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[donnyblaze1]

Pro tip: if you call Apex on the phone to order rather than buying on the website, they'll often offer you free Ground shipping. Not sure if the same is true for Titan or not.

[pbonsalb]

Apex also has regular group buys on which you can get $100-250 off a set plus free shipping. I have put over 100k combined street driving miles on the Apex ARC 8 on my 99 and 08 M3s. Great value for a light and strong wheel, and even more so at group buy prices.

[JackieChiles]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If I go to the wheel makers’ websites,

Apex ARC8 18x9.5 weighs 19.2 and costs $314 while the 10.5 weighs 20.45 lbs and costs $344 or $1,316 for the set.

Titan7 T-5S 18x9.5 weighs 18.3 and the 10.5 weighs 18.8 lbs, and the set costs $2000.

The Titan7 are just over 50% more money and save just under 10% weight. The TS-5 is lighter, has a more unique look, and forged is stronger so some people would pay more. However, the Apex are great wheels and you could have a set plus a pulley or some intakes or exhausts for the same price.

No one is talking about the arc 8. The op is referencing ec-7. Those weights and costs are in my post.

[pbonsalb]

If you want to make the Titans look even better, compare them to new stock wheels and they will be cheaper and much lighter.

If you compare the EC7 to the T5S using the prices and weights at the makers’ websites, the EC7 are about 50% cheaper and about 15% heavier. I personally would not spend pretty much the same money as the ARC8 to buy the heavier EC7. Any of these wheels are a good weight savings over stock.

[Drifter2090]

I think the Titans look much better and are more unique but the Apex are great wheels too.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If I go to the wheel makers’ websites,

Apex ARC8 18x9.5 weighs 19.2 and costs $314 while the 10.5 weighs 20.45 lbs and costs $344 or $1,316 for the set.

Titan7 T-5S 18x9.5 weighs 18.3 and the 10.5 weighs 18.8 lbs, and the set costs $2000.

The Titan7 are just over 50% more money and save just under 10% weight. The TS-5 is lighter, has a more unique look, and forged is stronger so some people would pay more. However, the Apex are great wheels and you could have a set plus a pulley or some intakes or exhausts for the same price.

Note he is comparing the Titan's to the EC7, not the ARC8

Although I have a set of ARC8's and like them, there is no denying that Apex themselves have been driving the 'EC7 is designed for newer, heavier cars' story so I take it the ARC8 is not recommended for E9X-weight cars.

ARC8 is supposed to be for E46 and previous gens -- that is what I understand from Apex's marketing material
EC7 is stronger for E9X and future gens, but weighs and costs more

Now they made the FL5 and SM10 which are lighter than the EC7 while supposedly still being good for the E9X gen, but it's expensive as hell, totally nuts. That is what OP should be comparing to the Titans, but I bet there you'd have price parity

[JackieChiles]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

If you want to make the Titans look even better, compare them to new stock wheels and they will be cheaper and much lighter.

If you compare the EC7 to the T5S using the prices and weights at the makers’ websites, the EC7 are about 50% cheaper and about 15% heavier. I personally would not spend pretty much the same money as the ARC8 to buy the heavier EC7. Any of these wheels are a good weight savings over stock.

I’m not trying to do anything. The op posted two wheels, and those are the only two I compared. You brought the arc 8 into the discussion.

The prices are also not 50% different, I am not sure how you are doing your math.

[dparm]

I can't believe we're having an argument about a slight difference in wheel weight being a bigger factor than forged versus cast manufacturing.

[M3 Number 86]

Ec7 18s are $1300? You have them at $1900?

If you bend an apex you can buy a replacement for 50% off if you buy them new.

Not for titan7.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

Ec7 18s are $1300? You have them at $1900?

If you bend an apex you can buy a replacement for 50% off if you buy them new.

Not for titan7.

Good point, but the Titan-7's should be significantly stronger and not be as likely to bend.

[kyippee]

I have bent both wheels, the titan 7 wheels and apex EC-7.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

I have bent both wheels, the titan 7 wheels and apex EC-7.

Damn. Would be curious to hear how. I would assume a pretty significant incident bent the Titan wheels.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by JackieChiles

The prices are also not 50% different, I am not sure how you are doing your math.

