EMPI BRM-Style Wheel Set of 4 — 15x4.5 & 15x5.5 Gloss Black, 4x130 | VW Beetle 1968–1979, Ghia, Type 3 (00-9734-0)
Couldn't load pickup availability
- Vendor EMPI
- SKU SET4-00-9734-0
-
Fits
- 1968-1979 VW Beetle
- 1971-1979 VW Super Beetle
- 1967-1974 VW Karmann Ghia
- 1966-1973 VW Type 3
- 1968-1979 VW Baja Bug / Dune Buggy (4x130 pan)
Not sure it fits? Call the shop: (657) 438-7002.
EMPI BRM-Style Wheel Set of 4 — 15" Gloss Black with Polished Lip, 4x130
Short answer: A set of four EMPI BRM-style 15" cast aluminum wheels in gloss black with polished lip and spoke edges, 4x130 pattern, for the 1968–1979 VW Beetle and Super Beetle, 1967–1974 Karmann Ghia and 1966–1973 Type 3. Choose four 15x4.5, four 15x5.5, or a stagger of two 15x4.5 fronts and two 15x5.5 rears (all ET+15). Caps and valve stems included; add the 16 matching 60° lug bolts in the Mounting Hardware option.
Part numbers: EMPI 00-9734-0 (009734-0, 0097340) 15x4.5 · EMPI 00-9735-0 (009735-0, 0097350) 15x5.5
Choose your set
| Configuration | Wheels in the box | SKU | Set price | Ship weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Square 15x4.5 — Gloss Black/Polished | 4× 00-9734-0 | SET4-00-9734-0 | $955.95 | 56.6 lb |
| Square 15x5.5 — Gloss Black/Polished | 4× 00-9735-0 | SET4-00-9735-0 | $955.95 | 60.2 lb |
| Staggered 2× 15x4.5 + 2× 15x5.5 — Gloss Black/Polished | 2× 00-9734-0 + 2× 00-9735-0 | SET4S-00-9734-0-9735-0 | $955.95 | 58.4 lb |
The BRM look on a 4-lug car: five flat spokes, polished lip, and the narrow 4.5" width that keeps a stock-height Beetle looking period-correct. We confirmed the 4x130 pattern for 00-9734-0 against EMPI's own fitment data (Type 1 08/67 on) before building this set.
Vehicle Fitment
| Years | Vehicle | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1968–1979 | VW Beetle (Type 1), sedan & convertible | 4x130 from the 1968 model year. |
| 1971–1979 | VW Super Beetle | 4x130. |
| 1967–1974 | VW Karmann Ghia | EMPI lists 4x130 from 08/66 (1967 model year, disc-brake front). Count your lugs on a 1967. |
| 1966–1973 | VW Type 3 (Notch, Square, Fastback) | 4x130 from the 1966 model year. |
| 1968–1979 | Baja Bug / dune buggy on a 4x130 pan | Any build on factory 4-lug drums or 4x130 disc conversions. |
| Does not fit | 1949–1967 Beetle, 1956–66 Ghia, 1962–65 Type 3 | Those are 5x205 wide-5. See our 5x205 sets. |
| Does not fit | 1973–1974 VW Thing | The US Thing is 5x205. |
| Does not fit | Any VW Bus (1950–1979), Vanagon | Buses are 5x205 (to 1970) or 5x112 (1971 on). |
| Does not fit | Porsche 5x130 / 5x130-converted VWs | Different pattern. |
Technical Specifications (per wheel)
| EMPI # | Size | Offset (ET) | Backspacing | Finish | Ship wt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 00-9734-0 | 15x4.5 | +15mm | Not published by EMPI (confirming) | Gloss black, polished lip & spoke edges | 14.15 lb |
| 00-9735-0 | 15x5.5 | +15mm | 3-3/4" | Gloss black, polished lip & spoke edges | 15.05 lb |
- Bolt pattern: 4x130 (VW 4-lug)
- Lug seat: 60° conical (taper) seat — not the ball (radius) seat used by stock VW steel wheels
- Lug thread: M14x1.5 lug bolts, 4 per wheel (16 for the set)
- Optional: 16 × M14x1.5 60° chrome lug bolts (KIT16-00-9712-0), + $89.95 in the Mounting Hardware option
- Construction: Cast aluminum, 15" diameter
- Center bore: Not published by EMPI (hub-centering is by the 60° lug seats)
- Recommended tires: 15x4.5: 155R15 or 165R15. 15x5.5: 165R15 front; 185/65R15 or 195/65R15 rear — confirm clearance on your car.
- Sold as: Set of 4 wheels (shipped as 4 boxes, about 17 x 17 x 7–9.6 in each)
What's included / not included
- Included: 4 EMPI BRM-style wheels in the configuration you choose, an EMPI center cap and a valve stem with each wheel. Lug bolts are included only if you choose them in the Mounting Hardware option.
- Not included: lug locks, tires, mounting and balancing.
Add mounting hardware
These wheels need 16 × M14x1.5 60° conical-seat lug bolts. Your stock ball-seat bolts will not work. Pick the bolts in the Mounting Hardware option above and they ship with your wheels:
| Mounting Hardware option | What it is | Price |
|---|---|---|
| No Hardware | Wheels only, for when you already have the correct 60° M14x1.5 bolts | + $0 |
| 60° Chrome Lug Bolts, Set of 16 (KIT16-00-9712-0) | 16 EMPI chrome M14x1.5 60° conical-seat lug bolts (4 × EMPI 00-9712-0), enough for all four wheels. See the kit | + $89.95 |
For theft protection, swap one bolt per wheel for EMPI 70-2707-0 14mm 60° wheel locks (set of 4 with key). If you run spacers, use extended 60° bolts sized for the stack.
