Results 1 to 10 of 22

Thread: Replica wheels??

Hybrid View

Previous Post Previous Post   Next Post Next Post
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    311
    Users Country Flag
    Happy with my R32 replicas.
    A lot of the time the factories in China are exactly where a lot of OEM wheels are made too, its unfortunately the way that things have gone with new cars.

    Often where you lose out is that the replica wheels are a fair bit heavier than the OEM.
    Current: '04 Astra SRI Turbo - EDS IPF Flash, 3" TBE, Quaife LSD
    Previously: Bora 4mo, cams, coilovers, tune, exhaust, brembo's etc

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    3,553
    Quote Originally Posted by Lonewolf1983 View Post
    Happy with my R32 replicas.
    A lot of the time the factories in China are exactly where a lot of OEM wheels are made too, its unfortunately the way that things have gone with new cars.
    No reputable manufacturer is going to produce knock off wheels and no manufacturer is going to produce extra wheels, remove the markings and sell them for less than they sell them to Volkswagen.

    Volkswagen alloy wheels come from big manufacturers in Europe, mostly Germany, Poland etc and are marked with all the details on the reverse side.

    There is a huge difference between quality rims and those knocked out with no care for quality or longevity.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    8,708
    Users Country Flag
    Quote Originally Posted by Maverick View Post
    No reputable manufacturer is going to produce knock off wheels and no manufacturer is going to produce extra wheels, remove the markings and sell them for less than they sell them to Volkswagen.

    Volkswagen alloy wheels come from big manufacturers in Europe, mostly Germany, Poland etc and are marked with all the details on the reverse side.

    There is a huge difference between quality rims and those knocked out with no care for quality or longevity.
    The stock 16" wheels i had did come with stamps on the back and it was made in poland.
    However i can see why the comanies would sell on parts to these suppliers as VW is such a massive brand that their buying quantitites would result in bulk purchase pricing and would thus reduce the profit for the wheel manufacturer.

    Keep in mind most of the components for the car's will also have some manufacturing in china and their standards have lifted significantly imho.



    Having said that, if you can score a genuine set of OEM/specialist (BBS/Raderwekrs etc) wheels for a reasonable price you should go for that if only to allay your fears of cheap knock-offs.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Camden NSW
    Posts
    1,270
    Thread Starter
    Thanks for all of your feedback guys.

    I will ask a few educated questions at Tempe Tyres before finally having these fitted (if this is the way I go...???)
    2018 Ralyee Green RS wagon. Fully optioned.
    Previous vehicles:2015 Volvo V60 Polestar (my one detour from VW/Skoda!)
    2013 Platin grey RS wagon / 2012 White Polo GTI / 2009 Black 125 Tiguan

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Location
    blankedy
    Posts
    4,058
    Quote Originally Posted by tigger View Post
    I will ask a few educated questions at Tempe Tyres before finally having these fitted (if this is the way I go...???)
    Don't bother, the girls on the phone and the guys you normally speak to don't know a lot about the product, they are there to move units and they do that VERY well.

    If you like the wheel, just make sure it is wrapped in a quality NEW tyre.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    633
    i got mine from tempe and am fairly pleased. though they advertised them as "exact replicas" made from the "exact" materials...
    it was pretty obvious they were not exact replicas when the lug caps did not fit into the wheel cavity, and my standard tyre iron also scratched the paint in the lug wells (i've since filed down the corners of my tyre iron)
    Plus the colour is different. pretty obvious to tell the wheels apart, but i'm not fussed they still look good for the price.
    oh and these "exact' replicas are 8" wide instead of the standard 7.5", and the offset is 35 instead of 38... haha. makes em better but once again, don't know where the "exact" comes into play!
    i requested KU31 rubber for the package, great tyre for their price.
    i do however get vibrations through the steering wheel at around 110km and over.
    i'm don't think it's the wheels, as it is only under throttle that i get the vibrations, which suggests the C.V's, but i'm still a little skepticle. getting the cv's looked at on tuesday.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    Bairnsdale & Ferntree Gully, Victoria
    Posts
    7,501
    Quote Originally Posted by McDub View Post
    i got mine from tempe and am fairly pleased. though they advertised them as "exact replicas" made from the "exact" materials...
    it was pretty obvious they were not exact replicas when the lug caps did not fit into the wheel cavity, and my standard tyre iron also scratched the paint in the lug wells (i've since filed down the corners of my tyre iron)
    Plus the colour is different. pretty obvious to tell the wheels apart, but i'm not fussed they still look good for the price.
    oh and these "exact' replicas are 8" wide instead of the standard 7.5", and the offset is 35 instead of 38... haha. makes em better but once again, don't know where the "exact" comes into play!
    i requested KU31 rubber for the package, great tyre for their price.
    i do however get vibrations through the steering wheel at around 110km and over.
    i'm don't think it's the wheels, as it is only under throttle that i get the vibrations, which suggests the C.V's, but i'm still a little skepticle. getting the cv's looked at on tuesday.
    I got A8s through Tempe too, got the KU31 rubber aswell, was the cheapest i could find at the time by $500 even after shipping. and they were the only place to throw in/include VW centre caps
    The wheels were great until the finish on one started to come off (common for A8s style), and they dont know much about the product (wrong offset for my car). But other then that, they are great for replicas and range and cheap tyre packages
    Bora gone
    Vento VR6
    MKIV GSW TDI
    7P Touareg TDI

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
| |