Why are OEM CSL wheels so heavy?

OEM CSL ($1900)

19x8 Front: 24lbs
19x9.5 Rear: 25.5lbs

VMR wheels ($900)

19x8.5 Front: 25lbs
19x9.5 Rear: 25.5lbs

Almost identical weights with very different prices.. and as the other guy said, the RGR's are way lighter than the CSL rims. I'm just not extremely impressed with the OEM rims. For the price and the fact that it was made for the CSL, it shouldve been a lot lighter.

The RGR is a damn impressive wheel when you consider that an 18x9 weighs 19lbs and it looks great too.

You keep forgetting, you are talking about OEM wheels. Where have you seen other OEM wheels that are this light? Have you seen the weight of some of the rims for Ferrari or Lamborghini? For a car like the 360CS, you know Ferrari chooses to use BBS CH, which weight more than the ZCP rims and are made the same way?

19 lbs for RGR's are very impressive, but those are not the only light weight wheel options when you start to venture into the aftermarket category, even LMs.
Volk TE/LE are also 19lbs front and back even with 10.5, Volk CE's are even lighter at 18lbs front and 19lbs rear. Many other rims such as Enkei RPF1 and OZ Ultraleggera's are also under 20lbs and cost a fraction of what RGR's cost.
As for the OEM ZCP rims's weight I assure you its accurate because I've also seen it on the scale myself and have confirmed with many others on M3Forum the weight of OEM wheels.
You are asking way too much to make a rim so light without looking at cost and strength. And please don't compare oem ZCP rims to VMR replicas, ZCP are made by BBS while VMR are made in China.
You are demanding far too much from OEM. Like I said, you can only choose 2 out of the 3 with quality, cost, and weight.
There is no way around it, factory or aftermarket.

Originally Posted by PINHEAD

You keep forgetting, you are talking about OEM wheels. Where have you seen other OEM wheels that are this light? Have you seen the weight of some of the rims for Ferrari or Lamborghini? For a car like the 360CS, you know Ferrari chooses to use BBS CH, which weight more than the ZCP rims and are made the same way?

19 lbs for RGR's are very impressive, but those are not the only light weight wheel options when you start to venture into the aftermarket category, even LMs.
Volk TE/LE are also 19lbs front and back even with 10.5, Volk CE's are even lighter at 18lbs front and 19lbs rear. Many other rims such as Enkei RPF1 and OZ Ultraleggera's are also under 20lbs and cost a fraction of what RGR's cost.
As for the OEM ZCP rims's weight I assure you its accurate because I've also seen it on the scale myself and have confirmed with many others on M3Forum the weight of OEM wheels.
You are asking way too much to make a rim so light without looking at cost and strength. And please don't compare oem ZCP rims to VMR replicas, ZCP are made by BBS while VMR are made in China.
You are demanding far too much from OEM. Like I said, you can only choose 2 out of the 3 with quality, cost, and weight.
There is no way around it, factory or aftermarket.

I totally understand where you're coming from. Expecting 20lb OEM 19in rims is a little much. I'm buying an m3 soon and I really love the CSL look on these cars but when I saw how it only was a few pounds lighter than the 18in weight I thought I'd see whats up (thus this thread). I guess I was sort of expecting something comparable to the RGRs because I knew BBS made them.

Originally Posted by mike86325

I totally understand where you're coming from. Expecting 20lb OEM 19in rims is a little much. I'm buying an m3 soon and I really love the CSL look on these cars but when I saw how it only was a few pounds lighter than the 18in weight I thought I'd see whats up (thus this thread). I guess I was sort of expecting something comparable to the RGRs because I knew BBS made them.

If they were as light as RG-Rs then BBS's wouldn't be much of an upgrade.

The Japanese Forged BBS wheels tend to be lighter than the German made BBS wheels. BBS Japan supplies the wheels to the F1 teams.

The ultimate BBS upgrade for the M3 would be the BBS RE-Mg, forged one-piece magnesium wheels. Possibly the lightest wheel they make.

Originally Posted by MrMotorwerk

If they were as light as RG-Rs then BBS's wouldn't be much of an upgrade.

The Japanese Forged BBS wheels tend to be lighter than the German made BBS wheels. BBS Japan supplies the wheels to the F1 teams.

The ultimate BBS upgrade for the M3 would be the BBS RE-Mg, forged one-piece magnesium wheels. Possibly the lightest wheel they make.

wow, just looked up the RE-mg's.. AMAZING! But waaay too expensive, RG-Rs might fit the bill for my future mod plans, perfect blend of looks and performance. But I'm a little ahead of myself since I still have to sell my car and buy the M3 that the rims would go on, lol.

Originally Posted by mike86325

Almost identical weights with very different prices.. and as the other guy said, the RGR's are way lighter than the CSL rims. I'm just not extremely impressed with the OEM rims. For the price and the fact that it was made for the CSL, it shouldve been a lot lighter.

Aluminum is going to be the same weight no matter if it is in an OEM or aftermarket wheel. You can go with a forged wheel which is a little stronger than LP cast so they get to use less material for similar strength. In either case, wheel shopping is not as easy as picking the one you like, especially if you have weight constraints on your mind. For us, our goal is to be comparable in weight with factory wheels so that the driveability of the car remains pretty much the same.

Originally Posted by PINHEAD

And please don't compare oem ZCP rims to VMR replicas, ZCP are made by BBS while VMR are made in China.

Note to self: If I made all the wheels in China, I can sell them for half the price.

mmmmm....RE-Mg's

someone post pics

Originally Posted by mike86325

wow, just looked up the RE-mg's.. AMAZING! But waaay too expensive, RG-Rs might fit the bill for my future mod plans, perfect blend of looks and performance. But I'm a little ahead of myself since I still have to sell my car and buy the M3 that the rims would go on, lol.

RG-Rs are nice, but if you are considering a BBK upgrade in the future, the RG-Rs are a little tight. You may want to consider RS-GT for BBK fitment. I know that the RE-Mgs do fit BBKs. I've seen them with BBKs on an M3 personally so I can vouch for Brembo GT BBK compatibility.

RGR's are not BBK friendly but they are light weight
RS-GTs are BBK friendly but they weight just as much as LMs
give and take

Originally Posted by mcr_driver

mmmmm....RE-Mg's

someone post pics

so clean

Originally Posted by MrMotorwerk

Are you refering to Replica CSL wheels or the Real CSL wheels?

Also the wheels on the M3 Competition Package are different from the wheels that came with the CSL. They look the same but are different!

Myth. They are the same part number for rears. The ZCP front wheel is -0.5" from the CSL so it has a different PN but its essentially the same.

I revived this thread from the dead.

Why?