This might interest many folks

[roosterrusek]

In my quest to find a new set of 4 wheels for my 1971 GT, you know the one that lost it's left rear wheel....I found this site.

ESM Wheels - Redefining Old Skool German Alloys

I saw a familiar setup in the 4X100 bolt pattern. To be honest I am kind of excited and I would like like to ask a question.

My current wheels are the Ronals...17" with 7.5J width the 4X100 bolt pattern and it has a 35mm offset and I have a 1/2 spacer on them.

HERE IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION....Correct me if I am wrong but if I get a wheel from the above site that only has a 20mm offset, I can get rid of those spacers right?

At any rate I did a search here on ESM and nothing came up so I figgered I better let my Opel pals in on the possibilty of wheels that fit and don't need spacers and look awfully cool.

BTW, I am all but sold on these in silver...from looking at other pics they would likely look fabulous on my GT.

ESM - 012 Silver Finish

[BQS4]

Originally Posted by roosterrusek In my quest to find a new set of 4 wheels for my 1971 GT, you know the one that lost it's left rear wheel....I found this site. ESM Wheels - Redefining Old Skool German Alloys I saw a familiar setup in the 4X100 bolt pattern. To be honest I am kind of excited and I would like like to ask a question. My current wheels are the Ronals...17" with 7.5J width the 4X100 bolt pattern and it has a 35mm offset and I have a 1/2 spacer on them. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION....Correct me if I am wrong but if I get a wheel from the above site that only has a 20mm offset, I can get rid of those spacers right? At any rate I did a search here on ESM and nothing came up so I figgered I better let my Opel pals in on the possibilty of wheels that fit and don't need spacers and look awfully cool. BTW, I am all but sold on these in silver...from looking at other pics they would likely look fabulous on my GT. ESM - 012 Silver Finish

Paulie;
If the offset is a negative 20, then you might, but, looking at the site, they're showing positive 20 offset.

[roosterrusek]

Yeah but currently the Ronals that I have are a positive 35mm offset. Getting a wheel with a 20mm offset and getting rid of the 1/2 inch (12.7mm) spacer moves the wheel in. That means that I should be able to rid myself of the spacer, eat the 2.3mm and have the wheel/tire in the same place on the car right?

Please make sure I am right by going here... http://www.bigcustomwheels.com/info_specs.jsp

Then you put in the specs for my current wheel which is 17 X 7.5 with 35 mm offset. You would have to imagine the spacer in there that makes the mounting position more towards the car. Then if you change the offset to 20mm and get rid of the imaginary spacer...same place right?

[Paul]

The ESM-012 look very similar to the BBS /BMW 325i wheels I have on the Manta. Nice! Actually, mine are closer to the -002.... oh well both look great!

[neuropel]

I think the +20 might work, and will give you a deeper looking wheel. Give them a call and tell them your fitment is the same as a 77-83 BMW320i. They will likely have a wheel with the right offset that lets you get rid of the spacers.

[heimue]

Originally Posted by roosterrusek My current wheels are the Ronals...17" with 7.5J width the 4X100 bolt pattern and it has a 35mm offset and I have a 1/2 spacer on them. HERE IS THE IMPORTANT QUESTION....Correct me if I am wrong but if I get a wheel from the above site that only has a 20mm offset, I can get rid of those spacers right?

Paulie,

yes, you are absolutely correct. Having a smaller offset ("ET") brings the wheel further out, so no need for the spacers anymore.

Dieter

[blancojp]

Originally Posted by roosterrusek Yeah but currently the Ronals that I have are a positive 35mm offset. Getting a wheel with a 20mm offset and getting rid of the 1/2 inch (12.7mm) spacer moves the wheel in. That means that I should be able to rid myself of the spacer, eat the 2.3mm and have the wheel/tire in the same place on the car right? Please make sure I am right by going here... http://www.bigcustomwheels.com/info_specs.jsp Then you put in the specs for my current wheel which is 17 X 7.5 with 35 mm offset. You would have to imagine the spacer in there that makes the mounting position more towards the car. Then if you change the offset to 20mm and get rid of the imaginary spacer...same place right?

The spacer moves the wheel out therefore reducing the ET figure. A 35mm ET + a 15mm spacer yields a 20mm ET. If you get a wheel with a 20mm ET then the wheel will be in the same place as with the other combination.

Remember a +35mm ET will move the wheel in 35mm from the center line. This is very common with FWD wheels whereas RWD wheels are in the +10mm ET area. If you are using a possitive lock style spacer then it is a safe option to have. If you are using a spacer with longer wheel studs then by all means get rid of it.

[opelenvy]

They are selling several nice sets available on Ebay. Any that say for "E21" is the 77-83 BMW 320i, so they work.
I have the opportunity to "try on" a set that are 7.5" in the front and 9" in the rear. They are 16" with the et of 20mm.
Here is the ebay store: <eBay Store - EuroSTtopUSA: WHEELS, RIMS TIRES, BODY KITS>
BTW, even though they say "Germany" on the side and say "old skool Germany style", they are not. But for that price, I didn't expect them to be.