Latest batch replica AG M359 compared to OEM 359M

PYE46M3 · 06-18-2020, 08:44 PM

They’re pretty close to OEM finish and weight even less. For half the price it honestly makes no sense to buy OEM ones, especially since they are neither made by BBS nor forged. I know everyone is going to automatically say they’re crap and will bent easy etc etc but I’ve had them on my E46 for six years and they’ve survived some major potholes and the finish has been very durable. If the OE stuff was forged or lighter I would consider them but it makes no sense to pay another $1200 for OE at this rate.

lancerr · 06-19-2020, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanMpower

First 2 the AG is on the left, 3rd pic it's on top.

Are you sure that in the first to the AG is on the left? The left is the wheel that has that deep lustre/pearlescent effect you described and definitely does not look cheap.

DanMpower · 06-19-2020, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancerr

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanMpower

First 2 the AG is on the left, 3rd pic it's on top.

Are you sure that in the first to the AG is on the left? The left is the wheel that has that deep lustre/pearlescent effect you described and definitely does not look cheap.

Yeah in person it just looks like a generic hypersilver that you would find on any cheap wheel. The OEM finish looks really nice and I can see why it's so hard to replicate.

kyippee · 06-20-2020, 04:43 AM

I would say use the genuine BMW ones. While the other replica brands may be flow-formed, I think the engineering that goes into the wheel matters. They OE ZCP wheels are indeed heavy as they're cast, but they're also relatively strong for a cast wheel.

I've had plenty of flow-formed (cheap) aftermarket wheels bend ages ago with just street driving, and that really outweighed the weight benefits of the replicas.

dparm · 06-24-2020, 09:13 AM

Let me ask a really fundamental question because I don't know much about rep wheels: how is it that they can get a wheel to look virtually identical yet weigh less? How do we know that the material they removed won't compromise strength and durability? How do we know that the rotary forging/flow forming is actually going to be better than the pressure casting?

OEM wheels have to meet strict requirements and are designed specifically for the vehicle they're installed on.

ARS18 · 06-29-2020, 09:45 PM

What do they look like on the back? My reps say made in Taiwan but I don’t know what brand they are.

TboneS54 · 07-01-2022, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dparm

Let me ask a really fundamental question because I don't know much about rep wheels: how is it that they can get a wheel to look virtually identical yet weigh less? How do we know that the material they removed won't compromise strength and durability? How do we know that the rotary forging/flow forming is actually going to be better than the pressure casting?

OEM wheels have to meet strict requirements and are designed specifically for the vehicle they're installed on.

You not understanding the metallurgy involved doesn't mean that these wheels are less safe/durable. If anything about the wheels is less durable, it'll be the paint. Flow formed or rotary forged is well established. It has usurped cast as the cost efficient method of performance alloy wheel construction.

Lozza47 · 07-23-2022, 01:28 AM

Where do you guys order AG wheels?
Reasonable international shipping?

OzStriker · 08-05-2022, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lozza47

Where do you guys order AG wheels?
Reasonable international shipping?

Also keen to get some of these to Australia!

x3sm · 08-05-2022, 10:16 AM

What is the difference between V1 and V2? Also who sells forged version besides BMW?

drwankel · 08-06-2022, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by x3sm

What is the difference between V1 and V2? Also who sells forged version besides BMW?

V1 is pressure cast, same as OEM. V2 is Flow formed. Forged doesn't exist (yet).

x3sm · 08-06-2022, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drwankel

Quote:

Originally Posted by x3sm

What is the difference between V1 and V2? Also who sells forged version besides BMW?

V1 is pressure cast, same as OEM. V2 is Flow formed. Forged doesn't exist (yet).

Oh cool! Flow formed should be lighter and just as strong as OEM!

Yorksdsu · 08-19-2022, 08:16 PM

Was going to go the OEM route until I saw this thread . AG It is

L0ngb0arder · 03-10-2023, 09:04 PM

Will being looking at AG for mine as well

GeorgeA · 03-12-2023, 01:56 AM

How is the finish holding up? I heard the finish on these AG wheels deteriorate quickly.

TboneS54 · 03-13-2023, 10:47 AM

I've had mine for like 8 months with about 6-7k miles. There have been some little knicks (from rocks I assume), but otherwise, holding up fine. I do think a factory finish is more durable, as would powder coat, but neither is as pretty as this paint (esp powder).

E90325M · 03-13-2023, 11:12 AM

OEM 359 can bend as well, last year I went to a shop for a checking and finally repaired x3 rims and they were running on the car 79K miles by previous owners.

drwankel · 03-14-2023, 12:19 AM

The AG paint is not nearly as durable as the OEM finish in my experience.

I had paint chips develop on both of my AG rears the first day with mine. I haven't noticed any additional ones in the couple thousand miles that I put on them.

The paint in the lug bolt barrels is extremely fragile. If you do anything other than use hand tools with a soft exterior socket, you will damage the paint.

My OEM ZCP wheels at 65K on the other hand don't have any paint chips and the lug barrel paint is significantly more durable.

