Which Alpina wheels

General conversations about BMW E28s and the people who own them.
RoyW
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Which Alpina wheels

Post by RoyW »

I bought a set of open-lug Alpina wheels from Chris Kohler a few weeks ago, because my B7 originally was built and came with them back in 1985 ...and, I was wanting to put it back to the "original" look.

I bought some tires for these open-lug wheels, had them mounted, then I put them on yesterday. Now, I'm not sure if I like them as much as the covered Alpina wheels :? BTW, the closed-lug wheels are more of a grayish silver, whereas the covered wheels are a more bright silver... I'm more partial to the brighter silver!

I think the covered wheels look a little more sophisticated and modern, whereas the closed-lug wheels clearly look more sporty.

Anyway, I thought I'd put the pictures up and see what you guys think??

-RoyW

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cgraff
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Post by cgraff »

Personally I'm partial to the covered Alpinas.

I think the open lug ones look better on pre-E28s. The little bit that the covered Alpinas are able to update the look of the E28 I tend to like.

But that's just my personal opinion. You can't go wrong either way.

Just to note one thing:

There's a picture of a B10 E28 with covered lug wheels in my Gold Portfolio. So it's not like the E28 didn't come with either.
ChefShawn
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Post by ChefShawn »

closed def look nicer

but post more pics of your car anyway its so f-in cool
Black Steel
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Post by Black Steel »

They both look great. :D

The open type give the car an earlier appearance while the closed type give a last of the line expensive look :D
Kyle in NO
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Post by Kyle in NO »

Open lug.
TheE28Ranch
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Post by TheE28Ranch »

I choose open lug as well.
Mike W.
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Post by Mike W. »

I like the closed. The open look too similiar to E3 wheels to my eyes. Now it's possible I'm one of only 12 people who remember those wheels having had a set on a Bav, but still, that's what I see.
rmiddendorf
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Post by rmiddendorf »

Open OpEn OPEN!!!!

Both are cool... oPeN is cooler...
athayer187
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Post by athayer187 »

I like the open lug ones better as well!
Mark 88/M5 Houston
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Post by Mark 88/M5 Houston »

OPEN!
John SCB
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Re: Which Alpina wheels

Post by John SCB »

RoyW wrote:I think the covered wheels look a little more sophisticated and modern
Yes, they both look great but I'd have to agree with your statement on the closed lug wheels. Guess I'm a bit partial to that style ;)
wkohler
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Post by wkohler »

Open lug. Now that I've seen the photos, definitely the open lug ones. Of course, being your car, the real response should be "whichever set makes you happiest!"

I always felt those covered-lug wheels were hiding something.
Adam W in MN
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Post by Adam W in MN »

Open lug!
JoshInAtlanta
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Post by JoshInAtlanta »

Open lug. I really wanted those wheels, but I was glad they went to a good home!
alpinacsi
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Post by alpinacsi »

I personally like the open lug wheels but think the dark cars with the thin line stripe set look equally as well with the covered lug wheels. These wheels could also be considered correct for your car with it being the age it is.

If you are going to run the open lug wheels; you should really get the correct stainless lug bolts as were used originally.
BDK
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Re: Which Alpina wheels

Post by BDK »

John SCB wrote:
RoyW wrote:I think the covered wheels look a little more sophisticated and modern
Yes, they both look great but I'd have to agree with your statement on the closed lug wheels. Guess I'm a bit partial to that style ;)
+2
BimmerJunkie
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Post by BimmerJunkie »

Open!!
Son of a
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Post by Son of a »

Roy, I much prefer the came-with-car open lugs. Either way she's stunning. See you tomorrow on the track for the Concourse.
jlb11369
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Post by jlb11369 »

open all the way...
nnarth212
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Post by nnarth212 »

the open has greater depth or texture-- the closed are more eye catching or distracting. However if bright-- eye catching is the goal... WIN!

imo.
Eddie in TO
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Post by Eddie in TO »

Both look great, but I prefer the open lug on your B7.

