Replica alloys

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 12:26 am

What is everyone's opinions on these, I want some alpina wheels but can't warrant spending the hefty price they go for on them, I have found some decent replicas for £220, I'm just curios as a lot of people have replicas and some don't, I would have thought that alloy wheel manufacturing has moved forward a lot in the last 25 years, so the expensive price of some genuine wheels doesn't seem worth it to me.

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 2:07 am

Stick with RZs & save. Replicas are an expensive way to look cheap, simples.

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 12:52 pm

They are second hand replicas btw

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 4:56 pm

I wouldn't take them even if they were free

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:15 pm

Oh, I just can't afford to pay out for genuine ones, what I'm trying say is the alpina genuine ones are atleast 25 years old, so alloy wheel production must have come on a lot in 25 years, so even the replicas made today would be of equivalent quality??

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:16 pm

What reps are you looking at?

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 5:37 pm

Sambe30 wrote:Oh, I just can't afford to pay out for genuine ones, what I'm trying say is the alpina genuine ones are atleast 25 years old, so alloy wheel production must have come on a lot in 25 years, so even the replicas made today would be of equivalent quality??

Nope, most Alpina reps are made of Chinese/Soviet pig Iron.

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:44 pm

These ones

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... ID=EBAY-GB

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 6:47 pm

BK's are a big nono.

Post Thu Jun 18, 2015 7:57 pm

BK's are a heavy wheel, and buckle very easily, but if it's just for show, then go for them.

Post Wed Jun 24, 2015 11:11 pm

im sure ive seen 16" alpina copies, would still have to be second hand but much nicer than the 17" BK ones

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 12:22 am

BK reps will ruin the ride of your car, if you cannot get genuine alpinas (understandably!!), then go for some well made wheels like the 15" BBSs....the give a really nice ride and feel. i have had both and have to disagree with you.....the expensive price of the genuine wheels IS worth it.

what's on the car at the moment?

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 8:54 am

Paid £200 for these genuine period BBS on eBay. Chinese build quality is shocking, copies are cheap for a reason!

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 9:08 am

BK's are heavy but I used mine for 15 years and never had any issues.

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:21 pm

I had a set of these alpina replicas and you wouldn't believe the weight of them. I kept them for a couple of years and ignored everyone that suggested getting rid of them. I finaly gave in and swapped them for a set of 15" bbs and the difference in handling is huge. The only way I can describe it is the car went from driving like an old Renault 5 to feeling like the solid well made german car that it is. I reckon the heavy wheel must mess up the spring rate causing the car to feel skittish which is not nice when cornering at speed.

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 1:42 pm

As above, its not the wheel size but the weight. The BKs are massively heavy.

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:16 pm

Also, not all genuine Alpinas are 25+ years old. I bought brand new ones in 2008 not that the age matters, it's if they're straight.

Post Thu Jun 25, 2015 7:30 pm

HairyScreech wrote:As above, its not the wheel size but the weight. The BKs are massively heavy.

'Un sprung wieght' is very bad news as far as handling/ride comfort is concerned.

Post Fri Jun 26, 2015 8:36 am

The car is on 15"bbs at the moment

Post Fri Jun 26, 2015 6:02 pm

magpie wrote:nowt wrong wit RG alpina reps .

16" and 20 spokes