Home Forums Articles How To's FAQ Register
Go Back   Xoutpost.com > BMW SAV Forums > X5 (E70) Forum
Fluid Motor Union
User Name
Password
Member List Premier Membership Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Xoutpost server transfer and maintenance is occurring....
Xoutpost is currently undergoing a planned server migration.... stay tuned for new developments.... sincerely, the management


Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-08-2012, 02:25 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Glenview, IL
Posts: 34
tgunz83 is on a distinguished road
Identify vibration issues before mounting? (originalwheels.com)

I'm thinking about purchasing OEM wheels from originalwheels.com. I've done a lot of searching and many people have asked if anyone has experience purchasing from them, but I haven't seen anyone who actually has which is making me hesitant to buy from them.
I spoke to one of their reps and they have a pretty good return policy. If you get the wheels and there's something you don't like about them you can send them back. BUT, once they are mounted, no returns are accepted. They said all wheels they purchase don't have any cracks/bends, just cosmetic issues.. not sure I believe that but whatever.
My concern is if I run into vibration issues once the wheel is mounted and on the car.
My question is - is it possible for tire shops to do a 100% accurate test in order to determine if a wheel has any structural issues which will lead to vibrations once mounted? Or is there always a chance that an issue which could cause vibrations can be undetectable?
Reply With Quote

Sponsored Links

  #2  
Old 08-08-2012, 03:33 PM
ard ard is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sierra Foothills, California
Posts: 6,732
ard is on a distinguished road
IMO, the can inspect the rim for balance, axial and lateral run-out- which should eliminate any 'vibration issue' due to the rims. There still may be hidden damage to the wheels- cracks, poor repairs- which can be seen with inspection UNLESS they are repainted.

Also, these are used wheels- how will THEY know if you mounted tires or not????

A
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-08-2012, 03:47 PM
motordavid's Avatar
RetiredBum & Semi-RenaissanceMan
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Mtns of Western NC, & SW FLA
Posts: 16,816
motordavid will become famous soon enoughmotordavid will become famous soon enough
Not a wheel expert or tech, but having watched several tire installs on my cars over the years I can suggest this: any good tire joint will be able to visually inspect your new wheels. Some may allow you to hover with the tire/wheel tech...

Same guy should run the new wheel, sans tire, on a jig that rotates the the wheel at low, medium and fairly high rpms. An eccentric wheel, or a wheel with a 'bend' will show up like a bad gyroscope. If all the wheels look/spin well, then the tire mounting/balancing fun begins. Short of X-raying the wheel for porosity or internal hairline cracks, visual and spin is about all a good tire joint can do...

It is part art, part patience, part experience and part proper interpretation of what the equipment is telling the tech, imo.

For a good further read, without having to pour through links on the Net, read this very good recent post by TwinTurboGTR, on his quality tire mounting experience:
http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...to-center.html

I assume you are getting new tires; the 'match up' and careful balancing that the post above ref's is pretty darn important in my experience. Tires are remarkable composites of several dissimilar components, and few are 'perfect', in my decades of buying them.
Good luck on your new wheel/tire combo.
BR, mD
__________________
Ol'UncleMotor
From the Home Base of Pro Bono Punditry
and 50 Cent Opins...

Our Mtn Scenes, Car Pics, and Road Trip Pics on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627297418250/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/4527537...7627332480833/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/45275375@N00/

My X Page




Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-08-2012, 05:20 PM
ard ard is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sierra Foothills, California
Posts: 6,732
ard is on a distinguished road
Just to follow up with MDs more complete description...

If you go to a shop that has a hunter 9700 (aka "road force balancing") machine, this is part of how it should be done- initially they MUST check the rim for balance and round... and then they mount the tire and balance it. PART of this balance is measuring the 'road force' or the variation in pressure between the rotating wheel and a roller that is compressing the tire. A tire/wheel can be perfectly BALANCED yet still show a vibration. This can be due to a bent rim (even very slight and immeasurable to the eye) and also to compliance issues within the tire itself.

By checking the rim first, then mounting the tire, THEN checking roadforce, they can rule out the rim if the whole thing ultimately fails.

I pay about $40 per tire for this, on the M5 and 996TT- which are much lower and wider than the X....

A
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-08-2012, 07:30 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Glenview, IL
Posts: 34
tgunz83 is on a distinguished road
Thanks for all the input guys
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-09-2012, 12:39 PM
rh71's Avatar
Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LI | NY
Posts: 3,924
rh71 is on a distinguished road
good luck - I've had vibration issues with aftermarket wheels... if I have any advice after dealing with this for years, it's to have zero tolerance for imperfections upon inspection... if you think even a little bit (or have marginal proof) that it is not spinning round, send it back for another... you only have that opportunity to get it right.
__________________
'08 X5 3.0si - Alpine White / Saddle Brown interior
Specs: Sport Pkg, Premium Pkg, Tech Pkg, Comfort Access, Aero Kit, Style 433 staggered 20s on Conti DWS
Mods: Carbon 35 tint, LED angel eyes, GP Thunder 7500k fogs, H&R 20mm/25mm spacers, clear reflectors, gunsmoke-tinted taillights
Coded: Digital speedo, windows/sunroof/tailgate close via keyfob

X5 pics at Flickr
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 12-18-2012, 08:34 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: northern, va
Posts: 2
shazeh is on a distinguished road
from an A5 owner...

