JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Just watched an artical on 'Fake Britain' (BBC 1) about fake alloys branded with car makers badges, BMW plus Mini. Under tests they were shown to be brittle and of lighter weight, indicating possible inferior material, doubtful casting process and incorrect or no, heat treatment.
I do wonder how many of these wheels are made by known makers - usually far-eastern.
I do remember a spate of PFF7 copies (not strictly fake as they didn't have Speedline cast in) made by Inovit IIRC, a few years back which showed evidence of cracking.
It does worry me that although these far eastern products look good and are attractively finished, the manufacturing technique, materials used and treatment processes can be seriously and sometimes dangerously, lacking?

JohnD

Shaid

I agree

JamesDundee

iTrader: (2)

I think Inovit would be fine, Id say its the no-name cheapy replica wheels off ebay for a little too cheap. Like the BBS replicas for VWs that are about £400 for a full set of 18s.

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

Just tap in 'impreza 18"' into ebay and its full of cheap wheels. PFFR7 reps for circa £450....

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

AMG replicas all over the place ... makes you wonder!

MattyB1983

iTrader: (51)

My sister bought a set of RS4 replica wheels from ebay for her VW bora. Think they were £450 with tyres new (you can imagine the tyre quality, lol ) Hit a minor pot hole (well she said it was minor, im not convinced) and it broke the wheel in half. Fortunately she was driving slowly.

JohnD

iTrader: (5)

Bring back steel wheels and hubcaps!

JohnD

willN

iTrader: (1)

I had a set of Inovit on my impreza... I've had one welded already and when changing the tyre a few months ago I noticed 3 cracks in one wheel... all perfectly symmetrical a bit like a merc badge... needless to say they are now in my container as spare wheels!

CREWJ

Are there not laws/standards governing the strength of the wheels?

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Yes is the standard which is called VIA,JWL or JWL-T and TUV and probably ISO

Here are most common types:

http://www.cartype.com/pages/2101/jw...n_alloy_wheels

But as on everything Chinese and Taiwan can copy and put the stamp without the actual testing


Jura

daviee

BMW alloys are mostly made by Ronal (quailty wheels) suffer from rim cracks, the fact most British roads are like a ploughed fields, rutted and full of holes. This does not fair well with run flat and 40 profile tyres.

bigphilbaby

in fair a lot of good alloy wheels now seem to crack but is bit worring. I watched an programme about cheap brake pads and that made me also buy decent pads from now on!

M444GY

iTrader: (72)

alot of rep alloy wheels are so weak that they just fold under any impact , bbs reps etc bmw , merc ,audi reps and the likes

inovit wheels and wheels in the same catagory are perfectly fine , yes they are a budget wheel but 100 times stronger than the reps .

i have seen 3k rays wheels split under a big impact so its not just the lower budget ones that sucumb to the potholes

mags

The Pink Ninja

iTrader: (23)

I think the cheap copy fuel pressure regs and oil coolers are a bigger problem as if one of them goes wrong it's bye bye to the car, been a few advertised on here over the years branded as genuine, All from china!!!

specialx

We've seen a few of these nasty things, very dangerous!

bigarf

iTrader: (67)

nothing wrong with the bbs replicas.mine have seen 180mph+ many a time and a lot of lets say, spirited driving.no cracks in sight.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

What a surprise When will trading standards/police/government get brave enough to prosecute people responsible for the multitude of dangerous shoddy quality crap eminatng from that country?

logger

Here here, save a fortune in alloy cleaner