Pothole + Varrstoen BBS Replica = Massive Fail

[Liquid_G]

Originally Posted by nuTinmuch

Pretty lame on the center cap, but I wouldn't use this as evidence against the quality of the replicas.

Really? so its normal for wheels to self destruct hitting a pothole at 25mph?

[dan avoN7]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Really? so its normal for wheels to self destruct hitting a pothole at 25mph?

The speed at which the owner reported hitting the pothole is very questionable. I also own a M3 and find it very odd that he was in 4th gear traveling at 25mph, let alone up a HILL. It's just speculation at this point but that struck me as odd..

Also it's not likely that the wheel came apart due to the impact. The pothole likely cracked the wheel and after driving for a little while longer (until he noticed there was a problem) the center separated from the rest of the wheel. A similar comparison can be made with tires. If you have a hole in a sidewall, blow the bead of a tire, etc.. and continue to drive on that flat tire it will eventually split in two right at the sidewall.

Knowledge.. the more you know

[Liquid_G]

Originally Posted by dan avoN7

The speed at which the owner reported hitting the pothole is very questionable. I also own a M3 and find it very odd that he was in 4th gear traveling at 25mph, let alone up a HILL. It's just speculation at this point but that struck me as odd..

Also it's not likely that the wheel came apart due to the impact. The pothole likely cracked the wheel and after driving for a little while longer (until he noticed there was a problem) the center separated from the rest of the wheel. A similar comparison can be made with tires. If you have a hole in a sidewall, blow the bead of a tire, etc.. and continue to drive on that flat tire it will eventually split in two right at the sidewall.

Knowledge.. the more you know

What knowledge do you have? I see a wheel that failed ridiculously after hitting a pothole.. THAT is not normal, and doesn't happen with quality wheels.

but please, share more Knowledge with us.

[dan avoN7]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

What knowledge do you have? I see a wheel that failed ridiculously after hitting a pothole.. THAT is not normal, and doesn't happen with quality wheels.

but please, share more Knowledge with us.

I've worked in the wheel industry for 5+ years. I've worked closely with various wheel manufactures over the years and have a lot of knowledge regarding manufacturing, R&D, sales/marketing of wheels, etc.. I have no ties to Varrstoen wheels but you can't judge a wheels quality based on one picture floating around the internet..

You, like many others, assume a wheel holding together in one piece after a given impact equates to it's quality. This is true but only to a certain extent.. If I posted pictures of Advan Wheels, Work Wheels, Enkei Wheels, etc.. with the spokes separated from the barrel would you say they are an inferior wheel?

[Waiz]

OMG liquid G that is hilarious!

Originally Posted by dan avoN7

I've worked in the wheel industry for 5+ years. I've worked closely with various wheel manufactures over the years and have a lot of knowledge regarding manufacturing, R&D, sales/marketing of wheels, etc.. I have no ties to Varrstoen wheels but you can't judge a wheels quality based on one picture floating around the internet..

You, like many others, assume a wheel holding together in one piece after a given impact equates to it's quality. This is true but only to a certain extent.. If I posted pictures of Advan Wheels, Work Wheels, Enkei Wheels, etc.. with the spokes separated from the barrel would you say they are an inferior wheel?

Dan this wheel is garbage, you and I both know it.

The original BBS design was never meant to be a one-piece cast wheel and now looked what happens. I would bet as people start using these wheels the problems will start showing up more often.

Sevas wheels were cool too for awhile and eventually as more people started buying them all the issues started and eventually they were put out of business.

[dan avoN7]

Originally Posted by Waizzz

Dan this wheel is garbage, you and I both know it.

The original BBS design was never meant to be a one-piece cast wheel and now looked what happens. I would bet as people start using these wheels the problems will start showing up more often.

Sevas wheels were cool too for awhile and eventually as more people started buying them all the issues started and eventually they were put out of business.

As I mentioned before, I don't know.. The wheels could be perfectly safe to run or they could be inferior pieces of garbage What I'm trying to get at is that you can't tell a wheels quality based on one picture floating around the internet.. Don't take my posts as defending Varrstoen Wheels either, I'm just trying to be a mediator so we can actually get to the truth.

btw, the wheel I was running on my M3 when I struck a pothole (what I mentioned a few posts up) was a one piece cast aluminum "BBS LM" replica (albeit a different brand/manufacture). Just because a wheel has a similar look, doesn't mean the wheel is 100% identical. The manufacture I am referring to puts the wheels through proper R&D and various strength tests. There are various ways to improve on the strength, it could be as simple as adding more material to the spokes. I won't bore everyone with the details though

[Waiz]

Originally Posted by dan avoN7

As I mentioned before, I don't know.. The wheels could be perfectly safe to run or they could be inferior pieces of garbage What I'm trying to get at is that you can't tell a wheels quality based on one picture floating around the internet.. Don't take my posts as defending Varrstoen Wheels either, I'm just trying to be a mediator so we can actually get to the truth.

btw, the wheel I was running on my M3 when I struck a pothole (what I mentioned a few posts up) was a one piece cast aluminum "BBS LM" replica (albeit a different brand/manufacture). Just because a wheel has a similar look, doesn't mean the wheel is 100% identical. The manufacture I am referring to puts the wheels through proper R&D and various strength tests. There are various ways to improve on the strength, it could be as simple as adding more material to the spokes. I won't bore everyone with the details though

Fair enough, I guess I'm just more skeptical than you.

I see ALMS, Rolex Touring, Porsche Cup and FIA GT3 cars all running BBS's. I have yet to see someone put the Varrstoens through any type of serious racing.

[phelan]

Originally Posted by dan avoN7

The speed at which the owner reported hitting the pothole is very questionable. I also own a M3 and find it very odd that he was in 4th gear traveling at 25mph, let alone up a HILL. It's just speculation at this point but that struck me as odd..

Also it's not likely that the wheel came apart due to the impact. The pothole likely cracked the wheel and after driving for a little while longer (until he noticed there was a problem) the center separated from the rest of the wheel. A similar comparison can be made with tires. If you have a hole in a sidewall, blow the bead of a tire, etc.. and continue to drive on that flat tire it will eventually split in two right at the sidewall.

Knowledge.. the more you know

Ah, that is possible. The pothole caused the initial crack on the lip, and as he kept driving, the crack continued to develop and displace to the center disk.

Would be interesting to do a stress analysis on it, but meh, too much work.

[Billy02987]

Originally Posted by phelan

Ah, that is possible. The pothole caused the initial crack on the lip, and as he kept driving, the crack continued to develop and displace to the center disk.

Would be interesting to do a stress analysis on it, but meh, too much work.

Spoken like a true engineer lol.

[nuTinmuch]

Originally Posted by Liquid_G

Really? so its normal for wheels to self destruct hitting a pothole at 25mph?

No, it isn't, but how do we know that is the full story?

We don't.

I'm very suspicious of the whole claim. That damage just doesn't look like it was caused by a vehicle traveling 25mph.

Likewise, we don't know how big the pothole really was, or how the car hit it... or any real details whatsoever. We just have some dude saying something on the internet, and I've been around way too long to take that seriously.