BBS Replicas... inferior? a No No? Please discuss..... :-)

[dobbie82]

I've got a set of 15" Replicas which i bought believing they were genuine coming from a 1989 325i SE

Turn's out they are replicas..

no idea who has made them the marking's mean diddly squat to me.

Any idea who makes them and what difference in value there is?

I only bought them to look pretty so i guess weight etc wouldnt be an issue to me but would be to someone with a track car etc, what does a genuine wheel weigh?

Nobody cares less that alpina wheels are replicas, is it the same for BBS?

[orangecurry]

I think you know my views on the subject Hannah

next time we meet for cucumber sandwiches, I suggest you avoid my haughty gaze

sorry; I haven't seen these markings before but they are not the 'common' copies - and with tyres on you won't know whether your copies are heavier than original or not - either get your money back or fit them and enjoy

[orangecurry]

Hannah it looks like your wheels are only 6 inches wide? I think I can see a
'6 / 15H2'

on the rims?

15" BBS are 7" wheels in width.... what tyre make and size are on them? You might have some handling issues (I know I'm an old fusspot, but better safe than sorry)

[dobbie82]

ahh yes its 6J 15 H2 doh!!!!oh i am a plank must be golf wheels or something?

[orangecurry]

oh Hannah I'm so sorry - I know how long you've been looking

see if you can see an offset number - usually ET25 for BMW but that's the 7" wheel or ET38-ish for VW, then you can definately take them back

[Ziggy]

I had some TSW copies (these aren't they though!)... they looked better (slightly less offset, less fussy under the caps!), but weighed fcuk loads more - I had a bare one of each to compare & the difference was huge.

[StuBeeDoo]

what does a genuine wheel weigh?

My pukka E30 BBS weigh just a fraction over 7kg bare, and with a barely legal 205/55x15 Uniroyal 540 on, a fraction under 14kg.

IMHO.....
Inferior?? Slightly, but so what?
A no-no?? No. Everyone has their own favourite wheel, these probably "do it" for someone, somewhere.
Personally, I don't like BBS all that much, I couldn't wait to get them off my Touring. I don't like Alpinas, or BK171's either. Some people don't like the MiM's that I luurrvve. Hartge's........
If we all liked the same thing it would be a very boring world.

[StuBeeDoo]

Purely out of curiosity, does anyone know what the marking below the "BBS" on the left signifies? It looks like "JWL"
Not only is it on BBS, but my MiM's have it and so do the genuine Honda alloys on Wor Lass's Jazz.
Anyone got alloys without it on?

Sorry for hijacking your thread Hannah.

[kirils]

i measured mine and they are 8.5kg i thinkg they are original


and they are diferent from both your pictures

[dobbie82]

oh Hannah I'm so sorry - I know how long you've been looking

see if you can see an offset number - usually ET25 for BMW but that's the 7" wheel or ET38-ish for VW, then you can definately take them back

they are ET 28, stamped on inside and outside the wheel. so a good sign? I cannot imagine why anyone would want narrow wheels

[dobbie82]

p.s the price i paid I cannot complain! (about £130 including postage i think. with 2 good tyres )

[Richy325iTouring]

Purely out of curiosity, does anyone know what the marking below the "BBS" on the left signifies? It looks like "JWL"
Not only is it on BBS, but my MiM's have it and so do the genuine Honda alloys on Wor Lass's Jazz.
Anyone got alloys without it on?

Sorry for hijacking your thread Hannah.

think its a code for magneziam alloy (spell check i know)

i could be very wrong though

[orangecurry]

very wrong

it's a kite/quality mark

you'll find it on most alloys

[Richy325iTouring]

did say i could be wrong
thats cleared that one up

now i know wht that is lol
its always bugged me

[orangecurry]

weight of the ones in my pic is just over 7kg with no tyre

ok I've been looking at a few of the items in my Wheel Museum....

BMW
6j x 14 bottlecaps are ET 35
6.5j x 14 BBS are ET 30
7j x 15 are ET 24
7.5j x 16 are ET 25

VW
6j x 14 are ET 38

so at least it is UNLIKELY that your wheels are VW offset

what tyre sizes do they have?

[StuBeeDoo]

so at least it is UNLIKELY that your wheels are VW offset

Could they be RWD Cavalier/Manta offset??

[Cotty]

Hartge's........
If we all liked the same thing it would be a very boring world.[/color]

Yes even 15"

and yes

[orangecurry]

For your amusement, I found this (and magnesium is banned in new road-going wheels I believe due to it's tendency to ignite too easily)



Many may have noticed a marking on wheels with a visible logo “JWLâ€a. Japanese wheels must have a "JWL" logo on the wheel and "JWL" (Japan Light Wheel Alloy) is a compilation of standards defined by the Japanese Government to ensure the vehicle's safety for aluminum road wheels. Every wheel put to market must be tested to meet JWL standards before a wheel can be put out to market in Japan. These standards are generally accepted worldwide as acceptable for most road conditions. That is why you will see these marks on European and other Asian country wheels.

JWL TESTS:

Cornering Fatigue Test (Drum Endurance Test)
The purpose of this test is for checking wheel rim strength and durability. Place a wheel assembly with tire on test equipment. Radial stress is then added to simulate vehicle weight.

Test run 500,000 cycles
After 500,000 cycles inspect for cracks, deformation and any nut loosening.

Radial Load Fatigue Test (Rotary Bending Test)
JWL pass criteria: 100,000 cycles
The purpose of this test is for checking durability of the wheel disc. The spokes and the hub are the first point of weight distribution from the vehicle and spoke strength is gauged by this test.

Place a wheel on testing equipment and by adding bending stress to center of disc —a

Test run 100,000 cycles
After 100,000 cycles, inspect for cracks, deformation and any nut loosening.

13 Degree Impact Test
JWL pass criteria: 594 kg

The main purpose of test is for checking strength between rim and disc cross section. The “jointâ€a or the area where the spoke and the rim meet is an important structural area that is subject to great stress. The horizontal weight of the rim and the vertical stress of the spokes meet at this joint and proper structural stability is crucial for a proper wheel.

The wheel assembly is placed with tire tilted 13 degrees from horizontal plane on testing equipment.

A preset weight is dropped on the outer sidewall of tire, thus giving impact to the wheel/tire. Then inspect for cracks, deformation and air leak.

This test is very important for the recent trend of a larger/wider wheel with lower profile tire combination, because there is less air volume than OE wheel/tire and more stress to inner rim section. This test simulates actual usage condition such as hitting corner curb or objects from side.

VIA (Vehicle Inspection Association)
Third party organization (In Japan) that enforces the JWL standards. They make sure that companies are adhering to governmental standards.

[dobbie82]

For your amusement, I found this (and magnesium is banned in new road-going wheels I believe due to it's tendency to ignite too easily)

yep, burns incredibly hot! so bright you need dark glasses (did it in science in school) there's brainy i am

[orangecurry]

so what's your new BBS tyre sizes, brainiac?

[Ziggy]

Hartge's........
If we all liked the same thing it would be a very boring world.[/color]

Yes even 15"

and yes

Will mine do?

[Cotty]

Will mine do?

Lovely but more to clean

[Frenchy]

Do believe the early 90's M5 has magnesium wheels does it not ?

[orangecurry]

For your amusement, I found this (and magnesium is banned in new road-going wheels I believe due to it's tendency to ignite too easily)

perhaps banned is the wrong word - how about 'very very very rare'