Thomas B's E46 on ESM-007 Wheels
Thomas B of Santa Ana popped by a few days ago to pick up a set of ESM-007 Wheels for BMW he ordered from the Modification Experts. Thomas like many enthusiasts with aging vehicles wanted to something to give his blue E46 a fresh new look - and the style of the ESM-007 is an excellent compliment to the car and is a great match for the design language of the front bumper cover.
Modification Expert Kirk spec’d out the wheels for E46 for Thomas in a staggered configuration, recommending ESM-007 wheels in 18x8.5 out front and 18x9.5 out back with a set of Hub Centric rings to keep everything lined up as it should be. The Wheel specs are listed below.
(2) ESM-007 18” HSL: 5x120mm DD (ET35) 18x8.5 CB 74.1
(2) ESM-007 18” HSL: 5x120mm DD (ET40) 18x9.5 CB 74.1
(4) ESM Aluminum Hub Centric Rings: OD: 74.1 ID: 72.6
Looking at the car sitting on a clean fresh set of wheels, it’s hard to tell that the E46 platform is almost a decade old, looking every bit as modern as it did new.
The contrast values of the wheels really make them stand out. ESM Wheels are a great way to fit your car with a stylish set of wheels at a pricepoint that won’t break the bank. In a few weeks, Thomas will be back at ModBargains to have his E46 fitted with a set of ST Suspensions Coilovers for E46 to give the car a low profile to suit the new wheels - and as with any older car, replacing the shocks is a great idea - and probably necessary, making it a stellar way to kill two birds with one stone. Out here in SoCal, we never see salt and seldom see rain, so ST Suspensions Coilovers are a great choice.
We’re really excited to see what this car looks like sitting on coilovers, and of course, you can expect to see photos right here on the ModBargains blog.
Interested in a set of wheels for your ride? We’ve got nearly every brand you can think of - talk to the Modification Experts today, who can recommend a fitment that’s right for you at a price that suits your pocketbook. Call 714-582-3330 or chat live at ModBargains.com.
UPDATE! See how Thomas’ E46 330ci has evolved since we wrote this story HERE
Story Nick GregsonPhotos by Thomas B
Updated Parts
Some parts in this post have changed since it was written. Here are the current versions, plus related parts for the same car.

BMW OEM E46 M3 ZCP Wheels for 1999-2006 BMW M3 [E46] (Square Setup)

VMR V703 VB3 CSL Style Wheels for BMW - Hyper Silver - 18"/19" - 5x120mm

Avant Garde M359 Wheels for BMW Hyper Silver 18in/19in 5x120mm

D-Force LTW5 Wheels for BMW 5x120mm Lightweight BMW Wheels

VMR Wheels V710 18x8.5 / 18x9.5 Staggered Wheels for BMW 5x120mm

VMR VB3/V703 CSL Style Wheels Silver Staggered 18x8.5 Front 18x9.5 Rear - Fits Non-M + M3 Cars!