GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Mark V GTD on 30 December 2013, 13:07
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Looks like the replica makers have finally got hold of the GTI design...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-VW-SCIROCCO-BRAND-NEW-GTi-8-BLACK-POL-ALLOY-WHEELS-/281234469412?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item417ae17224
Maybe a good buy for winter tyres if you want to keep the GTI 'look'?
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You got to be very careful with the quality of replica wheels. Unless they are made by a well known manufacturer i wouldn't touch them. Remember, the wheels are the only part of the car touching the road. Don't risk it for the sake of a set of cheap sub standard alloys
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"SPEAK TO TRCAEY KATE OR BAZ FOR FREINDLY ADVICE"
Brilliant.
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I have just enquired at VW how much a genuine 18" Austin Wheel would cost and the price I was told was £614 for just the rim without a tyre. I was told they take off 15% for a set of 4 Austin wheels which comes in at £2089.
There is an online store in Germany called Kunzmann selling the genuine set of Austin wheels for around £1400+.
I have also found an ebay reseller called SelectRims who claims he can get Aftermarket and Genuine 18" Austin Wheels. He is going to speak to his dealer about how much it will cost for a genuine 18" Austin Wheel. But claims will be around £400+. They also fit tyres and balance it for you.
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The Chinese copies aren't going to be good long term going by how vulnerable the OEM VW finish is.
There's an Italian company that does good quality replicas called WSP which will be in the middle of the price between eBay Chinese knock ups and genuine OEM VW ones. In fact they'll be masses cheaper than the VW ones but they don't list Austins in their catalogue just yet.
There was also an Italian company that made Monza Shadow replicas in 19" diameter so if they eventually do a 19" Austin replica it would be interesting!
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I bought replica 18monzas for ed30 £350 for 2 years then my mate put 2 of them on his gti and they lasted longer than his original wheels. My mate repairs alloys and he says that all diamond cut alloys are sh!te and oem wheels will last no longer than replica wheels. And I have to agree as the austins are sh!te as well. And the car drove the same way and are still on gti now.
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The Chinese copies aren't going to be good long term going by how vulnerable the OEM VW finish is.
There's an Italian company that does good quality replicas called WSP which will be in the middle of the price between eBay Chinese knock ups and genuine OEM VW ones. In fact they'll be masses cheaper than the VW ones but they don't list Austins in their catalogue just yet.
There was also an Italian company that made Monza Shadow replicas in 19" diameter so if they eventually do a 19" Austin replica it would be interesting!
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Yes would love them on 19s :smiley:
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So what exactly is 'wrong' with the copies - they are fantastically priced at a fifth of the VW price?
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So what exactly is 'wrong' with the copies - they are fantastically priced at a fifth of the VW price?
According to my mate who repairs alloys very little. He has seen guys pay £5000 for a set and still has same problem with diamond cut and buckled wheels. And I have used a good few different alloy replicas and never ever had any problems with buckling or repairing them. And the gti replicas last as long as oem vw wheels.
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Thanks John - I would have thought if they were downright dangerous it would be well documented and nobody would touch them. I agree lots of OEM wheels get 'worm' and opther forms of corrosion so these can't be much worse for 80% off OEM list price!
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Why is the ad labeled Golf so much dearer than the same for 'Roc and Passat?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-VW-GOLF-MK7-BRAND-NEW-GTi8-BLACK-AND-POLISH-ALLOYS-TYRES-/281234469403?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item417ae1721b
Wonder how much the replica Santagios would cost.
Also wonder if SelectRims could trace down a set of aftermarket genuine Santiagos and how much it would cost.
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Thanks John - I would have thought if they were downright dangerous it would be well documented and nobody would touch them. I agree lots of OEM wheels get 'worm' and opther forms of corrosion so these can't be much worse for 80% off OEM list price!
Exactly mate. I drove about on them on my remapped ed30 and they were perfect and my mate still has them on his gti and I bought them back in 2009. When was the last time you ever heard of a car crash that was blamed on replica alloy wheels :smiley:
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Why is the ad labeled Golf so much dearer than the same for 'Roc and Passat?
Not quite certain what you mean - but the item you linked to includes tyres which is why ts more expensive than others...
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Why is the ad labeled Golf so much dearer than the same for 'Roc and Passat?
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/18-VW-GOLF-MK7-BRAND-NEW-GTi8-BLACK-AND-POLISH-ALLOYS-TYRES-/281234469403?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Rims_Car_Wheels_ET&hash=item417ae1721b
Wonder how much the replica Santagios would cost.
Also wonder if SelectRims could trace down a set of aftermarket genuine Santiagos and how much it would cost.
The more expensive option comes with tyres.
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I thought I would update you guys with the genuine "18 Austin Alloy price from SelectRims. The Rims are around £575+ VAT ( a fair bit more than just £400+) and to have a Bridgestone Potenza fitted and balanced you can add another £140 to the price.
Should anyone be thinking of refurbishing their current rims anytime I was told by my local VW dealer that they use a company who will replace your damaged Rim with an already refurbished Rim like for like so you don't have to drive around with a space saver while they refurbish the damaged Rim. They will then use your Rim for someone else who requires the same Alloy. and so on. I am still awaiting VW to get back and let me know if the company has an Austin 18" in stock to replace mine?
Visually the Aftermarket rims do look almost identical to the originals. However I did notice on the side on image of the Austin aftermarket rim that it has a slight curved profile where the original does not?
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I don't know why they only sell these wheels in sets of four - there must be a big market for people with damaged ones wanting one or maybe two wheels only...
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VW OEM wheels or European made replicas will have had to undergo quality and safety tests. Cheap Chinese knock ups won't. They will be cheap, using cheap bits and a cheap finish. Some sets will be good and last ages and other sets will be crap quality just like all Chinese knock offs.
Look at iPhone sync cables on eBay, genuine Apple ones cost a stupid amount of £££ and are in no way worth paying that much for, and others are nasty cheap items that throw up messages on screen when you charge your phone.
And somewhere in the middle is a happy medium. Good luck finding it on both counts.
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Lots of factors as to why the Chinese copies aren't as good for example poorer quality alloy, less stringent or non existent production standards. I personally wouldn't buy Chinese copies but that's just me and sometimes copy wheels are a lot heavier than stock wheels. each to their own though.
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They are far more likely to shatter, fracture or buckle when going over a pothole or other obstacle in the road - which could prove very dangerous if something is hit at high speed and the wheel goes.
They will most likely be made from a cheaper alloy composition affecting weight and mechanical properties such as toughness and hardness, and if they have skimped on the lacquer they'll be far more likely to suffer from whiteworm.
If I had a wrecked alloy i'd stump up £350/400 for one at Kunzmann.
If these are properly CE marked then you've probably got nowt to worry about, but when something seems too good to be true then it usually is.
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Yeah i agree i would not buy any chinese sh!te. European wheels on ebay will last just as long as oem wheels.
My mate has loads of oem wheels buckled and problems with finish and says they are no better than replica alloys. And some of them are from very expensive cars. And others paying 5 and 6k and after 6 months he has checked them and are buckled. And he says that a lot of replica wheels are made at same place as original wheels.
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So whats the best way to deduce the country of manufacture of a replica wheel?
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If it doesn't have an EU country's stamp on the back or CE markings then chances are it's not the best quality.
If it doesn't feel right or seems too cheap theres a reason...
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I have bought 3 sets from ebay and made sure the seller had good reviews. Most I paid was £380 and I never had a problem with any of the wheels :smiley: