Really cheap rims - what's the catch?

[Mauiboxster]

Although I do agree with that statement about the quality level. I am pretty sure whatever company does produce these knockoffs have to follow some type of guidelines to ensure they are safe. I think you would be ok. (thanks for the link)

Think of medicine. You have all the knockoff brands and they are actually produces in the same facilitys minus the T stamp.

[landrovered]

I would not be so sure about the integrity of the marketplace/invisible hand.

I saw some rims recently that would make your hair stand on end, they were in a welding shop to be repaired, they were cracked, I wouldn't run a bicycle on them much less attempt to repair them after they failed once.

...and then after the horrible accident, your insurance company tells you that you are not covered because the aftermarket wheels you were running were not NHTSA approved.

Unless their is a TüV stamp or comparable quality rating, I wouldn't touch them with a ten foot pole.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by Mauiboxster

Although I do agree with that statement about the quality level. I am pretty sure whatever company does produce these knockoffs have to follow some type of guidelines to ensure they are safe. I think you would be ok. (thanks for the link)

Think of medicine. You have all the knockoff brands and they are actually produces in the same facilitys minus the T stamp.

um, think of some recent items from china... anti-freeze laced toothpaste, lead infused baby toys, cribs that collapse when looked at. legitimate companies usually follow some set of safety standard - which is some of what you pay for, but a lot of companies take as many shortcuts as possible to make something that "looks" normal but cost 1/10th to manufacture...

also, it should be noted the wheels in the link are remanufactured ( "repaired" ) and not new.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by tonycarreon

um, think of some recent items from china... anti-freeze laced toothpaste, lead infused baby toys, cribs that collapse when looked at. legitimate companies usually follow some set of safety standard - which is some of what you pay for, but a lot of companies take as many shortcuts as possible to make something that "looks" normal but cost 1/10th to manufacture...

also, it should be noted the wheels in the link are remanufactured ( "repaired" ) and not new.

They state on the front page that they offer both remanufactured and new aftermarket wheels. I don't see where it states which these are.

[Mauiboxster]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

They state on the front page that they offer both remanufactured and new aftermarket wheels. I don't see where it states which these are.

When you call and give them a part number they will tell you what they have in stock and which catagory the ones they have in stock are. for the wheel I just asked about they said they have 8 that where are OEM and have a lifetime warranty and three that are aftermarket with the same warranty that where made in Germany using the original molds.

looks to me to be a pretty good deal.

[landrovered]

Do the folks you talked to fulfill the lifetime warranty for 50 internet sites? I would find out who is carrying the liabilty insurance for the group before I bought and if they were made in the EU then they will have a TUV stamp. No stamp, no dice.

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by landrovered

Do the folks you talked to fulfill the lifetime warranty for 50 internet sites? I would find out who is carrying the liabilty insurance for the group before I bought and if they were made in the EU then they will have a TUV stamp. No stamp, no dice.

Don't be so quick to bash them.

Many of the cars in my house have had Momo & BBS wheels,they were nothing special...they bent in time just like every other wheel.

Currently at the moment both Porsches in my house have wheels from

http://www.wheelsandcaps.com/specials_packages_item.asp?id=20&part=ALY67304U#ALY67304U (not these exact ones but same manufacturer and web site bought from)

Many miles on both sets,no problem,still straight and true according to our alignment shop. Deal was impressed with them as well. Only reason they noticed was when they took the wheels off they saw the 'NOT ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER' stamp on the inside of them.

I'm slammed my last Boxster(which had replicas from same manufacturer) into a sidewall,dragged the wheel along a sidewall,had the car at a repair shop and they said the only thing that didn't need to be replaced wheel,it could use a touch up from really deep scratches,it wasn't even bent...

[landrovered]

Why be penny wise and pound foolish?

There are many good aftermarket brands of wheels that I would buy. They are manufactured by reputable companies and have a track record (literally with BBS) and are in good financial standing. They do R&D testing, they have product liability insurance.

This costs money and you pay more for good aftermarket wheels. Granted you pay less than OEM parts where the markup is not derived from normal competitive models because they are in effect a monopoly for a given period of time.

Then there are fly by night cheapo manufacturers that will make the cheapest imitation product possible that looks like a quality product. They are sold by the container load by trading companies in Hong Kong or Taiwan. They are short run products sold my trading companies to middle men in the US and then sold on the internet and ebay to take advantage of popular trends in the automotive world.

These wheels are not tested, their is no product liability insurance, there is no company to back up problems, there is no reputation and you cannot find anyone after the sale who will answer your phone call or replace a defective product. What they are efficient at is charging your credit card.

We have all dealt with them, we have all been tempted by the low prices for the things that we covet that in reality cost much much more.

But when it comes to my safety, my wife and my sons safety, my financial future and my concern for you the general public who trust me not to kill you with my car. it is not worth saving $200 or even $2000 on wheels. hey take lots of force and lots of stress. Why trust all of this to a fulfillment center for 50 nameless websites.

Is your vanity really worth that little?

[blinkwatt]

Originally Posted by reluctantmechanic

hmmm, I hit a pothole with my replicas, and two of them bent.

Where were yours from?

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by blue2000s

They state on the front page that they offer both remanufactured and new aftermarket wheels. I don't see where it states which these are.

google search the part number, all that comes up are remanufactured rims.

but either way, the old adage will hold true - you get what you pay for.

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by Mauiboxster

Although I do agree with that statement about the quality level. I am pretty sure whatever company does produce these knockoffs have to follow some type of guidelines to ensure they are safe. I think you would be ok. (thanks for the link)

Think of medicine. You have all the knockoff brands and they are actually produces in the same facilitys minus the T stamp.

The analogy to a generic drug isn't really accurate here.

[Mauiboxster]

I called the company and asked them exactly how their prices are so low. First of all the company is called Coast to Coast and they are nothing more than the fullfilment company for 50+ websites. The wheels they sale are mostly originals from junk yards, broken or simply unused. They are not made in China, in fact if they are replicas they are made in Germany and Italy. Also, if they do have to make one they are using the original molds and same material as original.

Of course all of this is coming from the person running the online sales. But if it is true my analogy of medicine is exactly right.