Any downside to getting replica S4 Rotors vs OEM?

[brinesi]

I keep losing out on OEM S4 rotors that are going up for sale (I keep getting #2 in line). They always have a bit of curb rash and are generally a little rough in terms of condition. I don't really mind some curb rash but it's gotten me thinking, since I need tires anyways, (I'm on 18's now), what is the benefit of OEM rotors over replicas?

[yjypm]

Oem rotors have more concave look than replica ones. (Especially a5/s5 and rs5 versions)

[A.C.]

Replicas are not made with the same standards as OEM. If the area you're living in is pothole free where the roads are bettee than the DMV per say you should be ok.

https://youtu.be/vaJixxQeosQ




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[brinesi]

Fascinating video. Even Hartmanns? I thought they were considered to be of high quality for replicas anyways...

[JettaGetUpandGo]

My brother bought a set of 19" knockoff wheels from China for his Jetta. When they arrived they were so thin it was a joke. By the end of the summer he had bent one and cracked another.

That being said, I've bent a BBS CH and two OEM Cayenne Turbo S wheels. All three had been powdercoated which I am convinced weakened the wheels. Never in my life have I bent another OEM or quality aftermarket wheel.

[A4Qwattro]

Replicas are not made with the same standards as OEM. If the area you're living in is pothole free where the roads are bettee than the DMV per say you should be ok.

https://youtu.be/vaJixxQeosQ




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Fascinating video. Even Hartmanns? I thought they were considered to be of high quality for replicas anyways...

Not trying to be difficult but I don't think you can really draw any conclusions about Audi replica wheels from a biased video about Mercedes replica wheels....Why would that make any sense to do?

That video is marketing propaganda. They probably got some garbage Chinese rims and under inflated the tires so the replica would crack... It frustrates me that companies take advantage of consumers who are not as well informed in this way...

There are many replica wheels out there that ARE of quality. Good aftermarket wheels come with "VIA" or "TUV" certification (standard for impact strength etc) which is done by an independent third party. "VIA JWL, and TUVcertication" are what to look for.

Hartmann wheels is one of the best aftermarket suppliers. All wheels independent third party certified VIA,TUV (european wheels standards), JWL (japanese wheel standar)

[A.C.]

Understand what you're saying and bring up valid points. As I stated previously it all depends on the usage and the roads itself. I was in my wife's MKIV GLI with factory BBS RC wheels and she hit a small pothole driving 30 mph and bent the rim without having a blowout. I was very surprised based on the impact. The GLI is stock. This case goes to show any wheel is inevitably vulnerable at any time of day or night (in this case).

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[SDV325]

Not trying to be difficult but I don't think you can really draw any conclusions about Audi replica wheels from a biased video about Mercedes replica wheels....Why would that make any sense to do?

That video is marketing propaganda. They probably got some garbage Chinese rims and under inflated the tires so the replica would crack... It frustrates me that companies take advantage of consumers who are not as well informed in this way...

There are many replica wheels out there that ARE of quality. Good aftermarket wheels come with "VIA" or "TUV" certification (standard for impact strength etc) which is done by an independent third party. "VIA JWL, and TUVcertication" are what to look for.

Hartmann wheels is one of the best aftermarket suppliers. All wheels independent third party certified VIA,TUV (european wheels standards), JWL (japanese wheel standar)

Agreed. That video just reeked of propaganda, designed to confuse the uneducated. Not once did they mention where they purchased the wheels from. That being said, MOST replica's are not designed or fabricated to anywhere the same standards as an OEM product, and the price reflects this. There has to be somewhat of a balance from OEM to aftermarket to justify the costs one way or another. There are good aftermarket wheels/parts out there, just have to avoid the eBay specials.

[sacandagaD]

There are a lot of Chinese potmetal wheels out there. Hartmann is NOT one of them, their specs are OEM.

[Cooper993]

Fascinating video. Even Hartmanns? I thought they were considered to be of high quality for replicas anyways...

I have had Hartmann RS4 replicas on my car for about 30K. Have hit a few big potholes and they are holding up.

