What is the factory spec for the OEM E46 Style 68M staggered wheels (17x7.5 front / 17x8.5 rear) on a BMW 3 Series (E46, 1999-2006)?
Added · Updated
Short answer: Factory specification Reported
Verdict:Factory spec Reported confidence (2 of 3) · 2 sources
Factory specification: BMW offered Style 68M as a staggered 17-inch option: 17x7.5 front with 225/45R17 and 17x8.5 rear with 245/40R17.
Safety-critical part. This claim comes from community or vendor sources, not the vehicle or part manufacturer, so its confidence is capped at "Reported". Have the work done or checked by a qualified professional and confirm part numbers with the manufacturer.
| Part | OEM E46 Style 68M staggered wheels (17x7.5 front / 17x8.5 rear) |
|---|---|
| Vehicle | BMW 3 Series (E46, 1999-2006) |
| Years | 2004 |
| Trim / condition | 2004 sedans with the Style 68M option |
| Verdict | Factory spec Specification |
| Confidence | Reported 2 of 3 — Stated by one reasonably reputable source (retailer, shop, magazine). Not independently confirmed. |
| Last verified | 2026-10-26 (date the cited sources were last read) |
Details
BMW offered Style 68M as a staggered 17-inch option: 17x7.5 front with 225/45R17 and 17x8.5 rear with 245/40R17. Because it is staggered, you cannot rotate tires front to rear. One community wiki lists Style 68 as a 16x7 base 330i wheel, which conflicts with the brochure; we follow BMW. Confirmed for 2004 sedans only; other years and body styles not checked.
Specs
- bolt pattern: 5x120
- centerbore mm: 72.6
- size: 17x7.5 front / 17x8.5 rear
- offset mm: not stated in any source read
- tire: 225/45R17 front / 245/40R17 rear
Other wheels fitment for the E46
- OEM E46 Style 45 wheel (16x7, 325i / 325xi) — Specification Factory spec
- OEM E46 Style 137 wheel (17x7, 330i / 330xi) — Specification Factory spec
- OEM E46 Sport Package Style 119 wheel (17x8) — Specification Factory spec
- OEM E46 330i ZHP Style 135M wheels (18x8 ET47 / 18x8.5 ET50) — Specification Factory spec
- OEM E46 M3 Style 67M wheels (18x8 ET47 / 18x9 ET26) — Specification Factory spec
- Factory wheel-bolt spec, E46 (M12x1.5 cone-seat bolts, 120 N·m) — Specification Factory spec
More for this car
- All BMW 3 Series (E46, 1999-2006) fitment answers · E46 common problems
- Newsletter archive: past issues with every new and corrected entry
Sources
- 2004 BMW 3 Series Sedan brochure (specifications and wheel options) — BMW of North America (brochure PDF hosted by autospies.com) (mfr spec; read 2026-10-26; full page read)
- OEM Wheel Styles — E46 Vault (community-written wiki on GitHub Pages) (editorial; read 2026-10-26; full page read)Conflicting: lists Style 68 as a 16x7 ET47 base wheel.
Summaries are in our own words. Fitment is not guaranteed — disclaimer.
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