Would you buy aftermarket wheels?

[Sam87]

Hello everyone,

I've been looking to buy some wheels for my car. The problem is that I can't find the wheels in the colour I want. Genuine ones go for around £1500 - £2000 [ just wheels second hand ]

I have found a set of replica wheels that come to £1500 including the customs fee and the seller is in Latvia. He has 100% positive feedback and looking at the history, he has sold plenty of wheels and has many different wheels for sale.
I could buy the genuine wheels and get the refurbished in the colour I want them but I will also have to buy 4 new tyres and once everything is added up, I don't really want to spend around £4k on wheels only.

On my previous S class, the wheels were replica and I never had any problems. They came from China.
I'm just not sure if I should just buy the new replica wheels and not mess around getting them refurbished.

What do you guys suggest?

 

[kendog91]

Try cm wheels, they're based in Ireland. I got myself a set of replica AMG rims for £410.

 

[BTB 500]

I have found a set of replica wheels that come to £1500 including the customs fee and the seller is in Latvia.

Is that including 20% UK VAT as well as the import duty?

 

[kendog91]

The only thing is, I got them sprayed because due to the English weather and stone chips the laqure went milky, but after being sprayed I have never had a problem with them.

 

[markjay]

'Replica' is a big word, and without knowing who makes them and checking reviews etc, I would he hesitant to fit them to my car. Again, nothing wrong with non-Genuine wheels, but knowing who manufacturered them is important.

 

[23 Romeo Tango]

As above.
They would need to be a good quality (I’m sure that is all you would consider anyway) wheel if I was to buy any aftermarket wheels. I had a set of Judd winter wheels for one of my cars and although I never put many miles on them, as soon as I opened the box I was confident they were top quality.

[SOLD] - 19" Judd T325 Gunmetal alloy wheels and winter tyres (265/40 R19) | Classifieds - Mercedes Parts or general for Sale

For sale a set of (4) 9.5Jx19 Judd T325 Gunmetal alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Alpin 4 winter tyres, 265/40 R19 MO 102V 4 x Genuine Mercedes TPMS and a full set of silver wheel bolts included. Bolt pattern 5 x 112 Centre bore 66.6 Click here for the JUDD website showing these wheels As you...

forums.mbclub.co.uk

 

[KennyN]

Went for a "branded" aftermarket set for my CLS as they were the same price as getting the original AMG 3`s refinished , and guaranteed straight + buckle free.

IIRC they were Fox MS005.

FOX RACING MS005 GREY ALLOY WHEELS - Speedy's Wheels & Tyres

speedyswheels.co.uk

K

 

[W1ghty]

The stories of MB large size wheels repeatedly cracking sounds to me like there isn’t much risk trying some aftermarket ones ?

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Going through the same predicament myself at the moment with my Van wheels. Hate the look of the standard 17” 20 spoke Vito wheels but there isn’t a MB alternative.

I’ve been looking at 17” Ronal, Wolfrace & MSW. All three are easily strong enough but just apprehensive about aftermarket.

 

[SmartAmg]

Going through the same predicament myself at the moment with my Van wheels. Hate the look of the standard 17” 20 spoke Vito wheels but there isn’t a MB alternative.

I’ve been looking at 17” Ronal, Wolfrace & MSW. All three are easily strong enough but just apprehensive about aftermarket.

Nothing wrong with aftermarket wheels, Ant
particularly if you go for a known make, I've had a LOT of aftermarket wheels on a LOT of different motors, with no problems at all.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

Nothing wrong with aftermarket wheels, Ant
particularly if you go for a known make, I've had a LOT of aftermarket wheels on a LOT of different motors, with no problems at all.

Cheers Toe,

Are you familiar with the 3 brands in my post? If so, any thoughts? (Good or bad)

 

[SpikyMikey]

For vans, you need to have correctly load-rated rims. I know from my VW T4 days that at the time, Wolfrace were one of the few that offered commercial-rated wheels.
Ronal is a good German make who produce OEM rims for many of the car manufacturers. MSW I think are part of the group who make OZ wheels, which also have a good reputation.
I remember from the T4 scene at the time, the question "Will these Golf/Passat/A4 wheels fit my van?" cropped up with boring regularity. Sure, they'd generally have the correct bore and PCD and therefore would fit, but were no where near strong enough to be safe on a light commercial.

