thinking about purchasing some 168 rep wheels

[dvdlee]

thinking about purchasing some 168 rep wheels. Is there anything i would need. Hub ring or spacers?

[TwinTurboGTR]

WHat is it going on?

[tmv]

What's your OEM wheels' spec? Match them and you should be fine.

[dvdlee]

I dont know what my oem wheel specs are, but there are for a 03 x5 4.4

[TwinsPoppa]

ALL the replica wheels for the X5 that I've bought (two sets) did not have the standard e53 bore of 72.56mm.

Some come with the required hubcentric rings and some don't - so ask before you buy.

BMW wheel specs for 168s are:

Front = 20"x9.5", 5x120, ET 45
Rear = 20"x10.5", 5x120, ET 30

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by dvdlee

thinking about purchasing some 168 rep wheels. Is there anything i would need. Hub ring or spacers?

Why would you buy any repo wheel, (which in all liklihood is a cast wheel NOT a forged wheel,) when you can buy ANY used original BMW wheel professionally refinished for about $250/wheel. It will look like a new wheel, and PERFORM like a new BMW wheel. I would never put a repo wheel on my car. A good quality aftermarket wheel is another story, (ie BBS, Rays, etc.)

[dvdlee]

recon wheels dont sound like a bad idea...anyone know the weight difference between oem and replicas

[theblue]

correct me if wrong, but aren't BMW OEM wheels also cast. I don't know what the big deal is with hating on replicas is. I've had 18" reps on my E36 for years now without issue.

[Skyline]

Originally Posted by theblue

correct me if wrong, but aren't BMW OEM wheels also cast. I don't know what the big deal is with hating on replicas is. I've had 18" reps on my E36 for years now without issue.

Pretty sure the OEM wheels are forged. That's one reason they are so much more expensive new. Perhaps you had good experience with repo wheels; that does not make them any good. If you drive in an area with few potholes, and don't highly stress the wheels with high cornering loads, you might well be fine. But part of what makes a BMW a BMW is high quality components, especially in areas that are critical to the car's performance and safety.

And just exacly how cheap are these repo wheels? Considering that you can buy reconditioned OEM BMW wheels for $800 to $1,000 per set in any style you want, to me, that's pretty reasonable. The 168s sell new for $2,430, Hubcaphaven.com has the 168s reconditioned for $959.80 for four. I have bought wheels from this place before; they come to you looking perfect.

Also, don't forget that if you use a 10.5" rear rim, BMW recommends wheel arch extensions (another $734 if I'm reading the parts listing right).

[theblue]

I did some googling around and it look like almost no BMW wheels are forged. makes sense based on the weights. It's all markup.