Jorge- Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) Lets have the discussion, try to keep it on track and not get personal. This is something that I believe in quite strongly now a days, and I read this blog article last night which really goes into the debate in depth. http://www.bespokeventures.com/blog/2011/05/03/the-tough-conversation-knockoffs/ Whilst I am very strongly against replica parts of after market parts, which is mostly what the blog is about, I do think that replicas of OEM parts such as the LED rears most of us have can be accepted. A bit of a contraction I know, but these original manufacturers aren't putting in research into a product to then sell on for their income, they are parts that came on EVERY car they sold. This topic also goes to wheels, which is the my main problem with replica parts. Replica wheels, such as 90% of Rotas, should not see the light of day in my opinion. More I read into these kind of blogs and articles the most fustrated I get with companies producing replica products of much lower quality than the original part and at such a low price that it makes the original companies struggling to come any where near them in terms of competing in the market. What do you think? I have added a poll too. OEM parts include things like LED rears, but nothing done by ACS etc or of parts that have been customised to fit your car. Such as CSL wheels in non-M 18" fitment. These are knockoffs. Edited August 19, 2011 by Gaz Remove Tymm's vote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) I don't think 'Yes I'm cheap' is a good way to start Jorge. Didn't you run rep wheels for quite a while when you first got your 46? Just because someone runs reps, doesn't mean they're cheap. It may be the wheels they want can't be bought often (think rare wheels). Do you have no qualms with replica MV2's then as they're a replica OEM part? Don't think I'm knocking you, but it comes across very much "Do as I say, not as I do". I can't understand why you think replica LED rears are fine, yet other rep parts aren't. Whilst I am very strongly against replica parts of after market parts, which is mostly what the blog is about, I do think that replicas of OEM parts such as the LED rears most of us have can be accepted. A bit of a contraction I know, but these original manufacturers aren't putting in research into a product to then sell on for their income, they are parts that came on EVERY car they sold. No they didn't. They came on every car they sold from 2003-2006. Edit: Weren't you also looking to buy a patent part wing not so long ago? Edited May 5, 2011 by Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suhail97 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) I saw on watchdog years ago - that rep AMG wheels were literally falling apart while people drove them. This has always stuck with me and has been the main reason why I've stayed with the 16" seven spokes on my car, as my life and my kids life is worth more than saving a few quid on CSL reps. My black grill and even my floor matts are genuine BMW just because I know the quality and fitment is there. Edited May 5, 2011 by suhail97 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Guessing Depo dont count as reps ? if they do my vote is wrong lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Im all for replica parts, if the OEM's didnt charge such a high price in the first place then there wouldnt be a market for replaica parts. But as OEM's are so greedy people see fit to look elsewhere for alternatvie branding but similar styling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 The only thing aftermarket on my car is the OSBU under the passenger seat. The tyres are dunlop SP and not the Conti's that come on it but that's not really the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 The only thing aftermarket on my car is the OSBU under the passenger seat. The tyres are dunlop SP and not the Conti's that come on it but that's not really the same. OSBU ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) For the record, I don't have any replica parts on my car (that I know of). I'm not against them though. Just because something is a replica, doesn't always mean it's inferior. I nulled my vote as none of the poll options fit my opinion on rep parts. Edited May 5, 2011 by Gaz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob- Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 OSBU ? Occupancy Sensor Bypass Unit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RickyZ Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Occupancy Sensor Bypass Unit Oh kk tnx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) My leds are reps/non oem my wheels are 18" style 95's and as far as i know they only came in 19"....give a f**k ill be lowwer than on 18" my wing is also an ebay copy (very good fitment) I dont see the big deal if im honest, as long as the owner is happy who honeslty gives a toss? its not like its your car isit? I clicked yes im cheap even though the cheap bit is ott imo, it chould be yes and i dont see a problem. Edited May 5, 2011 by Josh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamN Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Yes and no, I have 'cheap knockoffs' in the way of non-oem grills and replica clubsport splitters. My reason for buying them was because they were cheaper than the crazy BMW prices. Personally, i don't have a problem with these, otherwise i wouldn't have bought them. The grills fit perfectly, and although the CS splitters don't, they fit well enough for me and the fact i paid something like £35 per side instead of ~£180 per side, keeps me happy. Wheels: Again, i don't have a problem with replica wheels at all, although personally would prefer to own genuines instead of replicas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jay. Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 i've had a set of replica LM's as personally i don't see point in buying gens as i dont track it or drive hard etc, noone knows if they're gens once on the car , and look good at half the price. like Simon said, if they didn't charge such rediculous money in the first place, more people would buy genuine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
