Be easy on the NEWBIE please

[oasis]

Using 17x7 wheels without changing the fenders certainly is possible. The difficulty is not knowing the width of your springs in your current set-up. TopLine and Kerscher make struts which will allow these wheels given the proper offset. TopLine also makes something called Sports+ springs which are tapered in the middle but are not going to be as robust in wheel/tire combos it will allow but more robust than a stock springs in a lowering situation.

It will take planning and you may have to priortize what you want to get the end result you desire. I would go to TopLine and read what they have to say about how they fitted their wheels on their car using their products. From there, you can measure the springs you have and see what you are mathematically able to do.

Then you can see what wheel width/height/offset combos are at your disposal. If it all works, you're good to go. If a wheel you want isn't physically possible, you can look into spacers as a solution if the rub is coming from inside the wheel. If a spacer alleviates the inside rub but causes fender rubbing, you may have to rethink your Lambo doors and get narrower springs and/or struts.

(BTW, all cars are picture worthy )

[ragenasian]

I guess I have a lot more reading to do. I was hoping that somebody would maybe already know a set of rims that they have put on their car without the expensive shock setup. I wish I could put my 1800 dollar set of Cuscos that are on my Nissan on my bug. Again thanks for the help it is at least good to know that I don't have to change my fenders. However another question comes to mind, I own a professional fender flaring tool. Would this tool help at all? It might at least give me a little bit more room under the fender.

As for pictures I am not a professional by any means and with three project cars money is very scarce. This being said my bug is no where near the quality of Bug that some of you own. You guys especially the one on this thread is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I either had the money or the skills to make my bug look like yours.

It isn't what you buy it is what you build (quote on the back of all my cars)

[oasis]

Originally Posted by ragenasian

I guess I have a lot more reading to do.

No such thing as too much reading.

Originally Posted by ragenasian

I was hoping that somebody would maybe already know a set of rims that they have put on their car without the expensive shock setup.

My set-up is 16x6½-inch BBS rims with a 42mm offset. I believe I could have used TopLine's Sports+ springs with stock shocks if I remember one of my conversations with Jon at TopLine correctly. I decided to go with their MaXX struts over the less expensive Sports+ springs and the more expensive Kerscher struts.

The Sports+ springs are not that expensive and I have heard good reviews (not surprising to me given I have a lot of TopLine parts I am quite satisfied with).

Originally Posted by ragenasian

I wish I could put my 1800 dollar set of Cuscos that are on my Nissan on my bug.

If that is your intention when you mentioned the 4x100 bolt pattern in the first place, one of your variables became a constant. Now you need to find out the wheel's dimensions and offset. From there you can more easily find out if it is feasible and if that answer is yes, what would be necessary.

My investigation was on these lines because I was fairly locked in on the wheels I wanted.

Originally Posted by ragenasian

I own a professional fender flaring tool. Would this tool help at all? It might at least give me a little bit more room under the fender.

Oh my goodness, yes!

Originally Posted by ragenasian

As for pictures I am not a professional by any means and with three project cars money is very scarce. This being said my bug is no where near the quality of Bug that some of you own. You guys especially the one on this thread is absolutely gorgeous. I wish I either had the money or the skills to make my bug look like yours.

Don't be silly. I joined this forum a year and a half before I even bought my car. My car is only half-way through the major phases. With few exceptions, everyone's "finished" cars aren't finished and will probably never be finished because of a constant state of tweaking they're in. And with few exceptions, everyone's near-finished cars were in some previous state at one time during their ownership -- and everyone's cars were stock at some previous point.

Originally Posted by ragenasian

It isn't what you buy it is what you build (quote on the back of all my cars)

See that, you have that over me. Although I helped here and there with my car, I am the resident Dr. Technoklutz. I have to pay people to do most things because I have neither the experience or a garage.

It seems to me you're plotting the correct path and as long as you stay the course, you will come for air one day and remember where you once were as your car gets closer to that mythical state of completion.

[vujade]

if 16s will fit, 17s will fit as well..just use a lower profile tire..

[ragenasian]

Thanks for the kind words OASIS. As soon as it warms up (currently here in Germany it is below freezing) I will take some pics of the 1.6 AUDI motor, and the rest of the stuff I have done. I am still working on the Wood interior that I am cutting. I can at least do this in my garage without moving any of the other four cars out of the way, and I don't have to freeze my balls off outside. If anybody is interested when the new tires and rims get mounted I have a very very odd spare tire that I myself have never seen in my life. It is mounted on a 4x130 rim but looks like a big round piece of rubber just sitting on a rim, but it is a legal spare. It doesn't require any air either and it is very small and fits in the front even with the custom radiator (which sits at an angle so we wouldn't use up to much of the front space). Again once it gets warmer (next week supposedly) I will do as OASIS says and take some pics. As you are correct in everybody has a car that started stock, but some people can afford to at least start out looking decent. This has been a year project already and hopefully paint or no paint the car will once again see the street. Thank everybody when I finally find out what weels work I will post more info that maybe somebody later on down the road (like me) can use. I will get the measuring tape out and let you all know, pics will come soon).

[oasis]

You're welcome. vujade made an important addendum. I focused heavily on width and offset, and neglected the diameter (non)issue. Also, keep us entertained and informed on the wood interior. Sounds interesting.

[ragenasian]

Hey Oasis,

Send me an email to imported1@t-online.de and I will send you some pics to see what your thoughts are. I have found a set of rims to that are 16x6.5 which would give me an extra half an inch so we will see. I am going to probably order them anyways as they will also fit my other car so either way I have a new set of rims for either car!!