Replica CSL style wheels on an E92.
Discussion
Hi, I like the CSL style wheels on the E92 M3 coupe. After looking at one in Lloyd BMW in Carlisle I've decided to get a set. From BMW they are £2019.82 including VAT, but replica sets can be bought for around £550-600. Has anyone fitted a set of the replica wheels to an E90/2 yet? I can't see the justification in BMW charging nearly 4 times the price for a wheel!!
Daggerpie said:
I doubt there E92 M3's wearing cheap rep's, mainly down to quality (main factor) & weight. You get what you pay for at the end of the day..
I agree to an extent. Surely in this day and age there must be strict guidlines met to adhere to quality and safety measures? I could have 4 sets of replicas to one set of genuines! Kerb them, and throw them away!!Lol.
shunt said:
£550, maybe they'll be fine, maybe they'll be made from cheese. You will never know.
I will know, I'm gonna buy a set at the weekend!! I've been to a local supplier and had a look at the wheels. Unfortunately the set he had in stock had been sold via the Internet an hour before I turned up! Typical! Mine should be in for Friday.They look identical, as do most replica products these days, and seem to be of good quality. They feel a decent weight if that makes sense, unlike really cheap, soft alloy which I've experienced in the past.
I'm going to use these for road use, and put the Michelin Pilot Cups on the original wheels. That way at least when I'm out driving quick, I'll know I have a genuine strong wheel taking the load/forces exerted on them. I think the replicas should show themselves for what they are in very little time with the state of our roads! The pot holes around my way are terrible! I drive round them subconciously these days, but there is always a new one that catches me out every other day!!!
If anything, the replicas will do as cheap winter wheels!!!! I'll keep you posted!! Lol.
Hi Rash Decision
Note in your update you use the word 'seem' - as in, 'seem' to be of a decent quality and metal.
Replica wheels that come out of factories in China use the cheapest method of making wheels - cast. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this it is the 'entry level' in terms of engineering processes to make road car wheels. They'll most certainly be made of the softer metal, and will not have any of the strengthening processes done after to make a stronger wheel.
with that in mind, yes, plenty of people do have replica wheels and 'seem' to be ok on them, and on the other hand, especially a few months ago in our 'cold snap' I saw stacks upon stacks of cracked, bent, ripped apart replica quality wheels in my local wheel/tyre place. I myself suffered in a grand canyon sized pothole/abyss and it dented just the lips of my Genuine Hartge wheels - if I'd be running replica's they've definitley have bent much much more.
It's for this reason that I'd only ever put genuine made wheels on my car - although things brands like Alpina, AC Schnitzer, Hartge etc still use the cast method for many of their wheels, they also have the extra processes used to strengthen them afterwards. I think genuine CSL wheels from BMW are made in the same way by one of the quality wheel makers in Germany Ronal, Rondell etc. The very strongest wheels are the Forged type, and very few OEM wheels on BMW are forged, perhaps genuine CSL's are done this way, the only other ones I know of are E39 M Parallel 18 inch ones.
I think as you've said to run the replica's for winter wheels, this would be a good idea, no doubt this coming winter we'll all have the same issues with our roads in tatters and many more cases of damaged wheels.
Cheers, Dennis!
- ETA, I forget the name of the strengthening of Cast wheels process that's done after they're made! there was an article in Performance BMW (I think) which went through each type of manufacture porcess and materials used which covered it all!
Note in your update you use the word 'seem' - as in, 'seem' to be of a decent quality and metal.
Replica wheels that come out of factories in China use the cheapest method of making wheels - cast. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this it is the 'entry level' in terms of engineering processes to make road car wheels. They'll most certainly be made of the softer metal, and will not have any of the strengthening processes done after to make a stronger wheel.
with that in mind, yes, plenty of people do have replica wheels and 'seem' to be ok on them, and on the other hand, especially a few months ago in our 'cold snap' I saw stacks upon stacks of cracked, bent, ripped apart replica quality wheels in my local wheel/tyre place. I myself suffered in a grand canyon sized pothole/abyss and it dented just the lips of my Genuine Hartge wheels - if I'd be running replica's they've definitley have bent much much more.
It's for this reason that I'd only ever put genuine made wheels on my car - although things brands like Alpina, AC Schnitzer, Hartge etc still use the cast method for many of their wheels, they also have the extra processes used to strengthen them afterwards. I think genuine CSL wheels from BMW are made in the same way by one of the quality wheel makers in Germany Ronal, Rondell etc. The very strongest wheels are the Forged type, and very few OEM wheels on BMW are forged, perhaps genuine CSL's are done this way, the only other ones I know of are E39 M Parallel 18 inch ones.
I think as you've said to run the replica's for winter wheels, this would be a good idea, no doubt this coming winter we'll all have the same issues with our roads in tatters and many more cases of damaged wheels.
