Replicas vs. OEM 20" 214's

[z2g]

I think weight depends on whether the rims are cast or forged. Consider the cost of the stock rims, I would think they are forged. And, forged often means lighter. I am certain that the replicas are cast. You won't find forged rims for under $1k for a set of four.

[Noodle555]

Originally Posted by z2g

I think weight depends on whether the rims are cast or forged. Consider the cost of the stock rims, I would think they are forged. And, forged often means lighter. I am certain that the replicas are cast. You won't find forged rims for under $1k for a set of four.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Generally replicas are inferior quality and weigh more than OEM. Not sure about X5 wheels but the OEM M3 wheels are made by BBS and are forged.

[z2g]

By the way, there's nothing wrong with replica rims that are cast. It just means that they are heavier and not as strong. Usually, forged rims are less prone to getting bent if you hit a big pothole. It still can happen (like with SSR rims which are expensive forged rims but were notorious for being "S"uper "S"oft "R"ims), but less likely.

The nice thing about forged rims is that they are often two or three piece rims. That means that if a part get damaged, you can often replace the damaged part without having to replace the entire wheel. On the flip side, cast rims are usually cheap. So, if it gets bent/damaged, you can often replace the entire wheel for a fraction of the cost.