Again, if the wheel's info is "raised" (as in "molded" into the wheel like the image of the Style 87 above)...there's no way for the wheel to be forged alloy since this type of wheel is made/cut from a solid piece of alloy...unless it's a 2 or 3 piece wheel where the spokes may be the forged section but the barrel or other section is cast and the wheel's information was cast into that section of the wheel.

The location of the wheel's specs varies based on the design of the wheel. Sometimes the info is on the back of the spokes & sometimes it's located around the hub of the wheel. And sometimes if the wheel has a hub cap...the info is located around the hub that is hidden behind the hub cap.

I've never seen the location of the Style 168 wheel specs...but if the info is on the back of the spokes and is molded into the design instead of being cut/engraved into the spokes...then that wheel is cast alloy & not forged alloy.

yes they are a cast alloy

Our wheels have the info cast into the back of one of the spokes. It is not on the front as some other BMW wheels. The OE replacement wheels are coming from Ronal in Poland. Same fit finish as the Mexican ones your 4.8is came with from the factory. The logos match, part numbers etc.
I have purchased new front wheels from the dealer and noticed the change of location of manufacturing. I think some were made in both locations during production of 4.8is with168 style wheels.
To address the question of strength, these wheels are designed to be on a road going, sport truck, not an off road vehicle. The dead give away is the fact they have LOW PROFILE tires mounted on them. If you want rock climbing ability you need TALL side walls and a different tread pattern designed for the way you want to drive. Our short sidewall tires handle great, but expose themselves to potholes and other roadway damage. Nature of the beast. You cannot have both.

They weight exactly the same. This is what I got when shipping the style168 from my 4.8iS

Front (kg/lb) 12.46 / 27.46
Rear (kg/lb) 14.33 / 31.59

Hmmm... :confused: seems like there's some discrepency...the weight you found, TMV's weight from shipping...and the weight information from the part database (bmwfans.info):

Style 87: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E5...star_spoke_87/

• front: 36 11 6 753 516 - 9.5"X20" ET:45 - 27.5 lb- $605.20
• rear: 36 11 6 753 517 - 10.5"X20" ET:30 - 31.6 lb - $661.25

Style 168: http://bmwfans.info/parts-catalog/E5...168/#6766069_3

• front: 36 11 6 766 068 - 9.5"X20" ET:45 - 38.1 lb - $605.20
• rear: 36 11 6 766 069 - 10.5"X20" ET:30 - 39.2 lb - $672.69

how is there a 10 pound difference?
that's huge...
makes me want to change to style 87

Q, TMV's weight is almost exactly the same you posted for 87's
something is not right here..anyone willing to take the tires off and weigh their wheels?haha

Weight difference is the actual part + box they come in as most companies stock and ship based on total packaging weight for freight estimation. After handling, mounting and balancing two fronts and two rear wheel + tires, I can say without a doubt these things weigh a lot. 13" light weight wheels they are not.

Come on guys its a wheel on a 5,000# vehicle. I think our batteries weigh more than two wheels combined.:bustingup

Stephen my thoughts exactly. Its an OE cast wheel, it is not forged and it is not light in 20".

From one cast wheel to the other in OEM 20" size the weight difference is negligible considering we are moving 3 ton trucks.

Yes unsprung weight is the killer of acceleration but 20" wheels are for looks, unless you get lightweight HRE's or similar wheels, comparing "which 20" OEM wheel is lighter" is not the most productive discussion when talking about our trucks lol

:iagree: