What to do with the Style 135's (part rant, part cry for help)

[Mike2003ZHP]

I've been mulling what to do with my OEM Style 135s. I have a love/hate relationship with these wheels. Like some really attractive women, I LOVE how they look but man they can be a real pain. They are hard to detail with the narrow spaces between the spokes/ribs (and there are a lot of them). The silver shows brake dust one minute after they're clean and curbs in my area have have a strange magnetic forces for the 135s. And because there is no lip to speak of, some curb rash has run up on the ribs. But they are what makes the ZHP unique and, in my opinion, one of the best looking OEM wheel designs during the e46 run. I'm at the point where I really need to do something, the curb rash has me bugged every time a detail the car.

Do I have the professionally refinished?
DIY the refinish myself (moderately skilled but no expert)?
Color change?
Buy VMRs or another aftermarket wheel and stock pile the 135s?

I did get a quote for shadow chrome OEM exchange for $850.

I really want to know what others have done or think about these beautiful pains in the ass wheels.

[Avetiso]

Refinish them, get ceramic brakes, call it day. With the refinish, I'd get them powdercoated.

[jakksfor20]

Wife's sedan 135's are getting redone (already quoted $600 to redo) when I get home after my Navy Reserve stint. The clear is starting to flake in a few spots and the graphite has took hold of them pretty good. She needs new tires so figured it was an opportune time to do it. She has an abhorrence against curbs, so I'm extremely confident that they will stay pretty.

[danewilson77]

Get BBS (or VMR).

Done.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?692-I-LOVE-BBS-WHEELS-The-Official-BBS-Thread

[KevinC]

Refinish them, get ceramic brakes, call it day. With the refinish, I'd get them powdercoated.

This. Took the words right out of my.. keyboard.

I love the look too, and as our cars age, they're more "special" if they're as close to stock as possible, IMHO.. certainly stock appearance anyways. I have Akebono ceramic pads and they *completely* gets rid of brake dust, period. You can go for weeks without washing and your wheels will have zero visible brake dust. Get'em refurbed & powder coated, go ceramic, and religiously avoid curbing the freshened wheels, and you'll look like a meeeeeeelion bucks.

[ELCID86]

The question I have been wrestling with as I'm sure many others have. Thanks for putting it "on paper" so we can discuss. The P&B shop that is giving me back by OB-delight (tomorrow I hope) quoted me $125/wheel but hinted he'd discount it since I just did $800 with him on the front clip. I really like the VMRs and have been tempted to go with an Alzor 030 (http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?2050769-E46-330ci-on-Alzor-030-Split-Personality) or similar. Hope you get some good advice here and I'm in to follow the thread.

[ELCID86]

... I have Akebono ceramic pads and they *completely* gets rid of brake dust, period. You can go for weeks without washing and your wheels will have zero visible brake dust.

Which one? http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/brand.jsp?ef_id=UukSvwAABSvNgzX8:20140204014606:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!37212181693!p!!g!!akebono%20cera mic%20pads&brand=Akebono

[ELCID86]

Maybe this is an option for now. http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?11250-Ryan-s-Winter-Setup-Poll&p=329187#post329187 (#55).

[JKO_ZHP]

Got tired of cleaning them as you said, and was itching for some E46 M3 ZCP-style wheels.
Looked into VMR's VB3s at first, was told that they are gravity-cast, which is a method of wheel-making that is a step below low-pressure cast, which is what BMW requires for their wheels at the minimum. (In theory then, any factory BMW wheels are stronger than any gravity-cast VMR wheels)

Ended up with Avant Garde M359s, which look identical to E92 M3 ZCP wheels. AG's are low-pressure cast.

The style 135s are sitting in the AG boxes, waiting for a good cleaning so I can have them refinished and then later on, sold. Luckily there's a local "wheel god" nearby (http://www.yelp.com/biz/onsite-wheel-recond-westminster-3)

As for brake dust, I've asked everyone from mechanics to parts suppliers, and their answers are the same.
1) Performance brake pads give you better stopping power, but more dust.
2) Ceramic and a few other brake pads have a little less stopping power, but less dust.
3) OEM is half and half.

[tkundhi]

I'm looking for a set of style 135 wheels. Must be original BMW not knock offs. I'll consider all sets as long as they are straight and true. Curb rash is OK as I'll refinish. If you've got a set to sell PM me pics. Price will be fair based upon condition.