method69uk Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Hmmm.. I have replica LED rear's by Eagle Eyes and 18" M6 rep alloys (which I know a lot of people on the forums don't like on an E46 anyway! ) Does having CCFL angel eyes count as rep, or knockoff? As the E46 never came with any obviously And when I get round to it I will buy Depo projector headlights and fit them with an HID kit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Turko Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Im all for replica parts, if the OEM's didnt charge such a high price in the first place then there wouldnt be a market for replaica parts. But as OEM's are so greedy people see fit to look elsewhere for alternatvie branding but similar styling. But what about R&D?? A company like schnitzer would have a design team working through hundreds of designs, options, materials, prototypes etc. They then price them accordingly (they are an upgrade over standard BMW parts after all). Some monkey comes along, takes a mould and undercuts them. Whats the point? Not on a soap box - just providing arguement to the pricing/availability side of things. That said, I'm impartial to it to be honest. Some parts I don't mind. As long as quality doesn't suffer. Lip spoilers, bumpers, interior trim etc - not fussed. Wheels, are a no-no for me. I would never buy rep wheels again after my ACS type 3's. They lasted a year before tarnishing, and that was with me constantly cleaning/waxing them. Ive also seen how they fare in accidents, and it doesnt look good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I cant really answer any of the options as they're very bias to your opinion Jorge. The bottom line is, designer brands and OEM are over priced. It's no different to some pleb spening £150 on Moschino jeans for the name when they're no better than a £50 pair from the shop next door. In some instances replica wheels might not be of a good standard. That's not limited to replica wheels however. There's many genuine budget brands out there that arent super strong top end wheels. The trick is to use wheels for their purpose - driving. Dont crash - no failure. Easy peasy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Turko Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 like Simon said, if they didn't charge such rediculous money in the first place, more people would buy genuine. Basic economics. The increase in quantity demanded is not enough to warrant the price drop. And anyway, even if a wheel manufacturer put their prices down, replica wheels would just get cheaper. The likes of BBS etc will never be able to be perfectly competitive anyway. R&D and increased product quality will always prevent them from price beating replicas, so there is no point trying. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
autosri Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I'm with Simon on this if oem part went so expensive i would buy oem Take the ac roof spoilers they are well over 100 quid and it's about a quids worth of plastic and a mould so why does a rep cost a third of the amount for the same stuff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simonlpearce Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I disagree. OEM's have masses more buying power than some guy in china with a half decent sized factory. OEM's could also put clauses on suppliers not to sell to anyone other than themselves in order to keep th market competitive. Ok i appreciate you have to take R&D into account but for a compay that has been knocking out wheels for years R&D will be minimal. Id love to know what the margins are on a genuine set of LM's compared to a replica set...until we know this then anything we say here is all speculation. For all we know OEM's may have a lower cost price but sell for higher because they have genuine stamps on the back. Also lets not forget the free advertising these OEMs get from replica stuff... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I don't have any replica kit on my car, not planning on getting any either - however I can fully understand why some people go for it! The prices some companies charge for the simplest of things is ridiculous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baz666 Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I will always check and do my home work on any part i`m buying, my first choice would be Oem but if i know i carnt afford it then cheapy i will go and i`m happy to do so. prime example bmw wanted £77 for a thermostat made by weliar? same stat same part number from c3bmw £42 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
das_flo Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 (edited) Pointless thread if you ask me, but here's my bit of input. Replica's, whether it be sunglasses, watches, wheels or anything else, bring more expensive goods in reach of the masses who wouldn't otherwise be able to afford them. That's fine, i'm sure you'd have no problem with that either. If Joe Bloggs wants to walk down the road with "OKEY" or "TOMMY HILFINGER" written on the side of his shades, you wouldn't stop him and tell him that they have no place being on his face would you? I think you've been hanging around with the "Fake splits can f**k off" crowd for too long mate tbh. Whilst I am very strongly against replica parts of after market parts, which is mostly what the blog is about, I do think that replicas of OEM parts such as the LED rears most of us have can be accepted. This topic also goes to wheels, which is the my main problem with replica parts. Replica wheels, such as 90% of Rotas, should not see the light of day in my opinion. OEM parts include things like LED rears, but nothing done by ACS etc or of parts that have been customised to fit your car. Such as CSL wheels in non-M 18" fitment. These are knockoffs. Question for you Jorge, what is your stance (like what I did there?) on my wheels? They're VMR VB3, they resemble CSL's, but are not "CSL replicas"...? Thet are a replica of an OEM part, but redesigned in a different fitment to OEM - are they knock off, replicas, or acceptable as an OEM replica part? For the purpose of the poll, I have knock off bits on my car (CS splitters). Edited May 5, 2011 by das_flo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 I'd buy replica wheels if they came in the OEM sizes tbh. Mostly they seem to be "same all round" though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gaz Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Let's not forget these wheels before getting high and mighty about reps Jorge http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24430&st=0&p=324096&fromsearch=1&#entry324096 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_330CI Posted May 5, 2011 Report Share Posted May 5, 2011 Let's not forget these wheels before getting high and mighty about reps Jorge http://www.e46zone.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=24430&st=0&p=324096&fromsearch=1&#entry324096 Yeah, but no, but yeah, but no, but but but but bit, no, yeah erm what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
