever, right next to debadging!

Those base 18" alloys look much better without those ugly plastic trims in place !!!

SpaceSilverX1 · 09-10-2023, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flying Trout

I didn’t realize these wheels were two-piece until I hit a curb and the plastic trim popped off. ( took me a while to realize there was a part of the trim designed to fit near the tire valve, otherwise it won’t fit back on). I chose the 18 inch wheels because none of the 19 inch looked that much better, but had I known there were two-piece I would have made a different pick.

but the wheel itself was not scratched, right? I think that's the benefit of having that plastic trim around the wheel. Once it gets too scratched up, you can just buy the plastic part, which is way cheaper than the wheel itself.

Flying Trout · 09-10-2023, 05:38 PM

No, the wheel was fine. There may be some aerodynamic advantage to the plastic overlays as well, so for the time being they’ll stay on.

05-17-2023, 10:31 PM	#1
LindrelT Enlisted Member 71 Rep 47 Posts Drives: 1971 '02, 1988 325is, 2020 X3 Join Date: May 2023 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (0)	18" Bi-color Wheel Design I finally caught on that the base 18" Bi-color wheel is a two piece design - wheel + trim ring. Any idea why BMW has revived this approach? Last I saw that design it was on vintage BMW models. I guess it may be a cost saving thing? Or saves curb rash damage - just get a new ring? Weight? Attached Images
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05-18-2023, 03:15 AM	#2
MontyB1 Lieutenant Colonel 1638 Rep 1,992 Posts Drives: BMW X3 Join Date: Nov 2021 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	They are moving towards aero style designed wheels to improve vehicle efficiency. So I presume that this design saves weight and gains efficiency. Or they don't want to create the lower wheels to look as good, who knows. Tesla does similar with its wheels to be fair these days.
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05-19-2023, 10:03 AM	#4
STE92VE STEVIL Empire 226 Rep 6,297 Posts Drives: Fast Join Date: May 2006 Location: Long Island, NY iTrader: (0)	I actually like the look of the wheel without the trim ring. Is this an easy modification to accomplish? __________________ 2007 E92 328i 6MT-Space Gray/Black Dakota/Gray Poplar w/heated seats-PCD 4/27/07 (SOLD) 2009 E90 328i xDrive 6AT-Space Gray/Oyster Dakota/Dark Burl Walnut w/ZPP,ZCW,Xenons-ED 4/17/09 - Redelivery 5/30/09 (SOLD) 2014 E84 xDrive28i 8AT-Alpine White/Black Nevada/Silver Matte w/ZMV,ZLP,494 - DD 3/14/14 (SOLD)
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05-19-2023, 10:05 AM	#5
JFDIT Private First Class 95 Rep 188 Posts Drives: On order X1 M-Sport 23i Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Lincolnshire England iTrader: (0)	I agree, prefer it without the trim.
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05-19-2023, 12:01 PM	#9
JFDIT Private First Class 95 Rep 188 Posts Drives: On order X1 M-Sport 23i Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Lincolnshire England iTrader: (0)	👍
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05-20-2023, 10:09 PM	#17
lotus1818 Private First Class 46 Rep 119 Posts Drives: 23 Cape Green/Red Black X1 Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: Houston TX iTrader: (0)	wheel cover replaced: Attached Images
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05-21-2023, 04:28 AM	#18
JFDIT Private First Class 95 Rep 188 Posts Drives: On order X1 M-Sport 23i Join Date: Feb 2023 Location: Lincolnshire England iTrader: (0)	Better without the trim imo
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09-10-2023, 03:50 PM	#19
Flying Trout New Member 11 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2023 X1 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	I didn’t realize these wheels were two-piece until I hit a curb and the plastic trim popped off. ( took me a while to realize there was a part of the trim designed to fit near the tire valve, otherwise it won’t fit back on). I chose the 18 inch wheels because none of the 19 inch looked that much better, but had I known there were two-piece I would have made a different pick.
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09-10-2023, 05:38 PM	#22
Flying Trout New Member 11 Rep 29 Posts Drives: 2023 X1 Join Date: Apr 2023 Location: Ohio iTrader: (0)	No, the wheel was fine. There may be some aerodynamic advantage to the plastic overlays as well, so for the time being they’ll stay on.
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