BMW 3 (E36) Wheel Lug Pattern, Offset, and Rim Size Reference
The BMW 3 (E36), produced between 1990 and 2000, uses specific wheel lug patterns essential for proper wheel fitment. Most E36 models feature a 5x120 mm lug pattern, meaning 5 lug nuts spaced on a 120 mm pitch circle diameter (PCD). Accurate knowledge of this pattern ensures compatibility when selecting aftermarket wheels or replacements.\n\nOffset values (ET) for the E36 typically range from ET20 to ET35 depending on the model and wheel size. Proper offset maintains wheel alignment and clearance with brake components and suspension parts. The center bore for the E36 is universally 72.6 mm, which centers the wheel hub correctly.\n\nRim sizes vary across the production years and trims but generally fall between 14 and 17 inches in diameter. Confirming the rim size, offset, and lug pattern together is key to safe and optimal wheel installation on any BMW 3 (E36).\n\nOur year-sorted reference tables provide detailed specifications for the E36 wheel fitment, helping you find the correct bolt pattern, offset, center bore, and rim size for your exact model year.
| Make / model / trim | Year | Tire | Rim width (in) | Rim diam. (in) | Bolt pattern | Offset ET | Bore DIA | Mounting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 tds | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 323 i 2.5 | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1998 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 328 i | 1998 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.2 | 1998 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 tds | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 323 i 2.5 | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1997 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 328 i | 1997 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.2 | 1997 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 tds | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 323 i 2.5 | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1996 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 328 i | 1996 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.2 | 1996 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 tds | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 323 i 2.5 | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1995 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1995 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 328 i | 1995 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.0 | 1995 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.2 | 1995 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1994 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1994 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) M3 3.0 | 1994 | 225/35R19 | 7.5 | 19 | 5×120 | 45 | 72.6 | M14*1,25 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 is | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1993 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 tds | 1993 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1992 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1992 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1992 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1992 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1992 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1991 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1991 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1991 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1991 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 td | 1991 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 316 i | 1990 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 318 i | 1990 | 195/65R15 | 7 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 320 i | 1990 | 195/65R15 | 6.5 | 15 | 5×120 | 42 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
| BMW 3 (E36) 325 i | 1990 | 205/60R15 | 7 | 16 | 5×120 | 47 | 72.6 | M12*1,5 |
FAQ
- What is the standard wheel lug pattern for a BMW 3 (E36)?
- The standard wheel lug pattern for the BMW 3 (E36) is 5x120 mm, meaning five lug nuts arranged on a 120 mm pitch circle diameter.
- What offset (ET) values are typical for BMW 3 (E36) wheels?
- Typical offset values for BMW 3 (E36) wheels range from ET20 to ET35 depending on the model and rim size.
- What is the center bore size for BMW 3 (E36) wheels?
- The center bore size for BMW 3 (E36) wheels is 72.6 mm, which ensures the wheel is properly centered on the hub.
Tire size calculatorShow
Compare two tire sizes — diameter, speedometer error, and clearance change.
| Size 1 | Size 2 | Diff | Diff(%) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 25.0" | 25.4" | 0.5" | 1.89% |
| Width | 7.7" | 8.5" | 0.8" | 10.26% |
| Circumference | 78.4" | 79.9" | 1.5" | 1.86% |
| Profile height | 5.0" | 4.2" | -0.7" | -15.08% |
| Turnover per mile | 807 | 793 | 14 | -1.73% |
| Clearance | - | - | +0.2" | - |






Speedometer Error
(First wheel OEM size)
| Reading | 20 mph | 30 mph | 40 mph | 50 mph | 60 mph | 70 mph | 80 mph | 90 mph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actual | 20.4 | 30.5 | 40.7 | 50.9 | 61.1 | 71.2 | 81.4 | 91.6 |
