Why are HRE wheels so expensive....What's the deal with them?
07-02-2005, 08:29 PM
#1
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Cls 63 amg, 2006 Bmw M6
Why are HRE wheels so expensive....What's the deal with them?
hey guys as some of you know I'm looking for new rims. Searching many places i have come across these HRE wheels. Why are they so expensive? Mnay people like the look.....personally there are many other rims that look way better than all those spokes coming out.........Not unlike BBS which I am also not a fan of. But what is it with these funny wheels.......are they light weight, what........is it. I mean 5k for a set of rims that is not even full faced is just crazy unless it has meaningful perfomance reasons....which I don't know about. Just curious that is all. I mean I could understand Lorinser, Amg, carrlson lightweights.......these are companies that are almost Mercedes specific and unique......so much so that almost every small rim company that I have seen has some kind of replica of either amg or lorinsor especially. Plus they look gorgeous.........so I ask again what's the deal with HRE wheels. Racing heritage....... 
I've even heard that lately they have a reputation for not being so good and causing problems on races.....Is this true......someone on this forum mentioned it. I think in the E55 section.
I've even heard that lately they have a reputation for not being so good and causing problems on races.....Is this true......someone on this forum mentioned it. I think in the E55 section.
07-02-2005, 10:26 PM
#5
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Cls 63 amg, 2006 Bmw M6
Originally Posted by straightSIX
They are not light by any means!
07-03-2005, 12:52 AM
#6
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Twin Cities
Posts: 653
Likes: 0
Received 46 Likes
on
39 Posts
Too many to list
How can they be custom-made when I see them everywhere...from ebay to performance shops all over the net? They look just like any rims out there. 
Usually when it's custom-made, the manufacturer builds a set from the ground up to your liking. Or is my understanding of custom-made wrong? 
Usually when it's custom-made, the manufacturer builds a set from the ground up to your liking. Or is my understanding of custom-made wrong?
07-03-2005, 01:39 AM
#7
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: orange county, ca
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 E55
custom in the sense that its made for your specific vehicle. My HRE's were a perfect fit with no rubbing or spacers required. Wait time was about 2 months for them to "custom" make them to fit my car
Trending Topics
07-03-2005, 02:19 AM
#8
MBworld Guru
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Diamond Bar, CA
Posts: 22,007
Likes: 0
Received 6 Likes
on
6 Posts
white and whiter
the carlsson 1/16 ultralight are $10k just for rims. HRE are cheap by comparison, but still a ripoff imo. however they are forged meaning they are stronger at the face, but I've heard they use softer material for inner rim.
07-03-2005, 04:37 AM
#9
It's strong enough for street use.
Anyways, if you really are pushing it hard, you'd have the sense to by the Competition series
Honestly though, although the wheels are expensive on their site, after you factor in discounts and whatnot by going through a dealer, they aren't that bad compared to the other big tuners.
Anyways, if you really are pushing it hard, you'd have the sense to by the Competition series
Honestly though, although the wheels are expensive on their site, after you factor in discounts and whatnot by going through a dealer, they aren't that bad compared to the other big tuners.
07-03-2005, 04:44 AM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 5,816
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
W124's
Curious, have any of you actually picked up a HRE wheel?
They are pretty much the lightest wheels I ever picked up. Someday though...someday I'll get a set of my own.
They are pretty much the lightest wheels I ever picked up. Someday though...someday I'll get a set of my own.
07-03-2005, 07:57 AM
#12
Member
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Marlboro, New Jersey
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
05 C55, BMWX 3.0, Subaru Forester (Shaggin Wagon)
HRE's are pretty light. With that you must sacrifice strength. A family member has HRE's on his S4 and they've been in the shop twice for repairs, rim bends.
To me strength is more important than weight unless you visit the race track. Not that I would go out and get steel wheels though......
I am sure you know what I mean....it's a balance.....
To me strength is more important than weight unless you visit the race track. Not that I would go out and get steel wheels though......
I am sure you know what I mean....it's a balance.....
07-03-2005, 04:30 PM
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: May 2004
Location: orange county, ca
Posts: 1,654
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2006 E55
I weighed mine a few weeks ago at a friends who had a digital scale for packages. HRE 547R, 19x9.5, Toyo T1R tire 265/30-19 came in at a hair over 50 lb.