The color combination, chrome trim, chrome bumpers, open lugs equates to über elegance.

Just like the owner, this B7 emanates nothing but classiness. Well done!

...and thank you for not shadow-lining your B7.
rcbmw
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Post by rcbmw »

Roy,

The earlier/ period correct Alpina wheels look much better on the car. I am so glad to see that you've added them and now this one of the very best Alpina B7 examples I have ever seen.

Best,
RCBMW
gray635
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Post by gray635 »

Roy: My vote is for the open-lug wheels, with the stainless bolts, per alpinacsi's suggestion. I put the 17" covered lug Alpinas on my old '88 M6. They're nice wheels, but the open lugs are my favorite wheels, a classic design and look just right on these e28 cars, IMHO. :alright: :alright:
Last edited by gray635 on Sep 04, 2010 8:45 PM, edited 1 time in total.
grey ghost
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Post by grey ghost »

Closed for sure...
Last edited by grey ghost on Sep 05, 2010 8:00 PM, edited 1 time in total.
Kenny Blankenship
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Post by Kenny Blankenship »

Open (why don't you put up a poll?).
87royal
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Post by 87royal »

+1 open
but you already know that
snakebrain
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Post by snakebrain »

Open.
RoyW
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Post by RoyW »

alpinacsi wrote:I personally like the open lug wheels but think the dark cars with the thin line stripe set look equally as well with the covered lug wheels. These wheels could also be considered correct for your car with it being the age it is.

If you are going to run the open lug wheels; you should really get the correct stainless lug bolts as were used originally.
Thanks for that tip on the stainless lug bolts... I wasn't aware of that, and found some black bolts because I thought that's what it should be. I'll find the correct ones and put them on to see how it looks (probably not by tomorrow for the Vintage Concours :( )

Also, thanks to everyone for your personal opinions and thoughts... while there are a lot of people who like each of the two looks... seems the open-lug is in the majority. Perhaps if my buyer doesn't come through, I'll keep both :laugh:

-Roy
RonP
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Post by RonP »

Open lug, but you need the chrome lug nuts to be correct.
MShimon
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Post by MShimon »

I never thought I'd say this, but go open-lug on that car. I am such a huge fan of the covered ones, but the opens just looks so much better on that B7. Frankly, I love looking at that car no matter what.
alpinacsi
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Post by alpinacsi »

I might be wrong but I don't think the stainless ones are available from Alpina anymore so you might have to settle for chrome plated ones. I know that Alpina offered atleast 2 different stainless ones with the difference being the crown and they also offered their own lock for then. I am planning to machine a batch of them and hope to have them for sale in the next several weeks when the schedule in the shop allows.
Ross
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Post by Ross »

OPEN ! all the way. In my opinion the closed ones are more fitting to the 90's Alpina lineup, such as the E34s and E32s. but the E28 needs to have open centers to look period correct.

In the end it is all personal taste though.
Eta power
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Post by Eta power »

Open!
frink84
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Post by frink84 »

open looks "older" to me

covered looks "newer"

but i like the old, so OPEN!
C.R. Krieger
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Post by C.R. Krieger »

Offen.
FABEL
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Post by FABEL »

Black Steel wrote:They both look great. :D

The open type give the car an earlier appearance while the closed type give a last of the line expensive look :D
exactly.

open lug!
jay
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Post by jay »

Can't go wrong with either one. Both are beautiful on that car but if I had to pick..... OPEN!!!!!!!!!!
johnnye23
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Post by johnnye23 »

Roy late to the party but Open Lug all the way.And may I add what a great great looking car that you have. :laugh:
m-racer
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Post by m-racer »

Given my past Alpina experience (Ti, B6, B9), I would have thought for sure that I would have liked the open lugs best, but in your case I really think the green really sings with the closed lug wheels. Could be I have always lusted after Sia's B7 and that's what he has. Anyway steak or lobster, lobster or steak. I like both.
Hartley
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Post by Hartley »

Open feels more old-school,
Closed is still old-school, but more sofisticated.

CLOSED
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