When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I purchased from somebody who re-assured me was a factory Mercedes wheel. The rim looks good to me and matches the factory ones on the car. The one thing that made me skeptical was the "Made in China". Does Mercedes make any of their rims in China? Also the PN doesn't match what the OEM part number is but I've also seen this PN floating around on the internet for my car so maybe it's an older one that was superseded at some point? Another thing that throws me off is it has the Mercedes 3 point star which should indicate it's genuine, do aftermarket rims do this because I sure as hell know that would be illegal as hell to put that on if it's not a factory OEM.
Depends on how much you paid I suppose. If you paid $100 for China rim, then most likely it's fake. But if you paid $500 for it, you can sorta feel good that you paid OEM price but the seller is laughing to the bank.
Depends on how much you paid I suppose. If you paid $100 for China rim, then most likely it's fake. But if you paid $500 for it, you can sorta feel good that you paid OEM price but the seller is laughing to the bank.
It depends how much I paid to determine if it's an OEM or a knock off?? That's literally what your first sentence says. Then afterwards you imply no matter how much I paid it's still a knock off? A bit of conflicting information there don't ya think? This really doesn't contribute anything to the post as my question is simply can anyone verify whether the rim is OEM or a knock-off.
It depends how much I paid to determine if it's an OEM or a knock off?? That's literally what your first sentence says. Then afterwards you imply no matter how much I paid it's still a knock off? A bit of conflicting information there don't ya think? This really doesn't contribute anything to the post as my question is simply can anyone verify whether the rim is OEM or a knock-off.
How can someone simply verify a fake item when it's made to look original with stampings and numberings?
You can try comparing with your other rims and see if fonts are same. Try scrapping off bit of metal on all your tims and send it off to the lab and ask them the composition of the metallurgy.
How can someone simply verify a fake item when it's made to look original with stampings and numberings?
You can try comparing with your other rims and see if fonts are same. Try scrapping off bit of metal on all your tims and send it off to the lab and ask them the composition of the metallurgy.
Let me provide an example of a situation where I'd be able to verify that. If someone is aware that Mercedes does not manufacture any OEM rims in China, that would verify these are fake. Or on the other hand if someone is aware of OEM Mercedes rims being manufactured in China, that could mean these are likely genuine OEM. Or someone in the wheel industry could have experience with fake rims from China that have the same exact PN and 3 point star to make look genuine, that would more than likely provide verification these are fake. Or someone purchased a rim from their dealer and it had the exact same markings and said "Made in China", that would verify these are real. All things that would provide useful information to this thread.
Let me provide an example of a situation where I'd be able to verify that. If someone is aware that Mercedes does not manufacture any OEM rims in China, that would verify these are fake. Or on the other hand if someone is aware of OEM Mercedes rims being manufactured in China, that could mean these are likely genuine OEM. Or someone in the wheel industry could have experience with fake rims from China that have the same exact PN and 3 point star to make look genuine, that would more than likely provide verification these are fake. All things that would provide useful information to this thread.
If made in china is so important to you, why not simply ask that in the title and let others whose not interested in china one bit stay off you thread?
If made in china is so important to you, why not simply ask that in the title and let others whose not interested in china one bit stay off you thread?
What are you even talking about, the title of my thread is literally the question I'm hoping to get answered. 100% related to the thread in every single way. But you can definitely do yourself a favor and leave this thread
What are you even talking about, the title of my thread is literally the question I'm hoping to get answered. 100% related to the thread in every single way. But you can definitely do yourself a favor and leave this thread
Lol ok, your question have been answered just you can't accept it. Just enjoy your rim since you already bought it. Next time ask before purchasing it from shady people.
It depends how much I paid to determine if it's an OEM or a knock off?? That's literally what your first sentence says. Then afterwards you imply no matter how much I paid it's still a knock off? A bit of conflicting information there don't ya think? This really doesn't contribute anything to the post as my question is simply can anyone verify whether the rim is OEM or a knock-off.
I think he is saying that it’s probably fake. You don’t say who you bought it from or how much you paid. If you wanted to be sure, you should have bought from an authorized dealer. Since you chose not to go that way, you are taking a chance. Just because someone says it’s true doesn’t make it so. You said it matches and looks good, so don’t worry. Unless of course it falls apart on the road.
Depends on how much you paid I suppose. If you paid $100 for China rim, then most likely it's fake. But if you paid $500 for it, you can sorta feel good that you paid OEM price but the seller is laughing to the bank.
