Poll: 219M or 220M? E92 M3

This is probably been talked about endlessly and of course beauty is in the eye of the beholder...

But I’ve got a brand new set of 219M that came extra with my car when I bought it. The car came with 220M which is alright, but on my E90 M3 I swapped them out for some 359M.

BMW Germany isn’t giving out anymore Letter of Confirmations to fit the 359M (or else I would have gone with 359M) on non-Competition cars anymore so I am stuck with the 219M or 220M on my E92…what do you guys think?

This is my semi-daily and is used to go to work and some road trips here and there...of course if I do end up going with the 219M...I will probably most likely lower it...as with the 220M, they look fine with the stock height in my opinion.

219m but put some spacers on it so you don't look like a grandpa.

Give me the forged wheels

I'd go with the 219M's, one of, if not my favorite, OEM wheel. Guessing you're located in Germany? If so, I'd also look into the 260M's. Wish we had those offered here in the states, but they provide more clearance for BBK's and should be more readily available overseas.

panda-R wrote

219m but put some spacers on it so you don't look like a grandpa.

I will see how the car looks when I throw some Eibachs on it...I definitely don't like the inboard look haha. Modifying a car here in Germany is a real PITA.

B8bydesign wrote

I'd go with the 219M's, one of, if not my favorite, OEM wheel. Guessing you're located in Germany? If so, I'd also look into the 260M's. Wish we had those offered here in the states, but they provide more clearance for BBK's and should be more readily available overseas.

Yeah I am also leaning towards putting on the 219M...good looking wheel and 18 inch tires so a bit more comfortable ride. Yes, I am in Germany…the 260Ms I know of here but the 219M's are already in my garage ready to have tires mounted haha.

LKN624 wrote

I will see how the car looks when I throw some Eibachs on it...I definitely don't like the inboard look haha. Modifying a car here in Germany is a real PITA.




Yeah I am also leaning towards putting on the 219M...good looking wheel and 18 inch tires so a bit more comfortable ride. Yes, I am in Germany…the 260Ms I know of here but the 219M's are already in my garage ready to have tires mounted haha.

Don't worry the 219m looks better too. Plus you have awesome silver ones.

219s look fantastic, stick with those - no need to lower the car.

Is it illegal to run style 359's on a non-comp car in Germany? Who and how would they know the car is non-comp?

GeorgeA wrote

219s look fantastic, stick with those - no need to lower the car.

Is it illegal to run style 359's on a non-comp car in Germany? Who and how would they know the car is non-comp?

So in Germany, anytime you want to put on wheels that did not come from the factory (so in this case MY2008 only came with either the 219M or 220M, and you want to put 359M on) you have to get an ABE or Gutachten (basically a certificate of approval) from the Manufacturer (in this case BMW). Then you have to take your car to the Inspection Station and have them confirm that the wheels you've put on match what the Certificate of that wheel is and that it is approved for your car.

THEN...once that is done, you have to take the document you get from the Inspection Station and then go to the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (DMV) and have them print the approval onto your Vehicle Registration.

and yes this goes for ANY part you install on your car that is Aftermarket (i.e. Front Lip Spoilers, Lights, Spoilers, Suspension, Brakes, Tires/Wheels, Engine Modifications etc).

So in Summary...I did this same exact process when I lowered and installed the 359M on my MY2008 E90 M3 Sedan...its kind of ridiculous.

and who and how...the Police can pull you over for a "Fahrzeugkontrolle" which is a vehicle check and then they check your car from top to bottom. If they suspect something is off, they will ask you if you have the papers for the part or whatever. If you don't have it and its not registered on your Vehicle Papers...you receive a fine, your car gets towed (you pay for the towing), and you get to take the train/bus home. Then you have to go and pick up your car from the impound lot, need to get your car fixed and then get your car re-certified again...

This is why I try and keep my cars original haha.

As expected…I asked BMW Germany again and looks like since 2021 they stopped handing out the Certificate for use of the 359M wheels on Non-Competition package E9X M3s.

I've had both, still own my 220M's

220M for photos
219M to drive on

Love how the 220M looks on the car but damn 19" sidewalls are thin on this car. If you can't use aftermarket, that's the move I think

219s painted satin black with spacers.

LKN624 wrote

So in Germany, anytime you want to put on wheels that did not come from the factory (so in this case MY2008 only came with either the 219M or 220M, and you want to put 359M on) you have to get an ABE or Gutachten (basically a certificate of approval) from the Manufacturer (in this case BMW). Then you have to take your car to the Inspection Station and have them confirm that the wheels you've put on match what the Certificate of that wheel is and that it is approved for your car.

