Interest in: 1:1 CSL 1 Piece Forged Wheels

[Tbonem3]

Nothing as long as you're aware that you're buying a cast wheel made in China.

Flow formed, just like BBS Germany

[Tbonem3]

Nah RC's look like ARC8's (no shit) and I can't unsee that LOL.

I want CSL wheels but in 18's that are forged.

Like an 18x10 ET27 would be ideal.

Probably lighter than my E88's too.

I know I know.

I don't think the CSL design works well in 18, too scrunched. The various 18" reps out there just look off imo.

ARC8s are lighter than your E88s

[repoman89]

You can get BBS RCs then. Literally the CSL 8 spoke design BBS made but in 18".

Can you actually get these? I would run 18” RC that fit our cars instantly but I can’t find them sold anywhere. I’d run RGRs too like I do on my M5 if I was still on stock brakes, or even RS-GT if i could somehow verify fitment.

As it is I've given up on finding non-rep 18s that generally look like CSL/ZCPs and that fit a BBK.

Epoustouflant are you able to share where the wheels in this group buy are made?

[Tbonem3]

They, like RS, are probably NLA. They other issue with RC is that they're like E36 era, so the widths and offsets are weak for the modern day enthusiast E46 m3. Enter the ARC8 in 9.5"et22 and 10"et25.

[repoman89]

^Yeah, the offsets are my problem. I actually would rather run a narrower ~8.5/9.5 f/r setup for the street for better steering feel. A 235/265 split with modern summer tires like ps4s far exceeds the capability I will ever ask from the car on public roads (especially being down a couple hundred pounds from stock). Track is a different story but I’m moving away from that hobby a bit.

[simonnim]

Nothing as long as you're aware that you're buying a cast wheel made in China.

Oh, did not know that. I have heard they bend super easily.

[Slideways]

Oh, did not know that. I have heard they bend super easily.

After watching this video, it becomes fairly clear why RAYS (VOLKS) and certain other forged wheels, mainly made in Japan, are worth the premium.

[IamFODI]

I have no problem believing Apex's "forged" wheels really are forged. But "forged" is just a general description of one aspect of the production process. What about the alloys used? Quality of the blanks? All the other aspects of the production process? I'd rather have a forged Apex wheel than anything cast or flow-formed from other low-end aftermarket brands but, at half the price or less vs. BBS/Volk/etc., it makes sense that no Apex wheel is as strong/stiff as one from those high-end brands.

[Chas3n]

Serious question for those who can't stand the flow formed ARC8's.

What's so important to you having wheels that are forged? Cars and Coffee guys pick on you?

For those looking for real facts, I've had set(s) of apex wheels since 2011 on these cars. Never vent or broken a wheel. Not saying it hasn't happened, but the failure rate is extremely low and in the documented cases I've read about, Apex customer service provided a replacement wheel.

They don't win you points at car shows though, I get that.

[simonnim]

I have not run apex on track, but I know the 67's 18" can survive the rough turn curbs on thunderhill west.

[Tbonem3]

The failure rate of apexs is very low. Ofc there are some failures, but think about how many thousands of wheelsets people have, not just on E46 or even on M cars or even BMWs!

[9kracing]

Flow formed, just like BBS Germany

I think Enkei was the first to market flow formed, but I could be wrong.

Either way, it's still a "cast" wheel in essence, albeit a higher end cast wheel.

Like I said though, there's nothing "wrong" with a cast wheel, as long as that's what you know you're buying.

The process to flow form a wheel is the wheel is cast, just like any other cast wheel, however the die for the barrel portion of the wheel is narrower than the final wheel will actually be. Once the cast is made the unfinished wheel is placed on a machine where the wheel is heated to over 400 degrees and then spun. A spinning disc contacts the wheel and widens the barrel of the wheel forming the final shape and width of the wheel. This process of heat and pressure helps strengthen the aluminum in the barrel portion of the wheel. The flow forming process can create some very lightweight wheels. Racers who compete in small cars like Spec Miata or Honda Challenge use these wheels for their advantage with reducing rotating mass. Less rotating mass helps with acceleration and breaking efficiency. There is some risk involved with flow formed wheels because with all of their lightness comes some issues with failures. The center of the wheel is still cast (with granular aluminum) and thus still has porosity in it which makes the hub section of the wheel brittle.

[IamFODI]

Serious question for those who can't stand the flow formed ARC8's.

What's so important to you having wheels that are forged? Cars and Coffee guys pick on you?

Can't speak for anyone else here.

Across myself and my friends, I've seen

- Many bent/broken cheap cast wheels
- A few bent flow formed / forged wheels from second-tier brands (Apex etc.)
- Absolutely zero bent forged wheels from tier-1 brands (BBS etc.)

My M3 does DD duty, and I've found that the less reason I have to fear potholes, the better my life is. But I also want my wheels to be light. So, I go for forged wheels from tier-1 brands.

Happy to run cheaper stuff on my Mazda5, though. 16" wheels with plenty of sidewall, and a soft suspension, so I kind of DGAF.

[Slideways]

Can't speak for anyone else here.

Across myself and my friends, I've seen

- Many bent/broken cheap cast wheels
- A few bent flow formed / forged wheels from second-tier brands (Apex etc.)
- Absolutely zero bent forged wheels from tier-1 brands (BBS etc.)

My M3 does DD duty, and I've found that the less reason I have to fear potholes, the better my life is. But I also want my wheels to be light. So, I go for forged wheels from tier-1 brands.

Happy to run cheaper stuff on my Mazda5, though. 16" wheels with plenty of sidewall, and a soft suspension, so I kind of DGAF.

Come on, the Mazda needs some forged Fuchs

[Tbonem3]

Never heard of or seen a bent bbs wheel? wtf