$1,000 Spacers!

Nate@IND · 07-01-2011, 03:48 PM

We all know that as car enthusiasts we can from time to time make buying choices that are not completely driven by sound logic, but rather by the sheer appreciation of elegant engineering and design.

A few members of IND’s staff were at dinner with a close friend of ours who happens to be an M3 GT4 owner. As we started talking about the car’s various motorsport specific components the most unlikely part became one of the focuses of the conversation- the car’s wheel spacers. We were amazed to see this level of innovation in a piece that most people would not look at twice. The scalloped, pentagonal spacer is of such a low weight it almost feels wrong in your hands, and is a perfect example of the length to which motorsport engineers go to optimize every possible factor for a competitive advantage.

Enjoy the photos!

MVEED3 · 07-01-2011, 03:54 PM

Too bad they don't come with spokes and a barrel. Impressive engineering but the cost is nuts even for a race part.

Allen

Brucewonder · 07-01-2011, 04:00 PM

i still don't understand why its a pentagonal shape?

IND-Distribution · 07-01-2011, 04:05 PM

The shape allows BMW to remove even more material than a circular shape would have, which makes for an even lighter part.

When we saw how cool these were, we knew we had to have them! There's really no reason for us to own them other than the absolute cool factor.

Mason3 · 07-01-2011, 04:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brucewonder

i still don't understand why its a pentagonal shape?

My guess is lighter than a circle and still perfectly balanced when spinning...

Just a guess though

bunnn · 07-01-2011, 04:10 PM

I bugged the same guy for some

definitely a quality part!

zamm3k · 07-01-2011, 04:36 PM

That.Is.Insane.....

stega · 07-01-2011, 04:53 PM

Saw these on your guys Flikr before you posted em up. Amazing design/quality/weight/etc... But $1000 dammn, they really stick it to ya on these. You guys know what they are made from??

Checkcaptain · 07-01-2011, 05:27 PM

Glad you guys like them

Hope you do not mind to throw in this link:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510740

BTW - 1 set is on the way to a new owner in Miami right now

mkPOTO · 07-01-2011, 06:12 PM

crazy

jeff@autocouture · 07-02-2011, 12:12 PM

sickness

tlp · 07-02-2011, 12:48 PM

Isn't it more than just a spacer? It's an adapter as well. The centric lip is bigger to accept the larger center hub bore of the BBS GT4 wheels.

Ralf feel free to chime in.

Checkcaptain · 07-03-2011, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlp

Isn't it more than just a spacer? It's an adapter as well. The centric lip is bigger to accept the larger center hub bore of the BBS GT4 wheels.

Ralf feel free to chime in.

You are right Terry.
The GT4 Motorsport rims have a 77.5mm center hub and need spacers to be installed on the 72.5 hub of our stock M3. The GT4 uses 5mm spacers in the front and 15mm spacers in the rear.

swamp2 · 07-03-2011, 12:31 AM

Absurdity either way. This is a $20 part on a CNC mill/lathe. Well plus a few bucks for anodizing... Capitalism - charge what you can - especially if a sucker will pay it.

Titanium Silver · 07-13-2011, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

Absurdity either way. This is a $20 part on a CNC mill/lathe. Well plus a few bucks for anodizing... Capitalism - charge what you can - especially if a sucker will pay it.

People would like it even more if it cost $2,000...

Blistex · 07-13-2011, 08:02 AM

for real? $1000 for a spacer?

LiM3y · 07-13-2011, 10:05 AM

I have the same thing, with buckminsterfullerene coated hubs for quicker removal. I can now get the spacers off for winter wheels in less than 2 seconds, as opposed to ~30 seconds with regular spacers. I think paying $2K was worth it for the speed advantage.