07-04-2005, 02:03 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Sunny California
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by straightSIX
They are not light by any means!
HRE is expensive because it's forged, custom-made to spec to your vehicle, and the price tag builds a reputation on your car lol!
As for the race failures, it's all bad-hype. It is common sense that a small mass of material can only withstand so much punishment. So when a track/racer brings his car to the track with 19" split spoke, uber-thin, uber-open-bbk-revealing HREs he must think the alloy is indestructable and asking for a whole world of hurt. That's why you see race cars with race-mesh style rims (much stronger), not the bbk-revealer-type earlier mentioned...they're a bunch of idiots, so I think it's very unfair that HRE gets blamed for that nonsense. Hence, why they released the COMPETITION series, specifically tailored for tracking/racing, which hasn't failed even once yet.
And yes, I've picked up several sets of HREs before. I am sporting 841r on my car right now.
Last edited by BrabusW203; 07-04-2005 at 02:22 PM.
07-04-2005, 05:21 PM
#17
MBWorld Fanatic!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Louisiana
Posts: 7,587
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
E320
Originally Posted by caliboy
hey guys as some of you know I'm looking for new rims. Searching many places i have come across these HRE wheels. Why are they so expensive? Mnay people like the look.....personally there are many other rims that look way better than all those spokes coming out.........Not unlike BBS which I am also not a fan of. But what is it with these funny wheels.......are they light weight, what........is it. I mean 5k for a set of rims that is not even full faced is just crazy unless it has meaningful perfomance reasons....which I don't know about. Just curious that is all. I mean I could understand Lorinser, Amg, carrlson lightweights.......these are companies that are almost Mercedes specific and unique......so much so that almost every small rim company that I have seen has some kind of replica of either amg or lorinsor especially. Plus they look gorgeous.........so I ask again what's the deal with HRE wheels. Racing heritage....... I've even heard that lately they have a reputation for not being so good and causing problems on races.....Is this true......someone on this forum mentioned it. I think in the E55 section.
I've even heard that lately they have a reputation for not being so good and causing problems on races.....Is this true......someone on this forum mentioned it. I think in the E55 section.
07-04-2005, 06:26 PM
#18
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Cls 63 amg, 2006 Bmw M6
Originally Posted by oggle
Some would make analogous comments about your car...
Some would make analogous comments about MB in general this past decade....but yet you still see a whole forum including YOU driving around in Benzo's. What's your point BIG MAN? Talking here about rims that frankly look alright for an outstanding amount of money. Just wondering why so expensive is all. I think I got the response I was looking for... Forged, Reputation, and Custom(aka no spacers/no rubbing) made to your car makes a good arguement compensating for the OK looks in IMO.
07-04-2005, 10:23 PM
#19
Former Vendor of MBWorld
why did u pick a C230SS over a Sentra SER Spec V? there pretty much the same right? i mean was it the name? racing heritage or performance of the Mercedes that made u like it better?
07-05-2005, 03:10 AM
#20
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 832
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
C 230K Coupé
Uhh i just think it's their reputation for quality. Same thing for MB's when compared to acuras, lexuses and other stuff. MB's also have problems sometimes. But that doesnt' stop anyone from buying em. HRE's are just a very well made custom wheel and the name's been around for a while. I think they make gorgeous rims, but that's just my opinion.
07-05-2005, 03:13 AM
#21
Former Vendor of MBWorld
Originally Posted by r3v1ls
Uhh i just think it's their reputation for quality. Same thing for MB's when compared to acuras, lexuses and other stuff.
Not according to JD power.
07-05-2005, 06:11 PM
#23
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Cls 63 amg, 2006 Bmw M6
Originally Posted by BlackC230Coupe
Not according to JD power.
You guys are hilarious!
And BTW I got an MB cause it looks hot! ANd I'm a fanatic!
Sentra Spec yup it is a one ugly looking spec of crap lol! very reliable though!
LOL!
07-05-2005, 06:14 PM
#24
Super Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Florida
Posts: 978
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012 Cls 63 amg, 2006 Bmw M6
Originally Posted by BlackC230Coupe
why did u pick a C230SS over a Sentra SER Spec V? there pretty much the same right? i mean was it the name? racing heritage or performance of the Mercedes that made u like it better?