Cheers, Dennis!
- ETA, I forget the name of the strengthening of Cast wheels process that's done after they're made! there was an article in Performance BMW (I think) which went through each type of manufacture porcess and materials used which covered it all!
As a Mechanical Engineer I'm aware of the different processes for strengthening metal after forming by any means, and I agree with you 100%.
I'm doing some homework at the moment to see where the different wheels are manufactured, and if I can find out, how they are manufactured. I certainly don't want to be putting wheels on my nice M3 that are made of Chocolate! I do however realise that in buying replicas I may never achieve the quality of the "genuine" article.
I'll collate my findings and post them up once I have some information that may help with people's decision on replica wheels and where to buy.
I'm doing some homework at the moment to see where the different wheels are manufactured, and if I can find out, how they are manufactured. I certainly don't want to be putting wheels on my nice M3 that are made of Chocolate! I do however realise that in buying replicas I may never achieve the quality of the "genuine" article.
I'll collate my findings and post them up once I have some information that may help with people's decision on replica wheels and where to buy.
DennisCooper said:
Hi Rash Decision
Note in your update you use the word 'seem' - as in, 'seem' to be of a decent quality and metal.
Replica wheels that come out of factories in China use the cheapest method of making wheels - cast. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this it is the 'entry level' in terms of engineering processes to make road car wheels. They'll most certainly be made of the softer metal, and will not have any of the strengthening processes done after to make a stronger wheel.
with that in mind, yes, plenty of people do have replica wheels and 'seem' to be ok on them, and on the other hand, especially a few months ago in our 'cold snap' I saw stacks upon stacks of cracked, bent, ripped apart replica quality wheels in my local wheel/tyre place. I myself suffered in a grand canyon sized pothole/abyss and it dented just the lips of my Genuine Hartge wheels - if I'd be running replica's they've definitley have bent much much more.
It's for this reason that I'd only ever put genuine made wheels on my car - although things brands like Alpina, AC Schnitzer, Hartge etc still use the cast method for many of their wheels, they also have the extra processes used to strengthen them afterwards. I think genuine CSL wheels from BMW are made in the same way by one of the quality wheel makers in Germany Ronal, Rondell etc. The very strongest wheels are the Forged type, and very few OEM wheels on BMW are forged, perhaps genuine CSL's are done this way, the only other ones I know of are E39 M Parallel 18 inch ones.
I think as you've said to run the replica's for winter wheels, this would be a good idea, no doubt this coming winter we'll all have the same issues with our roads in tatters and many more cases of damaged wheels.
Cheers, Dennis!
- ETA, I forget the name of the strengthening of Cast wheels process that's done after they're made! there was an article in Performance BMW (I think) which went through each type of manufacture porcess and materials used which covered it all!
Cheers Dennis Cooper of Slough, Berks.Note in your update you use the word 'seem' - as in, 'seem' to be of a decent quality and metal.
Replica wheels that come out of factories in China use the cheapest method of making wheels - cast. Whilst there's nothing wrong with this it is the 'entry level' in terms of engineering processes to make road car wheels. They'll most certainly be made of the softer metal, and will not have any of the strengthening processes done after to make a stronger wheel.
with that in mind, yes, plenty of people do have replica wheels and 'seem' to be ok on them, and on the other hand, especially a few months ago in our 'cold snap' I saw stacks upon stacks of cracked, bent, ripped apart replica quality wheels in my local wheel/tyre place. I myself suffered in a grand canyon sized pothole/abyss and it dented just the lips of my Genuine Hartge wheels - if I'd be running replica's they've definitley have bent much much more.
It's for this reason that I'd only ever put genuine made wheels on my car - although things brands like Alpina, AC Schnitzer, Hartge etc still use the cast method for many of their wheels, they also have the extra processes used to strengthen them afterwards. I think genuine CSL wheels from BMW are made in the same way by one of the quality wheel makers in Germany Ronal, Rondell etc. The very strongest wheels are the Forged type, and very few OEM wheels on BMW are forged, perhaps genuine CSL's are done this way, the only other ones I know of are E39 M Parallel 18 inch ones.
I think as you've said to run the replica's for winter wheels, this would be a good idea, no doubt this coming winter we'll all have the same issues with our roads in tatters and many more cases of damaged wheels.
Cheers, Dennis!
- ETA, I forget the name of the strengthening of Cast wheels process that's done after they're made! there was an article in Performance BMW (I think) which went through each type of manufacture porcess and materials used which covered it all!
Great info!
rash_decision said:
Hi, I like the CSL style wheels on the E92 M3 coupe. After looking at one in Lloyd BMW in Carlisle I've decided to get a set. From BMW they are £2019.82 including VAT, but replica sets can be bought for around £550-600. Has anyone fitted a set of the replica wheels to an E90/2 yet? I can't see the justification in BMW charging nearly 4 times the price for a wheel!!
