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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.