I disagree. The seller can ask for 1,000 usd and the product is aftermarket. This method cannot be used to determine wether the product is OEM or aftermarket.
Lol ok, your question have been answered just you can't accept it. Just enjoy your rim since you already bought it. Next time ask before purchasing it from shady people.
Ok, so what makes you so confident that it's a fake? You're aware that Mercedes does not manufacture OEM rims in China? I'm sorry I didn't realize you knew who I purchased them from?? A seller with 500 positive reviews and 0 negative is a "shady" person I guess?? I have zero problems accepting any answer I get, as long as there's actually a useful statement or observation to back it up. With what you provided though, absolutely zero. Only thing provided were some smart remarks about how I either got cheap rims or overpaid and wasted my money. Actual useful information to back-up what you're saying, nowhere to be found. Another user just posted two different sellers with the exact same markings and from China, all stating factory OEM. So are all these different scam sellers getting their rims from the same fake wheel manufactures, or maybe it's more likely that my rim is in fact genuine?
Last edited by Bmarcinczyk14; Sep 14, 2021 at 01:46 PM.
I can speak to this since I'm an engineer that actually designs and manufactures wheels for Mercedes and other OEMS. Yes, Mercedes makes wheels in China. At the end of the day, it depends on which supplier gets awarded the program.
OP, I can take a look at your wheel and get a good sense of whether it is genuine or not, but you will need to post more pictures of the entire wheel for me to that.
I can speak to this since I'm an engineer that actually designs and manufactures wheels for Mercedes and other OEMS. Yes, Mercedes makes wheels in China. At the end of the day, it depends on which supplier gets awarded the program.
OP, I can take a look at your wheel and get a good sense of whether it is genuine or not, but you will need to post more pictures of the entire wheel for me to that.
Lol looks like I may have hit the jackpot! Here are some pictures, let me know if you need something more specific. As I said they match up with what's on the car pretty darn good from what I can tell.
Lol looks like I may have hit the jackpot! Here are some pictures, let me know if you need something more specific. As I said they match up with what's on the car pretty darn good from what I can tell.
I have high confidence that these are genuine Mercedes wheels. The engraving layout on the back looked very familiar, so I looked into my archives and turns out that my company designed and manufactured this wheel!: 18x8.5 H2 Himalaya Gray, Machined Face for W205.
I have high confidence that these are genuine Mercedes wheels. The engraving layout on the back looked very familiar, so I looked into my archives and turns out that my company designed and manufactured this wheel!: 18x8.5 H2 Himalaya Gray, Machined Face for W205.
Haha, what a coincidence!
Thanks for confirming it for all of us, I wasn't certain about it (as personally never seen one made there) so I don't want to confirm nor deny if it is genuine on op's other thread, thanks to those who work in the industry like you for charming in and cleared the confusion for all of us. As for op, enjoy your new wheels! : )
I have high confidence that these are genuine Mercedes wheels. The engraving layout on the back looked very familiar, so I looked into my archives and turns out that my company designed and manufactured this wheel!: 18x8.5 H2 Himalaya Gray, Machined Face for W205.
Haha, what a coincidence!
Thanks for that verification! Don't think I can get more confidence than that that these are OEM! Can't believe the one who acted so smart turned out to be wrong. Glad we finally got to the bottom of the truth which was really all I was looking for and all that matters!
No problem. I imagine that these wheels are for the W205 vehicles for the China market. They should still fit US and Germany made W205s regardless.
@Bmarcinczyk14 You probably know this already, but the W205 has staggered wheel setups so 18x7.5 in the front and 18x8.5 in the back, I think. I assume you are putting these new wheels on the rear?
No problem. I imagine that these wheels are for the W205 vehicles for the China market. They should still fit US and Germany made W205s regardless.
@Bmarcinczyk14 You probably know this already, but the W205 has staggered wheel setups so 18x7.5 in the front and 18x8.5 in the back, I think. I assume you are putting these new wheels on the rear?
Yes sir! It's replacing the right rear. Would the OEM Mercedes rims for the Chinese market be any lesser quality than say the rim I'd get for the US market?
Yes sir! It's replacing the right rear. Would the OEM Mercedes rims for the Chinese market be any lesser quality than say the rim I'd get for the US market?
No, Mercedes wheels made in China (regardless of what market it is intended for) are just as good as wheels made in the USA or Mexico or Europe, at least in theory.