07-01-2011, 03:48 PM	#1
Nate@IND BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2866 Rep 11,374 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (19)	$1,000 Spacers! We all know that as car enthusiasts we can from time to time make buying choices that are not completely driven by sound logic, but rather by the sheer appreciation of elegant engineering and design. A few members of IND’s staff were at dinner with a close friend of ours who happens to be an M3 GT4 owner. As we started talking about the car’s various motorsport specific components the most unlikely part became one of the focuses of the conversation- the car’s wheel spacers. We were amazed to see this level of innovation in a piece that most people would not look at twice. The scalloped, pentagonal spacer is of such a low weight it almost feels wrong in your hands, and is a perfect example of the length to which motorsport engineers go to optimize every possible factor for a competitive advantage. Enjoy the photos! __________________ IND DISTRIBUTION \| 866-963-4520 • FACEBOOK • INSTAGRAM • FLICKR
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07-01-2011, 03:54 PM	#2
MVEED3 Lieutenant 85 Rep 425 Posts Drives: '16 GT4 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Diego iTrader: (12)	Too bad they don't come with spokes and a barrel. Impressive engineering but the cost is nuts even for a race part. Allen __________________ 2021 ZR2 Airborne certified 2019 GTS PCCB 5x130 Slick 2016 Agate Grey GT4 PCCB LWB 2013 HP4 Competition
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07-01-2011, 04:00 PM	#3
Brucewonder Lieutenant Colonel 33 Rep 1,541 Posts Drives: 2011 E92 M3 yea boi Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Socal iTrader: (4)	i still don't understand why its a pentagonal shape?
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07-01-2011, 04:05 PM	#4
IND-Distribution BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 9575 Rep 10,869 Posts Drives: G82 M4 / G87 M2 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (3)	The shape allows BMW to remove even more material than a circular shape would have, which makes for an even lighter part. When we saw how cool these were, we knew we had to have them! There's really no reason for us to own them other than the absolute cool factor. __________________ IND DISTRIBUTION \| 866-963-4520 • INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • FLICKR
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07-01-2011, 04:10 PM	#6
bunnn Colonel 86 Rep 2,266 Posts Drives: like a grandma Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toronto iTrader: (12)	I bugged the same guy for some definitely a quality part! __________________ Cheers Ben
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07-01-2011, 04:36 PM	#7
zamm3k Bla! 82 Rep 909 Posts Drives: F82 M4 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Miami, FL iTrader: (4)	That.Is.Insane..... __________________ ......................::.........................
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07-01-2011, 04:53 PM	#8
stega Captain 28 Rep 666 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 E93 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boca Raton, FL iTrader: (3)	Saw these on your guys Flikr before you posted em up. Amazing design/quality/weight/etc... But $1000 dammn, they really stick it to ya on these. You guys know what they are made from??
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07-01-2011, 05:27 PM	#9
Checkcaptain Major 549 Rep 1,179 Posts Drives: BMW M4 GTS Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Glad you guys like them Hope you do not mind to throw in this link: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=510740 BTW - 1 set is on the way to a new owner in Miami right now
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07-01-2011, 06:12 PM	#10
mkPOTO Mr. Nice Says Hello 635 Rep 16,662 Posts Drives: BMW M3 \| X5 xdrive 35i MSport Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (25) Garage List 2002 Lexus GS300 [0.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 [5.58]	crazy
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07-02-2011, 12:12 PM	#11
jeff@autocouture BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 966 Rep 13,780 Posts Drives: 2002 E53 X5 4.6is Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (0)	sickness
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07-02-2011, 12:48 PM	#12
tlp Colonel 276 Rep 2,216 Posts Drives: 991 GT3, Sold:'11 e92 M3 SG/FR Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Las Vegas/SoCal iTrader: (6) Garage List SOLD 2011 BMW e92 M3 [9.10]	Isn't it more than just a spacer? It's an adapter as well. The centric lip is bigger to accept the larger center hub bore of the BBS GT4 wheels. Ralf feel free to chime in. __________________ 991 GT3, Sold: '11 e92 M3 SG/FR ZCP\|ZCV\|ZP2\|2MK\|494\|415\|6NR\|752
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07-03-2011, 12:31 AM	#14
swamp2 Lieutenant General 609 Rep 10,407 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA USA iTrader: (3)	Absurdity either way. This is a $20 part on a CNC mill/lathe. Well plus a few bucks for anodizing... Capitalism - charge what you can - especially if a sucker will pay it. __________________ E92 M3 \| Space Gray on Fox Red \| M-DCT \| CF Roof \| RAC RG63 Wheels \| Brembo 380mm BBK \| \| Vorsteiner Ti Exhaust \| Matte Black Grilles/Side Gills/Rear Emblem/Mirrors \| \| Alekshop Back up Camera \| GP Thunders \| BMW Aluminum Pedals \| Elite Angels \| \| XPEL Full Front Wrap \| Hardwired V1 \| Interior Xenon Light Kit \|
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07-13-2011, 08:02 AM	#16
Blistex Banned 12 Rep 470 Posts Drives: E90 + E93 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OC iTrader: (0)	for real? $1000 for a spacer?
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07-13-2011, 10:05 AM	#17
LiM3y Major 70 Rep 1,339 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (5)	I have the same thing, with buckminsterfullerene coated hubs for quicker removal. I can now get the spacers off for winter wheels in less than 2 seconds, as opposed to ~30 seconds with regular spacers. I think paying $2K was worth it for the speed advantage. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote