18" Sport Rims Different Finishes - Page 2

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:29 PM

#26

Bmarcinczyk14

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2016 C300 w/ sport package

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR7

That doesn't mean anything.
All of my aftermarket ambient light items came in very official looking MB boxes. China will copy and replicate anything and everything.

They're good at copying, but pretty sure you'll start getting into major legal issues if you start copying things like the country of origin (anywhere outside where they actually came from) and the genuine Mercedes 3 point star marking. And if you can't go after the actual Chinese factory they came from, the distributor in the states will probably have a lot of liability on his hands. County of origin is a pretty big deal. Don't think it's worth the major legal trouble you can get into.

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:31 PM

#27

PaulR7

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W205

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bmarcinczyk14

Hoo boy, let me tell you, you know nothing if you think the Chinese care. Try any of the *reps subreddits like fashion or designer, that might open your eyes.
Car parts are absolutely no different to them than clothes, they will and do copy everything.

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:34 PM

#28

Bmarcinczyk14

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2016 C300 w/ sport package

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR7

Then what about the distributors in the states or whatever country you're in? Their hands are completely clean of selling illegal knock-off rims that falsely try to present to be factory oem?

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:38 PM

#29

PaulR7

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W205

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bmarcinczyk14

Then what about the distributors in the states or whatever country you're in? Their hands are completely clean of selling illegal knock-off rims that falsely try to present to be factory oem?

Most likely no, that is the only leg you have to stand on in case the wheels (or anything else as it goes) are counterfeit; you could go after them as selling counterfeit items is illegal (in China as well unless you disclose it's a replica, pretty much everywhere else even if you do disclose it it's still illegal).
Most of the companies hope you won't bother so they can get away with it though or play dumb.

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:49 PM

#30

Bmarcinczyk14

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2016 C300 w/ sport package

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR7

But that's my point, as long as you're buying from a well known reputable place, they're not gonna risk their whole business on distributing knock-offs that illegally try to portray as oem.

Sep 14, 2021 | 06:50 PM

#31

Bmarcinczyk14

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2016 C300 w/ sport package

Quote:

Originally Posted by rightrudder

Both pictures I posted were of a wheel that came with the car, so it has both the M-B logo and China, albeit on different spokes.

All I can say about the new replacement wheel is that it came in a very official-looking M-B box and had the Made in Germany lettering.

Did you get the car new so you know for a fact they're the originals?

Sep 14, 2021 | 07:01 PM

#32

rightrudder

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2017 Mercedes-Benz C300

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaulR7

That doesn't mean anything.
All of my aftermarket ambient light items came in very official looking MB boxes. China will copy and replicate anything and everything.

I don't really care if it's OEM or a replica as long as it's a high quality wheel. The one I got was perfect in terms of casting quality, paint match, and took very little balance weight (I know that's partly a function of how true the tires are, but still...)

It's not like I'm gonna display the car at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in 2045 and a judge will knock off points for it!!