Do decent BBS RS replicas exist?

[ThomasNürburgring]

none of them are. you get what you pay for.

Yeah, that's what I thought too.
I understand none of them are what you would buy, but if you had to...
What rims would you buy if you were me?

Also Axis OG San look really nice, but only 15".

EDIT:
Maybe are Enkei 92 any good?

[Thate34Guy]

Yeah, that's what I thought too.
I understand none of them are what you would buy, but if you had to...
What rims would you buy if you were me?

Also Axis OG San look really nice, but only 15".

EDIT:
Maybe are Enkei 92 any good?

For the price of buying some "quality reps", you can find a set of legit bbs rs's.

[ThomasNürburgring]

For the price of buying some "quality reps", you can find a set of legit bbs rs's.

Most of the "affordable" legit RS rims are in bad shape.
As I said I don't have the skills to restore them...
So that would be very expensive (I think?).

[Oh Damn, it's Sam]

Time to learn how to sand and paint, my friend. No part of restoring a set of wheels is difficult, just time consuming.

[ThomasNürburgring]

Time to learn how to sand and paint, my friend. No part of restoring a set of wheels is difficult, just time consuming.

Alright, then I might give it a shot.

Is there a guide for it?
I didn't saw one here on the forum...

[Miroteknik]

You sound new, get the replicas. It'll get you the look you want the fastest and easiest way.

Everyone responding to your thread is a do-it-myself type and have knowledge you dont. Real wheels is a stage newb-enthusiasts graduate into. A newb with real wheels is still a newb. Sometimes by stroke of luck, or simply having the money.

Replica wheels won't melt in the rain, they wont explode at high speeds, or shatter when you hit your brakes. If you hit a pothole hard, they will crack and break. Real wheels will also crack, or at least they will bend. Either situatioin, you're screwed and need to fix/replace things. Real 3-piece wheels you can source new lips and barrels for $150-$300+ depending on size and rarity or aftermarket availability. Whereas a replica, you just but another singe wheel off ebay and replace that.

Buying replicas will teach you what many users on here already know, and it is a good lesson. Like most lessons, it is best learned first hand. So go forth grasshopper, buy your reps, and begin your journey.

[ThomasNürburgring]

You sound new, get the replicas. It'll get you the look you want the fastest and easiest way.

Everyone responding to your thread is a do-it-myself type and have knowledge you dont. Real wheels is a stage newb-enthusiasts graduate into. A newb with real wheels is still a newb. Sometimes by stroke of luck, or simply having the money.

Replica wheels won't melt in the rain, they wont explode at high speeds, or shatter when you hit your brakes. If you hit a pothole hard, they will crack and break. Real wheels will also crack, or at least they will bend. Either situatioin, you're screwed and need to fix/replace things. Real 3-piece wheels you can source new lips and barrels for $150-$300+ depending on size and rarity or aftermarket availability. Whereas a replica, you just but another singe wheel off ebay and replace that.

Buying replicas will teach you what many users on here already know, and it is a good lesson. Like most lessons, it is best learned first hand. So go forth grasshopper, buy your reps, and begin your journey.

I am a total noob indeed!
This will actually be my first own car...

After reading your comment it's hard to decide what to do.
Reps are pretty bad (reading the things in your comment), but real ones are expensive and maybe too hard to restore for someone like me (read noob).

I think I will take the (maybe dumb) path you said...
First reps and then search for real ones and learn to fix them.

If I decide to go for reps first until I have more money, which ones are the most decent?
I know you guys don't like to recommend reps, but I would really appreciate it.

[bennkishh]

If I had to go with reps, and I mean HAD to, I'd go with something from ESM. A friend had LM reps from ESM on his MK6 Golf, drove like a total asshole, and never damaged them other than curb rash. You said about Enkei 92's, they're always a classic and can be had for cheaper than most replica wheels. They're also very cool on E21's.

[ThomasNürburgring]

If I had to go with reps, and I mean HAD to, I'd go with something from ESM. A friend had LM reps from ESM on his MK6 Golf, drove like a total asshole, and never damaged them other than curb rash. You said about Enkei 92's, they're always a classic and can be had for cheaper than most replica wheels. They're also very cool on E21's.

Thanks for the help!
I understand real ones are way better, but I just don't have the money and skills now.
Both will come though.

If I am not wrong, the Enkei 92s are only available as 15" (according to there site).
I want to run 16", so that's a shame.

[Miroteknik]

Generally speaking, all reps are the same. ESM, XXR, ROTA, JNC, and whatever other brand. They are all made of low-density aluminum, which is formed by low pressure casting. This means that the end result is not as strong as higher pressure/density metals (OEM wheels, real wheels), but they are still strong enough for supposed "average use".

Here is what low density aluminum looks like:


This is what high density aluminum looks like:


And still, in an accident, even "real wheels" can end up looking like this:

[ThomasNürburgring]

Where I live all roads are smooth and I have a normal drivingstyle.
So no hard use.

Isn't there some sort of test that rims have to pass to be sold in the US oe Europe?
If so, even the reps have to pass this and should be decent for normal use...?

At the moment I am leaning towards the ESM 002R rims.

[Thate34Guy]

Its not that all reps are bad. It just for the amount of money buying many amounts of rep wheels you can buy a set of 2 or 3 piece wheels and customize them to your liking. You have to start at sometime!

[B 4 You]

A rep is a rep. They're basically all the same. Don't go spending $1,000 for "high quality" bbs reps, they're still copies of the real deal. Go buy some cheap replicas on ebay or something. Just don't run into curbs at 30mph and you'll be perfectly fine. You can get a nice set for $500 plus shipping. The ones I have (JNC) look awesome, and they've held up fine. I worked at a construction site all summer and never had an issue.

[ThomasNürburgring]

Its not that all reps are bad. It just for the amount of money buying many amounts of rep wheels you can buy a set of 2 or 3 piece wheels and customize them to your liking. You have to start at sometime!

I assume/hope a set of reps will last if I use them normally...
So, a set of reps costs €400-500 and real ones start around €1000 I think.

I will get real ones eventually when I got more money and time.
At the moment I have to finish my study though... That expensive.

A rep is a rep. They're basically all the same. Don't go spending $1,000 for "high quality" bbs reps, they're still copies of the real deal. Go buy some cheap replicas on ebay or something. Just don't run into curbs at 30mph and you'll be perfectly fine. You can get a nice set for $500 plus shipping. The ones I have (JNC) look awesome, and they've held up fine. I worked at a construction site all summer and never had an issue.

JNC is pretty cheap indeed and I won't hit curbs (I hope).

[ThomasNürburgring]

I decided to go for real rims.
Maybe not BBS RS though...
Because I first want to see what other mesh wheels are out there.

So, all suggestions for real, quality mesh rims are welcome!
These are the rims I found so far, but not sure if all are quality rims..?
- BBS RS / RM / E50 / Mahle
- Enkei 92
- SSR Formula Mesh
- Rial Typ N