What's wrong with AMG copies?

[Deleted member 65149]

I put AMG copies on my CLK over 9 years ago. They still looked like new when I sold the car earlier this year. I've no idea what make they were, just that they were half the price of genuine wheels. I guess I was lucky though. And I have to confess that I hadn't considered the question of the quality and safety of the wheels.

 

[RBYCC]

There is a company in the USA that replicates most OEM wheels.
Over the years I've owned several sets with no problem.
Excellent quality and major USA company Tire Rack sells them.
The early style multipiece wheels are one piece with faux bolt heads.

Mercedes Benz Wheels

 

[Spinal]

Slighlty off topic, but it perked my curiosity...

Most replica split-rims are one piece wheels i.e. the bolts are dummies.

Have you (or anyone here) ever used split rims for their purpose? From my understanding, split rims were originally designed as a cheap alternative to buying a whole new set of alloys when you wanted to tweak your offset. I haven't seen a single person changing the offset with split rims, making the bolts purely cosmetic..

As to weight; I may be wrong, but I'm under the impression that steelies weigh less than the cosmetic alloys most mercs are fitted with... certaily was the case on the W202 I brought to Africa.

M.

 

[hotrodder]

Alloys that weigh more than steels certainly exist but i suspect the comparison is often skewed as many/most people replace steels with a larger alloy, often stepping up in both diameter width

My take on real split rims, especially 3 piece is a way of (unlikely as it sounds) trying to keep costs down or maybe that should be profits up... Instead of having to make loads of different sized wheels and the associated tooling you cast or forge centres in the diameters you want and spin a bunch of rim sections from which different widths and offsets can be assembled. Spinning is a relatively cheap way to produce strong yet light rims (like forging the process imparts a grain structure to the metal that allows weight to be engineered out). While it also makes it easier to change offset it's probably more useful with regards to repairs, especially when weight is being paired right down

Dunno what they weigh off the top of my head (8ish kg?) but i'm pretty sure that both the 8 & 15 hole alloys off a w124 weigh a little less than their equivilant sized steels. Found this which compares the weight of a bunch of Mazda wheels to the standard steels... Table of Wheel Weights

Also remember that if the original AMG wheels are forged, and cheap copies are cast, that you'll be getting not only a heavier wheel but also a weaker wheel (design for design).

Good point on the forging versus casting. See this quite a bit with modern replicas of classic wheel designs... Porsche wheels are quite common in the aircooled VW scene and the 'real' set of 15" Fuchs (4.5 and 5.5" widths) i own are a chunk lighter and more nicely made than the replicas. The origionals are forged (from 6082-t6 i believe) and weigh about 5 & 5.5kg respectively. Many of the other replicas are cast ally copies of what were origionally magnesium- BRM wheels and Mahle 'gas burners'. Gas burners are crazy light under 4.5kg IIRC

I'm basing this solely on stuff from the w124 era but from what i've seen (and put my back out lifting ) of AMG wheels they've all been style over substance i.e. a 'kin heavy casting. I know some were forged but IIRC, size for size, most of the lighter wheels for MBs were the MB versions

 

[V12]

Genuine Amg wheels crack very frequently. I don't know anything about the structure of the wheels but have a past in the alloy wheel business and can tell you that Amg wheels aren't all they're 'cracked' up to be.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy non genuine. Far too much scare mongering on this forum.

 

[Dieselman]

I too agree that AMG wheels are not light, whereas the CLK wheels are.

Split rims were originally for racing teams so they could find what size and offset worked best before committing to lightweight versions. They are really bad to use as they weigh more and the mass is right at the rim, so has a greater gyroscopic effect.

