Audi BBS RS 861 / RS 865 (Speedline) wheels on a BMW E39: what fitment really takes
A question that comes up on enthusiast forums is whether the 19-inch, 8.5 and 9-inch wide BBS wheels fitted to some Audis (often called "Speedlines" and referred to as RS 861 or RS 865) can go on a BMW E39 5 Series. The short answer: not directly. The bolt pattern is different, so the wheels need a hub-centric adapter, and the adapter changes the offset. It can be done, but it is not a bolt-on swap.
In this guide
What is known about the wheels
In the thread that prompted this topic, a forum member asked for photos of "BBS RS 861 or RS 865 (8.5/9 x 19 Audi 'Speedline')" on an E39. The only reply said a ten-minute search had found nothing.1 So there is no body of owner experience in that thread to lean on.
Beyond that, there is little published documentation on those specific designations that could be verified. BBS's own website lists only its current flow-formed and cast ranges and states the brand is produced by KW automotive; it does not document these older OEM-fitment wheels.2 Treat the "RS 861/865" labels as enthusiast shorthand until you have the marking on the back of the actual wheel in front of you: the casting carries the BBS name, size, offset and an Audi or BBS part number you can check with an Audi dealer or the seller.
For context on the brand: BBS was founded in 1970 in Schiltach, Germany, by Heinrich Baumgartner and Klaus Brand, and the name comes from Baumgartner, Brand, Schiltach. It moved from plastic body parts to wheels, introduced a two-piece wheel in 1993, went bankrupt in 2007 and was bought by Punch International, passed to Nice Corp in 2015, and was acquired by KW Automotive in March 2021 after an insolvency filing.3 Because of those ownership changes, the reliable way to identify an original wheel is its markings and the donor car's parts documentation, not the brand's current catalogue.
Why 5x112 does not fit a 5x120 hub
Audi, like Mercedes and VW, uses a 5x112 bolt circle on the models these wheels came from. The BMW E39 uses 5x120.4 The two circles differ by 8 mm in diameter: the holes will not line up, and forcing a wheel on with offset bolts or by "stretching" the pattern is unsafe. Never use bolts that sit partway in the hole.
The 5x120 pattern in BMW use has two common centre bores, 72.6 mm and 74.1 mm, and thread sizes of M12 x 1.5 or M14 x 1.25.4 Which one your E39 uses is not established by the pages used here, so measure the hub and check the lug fasteners on your car before ordering anything. Wheels from Audi typically have a smaller centre bore than a BMW hub, so they cannot sit on the hub as-is.
What you actually need: a hub-centric adapter
A larger bore will go onto a smaller hub, but not the other way round.5 Hub-centric rings only help in the first case: they fill the gap when the wheel bore is larger than the hub.6 An Audi wheel with a bore smaller than the BMW hub fails that test entirely, so rings cannot fix it.
The solution commonly used is a wheel adapter that:
- bolts to the BMW 5x120 hub, with a recess machined to match the hub bore;
- carries studs in the 5x112 pattern on the outside;
- has a raised spigot that matches the wheel's centre bore, so the wheel stays centred on the adapter.
Vendors sell hub-centric adapters in both directions. For example, one retailer's adapter lets 5x120 wheels fit a 5x112 hub, using a 66.6 mm inner and 72.56 mm outer bore.7 You need the reverse type for this project, with a hub-side bore that matches your E39 and a wheel-side bore that matches the wheel. Confirm both dimensions with the seller before ordering. This is vendor information, so rely on measurement rather than a product page.
Offset and clearance
An adapter sits between wheel and hub, so it pushes the wheel outwards by its thickness. The effective offset is roughly the wheel's offset minus the adapter thickness. For instance, a 15 mm adapter on a wheel stamped ET45 puts the wheel where an ET30 wheel would be. This is simple arithmetic, not a measured fit for the E39.
Points to check before buying:
- The offset stamped on the wheel back, and the E39's tolerance for a wheel with that effective offset. A 9-inch wide rear at low effective offset can foul the arches or the suspension, and a 19-inch wheel needs lower-profile tyres.
- Brake clearance inside the barrel, particularly on M5 and big-brake cars.
- Whether the adapter thickness leaves enough thread on the wheel studs or bolts; use the hardware the adapter maker specifies.
- The tyre diameter, so the speedometer and ABS stay close to stock.
Is it worth it?
An adapter adds cost, weight and one more joint to inspect. An alternative is to buy wheels drilled for 5x120 with a BMW-sized bore, which need none of the above. The look of a given BBS design is the usual reason for the adapter route, and that is a matter of taste.
Safety notes
Wheels are a safety component. Adapters are a known weak point when poorly made or incorrectly installed: use hub-centric designs, torque the fasteners to the maker's value after fitting, and re-check torque after the first drive. With lug-centric wheels, torque the fasteners with the car off the ground so the wheel centres correctly.5 If you are unsure about offset, clearance or hub dimensions, ask a specialist wheel fitter or a qualified technician to verify the setup before use. Check live listings and the markings on the back of any used wheel; do not rely on a seller's description of the model number.
Photos to request before buying Audi Speedlines for an E39
A front-on beauty shot cannot establish fitment. Ask for a separate photograph of the back of each wheel, rather than one photograph that supposedly represents the set. Record the size, ET marking and part number in a four-row list. A matching finish can conceal a mixed set with different dimensions.
| Photograph | What it helps you establish |
|---|---|
| Rear casting and stamped markings | Whether the advertised RS 861 or RS 865 designation matches the actual wheel |
| Centre opening and mounting face | The bore and contact area to discuss with the adapter manufacturer |
| Inner barrel and rim lips | Visible repairs, cracks, bends or corrosion that a face photograph hides |
| Existing adapter and its markings | Whether the seller is including an identified component rather than an unspecified spacer |
Before making an offer, price the entire conversion: wheels, suitable adapters, correct fasteners, tyres, fitting and any inspection. A cheap Audi wheel set can become an expensive E39 wheel project when those items are missing.
Can hub rings change 5x112 to 5x120?
No. Rings address centring where the bore is too large; they do not move the bolt holes. Ask the wheel fitter to distinguish a spacer, a hub ring and a bolt-pattern adapter in the quotation.
Are photos of another E39 enough to prove clearance?
They are useful for appearance, but the photographed car may have different tyres, brakes, ride height or body modifications. Get its exact setup before using it as a comparison.
Sources and further reading
- BBS RS 861/865 (Audi Speedlines) on e39, any pics?, StanceWorks forum: the original question.
- BBS wheels homepage, BBS: current manufacturer information.
- BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik, Wikipedia: company history.
- 5x120 bolt pattern, Wheel-Size.com: database summary of centre bores and thread sizes.
- Hub-centric vs lug-centric wheels, Discount Tire: retailer guidance.
- What are hub-centric rings, Discount Tire: retailer guidance.
- 5x112 to 5x120 wheel adapters 72.56CB, ECS Tuning: vendor listing for the opposite-direction adapter.