[h_curtis]

Replicas are not made with the same standards as OEM. If the area you're living in is pothole free where the roads are bettee than the DMV per say you should be ok.

https://youtu.be/vaJixxQeosQ

Reminds me when I got OZ wheels for my B6. They sure looked nice at the beginning, but talk about total junk. I wouldn't touch an OZ wheel for anything. I have had one other set of aftermarket that I can't remember the name of. They also were not nearly as good as OEMs. I don't know about Hartman Wheels. They look nice, but I don't know if I can trust anything aftermarket anymore.

[Skyler@Achtuning]

An interesting discussion, certainly no wheel is indestructible but certainly quality varies between brands. We sold OZ wheels in the past and the old adage of "Light, cheap, strong, pick two" was on the mark. The OZs were light and inexpensive but you were lucky if you hit a pothole and didn't bend the rim lip. Hartmann strives to provide the best quality replica wheels and it's extremely uncommon that we hear of a customer bending a wheel (around three to four wheels yearly from thousands of sets in use). But when you have 3,500 to 6,000 lb Audis hitting a nasty pothole it's honestly best that the wheel deforms before transferring that force into the suspension to possibly bend a control arm or other component, that can involve much more downtime and expense. Hartmann has been in the wheel business since 1978 and had been Audi/VW focused for about 20 years now, we have a fair amount of Audi and VW dealerships that carry our wheels and quite a few enthusiasts on the forums that can attest to the quality and customer service we do our best to provide.

JettaGetUpandGo, interestingly we had a customer that had a set of wheels powdercoated about a year or two ago now and I'm not sure what the powdercoating shop did to them but 2-3 wheels in that set bent almost instantly once they were in use. This is an outlier to be sure as powdercoating wheels is a pretty common thing to have done but repainting may be the safer option for refinishing without compromising strength.

[whiped]

They probably baked the coating on and it weakened the metal.

I cracked one of my OZs. Granted, I don't think any wheel could have taken that bolt.

[Works2shoot]

What about a reconditioned wheel resale site like http://www.hubcaphaven.com/p/9288/al...0601025ar.html ?

They're out of stock on this page, but you get the idea.

[JettaGetUpandGo]

Reminds me when I got OZ wheels for my B6. They sure looked nice at the beginning, but talk about total junk. I wouldn't touch an OZ wheel for anything. I have had one other set of aftermarket that I can't remember the name of. They also were not nearly as good as OEMs. I don't know about Hartman Wheels. They look nice, but I don't know if I can trust anything aftermarket anymore.

OZ made the OEM wheels for the 20th Anniversary GTI. Maybe built to different specs than their typical aftermarket wheels, but they tend to be regarded as a quality aftermarket wheel manufacturer along with BBS, Rays/Volk, HRE, etc.

[JettaGetUpandGo]

JettaGetUpandGo, interestingly we had a customer that had a set of wheels powdercoated about a year or two ago now and I'm not sure what the powdercoating shop did to them but 2-3 wheels in that set bent almost instantly once they were in use. This is an outlier to be sure as powdercoating wheels is a pretty common thing to have done but repainting may be the safer option for refinishing without compromising strength.

I am convinced it was the powder coating. It was a shop that specializes in metal finishes, not wheel repair. Maybe the oven was too hot, I'm not sure. They did both sets I had issues with. The BBS I don't remember hitting anything, but there was a definite bend in the lip from an impact. The Cayenne wheels were oblong within a couple of months. No visible bend until they were put on a balancing machine and the runout was clearly visible and significant. The wheels were perfectly round after powder coating when tires were mounted.

More recently I had a set of RS5 wheels redone by a wheel repair shop. They were powdercoated, but no issues yet and it's been a few months with a few bad impacts.

[SteveYem]

What about a reconditioned wheel resale site like http://www.hubcaphaven.com/p/9288/al...0601025ar.html ?

They're out of stock on this page, but you get the idea.

I ordered a set of reconditioned S5 spec 5-arm rotor wheels from a different but similar business to hubcaphaven, and when I received the wheels I found that the finish on the spokes was peeling (maybe flaking is the more accurate term) around the back sides of the spokes. I don't know if it was powdercoating or some type of paint, but the finish was not acceptable and I had to send them back. There were also unsatisfactory machining marks in the unpainted "wedge" sections of the spokes. So, in my experience, proceed with caution when dealing with an aftermarket wheel refinisher.