I googled "original wheels" review and saw this thread. So I decided to create an account to share my experience...


This is what is written on their website: All Wheels are guaranteed to arrive in immaculate condition unless otherwise stated. (My rim for my A5 said “like new” condition)
They also have a video on their website that says all wheels are quality inspected.
Ok, I ordered a rim for my 2010 Audi A5. It was $381 with shipping. The exterior looked good, the part that is covered by the rubber of the tire is painted black. Not refinished at all. My mechanic installs the tire right away we noticed the tire was leaking air. He takes the tire off and runs his hands over the rim and says its covered in rough edges and that this rim is defective and can’t be used.
I called originalwheels.com today, explained the situation and said I wanted a refund. They said they would send me a return shipping label and when they got the rim back, I would get my refund.

Here is where it gets good:

Me: also want a refund for the labor costs involved with putting their defective rim on and off.
Original Wheels: No refunds for service costs and technically, we cant accept a return once you mounted the rim, but we will make an exception this time.
Me: I wouldn’t have had to pay extra money to my mechanic if you didn’t send me a defective rim.
OW: your mechanic should have been a professional and seen the rim was defective before he installed it.
Me: Shouldn’t you guys have seen it was defective before you shipped it out to me? You say you quality inspect everything on your website, so either: you checked it, saw it was defective and sent it out to me anyways, or, you didn’t inspect it at all. Which one is it?
OW: We can’t inspect everything, things slip through the cracks, we get calls like this all the time and we always refund, but we don’t refund service costs, they should have been professionals and seem it was defective before installing.
Me: So the mechanic should have been “professionals” and inspected it and caught it before hand, but you guys don’t need to be “professionals” and inspect and catch it before hand?
That’s it, they aren’t going to refund my service costs. I am never ordering from these people again. Beware, they say they quality inspect everything in the video on their website, but they don’t actually.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 12-18-2012, 11:25 AM
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: DC
Posts: 524
Price is on a distinguished road
I don't think not refunding your service costs is all that outrageous, esp. considering they are willing to make an exception to their rule.

Also, I'm not sure how scientific is the "runs his hands over the rim and says its covered in rough edges" test is, and its conclusion of "defective and can’t be used". Not saying the rim is good (or not), just not understanding what exactly the findings were.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 12-18-2012, 04:39 PM
JCL's Avatar
JCL JCL is offline
Premier Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Posts: 11,853
JCL will become famous soon enoughJCL will become famous soon enough
I wouldn't expect them to refund the mounting/dismounting service costs.

You bought something off the internet, sight unseen. For that decision, you likely saved money over a bricks and mortar store (in which case it would have been them mounting the tire). While you saved money, you bought some risk. Didn't work out this time, but those are the risks. If I buy something on the web from a store I don't know, I feel lucky if the product shows up, let alone works as advertised. But that's just me.
__________________
2007 X3 3.0si, 6 MT, Premium, White

Retired:
2008 535i, 6 MT, M Sport, Premium, Space Grey
2003 X5 3.0 Steptronic, Premium, Titanium Silver

2002 325xi 5 MT, Steel Grey
2004 Z4 3.0 Premium, Sport, SMG, Maldives Blue
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 12-18-2012, 08:36 PM
ard ard is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Sierra Foothills, California
Posts: 6,732
ard is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by JCL View Post
I wouldn't expect them to refund the mounting/dismounting service costs.

You bought something off the internet, sight unseen. For that decision, you likely saved money over a bricks and mortar store (in which case it would have been them mounting the tire). While you saved money, you bought some risk. Didn't work out this time, but those are the risks. If I buy something on the web from a store I don't know, I feel lucky if the product shows up, let alone works as advertised. But that's just me.
We agree. This is always the issue with ANY used part. You bear the costs to test/install, unless you've contractually agreed to more.

(I'd never agree to conditions that say "no refund if you mount a tire"...never. So the poster is lucky they dont enforce that!)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:54 AM.
vBulletin, Copyright 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd. SEO by vBSEO 3.6.0
© 2017 Xoutpost.com. All rights reserved. Xoutpost.com is a private enthusiast site not associated with BMW AG.
The BMW name, marks, M stripe logo, and Roundel logo as well as X3, X5 and X6 designations used in the pages of this Web Site are the property of BMW AG.
This web site is not sponsored or affiliated in any way with BMW AG or any of its subsidiaries.