Cheap Wheels on Ebay Feedback requested

Anyone have any experience with the $500 for 4 wheels available on Ebay from Wheels and Caps? These guys provide a real phone number and move a lot of volume--98.8 Positive feedback. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/18-8-...Q5fAccessories I understand the obvious: You get what you pay for; they are cast, not forged, they are painted, not powdercoated, they are from China, they weren't hand made, etc. etc. For just tooling around how bad could they be? You hit a curb and they're history? These are cheaper than forged wheels can be repaired for. Is it likely they could just disintegrate at 65mph all at once? I appreciate in advance all the warnings you're about to give me but I would be interested in anyone who has given them a try. Thanks!

well for what it's worth I think most factory Porsche wheels are not forged except the Turbo wheels.... They will probably be heavy but $500 for a set of 4 is a pretty good deal. I bet they are heavy but I haven't been able to find any used wheels for $500 so these might make some okay autocross wheels except for the weight... Go for it and tell us how they perform (: Ask them to provide some sort of documentation on the claimed DOT and etc specifications that these wheels supposedly meet and see what they say. From an engineering standpoint...these will be more likely to catastrophically break in the event of an impact with a pothole (or accident) or for example curbing on a race track. But getting broken while driving on a flat even surface seems pretty out of the question.

Thanks for that. I was going to use my OEM for track and use these for tooling around

That would be safer...I would do that except my 996 wheels are the fancy-pants shot-peened semi-polished ones and I would feel bad messing them up.

I'm sure the chinese wheels are ok for the street, but as you said, you get what you pay for.

Chinese wheels are getting better all the time. They are no doubt manufactured through a pressure cast method. But of course, the majority of today's Porsche OEM wheels are also pressure cast by BBS or Ronal. I have seen a set of Carrera Sports (XRR--like on my car) for $650. For a set! But you have to ask yourself if you want to continue to support China, a country that doesn't honor patent rights, etc. Personally, I would rather send my dollars to Germany or to Italy, than to China. But that's me. Everyone has to make that decision for themselves. Of course, it will cheapen your vehicle. When you sell your car you will need to disclose that you have Chinese wheels on it. If not, someday, someone will discover that they got screwed out of OEM wheels. Safe? Most likely. But then, you have to decide how safe is safe enough for you. Porsche goes through a very rigorous subvendor qualification process. China doesn't do anything like that. They simply buy a real Porsche wheel, make a mold from it, and then start cranking out one after another.

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I'm with you Dan, I'd rather pay a few bucks more for OEM or a replica from Germany or Italy

I like the wheels on your 02. I have a buddy with a 996 who would love to find a set like those!

I'm keeping my OEM wheels so can always stick them back on for resale. They're not a few more bucks though--theyre more than double. Do you think the Italian or German copies are sending a check for Porsche for each one? Dan, what I really want are those Fuchs you were talking about!

I did not see where on there site that states they where made in china, but they are pretty cheap. The ones produced in Italy are priced a little higher and the quality is pretty good but are heavy. I think I would feel safer buying from the king of knock off's. The Carrera Lightweight's SALE $1199 http://www.wheeldynamics.net/Wheels.html

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You and me, both! I will check in with them again and see how things are coming with the new Fuchs, and when they think the first ones will be available. They would be the only other wheel that I would ever be interested in.

I think the title says it all - cheap wheels

I ended up buying Italian replica Sport Techno wheels for my snow tires. The set of four was about $1,200. Even those worry me for anything other than easy driving in winter conditions - maybe I'm too paranoid. I think a set of replicas is okay as long as you keep the OEM wheels. These should do fine for you.

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I think you may have too much trust in the integrity of those European suppliers.

I'm not certain the "Made in China" would stop me. Although I'd like to think buying something made elsewhere would help the cause. The replacement Porsche motor installed in my 996 a few years ago has a Bosch sensor located near the intake that states "China". A friend that was a GM for a BMW motorcycle dealership told me a couple of weeks ago that the 650 and 800 BMWs are made in China. I know Harley Davidson and most all of the American made custom V-Twins are loaded with parts and major components of Chinese manufacture. Much of the high end climbing and mountaineering gear is now made there as well. I agree, it's sad to see nearly everything we consume made there, but on the other hand our choices are limited.

If you have a company like BMW making their product there you can bet that they are watching the quality control. But some factory making knock off wheels, who really knows?

That's a good point Marc and I don't want to waste $500 but as long as they don't result in injury it wouldn't be the most expensive lesson I've ever learned.

you do not have to disclose anythign about your car when selling....certianly not that your wheeels are Chinese, etc.

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I don't agree with not having to disclose anything about your car, but I do agree you don't have to mention anything about the origin of the wheels unless asked.

I have a set of 996 NB OEM Carrera light 5 spoke rims for sale. Check for sale forum

here's a sight that makes cheap wheels (italy).... http://www.lakeshorewheelandtire.com.../porsche.shtml

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Made in China is ok if the part was made with Bosch approved metals/plastics, manufactured under Bosch quality controls, to Bosch specs, under Bosch etc etc. I have never been able to get into the knock off wheel thing. Not for my cars. Hell, my Mazdaspeed6, although maybe it isn't as worthy as my 996, rides on BBS RGRs in the summer. One piece, fully forged and although they are authentic, there made in Japan, not Germany.

Oh gosh, a lot of misleading information here. I've used replica wheels from Wheel Dynamics and Wheel and Caps(2 set from WD,1 from W & C).....both came from the same manufacturer(from the replicas I ordered,not saying that all of Wheels and Caps are quality that I can vouch for),where stamped with 'made in italy' on them,showed up in the same box and the dealership couldn't tell they weren't OEM unless they looked at them from the inside(where all the non OEM stamps are). .....WD was twice as much as W & Cs. My Dad nor I have had an issue with any set. I drive my cars HARD as well. 130+ is seen regular when the car is taken out,always have backend is all over the place, and the roads around Sac suck hard. Heck I even slammed my old 99' into a sidewall dragging the replica wheel for 20 feet and the wheel didn't break or crack,it just scratched and was slightly bent. I've had bent OEM wheels are well,there nothing special. I've had bent MOMO and BBS wheels in my house....So I wonder if they are even worth it.

Blinkwatt, Lot's of good info in this string but you were the first to provide first hand knowlege of the wheels in question! Thanks for taking the time!