06-18-2020, 08:44 PM	#23
PYE46M3 Captain 852 Rep 659 Posts Drives: E46 M3, E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	They’re pretty close to OEM finish and weight even less. For half the price it honestly makes no sense to buy OEM ones, especially since they are neither made by BBS nor forged. I know everyone is going to automatically say they’re crap and will bent easy etc etc but I’ve had them on my E46 for six years and they’ve survived some major potholes and the finish has been very durable. If the OE stuff was forged or lighter I would consider them but it makes no sense to pay another $1200 for OE at this rate.
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06-20-2020, 04:43 AM	#26
kyippee Lieutenant Colonel 1072 Rep 1,617 Posts Drives: E92 M3, Supra MK5, F44 235GC Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I would say use the genuine BMW ones. While the other replica brands may be flow-formed, I think the engineering that goes into the wheel matters. They OE ZCP wheels are indeed heavy as they're cast, but they're also relatively strong for a cast wheel. I've had plenty of flow-formed (cheap) aftermarket wheels bend ages ago with just street driving, and that really outweighed the weight benefits of the replicas.
	Appreciate 1 dparm3849.50 Quote

06-24-2020, 09:13 AM	#27
dparm Stop the hate, get a V8 3850 Rep 8,625 Posts Drives: C7 Corvette GS, AMG C63 S Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	Let me ask a really fundamental question because I don't know much about rep wheels: how is it that they can get a wheel to look virtually identical yet weigh less? How do we know that the material they removed won't compromise strength and durability? How do we know that the rotary forging/flow forming is actually going to be better than the pressure casting? OEM wheels have to meet strict requirements and are designed specifically for the vehicle they're installed on. __________________ Now: 2017 Corvette Grand Sport, 2021 AMG C63 S sedan Past: 2011.5 M3 sedan ZCP
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06-29-2020, 09:45 PM	#28
ARS18 Private First Class 60 Rep 130 Posts Drives: 2013 BMW M3 ZCP Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Birmingham, AL iTrader: (1)	What do they look like on the back? My reps say made in Taiwan but I don’t know what brand they are.
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07-23-2022, 01:28 AM	#30
Lozza47 Private First Class 38 Rep 129 Posts Drives: 2013 F30 335i / 2011 E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2019 Location: Melbourne iTrader: (0)	Where do you guys order AG wheels? Reasonable international shipping? __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - Mineral White - Pure Edition I
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08-05-2022, 10:16 AM	#32
x3sm Captain 282 Rep 744 Posts Drives: M3 E93 Porsche Join Date: May 2018 Location: Ashville iTrader: (0)	What is the difference between V1 and V2? Also who sells forged version besides BMW? __________________ M3 E93 PORSCHE MACAN S: SOLD BMW X3 F25: SOLD AUDI S4: SOLD BMW E92 335: SOLD
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08-19-2022, 08:16 PM	#35
Yorksdsu Enlisted Member 21 Rep 42 Posts Drives: Q8 , e93 M3 Join Date: May 2021 Location: SOCAL iTrader: (0)	Was going to go the OEM route until I saw this thread . AG It is
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03-10-2023, 09:04 PM	#36
L0ngb0arder New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: Mercedes GLC43, Project-BMW1M Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Brisbane iTrader: (0)	Will being looking at AG for mine as well
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03-12-2023, 01:56 AM	#37
GeorgeA Major 758 Rep 1,408 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (3)	How is the finish holding up? I heard the finish on these AG wheels deteriorate quickly.
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03-13-2023, 10:47 AM	#38
TboneS54 YNWA 1043 Rep 813 Posts Drives: 2004 M3 6spd & 2011 M3 DCT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: SoCal iTrader: (2)	I've had mine for like 8 months with about 6-7k miles. There have been some little knicks (from rocks I assume), but otherwise, holding up fine. I do think a factory finish is more durable, as would powder coat, but neither is as pretty as this paint (esp powder). __________________ /// 2004 Silvergrey M3 · Coupe · 6MT · Slicktop · zero options /// 2011 Jerez/Bamboo E90 M3 · DCT · Slicktop · IG: @na.s54
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03-13-2023, 11:12 AM	#39
E90325M Captain 475 Rep 700 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW M3 Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: Portland,OR iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW X5 [0.00] 2011 BMW M3 [0.00]	OEM 359 can bend as well, last year I went to a shop for a checking and finally repaired x3 rims and they were running on the car 79K miles by previous owners. __________________ 2016 F15 X5 xDrive 35i Space Grey M-Sport - BM3 Tune/ER charger pipe/afe power dry panel filter. 2011 E92 M3 DCT MW - AA intake/Akrapovic slip on/Ohlins R&T/Stoptech ST60 and ST40/Underdrive Pulleys/Antigravity H6 40ah/Alpine Tune
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03-14-2023, 12:19 AM	#40
drwankel Major 1035 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 ZCP, 2021 M340i Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bothell, WA iTrader: (0)	The AG paint is not nearly as durable as the OEM finish in my experience. I had paint chips develop on both of my AG rears the first day with mine. I haven't noticed any additional ones in the couple thousand miles that I put on them. The paint in the lug bolt barrels is extremely fragile. If you do anything other than use hand tools with a soft exterior socket, you will damage the paint. My OEM ZCP wheels at 65K on the other hand don't have any paint chips and the lug barrel paint is significantly more durable.
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