How do you identify genuine CSL's? - identified as reps

Raify

Active member
 Kent
I've just got a Z4m Coupe with CSL's. I assumed that they'd be genuine CSL's as it's from a BMW main dealer.

But I just want to double check. They look genuine enough, BMW centre caps, M logos and some embossed stamps.

Does anyone know how to identify a genuine one?
 
dgm said:
BBS stamped on the back.

Apparently the good replicas even have this. However, the lettering isn't clear or is partially filled. Safest option would be to buy from a reliable source and maybe pay that little bit extra.
 
Ed Winchester said:
dgm said:
BBS stamped on the back.

Apparently the good replicas even have this. However, the lettering isn't clear or is partially filled. Safest option would be to buy from a reliable source and maybe pay that little bit extra.

They would be good counterfeits then as opposed to replicas. I know what you mean, if they go to that length then you won't know until they crack when you hit a hole in the road. In this case the cars been bought from a BMW dealer who aren't allowed to sell the cars with aftermarket wheels. I'm not saying it's impossible but I'd be very surprised if they've sold the car with copies on it.
 
I was suprised to find it on the AUC site with CSL's at all, so I'd be flabbergasted if they are copies. I'll pop one off this afternoon to have a look at the back.

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I'm going to state the obvious here! If you are concerned now, why didn't you look into this before you bought the car? :wink: (saying that, we've all done it!).

I personally wouldn't have bothered.

If it's used, a dealer wouldn't give it a second look as to wheels, especially if they looked original. I bet if you asked the dealer they wouldn't know how to check! They probably wouldn't care! :wink:

I'd just enjoy your car! It's under warranty. :thumbsup:
 
It's very difficult to tell...Being shadow chrome...I know andy had his refurb'd but i'd cheekily say there reps. Can't be too many people refurbin them that colour. And reps are available in that colour.

The reps i've seen have BBS on them! lol...
 
Is the inside of the rim nicely curved around and up to the bead seat... not sure the reps I've seen are like this!?

OEM's are best spotted by their very low 'dry' weight :)

Dave
 
Dave tbh, your hands maybe better for feeling weight than mine...but i picked up the OEM's and Reps and could not feel a difference. It's only 500grms on the front and 750 on the back...Not much really.

Although on that basis it's probably more worryin as they're made out of recycled baked bean cans.......
 
Breaker said:
I'm going to state the obvious here! If you are concerned now, why didn't you look into this before you bought the car? :wink: (saying that, we've all done it!).

Because when I bought it, I didn't know that replicas existed.

Breaker said:
I'd just enjoy your car! It's under warranty. :thumbsup:

Exactly, if they do turn out to be reps, I'll be asking for a proper set F.O.C.
 
Raify said:
so I'd be flabbergasted if they are copies.

My gast is well and truly flabbered. I think they're replicas.

I just parked them next to my friend's CSL and there's a BMW embossed stamp missing in the gap between the M logo and the centre cap. All the other codes are exactly the same.

I'll be going to my local main dealer tomorrow to see how to proceed, as the one I bought it from is 200 miles away. Really f-ing gutted, it's nearly spoiling an otherwise excellent new car experience. :headbang:
 
Aliv6 said:
Dave tbh, your hands maybe better for feeling weight than mine...but i picked up the OEM's and Reps and could not feel a difference. It's only 500grms on the front and 750 on the back...Not much really.

Although on that basis it's probably more worryin as they're made out of recycled baked bean cans.......

I'd use scales, then pretend I could just tell from holding them :P

Honestly though, it's one way to tell, but you'd need to have no tyres on them to do it.


Maybe the date stamp matrix thing would give a good hint? If they are reps they will be very recent, and I doubt BBS have made many CSL's in recent years with their going bust then being bought up again etc etc...!?
 
Update:

1. Took the car to local BMW dealer, and they confirmed the wheels as fakes. As well as the missing stamp, the centre cap is different (it has 2 rings around the circumference and not one).

