Alloy wheel expert help needed

[MTRL]

I need a trained eye please:

I brought a set of used genuine 18" RS4 Alloys, one turned out to be buckled so I sourced another from ebay.
I assumed all genuine RS4 18" woud be the same.

It arrived today and it doesn't match.
(ignore the aparent size difference, car is on 225/40/18, new wheel is on 235/40/18. Alloys themselves match in diameter and width).

The space between the sets of spokes is bigger.
The finish is duller than the ones already on the car.

Is one kind a replica? If so which kind?

Shiz of ebay is 9 times out of 10 a massive let down!!!


Ones I brought last week installed, ebay one next to it:

Last weeks purchace:

Ebay purchace:

Ebay purchace has part numbers stamped around the hub:

Last weeks purchase has the numbers stamped on the rear of the spokes (no photo)


Can anyone shed some light please?

 

[Ads]

I reckon the ones on your car are replicas, and the ebay one is genuine.

 

[*Müllërz]

n8's the don on these things

 

[Sheikh]

Yeah the ones on your car look like reps... you can spot RS4 reps from a mile off. Although i could be wrong.

 

[Ads]

I'm sure the genuine ones have a slight lip that runs around the rim and your ebay one has it.
The ones on your car don't.

Also, look at the hole for the air valve. The hole for the wheel on your car looks slightly off-centre on the rim, whereas the ebay alloy looks dead centre:

 

[cwitcombe]

I'm sure the genuine ones have a slight lip that runs around the rim and your ebay one has it.
The ones on your car don't.

Also, look at the hole for the air valve. The hole for the wheel on your car looks slightly off-centre on the rim, whereas the ebay alloy looks dead centre:

Agree with this, RS4 originals have a lip around the edge.

 

[MTRL]

I see what you mean, its quite noticeable now you have pointed it out.

I have spent a lot of money on the car recently so have no choice, its going to have to go on for now... with 225 tyre

Will it cause a problem putting one odd wheel on there? weight difference?

This is very disapointing I thought my first purchace was genuine.

 

[Ads]

I see what you mean, its quite noticeable now you have pointed it out.

I have spent a lot of money on the car recently so have no choice, its going to have to go on for now... with 225 tyre

Will it cause a problem putting one odd wheel on there? weight difference?

This is very disapointing I thought my first purchace was genuine.

The fact that they are reps probably explains why one was buckled.

My guess is that the offset will be different on the genuine alloy.. i.e. the wheel will sit further in or out of the car than the other 3 wheels. Not ideal.

 

[crunchie]

Need to check the offset of the genuine one against the other 3 replicas also.

 

[MTRL]

Need to check the offset of the genuine one against the other 3 replicas also.

How do I find out the offset?

 

[Ads]

How do I find out the offset?

Well the ebay one is ET43 (see your photo below):

You'll have to take off one of the other wheels to see if they have the offset stamped on it too. Will be "ET##".