Two things:1)The 'Competition' wheels fitted to the E92 M3 are not the same those fitted to the E46 M3 CSL. Given that the 'competition' wheels have only been available on the E92 for a short period of time, I would be surprised if you can buy replicas already.
As long as you are aware of this.
2) As a more knowledgeable poster alluded to above, replica wheels are notoriously weaker than genuine OEM wheels, as well as being heavier in most cases. In addition, I have found that replica wheels are often very hard to balance given the cheap manufacturing process and the subsequent reduction in quality thereafter. Finally (and as you've suggested yourself) the finish will likely deteriorate very quickly and I should think a Brittish winter will see them looking decidedly shoddy. If you're preapared to make this sacrifice then fine
For reference, here is the E46 'CSL' wheel alongside the E92 'Competition' wheel:
CSL:
Competition:
The two are subtly different.
Of most importance however, is the fact that the two fitments may be different offsets. If this is the case, your new replica wheels may not fit properly.
Great Pretender said:
rash_decision said:
Hi, I like the CSL style wheels on the E92 M3 coupe. After looking at one in Lloyd BMW in Carlisle I've decided to get a set. From BMW they are £2019.82 including VAT, but replica sets can be bought for around £550-600. Has anyone fitted a set of the replica wheels to an E90/2 yet? I can't see the justification in BMW charging nearly 4 times the price for a wheel!!
Two things:1)The 'Competition' wheels fitted to the E92 M3 are not the same those fitted to the E46 M3 CSL. Given that the 'competition' wheels have only been available on the E92 for a short period of time, I would be surprised if you can buy replicas already.
As long as you are aware of this.
2) As a more knowledgeable poster alluded to above, replica wheels are notoriously weaker than genuine OEM wheels, as well as being heavier in most cases. In addition, I have found that replica wheels are often very hard to balance given the cheap manufacturing process and the subsequent reduction in quality thereafter. Finally (and as you've suggested yourself) the finish will likely deteriorate very quickly and I should think a Brittish winter will see them looking decidedly shoddy. If you're preapared to make this sacrifice then fine
For reference, here is the E46 'CSL' wheel alongside the E92 'Competition' wheel:
CSL:
Competition:
The two are subtly different.
Of most importance however, is the fact that the two fitments may be different offsets. If this is the case, your new replica wheels may not fit properly.
Great Pretender said:
rash_decision said:
Hi, I like the CSL style wheels on the E92 M3 coupe. After looking at one in Lloyd BMW in Carlisle I've decided to get a set. From BMW they are £2019.82 including VAT, but replica sets can be bought for around £550-600. Has anyone fitted a set of the replica wheels to an E90/2 yet? I can't see the justification in BMW charging nearly 4 times the price for a wheel!!
Two things:1)The 'Competition' wheels fitted to the E92 M3 are not the same those fitted to the E46 M3 CSL. Given that the 'competition' wheels have only been available on the E92 for a short period of time, I would be surprised if you can buy replicas already.
As long as you are aware of this.
2) As a more knowledgeable poster alluded to above, replica wheels are notoriously weaker than genuine OEM wheels, as well as being heavier in most cases. In addition, I have found that replica wheels are often very hard to balance given the cheap manufacturing process and the subsequent reduction in quality thereafter. Finally (and as you've suggested yourself) the finish will likely deteriorate very quickly and I should think a Brittish winter will see them looking decidedly shoddy. If you're preapared to make this sacrifice then fine
For reference, here is the E46 'CSL' wheel alongside the E92 'Competition' wheel:
CSL:
Competition:
The two are subtly different.
Of most importance however, is the fact that the two fitments may be different offsets. If this is the case, your new replica wheels may not fit properly.
:PThe Genuine E46 CSL wheel is manufactured from an alloy with a high magnesium content - Hence they are very light, strong and expensive (Also very difficult to recondition). They are NOT the same as the E46 CS wheels or the E92/93 Competition pack wheels. My mate Paul (who is on here somewhere?!) has a E46CSL, he has original and replica wheels for it. We compared them in the garage the other week and only very few of the markings are different and with tyres fitted i could not tell which was which without really looking closely at the markings. The replicas are however true and round and work perfectly for track/winter use.
As stated above the replica wheels will almost certainly not have had any hardening processes such as heat treatment. I also agree that in many cases the Replica wheels will require more weights to balance them than OEM wheels. I have an E92 and bought a second set of rather scuffed OEM wheels from fleabay (for track use)....They are lightly kerbed and look a tad unsightly (made worse as they are black!) but will eventually be reconditioned. - Lost count of how many people have asked how I kerbed my alloys! :P
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