Still no ZHP yet. But getting close...

Thx,

t.

[TristanHunter]

If brake dust is a problem, put some sealant (or wax) on your wheels a couple times a year. The brake dust and dirt will spray off super easy.

I think the DIY refinish looks pretty good: http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=713071

I'm not sure the paint would match perfect though...

[Mike2003ZHP]

la mia ZHP famiglia! This forum rocks. Some really good advise and shared experiences.

The worst curbing was an old narrow street with rock curbs. The street has been repave some many times it's crowned. There was a dip about 6 inches off the curb which sucked the right wheel in and against the 8" sharp rock curb. The horror. The horror.

Thanks Guys!

[Mike2003ZHP]

I think I will stick with the 135's and take some good advise.

Also....

when I get home after my Navy Reserve stint

Thank you for your service Jakksfor20 !

[johnrando]

Lots of suggestions, but you have indeed asked the million dollar question for which there is no true answer. The other wheels are likely lighter, easier to maintain; the 135s are part of what a ZHP is. Gotta go with what feels right for you.

[jakksfor20]

I think I will stick with the 135's and take some good advise.

Also....


Thank you for your service Jakksfor20 !

;)

[Avetiso]

I hear EBC redstuff is dustless and better peformaning than OEM.

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[ELCID86]

... the 135s are part of what a ZHP is. Gotta go with what feels right for you.

Uh, the guilt trip... OK, I'm convinced too. I'll stay! :-)

[NorCalZman]

the 135s are awesome. I love em.

Are there any downsides to ceramic pads? Do they squeak more or anything like that?

OP, I see you are local. If you find a shop you really like let us know. I will probably need mine redone. Maybe when its time for new tires.

[jakksfor20]

From what I have read, the ceramics have slightly more braking distance and if you do any sort of track activity they don't last many laps before they are toast.

[BCS_ZHP]

the 135s are awesome. I love em.

Are there any downsides to ceramic pads? Do they squeak more or anything like that?

OP, I see you are local. If you find a shop you really like let us know. I will probably need mine redone. Maybe when its time for new tires.

Downside to ceramics, they are made of a harder material than OEM so won't grab as well initially on OEM blank rotors. The remedy is to mate the ceramic pads up with slotted, or drilled, or slotted & drilled rotors. The design of these type rotors give the ceramic pads some edges to grab on for the initial bite. These ceramic pads with S/D/S&D rotors will give you equal to or better stopping, on the street. However if you track your car regularly, the harder compound of the ceramics will not dissipate the heat quick enough and your ceramics will fade faster than stock pads or track specific pads. Also for consideration if you track regularly, some drilled rotors have been known to develop cracks during track use whereas slotted rotors are not normally known for such cracking.

And when your OCD fully sets in, you could swap from daily street rotors & pads to weekend track rotors & pads as needed, believe that BP did this for a while.

[JKO_ZHP]

I hear EBC redstuff is dustless and better peformaning than OEM.

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http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319170
Post #8. Even though this is for an E90, there was another comparison thread somewhere out there for E46s.
Just like most things on this planet, everything comes with a tradeoff! Less dust? Less grip.
Monster grip? Monster dust.

[iya_e46]

Had the same issue when I bought the zhp. I ended up NOT buying a BBS, got the 135's professionally refinished and bought some machtschnell spacers instead.

[TigerTater]

What about this...I found these images online...guy says they are E92 M3 OEM wheels...but I beg to differ. Looks like style 135's refinished...and they look amazing on AW, giving me plenty of good ideas.
-And for the record he is a ZHP wannabe...330i with bumper kit..:foottap
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff47/ewhit26/ScreenShot2014-02-04at93529AM.png (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/ewhit26/media/ScreenShot2014-02-04at93529AM.png.html)
http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff47/ewhit26/ScreenShot2014-02-04at93621AM.png (http://s242.photobucket.com/user/ewhit26/media/ScreenShot2014-02-04at93621AM.png.html)

[johnrando]

Those are actually not 135s.

[328ioc]

But they are in fact E92 M3 wheels.

They would look good on Imola.

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[danewilson77]

Those are actually not 135s.


But they are in fact E92 M3 wheels.

They would look good on Imola.

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+1

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