2. The BMW dealer I bought it from called me today to check everything was ok with the car. The service from them has been excellent by the way. I took the oppotunity to thank him for a smooth sale, and bring up the wheel problem. He sounded concerned, and said that they were sold to him as genuine wheels. He's asked for it all in writing so he can go to his manager with it.

From reading around this forum, it appears that the fakes have a different dish (hard to tell with naked eye, even when next to the M3 CSL) which means that the tyres will be stretched too much. There is very little rim protection from the tyre, which I put down to the brand of tyre.
 
Mate - don't let this spoil anything.

For one - they're not 'fakes' - they're replicas. Many people have fitted these and are happy with them.

I appreciate how you must feel disappointed - but they look great on the car.

Not sure where you stand on it, but at least the sales guy has seemed genuine.

As I say - don't let it spoil your enjoyment.
 
Raify said:
From reading around this forum, it appears that the fakes have a different dish (hard to tell with naked eye, even when next to the M3 CSL) which means that the tyres will be stretched too much. There is very little rim protection from the tyre, which I put down to the brand of tyre.

If the wheel width is the same, then the amount of 'dish' will not make any difference to the amount the tyre is stretched. A 265 wide tyre will cover the same amount of rim on a 9J deep-dish wheel as on a 9J shallow-dish wheel.

Most tyres don't have a big enough rim protector to cover the CSL wheels - I was planning on going to 275 or 285 rears to solve that problem - until I learned to stay/park at least 1m away from kerbs :P

If they've got a BMW/BBS stamp on them then they're fake/counterfeit/hokey/etc. as they're using trademarks without permission.

If they're sold as 'originals' and they're not, then they're fake/counterfeit - if they're sold with a different name then they're 'replicas' - even if the replica is identical but made of inferior material. The term 'replica' is solely used to make the sellers feel more comfortable about selling something on the looks/style of the original - it's purely semantics of copyright law that defines the difference between fake/counterfeit and replica/copy/homage. Do you think a fashion house would like Asda to sell a exact 'replica' of their handbag/dress/etc - or would they sue them for counterfeiting?

If you can get some cash back whilst holding on to the replicas, then I wouldn't be too unhappy.
 
senwar said:
Mate - don't let this spoil anything.

For one - they're not 'fakes' - they're replicas. Many people have fitted these and are happy with them.

I appreciate how you must feel disappointed - but they look great on the car.

Not sure where you stand on it, but at least the sales guy has seemed genuine.

As I say - don't let it spoil your enjoyment.

You're right, I've only called them fakes to emphasise the point to BMW. I know there are many happy customers here, and if I'd bought them myself I'd be happy too. As you've said, they look great.

But, I paid a premium to buy from BMW AUC and to have genuine CSL's, and a warranty for everything on the car. If something happened to these wheels, my local dealer would not touch them as they're non-bmw parts. Also BMW are not supposed to sell cars with non-BMW parts on them through the AUC system. I also presume that they're not as light as genuine's.

I'm glad that I appear to have a good dealer and salesperson dealing with it. Let's see what they decide...
 
JayT said:
I'd also inform your insurance company as this probably counts as a modification...

If the dealer resolves it with original CSL's, and it was an AUC, then I'd say it was original equipment (optional) and not needed to declare.

I haven't declared my extended storage, wind deflector, 108's etc etc :)

Dave
 
Mr Whippy said:
JayT said:
I'd also inform your insurance company as this probably counts as a modification...

If the dealer resolves it with original CSL's, and it was an AUC, then I'd say it was original equipment (optional) and not needed to declare.

I haven't declared my extended storage, wind deflector, 108's etc etc :)

Dave
If BMW do replace them with originals the yes you prob do not need to inform the insurance company.

But in the meantime whilst BMW sort this out if Raify is going to be driving his zed he may not be covered as they are replica wheels. Even if it was sold as AUC i dont think the insurance company will care.. they'd do anything not to pay up!
 
Yep I agree, best to just tell them, probably won't change much if they are at all mod friendly.

Ie, my Norwich Union are happy with up to 3 mod areas (ie, wheels, brakes, suspension for example), as long as none increase engine power, and they are hardly a 'modders' insurer :)

Dave
 
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