Ah, the never-ending "OEM vs. replicas" battle...

I love how people throw in such arguments as "replicas are heavy as crap" w/o actually listing the weight and how it compares to an OEM wheel of the same design/size. Wonder if it's because they have no such data?...

I definitely want that look, and if you don't understand style done tastefully, that's fine. It makes some people more dull than others, which works out. I don't need the performance with this thing... I bought an SUV which hauls my twins 90% of the time (work from home). It does it in style and luxury. BMW is about a lot of things, mainly performance, but no other SUV gave me style + luxury simultaneously.

BTW, yesterday I got to 90mph on the highway about a second later than... nobody else who did 90. Meh, it's not my thing at this point, but it's not like I don't understand it. Clearly you're a different story.

Some of the posts presented on this topic is one of the things that make people dislike BMW owners. There's a sense snobbiness to the community. Everything more expensive not always better. I traded in my RRS for my 4.8 and the Range was way more expensive, but not better to me in any way. Hell, look at tires. I could pay the money and get the exact tire that came on my X, but they were awful...I'll wait for someone to disagree with that last point. :popcorn:

There's nothing wrong with carrying the kids to and from school and to soccer practice on replicas. I would say that if you like in a place like DC that has awful streets, then yes, a wheel that can take 20-30 massive potholes per trip might be worth the money. But an everyday, grocery getter doesn't need $4,000 wheels to look nice and still be funtional.

Well said. Its funny most of these OEM wheels are made in the same area as the replicas. I am looking at this from all point of view, so this is helpful. Like the diversity of this forum.

The transporting kid thing is starting to wear on me too. I mean come on....really? How many kids are transporting these days in old Geo Metros with no airbags....much less top of the line winter rubber on the rims, or forged rims? At that rate, why don't we just all buy tanks and transport our kids that way? That way you're OEM forged rims are still not as safe as my armor. It's really an example that has no end and no relevance. How many peoples parents even really drove them around in the best of the best vehicle? Heck I remember riding backwards in a station wagon and I turned out alright enough to be able to buy a BMW some day.

I'll add my 2cents.... and will make this my 1st official post...

So today I became proud owner a '08 Alpine White 4.8i
(partial thanks to RH71, his setup sold me on the car and look)

my Cayenne S was a Victim of Hurricane Irene and it wasnt able to survive the 3ft of water it took in. RIP

ok now onto the post.

When i first got my Cayenne I decided to put 22" Turbo Replicas, they looked great, people loved them, truck drove awesome for a couple weeks, then the 60mph+ vibrations got worse and worse, no balancing could help it (i took them to 3 different shops) in the end i ended up with 2 broken rims and over a dozen bends..... this was running on a 35tire, already higher then the recommended 30tire, NJ roads are destructive.

(oh did I mention they weighted 50lbs+ each, gas mileage suffered, bad.)

Months Later fed up with the vibrations, I dropped down to New 20" Turbo II Wheels (also replicas) from oemwheelsplus / and put it down with a 45 thick tire, night and day, used them for months and they held up nice until the Hurricane ended it all.

Do I support replicas Wheels, Yes! just make sure you know the specs and know what you're dealing with. Regardless i do believe Factory Wheels are just made better and to higher standards, my stock porsche wheels were clearly example of that.

....this is why I waited until I found a 4.8 with the 20" Sport Package, so I would have to waste my time and $$$ on new shoes. :thumbup:

I ordered 214 20" in a wheel shop in san diego with brand new bridgestone run flats it went around 2100, my fresh 18 was traded in for 480 with run flats as well, will receive wheels by end of oct. Cant wait to post pics

Counterfeits or real 214s?

You actually let your 18" rims go for $480? Real, BMW quality wheels and tires for $480?

People thinking getting real BMW wheels for snow tires is "too expensive", take note....

They are reps, matte black, i had to let go of the stock ones instead of just having it sit on the garage. They look pretty decent will update you regarding performance compared to oem's. From my research they are heavier than stock but i dont know by how much, i guess it depends what kind of tire u put on we'll see.

welcome and grats on your new AW, the most stylish color for BMWs. ;)

One thing with those 20s w/ sport pkg is they're summers so you'll likely have to swap out for the winter... that's why I like the all-seasons. I really don't know what I would've done if mine came with summers... would seem like a waste to replace the rubber on them, but I really am against swapping twice a year (and not having the look), and storing a set somewhere year-round. Nearly 4 years with all-seasons, 214s year-round, and trouble free in NY.