Second thoughts on the Sport Activity Package - Need Opinions on these pictures

[ard]

Originally Posted by Gregory34

While you do need to be careful about the quality of ANY rims you put on your car, there is no reason to believe wheels not sold as OEM by BMW are of any less quality than BMW OEM wheels.

Nor are they 'cheap' just because they are $200-$400 per wheel. You're kidding yourself if you think BMW pays less than that and the rest isn't markup...

First, I was making a narrow comment on the concept that "since they aren't approved I don't want to use them" about spacers... we can get into a substantiative discussion about the risks of spacers, but the OP was rejecting them on the blanket assertion that since they are not "approved" he considers this unsafe.

Second, other than saying "bmw makes money on wheels" what 'data' is there to support the safety of copies??? It is false logic that many people conveniently buy into...they don't like the money BMW makes and convince themselves that OE copies are "robin hood vendors" protecting them from evil BMW.

Finally, when wheel vendors have as much to lose as BMW, then I will trust their wheels. It is a matter of quality control, financial and business risk. I bought a set of HRE C20s for the other car, $5k, and have every confidence in them. It is not a class thing or money thing- I am a cheap bastard and if I could buy cheap, good looking wheels that gave me the quality assurance I would.

I guess I will end with this; if you think there is nothing wrong with aftermarket copies, then there is nothing wrong with a 10-15mm spacer The risk you are taking is probably the same!

IMO

A

(But I prolly wouldnt want any spacer on a track car....)

[Gregory34]

Originally Posted by ard

First, I was making a narrow comment on the concept that "since they aren't approved I don't want to use them" about spacers... we can get into a substantiative discussion about the risks of spacers, but the OP was rejecting them on the blanket assertion that since they are not "approved" he considers this unsafe.

Second, other than saying "bmw makes money on wheels" what 'data' is there to support the safety of copies??? It is false logic that many people conveniently buy into...they don't like the money BMW makes and convince themselves that OE copies are "robin hood vendors" protecting them from evil BMW.

Finally, when wheel vendors have as much to lose as BMW, then I will trust their wheels. It is a matter of quality control, financial and business risk. I bought a set of HRE C20s for the other car, $5k, and have every confidence in them. It is not a class thing or money thing- I am a cheap bastard and if I could buy cheap, good looking wheels that gave me the quality assurance I would.

I guess I will end with this; if you think there is nothing wrong with aftermarket copies, then there is nothing wrong with a 10-15mm spacer The risk you are taking is probably the same!

IMO

A

(But I prolly wouldnt want any spacer on a track car....)

In reference to the replicas, there is also no data that says they are unsafe. My point is just that people shouldn't blanketly assume they are not safe. You need to do your own due diligence (i.e. ask for certifications, speak with the vendor, get references, etc.) and determine if you believe that particular wheel is safe.

Also, I have no problem with BMW making money on wheels. My point was that because they are 1/2 of BMW's price doesn't mean they are 'cheap' in terms of quality. The price difference is part profit, part overhead on BMW's part.