Tires & Wheels Ask all of your Tire & Wheel questions here!

Factory vs Replica Wheels

Old 01-05-2016, 06:58 AM
  #1  
Members
Thread Starter
 
skeematics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 550i Manual Sport
Model Year: 2007
Engine: 4.8 L N62 V8
Default Factory vs Replica Wheels

Happy New Year my fellow Beemer Heads!

The 2 rear wheels have cracks causing pressure leaks and both need replacing. Is it worth the premium price for the factory wheels or should i save money with replicas? Will it hurt the performance?

I am looking at the style 124 Rear wheels.There is $100 difference between the OEM and Replicas

BMW 525i 2007 18" BMW Style 124 Rear Wheel Rim 59479

http://www.getbmwparts.com/parts/200...&siteid=214672
Old 01-05-2016, 02:39 PM
  #2  
Administrator
 
JayArras's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Fairfield County, CT
Posts: 3,393
Received 96 Likes on 92 Posts
My Ride: 530xi
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Default

I have 166 reps and like them very much! Going on four years now without an issue.

Like anything else, there are different degrees of quality. If someone can vouch for quality of the reps you're looking at, I'd say go for it!

The only issue I see is if the reps are either lighter or heavier than the OEMs you have up front, you may get vibrations, shakes, suspension issues.
Old 01-06-2016, 06:52 AM
  #3  
Senior Members
 
devildawg712's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Fremont/ San Francisco Ca
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 545 modded the F out
Default

What part of New York do you live and drive in primarily? If you're deep in the city than its a no brainer. Purchase OEM or a quality set of forged wheels. Nothing really is invincible to cracking, but you reduce your chances when you shy away from the reps. I'm not knocking reps. I've owned them myself as well and they've done ok for me, but the roads where I live aren't that bad and it was only a matter of time that i ran into a pothole. 124's tho... I'd just get a new/ised set of something else. Maybe 166's. My car originally came with 124's and I ditched them. I think I read a while back that they were poop. Especially with the stock Bridgestone runflats.
Old 01-07-2016, 11:54 AM
  #4  
Members
Thread Starter
 
skeematics's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 162
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 550i Manual Sport
Model Year: 2007
Engine: 4.8 L N62 V8
Default

Originally Posted by devildawg712
What part of New York do you live and drive in primarily? If you're deep in the city than its a no brainer. Purchase OEM or a quality set of forged wheels. Nothing really is invincible to cracking, but you reduce your chances when you shy away from the reps. I'm not knocking reps. I've owned them myself as well and they've done ok for me, but the roads where I live aren't that bad and it was only a matter of time that i ran into a pothole. 124's tho... I'd just get a new/ised set of something else. Maybe 166's. My car originally came with 124's and I ditched them. I think I read a while back that they were poop. Especially with the stock Bridgestone runflats.
The car is primarily driven in the suburbs but it does make trips to the city about twice a month. I ditched the Bridgestone Run Flats 1 week after purchasing the vehicles.
Old 01-08-2016, 12:10 AM
  #5  
New Members
 
andrewr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Ga
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 5-series
Default

Others have good experience with replicas and other not, so it seems like replicas are a hit-and-miss.
Old 01-08-2016, 03:35 AM
  #6  
Administrator
 
JayArras's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Fairfield County, CT
Posts: 3,393
Received 96 Likes on 92 Posts
My Ride: 530xi
Model Year: 2007
Engine: N52
Default

Originally Posted by andrewr
Others have good experience with replicas and other not, so it seems like replicas are a hit-and-miss.
You're absolutely right! It all depends upon who makes them (and to a greater extent, the road surface conditions around where you live). Stay away from anything made in China.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
jfmartin25
Complete Car Sales
11
11-02-2022 01:42 AM
UltimatePeter
DIY: Do It Yourself
5
09-28-2015 09:12 AM
trev0006
F10 Discussion
0
06-04-2015 07:33 AM
bananfiu
E60 Discussion
1
05-17-2015 05:29 PM
UltimatePeter
DIY: Do It Yourself
0
05-12-2015 08:00 AM


Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Factory vs Replica Wheels



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:01 PM.