THEN...once that is done, you have to take the document you get from the Inspection Station and then go to the Kfz-Zulassungsstelle (DMV) and have them print the approval onto your Vehicle Registration.

and yes this goes for ANY part you install on your car that is Aftermarket (i.e. Front Lip Spoilers, Lights, Spoilers, Suspension, Brakes, Tires/Wheels, Engine Modifications etc).

So in Summary...I did this same exact process when I lowered and installed the 359M on my MY2008 E90 M3 Sedan...its kind of ridiculous.

and who and how...the Police can pull you over for a "Fahrzeugkontrolle" which is a vehicle check and then they check your car from top to bottom. If they suspect something is off, they will ask you if you have the papers for the part or whatever. If you don't have it and its not registered on your Vehicle Papers...you receive a fine, your car gets towed (you pay for the towing), and you get to take the train/bus home. Then you have to go and pick up your car from the impound lot, need to get your car fixed and then get your car re-certified again...

This is why I try and keep my cars original haha.

HOLY CRAP, what a cluster F.

What are the chances the police will know the difference between 220M and 359Ms, I mean both are 19s. I'm curious do they have a database with them for every year/make/model and what wheels came in which specific year etc?

219Ms looks really good when done right, for example, lowered, squared setup, aggressive tires, ferric grey finish, and spacers to flush them out. I also think they look better on the E90 compared to the E92 for some reason. The staggered setup on stock height looks way too base model so if you're going to keep the rest stock on an E92, I'd go with 220Ms because they look better if nothing else is touched.

DanMpower wrote

HOLY CRAP, what a cluster F.

What are the chances the police will know the difference between 220M and 359Ms, I mean both are 19s. I'm curious do they have a database with them for every year/make/model and what wheels came in which specific year etc?

219Ms looks really good when done right, for example, lowered, squared setup, aggressive tires, ferric grey finish, and spacers to flush them out. I also think they look better on the E90 compared to the E92 for some reason. The staggered setup on stock height looks way too base model so if you're going to keep the rest stock on an E92, I'd go with 220Ms because they look better if nothing else is touched.

Yeah I know right? It’s ridiculous…and then you gotta go to the DMV and have it printed on your vehicle registration papers. If the police don’t see it printed on there then you are SOL.

Oh they will and can know…the Police departments here in the major cities have a dedicated Task Force called KART (Kontrolleinheit für Autoposer, Raser und Tuner) and they are trained to look for suspicious or out of place parts on a car. And then they will check the tire sizes and sometimes if they are real a PITA, they will take a mirror and look behind the wheels for the correct markings. It’s no joke here haha.

But they really only know European cars…when you drive an STI for example, they have no idea. Which sounds cool but they are then extra careful. That’s why I carry a 1:18 scale model with me in the glovebox of my STI to show them that it’s completely stock vehicle ��.

Hmm well said on your opinion and that’s what I was thinking as well. I don’t plan on lowering the car at all, you can’t run a square setup here (unless it was like that from BMW), don’t wanna put spacers on etc. And I think the 220Ms fit well with the stock ride height and are plentiful here to buy if I need a replacement.

So I have decided to go ahead and do the 219Ms...but have them re-powdercoated in Chrome Shadow to make them a bit more special than just the Reflex Silver. This color you guys may have seen before on the E39 M5.

I think it will look quite nice with the Space Grey...will post pictures when they are done and on the car!

Car will be lowered on Eibach springs as well to complete the look.

Color Reference.

If i knew 18s would fit over my BBK I’d get rid of my 220m wheels for some gun metal 219m wheels in a heartbeat

Oreo Cat wrote

If i knew 18s would fit over my BBK I’d get rid of my 220m wheels for some gun metal 219m wheels in a heartbeat

I have 380 mm F80 front rotors with C63 six piston calipers and another member confirmed 260's fit over that setup.
https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1756609&page=19

Yeah I’ve been told that the 260M wheels (look almost identical to the 219M) will fit over a BBK kit.

So… just got my 219M wheels back from the Powdercoaters here in the Schwarzwald. I had them done in Chrome Shadow…so they mimic the E39 M5 finish. Done properly in a two step coating process. They turned out amazing. Can’t wait to get some Michelin PS4S mounted and on the E92 M3. (decided to sell the 220M Wheels after all).

Next up some Eibach Lowering Springs and MAYBE spacers…

So I fitted the freshly powdercoated wheels with Michelin PS4 (non-S, as they are not available here).

Then of course couldn’t wait and so I put them on the car.

I will say the best decision going with the 219M…much more nicer ride and copes with the cobblestones here very well. I also love the wheel design much more than the 220M (which I am selling right now).