 

[HappytalkAgain]

For vans, you need to have correctly load-rated rims. I know from my VW T4 days that at the time, Wolfrace were one of the few that offered commercial-rated wheels.
Ronal is a good German make who produce OEM rims for many of the car manufacturers. MSW I think are part of the group who make OZ wheels, which also have a good reputation.
I remember from the T4 scene at the time, the question "Will these Golf/Passat/A4 wheels fit my van?" cropped up with boring regularity. Sure, they'd generally have the correct bore and PCD and therefore would fit, but were no where near strong enough to be safe on a light commercial.

Yes Mikey, all the wheels I’ve considered have the all important load rating for the van. The Wolfrace comes up to trumps at 1050kg per wheel.

MSW (are indeed linked to OZ) are 950kg per wheel.

Ronal (who I think make a few MB wheels) are 900kg per wheel.

Van is 3.05t so all above are fit for the job. Not sure why I’m still apprehensive.

(Apologies to OP’er from thread hi-jack )

 

[Alps]

I bought some ispiri wheels for my last car, they seemed well made and were tons lighter than the oem wheels, Ive sold the car since but as far as I know 4 years later they are still going strong.

 

[AB65]

Going through the same predicament myself at the moment with my Van wheels. Hate the look of the standard 17” 20 spoke Vito wheels but there isn’t a MB alternative.

I’ve been looking at 17” Ronal, Wolfrace & MSW. All three are easily strong enough but just apprehensive about aftermarket.

Stick to those 'known' brands and you'll be fine!! I'd just avoid Chinese alloy!!!
Always remeber, car manufacturers don't make alloys, they are simply 'bought-in' products. Try and do a bit of hoemwork, and find out what companies make wheels for who!

 

[SmartAmg]

Cheers Toe,

Are you familiar with the 3 brands in my post? If so, any thoughts? (Good or bad)

Only had Wolfrace and MSW wheels, no problems with them, never had Ronal, as said as long as you get the correct ratings for a van, I can't see any problems.

 

[alabbasi]

No problems as long as they don't say something like AMG on them. I had a set of AMG monoblock wheels on my SL500 that were replicas. They worked just fine, did not have the AMG logo. They were exact copies of the wheels used on the W210 E55.

 

[BTB 500]

Yes Mikey, all the wheels I’ve considered have the all important load rating for the van. The Wolfrace comes up to trumps at 1050kg per wheel.

MSW (are indeed linked to OZ) are 950kg per wheel.

Ronal (who I think make a few MB wheels) are 900kg per wheel.

Van is 3.05t so all above are fit for the job. Not sure why I’m still apprehensive.

(Apologies to OP’er from thread hi-jack )

Check your insurer will be OK with non-standard wheels (if you haven't already!). I looked at putting (load rated) AMGs on our Vito a few years back and was told they would no longer insure the van (that applied to any 'modification'). Obviously it will be no problem with some companies, but it may reduce your choice when shopping around come renewal time.

 

[BigJase88]

Ronal make many many many wheels for the VAG group. Audi S3 wheels etc. They are a top brand and i would not be wary of them in the slightest

 

[Sam87]

So many replies! Thank you everyone for your advise and opinions.

Is that including 20% UK VAT as well as the import duty?

That's a good question....... He just said that the custom fees are around £200 but I will ask to confirm.

Everyone that has seen the car has told me to leave it as it is. I can't help but think that the facelift model looks better.
I don't want to ruin a genuine AMG car so I just can't seem to make up my mind on what to do

I can't get an answer from anywhere if the AMG facelift bumpers will fit on my car as all the adverts I have seen say that the bumpers will not fit a genuine amg car. I don't understand why they wont fit.
Another thing I'm struggling to find is facelift headlamps that are plug and play for RHD cars with night vision. No one seems to do them