Re: Throwing Star Wheel Questions (Not in Archive) (archive)

There are five sizes available:
17x8 et20 (M5 & E32) 36 11 2 226 706 (painted)
36 11 2 227 743 (polished)
17x8 et10 (E31) 36 11 2 227 438 (painted)
36 11 2 227 746 (polished lip)
17x9 et22 (M5) 36 11 2 226 707 (painted)
36 11 2 227 744 (polished)
17x9 et19 (E31) 36 11 2 227 439 (painted)
36 11 2 227 747 (polished)
17x9 et26 (E32) 36 11 2 226 708 (painted)
36 11 2 227 745 (polished)

:Are these 9" variants available in the US, or are they hard-to-find special order items?

All of these may be ordered through any BMW dealer.

: And what about the 850CSi fitment?

The 850CSi came with the "painted" wheels indicated as "(E31)" above.

: Were these the same wheels or a different (incompatible?) offset?

See chart above.

: 2) What are the part numbers for the above wheels?

See chart above.
: To further complicate matters, I think I have seen the naked (uncovered) forged wheels in THREE variations:

: - all silver paint

A wheel with all silver paint has been refinished. Wheel refinishers can do the paint work easier (and cheaper) using a single color. since the spokes are covered by either the turbine cover or the throwing star cover, they just use one color and don't worry about it.

: - silver painted lip with black painted center spokes

Painted wheels come this way from the factory.

: - polished lip with black painted center spokes

Polished lip wheels come this way from the factory.

: 3) If there are different finish choices for Throwing Star wheels, how many part numbers are there? 3 for the 8" and 3 for the 9"?

See above. The chart shows all available wheels and part nos.

: Or were the polished lips only available on the Nurburging package or 850CSi?

The polished lip wheels were optional equipment.

Hope this clarifies what's out there.

: Or were the early 1991 M5 wheels painted black in the center and later M5 wheels were left all silver?

:
: 4) Finally, I have read that it might be cheaper to buy the 1991 M5 wheel set (with turbine/whitewall covers and hubcaps) and then just replace the covers with newer Throwing Star covers. But can this be true if they are using the same forged wheels underneath the covers? Or are the part numbers different and the dealerships are stupid for charging less for basically the same wheel?

: Thanks in advance, and let the discussion begin...

: Ben, CCA

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