A couple of answers (long) (archive)

I have to use a little "plug" (in lack of a better word), or an "extension" (perhaps a better word) that fits in the lug nuts. The wrench goes over the extension. Without the extension (that comes with the lugs), the wheels can't be removed (easily).

The PLs were pretty hard to get. None of the dealers I talked to could get them. A lot of BBS resellers don't carry them, for the same reason.

I talked to dealers in Norway, Sweden and Germany, all with the same response: "Sorry, can't get the PLs, but we have all the other BBS rims... blabla".

After a little bit of research I found out that the PL rims are supposedly only made at some small factory in Italy. That factory received a major order from VW, for stock VW rims, which is what they've been producing for the last year or so. Apparently that is more profitable for them than making exclusive aftermarket rims for BBS/BMW.

So, the production of the PL rims was halted some time ago. As a result, when no dealers could get a hold of the rims, a lot of them (including some official importers) decided not to carry them anymore.

I talked to the offical BBS importers in Sweden and Norway. The swedes said the PL is discontinued and they don't carry them anymore. The norwegians confirmed the story about the Italian factory, but said that production of the PLs will resume... sometime.

I contacted BBS directly and they said:
"It really looks that we are not going to reproduce the PL 5 wheels at all anymore"
...
"Stocks of those wheels are also no longer available."

They (BBS) also said that the demand for the PL rims hasn't been that high and that the casting technology was different from the other BBS rims (gravity casting instead of low pressure casting).

However, they still have the PLs at their website and I've been told they are pictured in next years catalog from BBS... I don't know what to make of all this, but I do know that it took me a long time and some effort to get a hold of the rims (I nearly gave up several times and considered getting other rims).

How did I finally get them? As it turned out, the swedish official BBS importer had a set of PLs lying around, their last set. They made me a good deal (50% off), but I had to go through a BBS reseller as they (the importer) don't sell directly to customers, only to dealers. The reseller agreed to make the "transaction" only after I promised to buy tires from them (on which they gave me 40% off).

I had to drive to Sweden (from Norway) to pick up the wheels, but it was definitely worth it! I think they look totally awesome on the car (the pictures really doesn't do the rims justice!).

Still awake? :-)

/daniel

What's up with the lug nuts? Do they have individual covers over them? I can't see how you'd have enough room to get a wrench over them. Also, where did you buy them? I've never seen BBS PLs in any print ads and although tirerack carries BBS they don't have them.

Heck, I even like your winter rims. I was seriously considering buying those replicas for my E34, but bought BBS RKs instead, since they were much lighter (and probably much higher quality). That's the first time I've actually seen them on an E34. They look just as sharp as I thought they would.

-Phil
93 525i 5-speed w/16" BBS RKs & 15" OEM bottlecaps for winter...

I finally got my BBS PL rims! 8,5x17" with Pirelli P-Zero Asimmetrico 235/45 ZR17. Here are a few pics...

The car is lowered with H&R springs. If the rear looks a little too low in these pictures, that's because I had the old wheels in the back of the car when the photos were taken.

Follow Ups:

I figured there was a story... PhilH 22:40 11/13/2000 (1)
- Re: I figured there was a story... dsr 05:07 11/14/2000 (0)

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