Garfunkle_W124

I bought some 17" x 8" Brabus monoblock v replicas as you all know by now (see my sig, lol, I am not ashamed cuz my pockets aint empty) and I was looking at the box today and it says printed on the label, "Mercedes Brabus". Is this infringing on the Brabus name, or can a company call them Brabus?

myfirstbenz

Since when does china care about legality or intellectual property rights

2k2s430

Well I often joke that if it isn't from China it isn't the real deal!!!!!!!
So Brabus should stop making quality copies of Chinese wheels

Garfunkle_W124

these aren't made in China though, so whats the deal?

myfirstbenz

I bet the box was

JDW124

LOL srsly

ZorroAMG

You Should Sue!! It's America, Damnit!!!

X03

check the small print Mercedes Brabus ......replicas

CDP

who cares.

you're the one who bought replica wheels so what does it matter.

ZorroAMG

LOL " Waaaaa is it legal for you to put Brabus on my box of fake rip-offs that I knowingly purchased AS COUNTERFEIT FAKE RIP OFFS?! Waaaah"

Garfunkle_W124

hahaha, I believe I started a comotion . I could care less if they are "fake", they look badass.

JDW124

HOLD IT! Back this B!7ch up! Replicas of rims are made? LOL! Like replica as in a fake of a Louis Vuitton for example? , HAH news to me, wow lol.

Garfunkle_W124

technically my wheels are the same mold as the Brabus, just not aluminum. Therefore, the Brabus are about 8lbs lighter each (mine are 2 peice aluminum and steel). Other than that, I cant tell a difference.

shdoug

Just my opinion, but those fake rims look unbelievably real to me. I'll bet they are just as round, roll just as well, and create a shiny blur moving down the street just as well as the Brabus. At 10 MPH I challenge ANYONE to tell the difference, and no car is meant to just sit there. I don't know Brabus from squat, but I do know that when you buy the "real deal" as opposed to a well-made "replica", all you are doing is putting money is some wealthy business man's bank account. I have nothing against wealthy businessmen; they sign my paycheck and employ most of us, but I would rather keep my money for my own pleasure rather than someone else's.

Say you buy the Brabus rims. I'm assuming the cost difference between the "real" set and the "fake" set is several hundred dollars or more. How much will that extra money REALLY enrich your life? Are going to reach a difficult period in your life and then think "Wait, I've got Brabus rims on my car. I've got nothing to worry about. My problem is solved." You're kidding yourself if you think Brabus will really make a difference like that. So someone walks up and is impressed by your Brabus rims and he gives you an Attaboy. You feel great for a 120 seconds than it's back to life as usual.

Another thing- Having some background in profit margins, estimating, sales and business, I would be willing to bet that the Brabus probably cost about $100 more (if not less) than the "Fake" rims cost to manufacture. They mark them up tons more and then sell them in an awesome package with an awesome marketing campaign that costs them millions, which the buyer is paying for.

I design energy management systems for temperature control in large buildings. For example, when engineering a system I can choose from, say "ABC Brand" temperature sensors for $22 each or the "Generic" sensors at $12.50 each. They do exactly the same thing and when there might be 200 temp sensors in a building, look at the savings. But I digress...

If a warm fuzzy is worth $1000 to you, buy the brand. I myself try to buy the best made product at the most cost effective price; the biggest bang for the buck. If one that's a little bit better costs twice as much, that is not a good business proposition and I don't think anyone with good business sense would disagree.

As I said, this is just my opinion and you know what they say...

*steps down from soap box*

Garfunkle_W124

i agree with what you said, but the cost difference is roughly $1500 to $2000.

ZorroAMG

And that "millions in marketing" also includes the R & D and design to make them the great quailty and great LOOKING wheels they are, so in fact you are paying for them to make good products, not to fatten some chinese/japanese rip off artist's wallet instead. THEY are the crooks, with NO TALENT, skill or original ideas... the real manufacturers DESERVE the markup.

Your soap box is lower than mine

shdoug

MAN! You gotta love free enterprise! (nothing free about it)

Garfunkle_W124

I know man, its Bull*****. what can you do

Garfunkle_W124

sorry Zorro, but you and YOUR fat *** wallet are crazy Like I tried to stress before, I am 17, and I don't have the money to spend 40% of my cars worth on wheels that I cuold get for 1/3 of the price. Plus, like I said again, I am already passed the wheels buying torture, now I am shopping for suspension

I still agree with most you say though

ZorroAMG

Don't get me wrong Garfield....

If one HAS the money to buy authentic, they should. It's sorta like burning music for free, people will do it and there is always a market for it but it's a matter of ethics and cash flow....at 17 I wasn't buying wheels, I was learning real estate and making out with chicks... so what do I know

Garfunkle_W124

Of course. Hell, if I HAD the money I would be rolling a 500E around the block pickin' up your honies

RBYCC

In the case of wheels, the best reason to consider a replica wheel, even if you can afford the original, is if it is quality and suits your application.

Just about all of the wheel castings produced come from China.
Why? Because the USA and EU air quality standards have shut down foundries.

The finish machining may be done in a country other then China which allows it to be marked as a product of that country.

I have authentic AMG's on my G55 and C43 because they were original equipment.
Just installed AMG replicas ( 18 x 8 with Falken FK452 225/40R-18 cost $1096.00 for 4 wheels, tires, lugs ,mounting, balancing, and shipping). My only non Merc is an 06 C6 with Z06 replicas.

Replicas:

Garfunkle_W124

nice vette man. my neighbor has a deep red C6. I got to drive it the first week he got it (around the hood). Very nice cars for the price.

RBYCC

Thanks !
$42500 for the base 1LT with auto and transparent roof.
Scary fast car even without mods.

P.S.

Don't let some of the posters on these threads get to you.
You're young and the way you learn is to ask questions.
The only people who think one who questions is stupid are those that don't have the answers.
Been there done that, and have been involved with cars and competitive motorsports for over forty years.
Reason I've been reading and posting is because I'm beginning a journey to twin turbo my 88 300CE M103 coupe which I purchased new.
Exchange of info based on experience can prevent problems in the long run !!!

Garfunkle_W124

I know man. I am pretty sure that everyone is settled down, and Zorro will always mess with me, because I called him a "pretty boy" once. Good Luck on that twin turbo project.