$1336 for EC7 plus 50% of $1336 or $678 = $2012

TS5 are $2000 a set — about 50% more than EC7.

[pbonsalb]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Note he is comparing the Titan's to the EC7, not the ARC8

Although I have a set of ARC8's and like them, there is no denying that Apex themselves have been driving the 'EC7 is designed for newer, heavier cars' story so I take it the ARC8 is not recommended for E9X-weight cars.

ARC8 is supposed to be for E46 and previous gens -- that is what I understand from Apex's marketing material
EC7 is stronger for E9X and future gens, but weighs and costs more

I have been running ARC8 on my E90M3 for 8 years with no issues. Apex still sells them for E9xM3, posting very recently in a thread in Bimmer post. I have never read any recommendation against the ARC8 for the E9xM3. They have a great reputation as a durable wheel — including in E9xM3 — from everything I have read.

Seems like the EC7 is a bit of a dud in looks and sales so maybe Apex is trying to push sales.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

I have been running ARC8 on my E90M3 for 8 years with no issues. Apex still sells them for E9xM3, posting very recently in a thread in Bimmer post. I have never read any recommendation against the ARC8 for the E9xM3. They have a great reputation as a durable wheel — including in E8xM3 — from everything I have read.

Seems like the EC7 is a bit of a dud in looks and sales so maybe Apex is trying to push sales.

I also run a set on my E92 and have had 3, I think they're great, but that doesn't change the constant story of 'stronger wheels for heavier cars' that Apex has been mentioning for years already

In my mind, Apex = ARC8 wheel

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by dparm

Damn. Would be curious to hear how. I would assume a pretty significant incident bent the Titan wheels.

I have no clue what it was. Any wheel can bend, really. What I do know is that I've dragged BBS-CH wheels through shitty roads in Boston many years ago and those never bent.

Some of my opinions:
- Any wheel can bend or crack
- Forged vs. cast, all else the same, forged is more resistant
- Not all forgings are the same quality
- Design matters

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by dparm

Good point, but the Titan-7's should be significantly stronger and not be as likely to bend.

It's hard to believe because I know way too many volks that have bent on track. That's why I sold my Te37's. Too scared lol

[tdott]

Just adding to this since i am considering new wheels.

One thing no one talks about is load rating.
All 18x10 et25 for comparison


ARC8 - 1,550 lbs
EC7 - 1,550 lbs
FL-05- 1,550 lbs
SM-10 - 1,550 lbs
ARC8R - 1,800 lbs
EC7R - 1,800 lbs

Titan TS5 - 1,300 lbs (source)

BimmerWorld TA5R (Flow Formed) - 1,587lbs
Bimmerworld TA16 - 1,520 or 1,960 lbs (690kg I think, the pic I found it was hard to tell if it was 890 or 690)

[dparm]

Originally Posted by tdott

Just adding to this since i am considering new wheels.

One thing no one talks about is load rating.
All 18x10 et25 for comparison


ARC8 - 1,550 lbs
EC7 - 1,550 lbs
FL-05- 1,550 lbs
SM-10 - 1,550 lbs
ARC8R - 1,800 lbs
EC7R - 1,800 lbs

Titan TS5 - 1,300 lbs (source)

BimmerWorld TA5R (Flow Formed) - 1,587lbs
Bimmerworld TA16 - 1,520 or 1,960 lbs (690kg I think, the pic I found it was hard to tell if it was 890 or 690)

Load rating on what tire? Stickier tires mean lower load rating.

[pbonsalb]

I think he is suggesting load ratings may be related to wheel strength. If so, the Titan TS5 is a relatively weak wheel.

[TedA]

Originally Posted by JackieChiles

Titan 7 18s - cost, from a vendor here, 1890 shipped.

18x9.5 = 18.5 lbs
18x10.5 = 18.9 lbs

Apex ec7 18s - cost, 1600 from a vendor here, no real deals to be had new

18x9.5 = 21.75 lbs
18x10.5 = 22.5

Price differential = 300 dollars, or about 15%.

Weight differential = 3.25 / 3.5 lbs or also about 15%.

Definitely not 50% more and 10% less weight.

How do the competition OEM wheels compare to these stats?

[pbonsalb]

Google can tell you. Roughly, Add another 15% weight to the heavier of the 2 brands in the post you copied.