Name| Manufacturing Method| Size | Weight (lbs.)| Weight (kgs.)
Mercedes Benz AMG SLK (Front)| Forged| 17x7.5| 22.8| 10.3|
Mercedes Benz AMG SLK (Rear)| Forged| 17x8.5| 23.6 |10.7|
Mercedes Benz C32 (Front)| Cast| 17x7.5| 25.6| 11.6|
Mercedes Benz C32 (Rear)| Cast| 17x8.5| 26| 11.7|
Mercedes Benz C55 (Front)| Forged| 18x8.5| 26.4| 11.9|
Mercedes Benz C55 (Rear)| Forged| 18x9.5| 27.2| 12.3|
Mercedes Benz C7 Sport (W203)| Cast| 17x7.5| 24.6| 11.1|
Mercedes Benz CLK230 98-99| Forged| 16x7| 12.9| 5.8|
Mercedes Benz E-Class W124 (EVO II)| Forged| 18x8.5| 24.7 |11.2|
Mercedes Benz E-Class W124 (15 Hole)| Cast| 15x6.5| 17.9| 8.1|
Mercedes Benz E-Class W124 (8 Hole)| Cast| 15x6.5| 19.6| 8.8|
Mercedes Benz E-Class W124 (8 Hole)| Cast| 16x8| 23.2| 10.5|
Mercedes Benz CLK320 (6 Spoke)| Forged| 16x7| 14.5| 6.5|
Mercedes Benz SL600 (1997)| Forged| 18x8.5| 25.5| 11.5|
Mercedes Benz SL600 (1997)| Forged| 18x9.5| 26.5 |12.0

 

[After Shock]

I'ver been debating this one in my head a fair bit too.

Can't justify £2000 on a set of AMG wheels. But IS £400-£500 "to" cheap?

Is it really that difficult to make a "good" set of wheels???

 

[SavMan]

You can also pick the CLK wheels up dirt cheap on ebay, I paid £60 for these (I then spent £160 getting them refurbed so maybe not so cheap!)

Crazy light in comparision to my AMG III

 

[V12]

I'ver been debating this one in my head a fair bit too.

Can't justify £2000 on a set of AMG wheels. But IS £400-£500 "to" cheap?

Is it really that difficult to make a "good" set of wheels???

Just ask the seller what make they are.
Ronal used to make Amg copies, now they make genuine Mercedes wheels. I think in their Austrian factory.

 

[Bobby Dazzler]

You can also pick the CLK wheels up dirt cheap on ebay, I paid £60 for these (I then spent £160 getting them refurbed so maybe not so cheap!)

Crazy light in comparision to my AMG III

For your E55? I was led to believe that these wouldn't clear the brakes on my C32.

 

[V12]

Rear use only

 

[ReggieGasket]

There is a company in the USA that replicates most OEM wheels.
Over the years I've owned several sets with no problem.
Excellent quality and major USA company Tire Rack sells them.
The early style multipiece wheels are one piece with faux bolt heads.

Mercedes Benz Wheels

WOW £250 -£300 for a set of AMG 18" copies

 

[SavMan]

Rear use only

Correct I use them on the rears for drag racing, they need a 25mm hub centric spacer as well and they clear by mm's but they clear.

 

[jaymanek]

As everyone has said the quality suppliers that produce wheels to specific fitment for cars are usually ok... So BBS, OZ, Ronal etc.

Where it all goes wrong is cheap chinese junk on ebay... They dont fit right, often need massive spacers to work as they get designed for use on multiple cars, this gives not only ride comfort issues but also has safety concerns.
Also these wheels are noticeably constructed poorly... they just look and feel cheap and WILL crack at the first pot hole...

You cannot tar all of them with the same brush but I have had people come in to us with cheap ebay rims asking us to fit them to high powered AMG cars...
I have always refused as we wouldnt want to be associated with fitting these dangerous parts.

Buy OEM or good quality after market wheels, you wont go wrong. You are on the right track with genuine OZ's.

 

[Blueovalcraig]

My car has a set of alloys which look like AMG wheels, even the logo is very similar. I only noticed when I washed it the other day that the logo is MMS and not AMG. I'll try and get a photo

 

[Blueovalcraig]

And another

 

[renault12ts]

They don't look round. Is it me, or the pic...or are they not round?

 

[Ryanloco323]

Most off the copies are like for vans etc with merc badges on

 

[Blueovalcraig]

They don't look round. Is it me, or the pic...or are they not round?

Lol yeah they are round

 

[Hawkwind]

In truth, all alloy wheels are cosmetic, full stop.

If you buy second hand genuine wheels, they may have damage/defects you're not aware of.

Engineering differences will really only make a difference at the absolute limit, at which point you should be on a race track.

I will however agree with not buying cheap Chinese fakes, as these may not have been tested as safe/fit for purpose.