Just ordered new wheels! From ... Rock Auto ??

I don't even remember how I stumbled on this, but for some cars, Rock appears to have reconditioned OE wheels for alarmingly reasonable prices.  This is not somewhere I would normally think to go shopping for wheels, but if you want stock ones, it might be an option. I got a set of 4 OE Benz 7.5x17 wheels to upgrade the original 15s on my W124 for $550 total, including shipping.  Info button indicates new powdercoat, and lifetime warranty.  

I know some on here don't like Rock, but I've always had good results with them, even when something is wrong with the order.  

I'll update when they arrive...

pretty cool. not all that surprised with all the wheel reconditioners out there. Probably no different from reman'd alternators (though way less likely to fail, i suppose).

Let me look for OEM s600 wheels

yupididit said:

Let me look for OEM s600 wheels

$158 each reconditioned in bright silver. Whew! 

Not a bad price for gen2 speed 3 wheels. They only have 1 in gray though

Ooh, some R129 wheels would look nice on my W126. 

Interesting. This looks like a great way to find stock wheel size info, including offset dimension. 

Don't forget the GRM 5% Rock Auto discount

I've considered buying from them before, although some rarer wheels are not available due to...rarity...

Considering they're refurbed/repainted, it's probably cheaper than buying used wheels and having them refinished yourself. But it's not quite as cheap as buying used wheels and living with their flaws, like I usually do. 

Another good wheel source is car-part.com.  When you search for wheels, it also gives you an image of the wheels you are looking for.  Real handy when the car you're sourcing for offered multiple alloy wheel options.  

Just had a look - Rock Auto lists the wrong wheels for a 2002 BMW M5. And they have TPMS sensors. Which is weird, given that the car uses indirect TPMS.

As always, know what you're looking for before you go in...

Interesting. This looks like a great way to find stock wheel size info, including offset dimension. 

That's actually true of almost every part on Rockauto. I frequently cross-reference pics, dimensions, application interchanges, etc etc. That's why i'm gonna drop off a wheel speed sensor i took off my 2005 Pacifica so my friend can use it on his 2013 Caravan even though they're different part numbers. Or how i was able to verify that Konis from a Dodge Magnum would work on my Pacifica before i ordered them (yup, they're on there..).  I have yet to order the SRT8 rear springs that will also fit my Pacifica but they're only $70 for the pair. Maybe next week. After that I'll have about 40% of the cost of replacement Nivomat shocks into a set of SRT8 springs and Konis that nobody knew would fit a Pacifica. It was pretty much all there on Rockauto.

In related news, i finally filled up the front of my fridge with Rockauto magnets but now i have to remove the bottom half anyway because my child learned to walk.  

slowbird said:

I've considered buying from them before, although some rarer wheels are not available due to...rarity...

Considering they're refurbed/repainted, it's probably cheaper than buying used wheels and having them refinished yourself. But it's not quite as cheap as buying used wheels and living with their flaws, like I usually do. 

About 8 years ago I bought every BBS RS and RM I could find on car-part, paid about $50 shipped each. Good times....

Friend of mine bought a set of OE wheels from Rock Auto for his Mazda6 to replace crappy aftermarket ones. Not a car guy at all, I was a little surprised but it sure improved the car.

OHSCrifle said:

Interesting. This looks like a great way to find stock wheel size info, including offset dimension. 

https://www.wheel-size.com/ 

Vigo said:

That's actually true of almost every part on Rockauto. I frequently cross-reference pics, dimensions, application interchanges, etc etc. That's why i'm gonna drop off a wheel speed sensor i took off my 2005 Pacifica so my friend can use it on his 2013 Caravan even though they're different part numbers. Or how i was able to verify that Konis from a Dodge Magnum would work on my Pacifica before i ordered them (yup, they're on there..).  I have yet to order the SRT8 rear springs that will also fit my Pacifica but they're only $70 for the pair. Maybe next week. After that I'll have about 40% of the cost of replacement Nivomat shocks into a set of SRT8 springs and Konis that nobody knew would fit a Pacifica. It was pretty much all there on Rockauto.

This.  Knowing the actual mfr part number (vs. the car brand part number) can help you find, say, Porsche parts that are hiding out on a  Volvo.  The drawings and specs that certain brands include in the Info button can also be a huge help if you're trying to find a part for a custom setup.  The brake setup on my current (not yet driving) project uses Cayenne rotors, CTS-V pads, and Viper calipers.  All sorted out by combing through the specs on RA.  

And yes, the 5% discount doesn't hurt, although it mostly just cancels out sales tax now. 

Vigo said:

In related news, i finally filled up the front of my fridge with Rockauto magnets but now i have to remove the bottom half anyway because my child learned to walk.  

So, what's the coolest car anyone has a magnet for?  I've got a Shelby Cobra replica and a 928.  I was at a shop once getting an alignment done on my truck and they had a Rock Auto magnet w/ a Ferrari 328.  

FYI, Rockauto gets their reman wheels through Keystone.  The company I used to work for bought aftermarket body panels and reman wheels through Keystone all the time, and their reman wheels are OEM quality.  And we got a pretty hefty discount from Keystone, and (at least back then) Rockauto's mark up wasn't much.  So if I wasn't in good graces with a company that gets daily delivery from Keystone, I'd order reman wheels from Rockauto in a heartbeat.

In reply to 16vCorey :

Yes, Keystone, a division of LKQ and all their other brands shown at the bottom of the link.  

LKQ owns all my local junkyards... no wonder I never find decent wheels. 

Back on-topic, I have found some very rare calipers for oem brake upgrades as cheap reman on rockauto for pennies on the dollar. 

Quick update here, wheels came today, each shipped separately and very safely in their own box, well protected.  I've only unpacked 1 since I got home pretty late, but examining that one, I'm not really sure how a brand new wheel straight from MB would be any better.  If the other 3 are as good as this one, I'll be thrilled. 

In reply to 16vCorey :

Wow.  I just tried to go find Keystone refurbished wheels from the source.  What a horrifically bad series of interconnected websites.

Hardly a surprise, but the Porsche wheel selection is a little thin. Interesting resource though.

Last update, unpacked all the wheels, 2 of them have a less than perfect finish on the surface where the lug bolt will contact the wheel.  Otherwise, they look spectactular.  No complaints at $135/wheel !

Also, nderwater and anyone else wondering, the stock changes regularly.  The MB wheels I got were available about 6 months ago when I first started looking, then they were listed as out of stock for a few months.  When I checked a few weeks ago, they were back in stock.  So, I'd say keep looking periodically...