18-inch staggered road setup
- Front
- 18 × 9 inch, ET30 · 245/40 R18
- Rear
- 18 × 10 inch, ET25 · 275/35 R18
Apex street fitment. Lowered cars can need a front liner check, particularly with wide tyre shoulders.
2000–2006 · coupe / convertible
BMW M3 E46 wheel fitment
The E46 M3 has wider rear factory wheels, while square 18-inch packages are common on track cars. Front strut clearance and camber become important when bringing the front tyre width closer to the rear.
5x120 bolt pattern · 72.6 mm centre bore · Stock wheels: 18 × 8, 18 × 9, 19 × 8, 19 × 9.5, 19 × 8.5 inch · Stock tyres: 225/45 R18, 255/40 R18, 225/40 R19, 255/35 R19, 235/35 R19, 265/30 R19
Updated 2026-10-04 · High source confidence. Check your exact trim and market. How we check specs
Quick specs
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Bolt pattern | |
| Stock tyre sizes | |
| Centre bore | 72.6 mm |
| Fastener and thread | Wheel bolt, M12x1.5 |
| Tightening torque | 120 Nm (confirm in your handbook) |
Stock wheels and tyres
Factory options vary by trim and market. Match your car to the row below and check its tyre placard before using it as a baseline.
| Trim | Axle | Wheel | Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3, standard 18-inch Style 67 | Front | 18 × 8 inch, ET47 | 225/45 R18 |
| M3, standard 18-inch Style 67 | Rear | 18 × 9 inch, ET26 | 255/40 R18 |
| M3, optional 19-inch Style 67 | Front | 19 × 8 inch, ET47 | 225/40 R19 |
| M3, optional 19-inch Style 67 | Rear | 19 × 9.5 inch, ET27 | 255/35 R19 |
| M3 CSL, 19-inch Style 163M | Front | 19 × 8.5 inch, ET44 | 235/35 R19 |
| M3 CSL, 19-inch Style 163M | Rear | 19 × 9.5 inch, ET27 | 265/30 R19 |
Explained in our guides
Read these before choosing wheels for the M3: they explain the offset, fitment and hub numbers in this guide.
- Wheel offset explained: choosing ET without guessingUnderstand positive and negative wheel offset, calculate inner clearance and outer position, and choose an ET using measurements from your own car.
- Flush, poke and tucked fitment: measure the whole tyreUnderstand flush, poked and tucked wheels, calculate how width and offset change the look, and check clearance beyond a parked side-on photograph.
- Staggered vs square wheels: tyres, rotation and AWDCompare square and staggered wheel setups, calculate front-to-rear tyre diameter, and understand rotation limits and all-wheel-drive requirements.
Popular community setups
Starting points for a build. Read the notes with each setup, especially if your car is lowered or has different brakes.
18-inch square road and track
- Front and rear
- 18 × 9.5 inch, ET35 · 265/35 R18
Apex specifies at least about -1.5 degrees of front camber. Some coilovers need 5 mm front spacers and matching hardware; check inner clearance before ordering.
Width and offset guidance
Offset range
Check the exact setup
There is no confirmed range for this car yet. Compare a known wheel with your proposed size and measure both sides.
Common width limit
Measure before ordering
A maximum width has not been confirmed. Tyre shape, ride height and alignment all change the available space.
These figures belong to the setups described here. Combining the widest wheel with either end of the offset range does not guarantee a safe fit. For how ET moves the wheel in and out, read wheel offset explained; for how far the tyre can sit out, see flush, poke and tucked fitment.
Clearance notes
- Factory BMW wheels use conical-seat bolts. Match the seat and thread engagement to the wheel; spacers require suitably longer bolts or an appropriate stud conversion.
- Wheel suppliers commonly specify 72.6 mm, while H&R lists 72.5 mm for its corresponding centring hardware. These are catalogue conventions for this hub family; order a part explicitly approved for the chassis.
- Ordinary E46 3 Series fitments are not interchangeable with M3 fitments: the M3 has different body clearance and rear offsets.
- The CSL front wheel is 8.5J ET44; the regular 19-inch M3 front is 8J ET47. Do not identify a wheel solely by its CSL-style spokes.
- Wide square fitments can need camber adjustment and front spacers. Check the rear arch as well if the car is lowered.
- Check full steering lock and suspension travel with the car loaded. Match wheel load rating, tyre load and speed ratings, fastener seats and brake clearance.
See it on your car.
Upload a photo and start with a look that suits the M3. Try the wheels, colour and stance before you spend on parts.
An AI preview shows the look. It cannot verify physical fitment.
Run the numbers
These tools start with the M3, standard 18-inch Style 67 front size. Choose your own trim or axle in the calculator if it differs.
Questions
What is the E46 M3 bolt pattern?
5x120, with a nominal 72.6 mm wheel centre bore and M12x1.5 bolts.
What are the factory E46 M3 18-inch wheel sizes?
18x8 ET47 with 225/45 R18 tyres at the front, and 18x9 ET26 with 255/40 R18 tyres at the rear.
Can an E46 M3 run a square 265 tyre setup?
Yes. Apex documents 18x9.5 ET35 with 265/35 R18 tyres. Front camber and, with some coilovers, 5 mm spacers are required.
What is the E46 M3 wheel bolt torque?
120 Nm for the original M12x1.5 wheel bolts.
What size tyres does the BMW M3 E46 have?
Factory tyre (tire) sizes for the 2000–2006 BMW M3 E46 are 225/45 R18, 255/40 R18, 225/40 R19, 255/35 R19, 235/35 R19 and 265/30 R19, depending on trim, with wider rears on staggered setups. Your tyre placard shows the size for your car.
What is the BMW M3 E46 centre bore?
72.6 mm. Aftermarket wheels with a larger bore need hub-centric rings sized to it.
Specs checked against
- Tire Wheel Guide: 2004 Bmw M3
- H&R: 2017 application catalogue, E46 / E9x / F8x mounting hardware
- BimmerWorld: BMW original bolt thread and torque reference
- BMW TIS: wheel bolt tightening specifications
- BMW: E46 M3 CSL approved wheel and tyre combinations
- Apex: BMW E46 M3 fitment guide
This guide is a starting point, not a fitment guarantee. Specs can differ by market, trim and previous modifications. Confirm all sizes, clearances and fastener requirements with a qualified wheel and tyre professional before buying or fitting parts.
Related cars
More guides from BMW or cars with the same bolt pattern. A matching pattern alone does not make a wheel interchangeable.