Short answer: if your BMW is an E or F chassis it is almost certainly 5x120 with a 72.5mm centre bore. If it is a G chassis built from roughly 2017 onwards, BMW moved to 5x112 with a 66.5mm centre bore — the same pattern Audi and VW have used for years. Get that wrong and nothing bolts up.
This catches people out constantly. Someone buys spacers for a G20 3 Series based on what fitted their old F30, and the parts are useless. So before anything else, work out which camp your car is in.
Which stud pattern does my BMW use?
| Generation | Examples | PCD | Centre bore | Bolt thread |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E chassis | E46, E90, E92 M3, E60 | 5x120 | 72.5mm | M12x1.5 |
| F chassis | F20, F30, F80 M3, F82 M4, F87 M2 | 5x120 | 72.5mm | M14x1.25 |
| G chassis | G20, G22, G30, G42, G80 M3, G82 M4, G87 M2 | 5x112 | 66.5mm | M14x1.25 |
| F90 M5 | 2017 onward | 5x112 | 66.5mm | M14x1.25 |
The switch happened progressively as each model was replaced, not on a single date, which is why checking your chassis code matters more than checking the year. If you are not sure what yours is, our guide to chassis codes and why they decide what fits walks through how to find it.
What size spacer should I run?
There is no single right answer, but there are sensible ranges. What you are doing is pushing the wheel outward to fill the arch, and the limit is where the tyre starts catching the arch liner on full lock or over bumps.
- 10–12mm — subtle. Mostly used to clear big brake calipers rather than for looks.
- 15mm — the common front choice on a standard-bodied car. Noticeable without being loud.
- 20mm — the usual rear choice, and the most popular size we sell for G-series cars.
- 25mm and up — generally needs either aftermarket wheels with a different offset, or arch work.
A very common setup is 15mm front and 20mm rear. BMWs already run a wider rear track from the factory, and matching that proportion looks more natural than running the same size at both ends.
In stock for the G-series
- 20mm spacers — 3 Series G20 G21 and G80 M3 — £78.64 a pair
- 20mm spacers — 4 Series G22 G23 and G82 M4
- 20mm spacers — M2 G87
- 20mm spacers — 2 Series G42
- 20mm spacers — 5 Series G30 G60 and F90 M5
- 20mm spacers — M5 F90
- 20mm spacers — 1 Series F40 F70
Hub-centric or not? This is the part that matters
A hub-centric spacer has a machined lip that locates on your car's hub, and a matching bore on the outer face that the wheel then locates on. The wheel is centred by metal, not by the bolts.
A plain flat spacer with no lip leaves the wheel centred by the bolts alone. The bolts are there to clamp, not to centre. Get it slightly off and you will feel a vibration at speed that no amount of balancing will cure. Every spacer we sell is hub-centric and machined for the specific hub and wheel bore of the car it is listed against.
Do I need longer bolts?
It depends on the design.
Up to about 20mm, spacers are usually a slip-on type and you need longer bolts, because the spacer thickness eats into your thread engagement. The rule of thumb is that the bolt should engage by at least 1.5 times its own diameter — so for an M14 bolt, about 21mm of thread in the hub. If your standard bolts give you that and you then add a 20mm spacer, you have lost 20mm of it.
Above about 20mm, spacers are normally a bolt-on type: the spacer bolts to the hub with its own fasteners, and then presents a fresh set of studs or threads for the wheel. No longer bolts needed, because the spacer provides its own.
Check the product listing — it states which type it is. If you are unsure, message us with the car and the size and we will tell you before you buy.
Are wheel spacers legal in the UK and Ireland?
Spacers themselves are not illegal to fit to a road car in either jurisdiction. There are three practical things to be aware of.
Tyre coverage. Construction and Use regulations require tyres to be contained within the body on certain vehicle categories. In practice, if the tyre sits proud of the arch you are inviting a problem, both at roadside and with your insurer.
Insurance. Spacers are a modification and you must declare them. Failing to declare is the thing that actually causes grief — not the spacer. A phone call costs nothing and most insurers treat a modest spacer as a minor change.
MOT. There is no specific spacer test, but the tester will check for wheel bearing play, secure fixings and tyre fouling. A properly specified hub-centric spacer with correct bolt engagement passes without comment. A badly fitted one does not.
We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice — if you are running something extreme, check with your insurer first.
What about running non-BMW wheels?
Because the G-series moved to 5x112, a lot of Audi and VW wheels now share a BMW's stud pattern — though the centre bore and offset still have to work. For genuinely different patterns you need a PCD adapter rather than a spacer. We stock adapters as well as spacers, including 5x100 to 5x112 and 5x112 to 5x130.
Common questions
Will 20mm spacers rub on a G20 3 Series?
On standard suspension and standard wheels, 20mm on the rear is generally fine. On the front, 15mm is the safer choice. Lowered cars and wider tyres change the answer, so tell us your setup.
Do spacers damage wheel bearings?
A spacer moves the wheel outward, which increases the leverage on the bearing. At 15–20mm on a road car the effect is small and bearings are not failing because of it. At 40mm and above on a heavy vehicle it becomes a real consideration.
Can I fit them myself?
Yes, if you have a torque wrench and can safely support the car. Clean the hub face first — rust or dirt behind a spacer is what causes run-out. Torque to your car's standard wheel bolt figure and re-check after 50 miles.
Do I need one pair or two?
Each listing is a pair, which covers one axle. For all four corners you need two pairs, and most people buy two different sizes rather than two of the same.
Not sure what your BMW takes? Send us the make and model and we will confirm the stud pattern, bore and spacer size before you spend anything. sales@omiwheels.com or WhatsApp +44 7753 828059.