4.8 X5 wheels on a 4.4

Help Please.

Anyone out there with a 4.8 X5 that I can get a look at some time (I live just above Bristol).

I've got 4.8 wheels on my 4.4 and want to see if/how I can replace my 'flush' wheel arch trims with the standard 'angled/flared' wheel arch trims fitted on the 4.8 (do I also need 'side-runners', are the bumper/valance mouldings different) ?

Regards - Mike S.

 

Hi M BLUR (really senior member).

Thanks so much for your helpful and most intuative comments (I'd never thought of 'body kits').

Unfortunately, however, you've missed the point as 20" diameter (18" or even 22") makes no difference (providing you stick to the same 'rolling diameter') and is therefore NOT my problem.

Wheel WIDTH (in relation to the face of the wheel arch) is my point (4.4 wheels are 285mm wide, 4.8 wheels at the rear are 315mm wide) and that extra 30mm brings my wheels right out flush with the body at the top of the arch (that's exactly why the wheel arch trim on the 4.8 is flared out; to COPE with the extra wheel width).

Regards - S24PAW

NB : At £2500 plus say £80/hour for fitting 'bodykits', I'm naturally trying to find myself a more inexpensive solution.  

     

 

I have just bought a 54 reg 4.4i Sport that has the optional 20" wheels factory fitted.  I think the wheels are identical to those on the 4.8is so they do give the car a marginally wider track.  Having just looked at mine side by side with a regular Sport model I can see that the outer edge of my wheels are level with the bodywork, whereas the 19" Sport wheels are recessed by 1-2cm.

Mine isn't a special edition and has the standard wheel arches.  I guess the only downside is it probably throws slightly more mud over itself.  It looks fine to me though and I don't see the need to get any extensions fitted.