Wheels - BMW Forum

hope42100 · 03-26-2005, 08:07 PM

What do you prefer?

Are reprodutions frowned upon?

tomctx · 03-26-2005, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hope42100@Mar 26 2005, 10:07 PM
What do you prefer?

Are reprodutions frowned upon?

[snapback]319068[/snapback]

Not by me. Most of them are made in Germany, same as the OEM. Probably exactly the same. BMW sources their wheels from somewhere. The German ones have to pass the same gov't inspections as the OEM ones.

egk2 · 03-27-2005, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by hope42100@Mar 26 2005, 09:07 PM
What do you prefer?

Are reprodutions frowned upon?

[snapback]319068[/snapback]

From my experience, nothing is better than oem, they balance out better and tend to be stronger than most replicas. The cons of oem wheels are obvioulsy the high cost.

Cruzin 323is · 03-27-2005, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by egk2+Mar 27 2005, 08:14 AM--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(egk2 @ Mar 27 2005, 08:14 AM)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteBegin-hope42100@Mar 26 2005, 09:07 PM
What do you prefer?

Are reprodutions frowned upon?

[snapback]319068[/snapback]

From my experience, nothing is better than oem, they balance out better and tend to be stronger than most replicas. The cons of oem wheels are obvioulsy the high cost.

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[/b][/quote]
\

ya damn right, replica's are made like shit!

Delmarco · 03-27-2005, 10:42 AM

the main difference between OEM and aftermarket is in how the alloy is mixed......

lets see on one end of the spectrum, say 10, you have pure %100 steel non alloys on the other end of the spectrum, say at 1, you'll have %100 alloy with various percentages of alumninum and other weaker, cheaper metals mixed in-at this end of the spectrum steel may be less than 30% of the total mixture...which results in a weaker but not necessarily cheaper (I'll tell you why in a minute) rim.

so at

10 to 8 we have 95%-99% Steel wheels/non alloys. These are usually the stock wheels on earlier BMWs and cheap american cars with less than 16 inch diameter tires and hubcaps. Usually cheap to moderate price range, but the strongest wheels you can put on your ride. They also tend to bend when damaged and can be hammered and be repaired. My spare tire is a 15inch steel wheel for this reason.

7 to 4 in the spectrum you have OEM rims which combines a rich mixture of steel and strong alloy alumnimun...on OEM the materials may not deviate from greatly aftermarket rims in this range but the biggest difference between low quality aftermaket and OEM is probably design, balance and wheel symmetry.
This is where you're spending money for quality. The rims are sensitive to cracking
and bending slightly when damaged.

3 to 1 has almost minimal steel, you'll find cheap chrome replicas here, wheels that tend to not last as long and may not support heavy trucks or rough roads, the main benifits are you'll have a lighter wheel most suitible for track races and speeding. Here the emphasis is more on the type or the grade of the alloy ingredients....Here is also where you are going to spend the most money, more than OEM in some cases for special order chrome reps and ultra-light, ultra-cool racing wheels. At this end of the spectrum you are paying alot of money for bling, style and size. The most expensive rims are found in this end of the spectrum. But they'll also be the most weakest and sensitive rims for damaging. These rims tend to shatter (like plastic) and crack extensivetly when damaged.

So we can conclude that with aftermarket and replicas the pricing does not always reflect the quality of alloy ingredients as so much it reflects consumer demand and style.
WIth OEM you are always paying for quality and (somewhat) for style. But style is standard-no bling and stock (yawn) for OEM and quality is what you'll be really rewarded with.

But when you buy aftermarket reps more than likely you'll be paying for bling bling style and popular demand (ex. Sprewells) and not OEM quality regardless of what they are advertising.

My bias is for OEMs especially when buying a BMW or similar luxury vehicle. These cars already have an extensive line of OEM style and sized rims and should not give the consumer any reason to wonder into Sears or Pep Boys to buy aftermarket rims.
Also they are good aftermarket brand rims like BBS, Borbet, ALPINA, etc...that make OEM and better quality rims...so you can mix it up to your liking....

good luck....

go to TIRERACK.COM for more information. Also in my experiences

this website www.thewheelexchange.com (google it, or check ebay) was the best for top quality BMW replicas.

4evrwyntr · 03-27-2005, 10:44 AM

I second TireRack, for TireRack is god.

hope42100 · 03-27-2005, 11:13 AM

I greatly appriciate the detail explination. I was looking at some of them at tirerack.com. I so from what i can tell if i get a well made rep. I will not be frowned upon for having reps and i will be happy with the qulity

Thanks alot guys

jshearer · 03-27-2005, 11:24 AM

I agree with most of what has been said.

OEM wheels would be my number 1 choice, but not everyone has the money or wants to spend $1500-$2000 for rims when that is almost 1/4 of the cars value.

Replicas can be made in many different places and can be many different qualities.

Replicas are not made like sh$% like cruzin says.

They can be, but that is why you do your research. Most replicas are cast alloy and not forged. This is one of the main reasons that they can be "weaker". If you are looking for some rims for riding around on the street it really doesn't matter. You will want to avoid potholes and such anyways.

Look at wheelexchange.com, and aaarims.com they both have some better quality replicas. I recently bought and installed replicas(Z8 wheels) from aaarims.com. Now although they were replicas the original barely had a lip these have one(IMO look better than the OEMs). Also I bought my set for 1/2 price of a set of OEM. Everyone has their limits for money and there are some places to spend the extra for that little bit of quality(anything for the engine for example). Wheels you are not going to see a big difference(if any).

I would look for wheels for a while, you never know when a set of OEMs or good aftermarket wheels that you like will come up for sale used somewhere. You can always fall back on the replicas that you like too.

Delmarco · 03-27-2005, 01:28 PM

Now that I think about it...no ther car maker has so many sizes, styles and variations of OEM rims other than BMW.

Have you guys seen the BMW wheel catalogue...there is like 80 pages of rims in there. The E36 car alone has like over 30 options that could fit.

jshearer · 03-27-2005, 01:34 PM

http://zoouz.free.fr/wheels.htm

that is a site that shows all the bmw wheels by style number.

Delmarco · 03-27-2005, 02:16 PM

200 and motherfcuking 16 styles....now that is alot to choose from!!!!

tomctx · 03-27-2005, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Delmarco@Mar 27 2005, 04:16 PM
200 and motherfcuking 16 styles....now that is alot to choose from!!!!

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There is a place on Ebay (eek!) that sells reconditioned OEM wheels. It is called "Wheels and caps". They carry some BMW wheels. May be worth a look.

jshearer · 03-27-2005, 11:28 PM

of course that is all the bmw styles for every car(3,5,6,7,Z,M, etc.), some new some old, alot you can't buy new anymore. I still love the style 66 and that was going to be my new wheels until i was on the phone ordering them still surfing the net and found my wheels i have now. Those are for a 5 series and wont fit a 3 series, but that is another good reason for a company to make a replica that will fit a different car.