I'll try to briefly explain why without going down the rabbit hole. Most aluminum wheels on the market today are manufactured using a process called low-pressure casting. This casting process is inherently imperfect and leads to a lot of variation in material properties. After casting, the wheel is machined to the final geometry with a CNC and that has its own tolerance and variation. Then the wheel goes off to the paint line. So no two wheels coming off the manufacturing floor are exactly the same in weight, appearance, and strength.
Say we have 5 wheel companies making the same wheel. Each company has slightly different variations in design and process. You might ask: how can I be confident as a customer that these wheels made by different companies are safe? Well OEM wheels (not just Mercedes, but all car companies) require rigorous mechanical testing that validates the finished goods. If it doesn't pass the rigorous testing, companies can't mass produce it anyways. The test is basically performed the same since it is standardized and Mercedes will give their blessing.
There are a lot of tests and studies we perform to make sure these wheels are safe for customer use. After all, it is a safety item! I think the reason why some people are weary of 'Chinese' wheels is that they had poor experiences with these cheap and knockoff wheels that don't undergo the same testing as OEM wheels. So when they hit a pothole, the wheel completely shatters or is severely dented. That's not to say that OEM wheels can't get dents, they absolutely can, but it'll take a lot more force to do so.
OEM wheels are always the way to go. If you need to go aftermarket, then I would go with a reputable company. It is not worth saving a few hundred dollars to get the cheap knockoff wheels. Do not risk your life, it is not worth it.
EDIT: it is also worth noting that each wheel is carefully designed for the car it is going on. Wheel load, brake caliper clearance, natural frequency, and a lot other engineering considerations go into a wheel design. You can't say that for these 'universal' knock off wheels that seem to fit a wide range of models.
No, Mercedes wheels made in China (regardless of what market it is intended for) are just as good as wheels made in the USA or Mexico or Europe, at least in theory.
I'll try to briefly explain why without going down the rabbit hole. Most aluminum wheels on the market today are manufactured using a process called low-pressure casting. This casting process is inherently imperfect and leads to a lot of variation in material properties. After casting, the wheel is machined to the final geometry with a CNC and that has its own tolerance and variation. Then the wheel goes off to the paint line. So no two wheels coming off the manufacturing floor are exactly the same in weight, appearance, and strength.
Say we have 5 wheel companies making the same wheel. Each company has slightly different variations in design and process. You might ask: how can I be confident as a customer that these wheels made by different companies are safe? Well OEM wheels (not just Mercedes, but all car companies) require rigorous mechanical testing that validates the finished goods. If it doesn't pass the rigorous testing, companies can't mass produce it anyways. The test is basically performed the same since it is standardized and Mercedes will give their blessing.
There are a lot of tests and studies we perform to make sure these wheels are safe for customer use. After all, it is a safety item! I think the reason why some people are weary of 'Chinese' wheels is that they had poor experiences with these cheap and knockoff wheels that don't undergo the same testing as OEM wheels. So when they hit a pothole, the wheel completely shatters or is severely dented. That's not to say that OEM wheels can't get dents, they absolutely can, but it'll take a lot more force to do so.
OEM wheels are always the way to go. If you need to go aftermarket, then I would go with a reputable company. It is not worth saving a few hundred dollars to get the cheap knockoff wheels. Do not risk your life, it is not worth it.
EDIT: it is also worth noting that each wheel is carefully designed for the car it is going on. Wheel load, brake caliper clearance, natural frequency, and a lot other engineering considerations go into a wheel design. You can't say that for these 'universal' knock off wheels that seem to fit a wide range of models.
So I did get the wheel for a decent amount cheaper than if I were to buy it from a dealership here. I'm thinking maybe this was possible because the Chinese market rim is cheaper (labor costs, ect.) even though quality should be the same?
So I did get the wheel for a decent amount cheaper than if I were to buy it from a dealership here. I'm thinking maybe this was possible because the Chinese market rim is cheaper (labor costs, ect.) even though quality should be the same?
I'm not gonna say too much about that. But let's just say, all OEMs have a HUGE markup when they sell wheels to customers
EDIT: Just confirmed that this wheel was made in China but shipped to Alabama assembly plant. So this is for the US W205.
I'm not gonna say too much about that. But let's just say, all OEMs have a HUGE markup when they sell wheels to customers
EDIT: Just confirmed that this wheel was made in China but shipped to Alabama assembly plant. So this is for the US W205.
Wow even better! Thanks for the insider information! I've also seen in photos this rim made in Germany and the US so sounds like Mercedes sources the rim from at least 3 different countries.