Why it matters — expert note
All three configurations share the same ET+15 offset, so the stagger is purely about tire width: a slim 4.5" front for light, period steering feel and a 5.5" rear for more rubber. The most common install mistake is reusing stock ball-seat bolts — EMPI alloys need 60° conical bolts.
Install notes
- Test-fit one bare wheel on each axle before mounting tires: check brake drum/caliper clearance, the inner wheel well and the fender lip.
- Use only 60° conical lug bolts. Ball-seat bolts will not seat and can work loose.
- Tighten in a star pattern to the torque in your VW service manual or the lug maker's spec, and re-check after the first 25–50 miles — aluminum wheels settle.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Do these BRM wheels fit a 1972 Super Beetle? Yes. The 1971–1979 Super Beetle uses the 4x130 pattern, which this set matches.
- Will they fit a 1967 Beetle? No. The 1967 Beetle is 5x205 wide-5. Use our 5x205 BRM set instead.
- What offset are these BRM wheels? Both sizes are ET+15: 00-9734-0 is 15x4.5 and 00-9735-0 is 15x5.5.
- Do these wheels come with lug bolts? Not by default — choose "60° Chrome Lug Bolts, Set of 16 (KIT16-00-9712-0)" in the Mounting Hardware option (+$89.95) and you get all 16 M14x1.5 60° conical-seat bolts (4 × EMPI 00-9712-0) with your wheels. Each wheel already ships with a center cap and valve stem.
- Do they fit a VW Thing or Bus? No. The US Thing and pre-1971 Bus are 5x205, and 1971–79 Buses are 5x112.
- Can I buy just one wheel? Yes — EMPI 00-9734-0 (15x4.5) and 00-9735-0 (15x5.5) are sold individually in our store.
Need just one?
Explore Related Categories
Wheels, Air-Cooled VW, EMPI 60° Lug Bolt Kit, Set of 16, EMPI 60° Chrome Lug Bolts, EMPI Wheel Locks & Lug Hardware
Parts are legal for use on pre-pollution-controlled vehicles only.
Prop 65 Warning
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which is known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.
The Tech Bench Everything we know about doing the work, in one place — written and filmed on our own bench in Orange, California, with the same parts we sell you.
Pick a bench below. Written install guides, free decoder tools, install videos, and the fitment lookup — each one lives on its own page so you're not scrolling past nine systems to find the one you're working on.
Four benches
Pick the one that matches the job in front of youInstall Guides
The full written library — procedures, torque specs, and the order of operations that keeps you from taking something apart twice. Organised by system.
55 guides8 systems5 published Open the library 02Decoders & Lookup
Chassis number, Beetle M-code, Bus M-code. Free tools for pinning down exactly what you have before you spend money on a part that doesn't fit it.
Chassis No.M-PlateFree Open the decoders 03Watch & Learn
Install videos and build footage from the shop floor. Watch the part go in — then grab the kit from the same page.
InstallsBuildsYouTube Watch the videos 04Fitment Lookup
Year and model in, the parts that actually fit out. The fastest way from "I think it's a '67" to the right part number in your cart.
Year / ModelAll parts Open the lookupLatest from the bench
5Most recently publishedGear Ratio Calculator
Type 1 and Bus transaxles. Ring and pinion, gear ratios, tire height and shift rpm in — road speed, rpm drop on every shift, and cruise rpm out.
Type 1 · BusOpen the calculator CH01 Guide 01 Best sellerSnap-Lock Delrin Shift Bushing
The 20-minute fix that turns a sloppy shifter crisp — and the whole shift-linkage explained.
#CH01Read the guide BY01 Guide 27Big Washburn Windows
Large engine-bay access panels for dual-carb and big-engine builds — reach the carbs without pulling the motor.
#BY01Read the guide PMO ReferencePMO Carburetors: Triple-Throat Induction
The complete reference on PMO triple-throat carburetors for air-cooled Porsche — sizing, jetting, and setup.
PMORead the guide CH64 ChassisFlat Out Custom Shortened Pan Halves
Building a shortened dune buggy or kit car? Engineered pan halves put a straight floor under it without sectioning a stock VW pan.
#CH64Read the guideFrom the shop blog
3Shorter reads from the shop floorBig Washburn Carb Windows: What They Are and Why We Cut Them
The reasoning behind cutting the rear inner fenders open, before you read the full install guide.
Read the post BlogTunnel Access Plates: Why We Cut a Hole in Your Pan on Purpose
Why the center tunnel gets an access plate, and what it saves you the next time the linkage needs attention.
Read the post BlogSome Hot VWs That Came Through the Shop This Spring
A look at the cars on the lifts in Orange, California, and the work that went into them.
Read the postCan't find your job here?
Call the shop. If the guide isn't written yet, we'll walk you through it on the phone — fitment, torque, sequence, what to buy and what to skip.
(657) 438-7002Shop line — parts, fitment and technical questions. Orange, California.
Free shipping on domestic (U.S.) orders over $250 — no code needed; oversize and freight items are excluded and ship at carrier rates. Otherwise, domestic shipping is calculated at checkout based on the size, weight, and destination of your order.
Orders are typically processed within 24–48 hours before they ship. Once your order ships, you'll get an email with tracking information.
Shipping outside the U.S.? Contact us at (657) 438-7002 before you order and we'll confirm rates and options for your destination.