MK5 Golf GTI

All Things Mk5 => Mk5 General Area => Topic started by: Tortaruga on August 07, 2012, 11:50:26 pm

Title: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 07, 2012, 11:50:26 pm
Can anyone definitively tell me whether or not this is a genuine Monza 18" wheel from this photo??

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fjj530%2Fprajames%2Fmonza.jpg&hash=a2196637de218774944abb6d76ec36d9286968a5)

It's all I have to go on at the moment before a potential purchase.

Cheers

PJ
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 08, 2012, 12:00:04 am
.
I'm not 100% without seeing the stampings on the back but I reckon it's not a genuine Monza because the outer edge of the openings are too sharp and slightly too wide. the edges should be softer.

Also, the centre cap recess doesn't look right.

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fb308%2FRedRobin_05%2FSmokedChrome_wet.jpg&hash=8c01311ccef800f6a1f6ee4e24fdf58b32a2c3f3)

^ Please note that my genuine Monza 18's are powdercoated.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 08, 2012, 12:06:47 am
Thanks RR

The difference is very obvious looking at the 2 photos. However I believe the later wheels were made by Ronal as opposed to BBS. Perhaps Ronal produced this slightly different design..??

I'll mail the seller and ask him to give me the part number, stampings, etc. I'll even try and get him to take an inside photo for me.

Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 08, 2012, 08:23:14 am
.
Here's another pic of my genuine BBS Monza 18 before powdercoating - In other words, diamond-cut and with grey inserts:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fb308%2FRedRobin_05%2FAP_BB.jpg&hash=4cfc69210121c14e6d03010ec57983d73687483a)

^ The most obvious difference is the amount of alloy between the 5 'holes' and the tyre at the rim. I now feel pretty sure that the one you are asking about is a replica. Hopefully it's not being claimed to be genuine. I don't know how the Ronal design differs, if it does at all - I would not expect it to differ as it's an OEM product.

BBS developed their patented 'hollow technology' on the Mk5 GTI's Monza wheels, so a genuine BBS/Ronal is probably lighterweight than a replica. Monza 18's are 11 kg (to the nearest kg).
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on August 08, 2012, 09:47:42 am
Based on those pics (and looking at a pic of my genuine Ronal) it looks like that is a replica, as RR mentioned.

I don't have a close up but here's mine:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg337.imageshack.us%2Fimg337%2F7765%2F20120721151908.jpg&hash=ba7cfac1661de71b04e002ad00bad5b1478a1cad) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/337/20120721151908.jpg/)

Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Greeners on August 08, 2012, 10:05:17 am
I'd say that was a rep.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Saintsteve on August 08, 2012, 10:46:55 am
Is there not any part number stamped on the inside of the alloy?

it might of had the face Skimmed from a refurb.

It looks for me to difficult to tell.. I don't think it's a Replica wheel as they normally are more obvious .
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Mandy on August 08, 2012, 11:25:37 am
After reading the link below, I think they could be reps.

http://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,7632.0.html
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on August 08, 2012, 11:29:33 am
Is there not any part number stamped on the inside of the alloy?

it might of had the face Skimmed from a refurb.

It looks for me to difficult to tell.. I don't think it's a Replica wheel as they normally are more obvious .

The centre cap does not have the plastic rim and also there looks like a ridge in the centre around the centre cap, so must be a rep.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: stealthwolf on August 08, 2012, 07:51:06 pm
Defo fake. Look at the ridges, the cut, the circular ridge and the poorly replica'd VW badge (has "serif")
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Saintsteve on August 08, 2012, 08:05:59 pm
If the wheels been refurbed... It will look odd.. If the face has been skimmed, it will make the surface area look larger..

Look on the inside of the wheel , and all will be revealed.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 13, 2012, 12:09:36 pm
Thanks for all the replies :smiley:.

I texted the seller asking for a pic and/or the markings of the inside of the wheels. I've had silence in response!

I'm pretty sure of what to look for now so hopefully I'll find a set. Unless I find a set of Turinis :love:
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 13, 2012, 12:13:55 pm

I texted the seller asking for a pic and/or the markings of the inside of the wheels. I've had silence in response!

I'm pretty sure of what to look for now so hopefully I'll find a set. Unless I find a set of Turinis :love:


....The power of this forum, eh!  :notworthy:

Did the seller advertise them as genuine or replica? His silence suggests he didn't bother to inform they are replica.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 13, 2012, 12:28:23 pm

....The power of this forum, eh!  :notworthy:

Did the seller advertise them as genuine or replica?

Yeah - wonderful forum. I think he honestly thought they were genuine as he replied initially saying "they were on the car when I bought it at xxxxxxx VW dealer".
This poses an issue: I buy a second hand car at a VW dealer and it has replica wheels. If I spot this or a wheel fails is the dealer then required to fit genuine ones? Or is it 'sold as seen'? Their 'comprehensive testing and reconditioning' (source:VW UK website) has failed in this case.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: stealthwolf on August 13, 2012, 12:56:54 pm
The dealers probably advertise as Monza-style alloys, the "style" bit gets around the fact that they are reps. Alternatively just "alloy wheels", which they are. Just not OEM.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 13, 2012, 03:22:05 pm

The dealers probably advertise as Monza-style alloys, the "style" bit gets around the fact that they are reps. Alternatively just "alloy wheels", which they are. Just not OEM.


....It's a sad fact that most VW dealers (the employees in suits) won't spot a Monza replica anyway. Also they won't want to eat into their profit margin by replacing with genuine Monza's.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: janus909GTI on August 13, 2012, 10:00:47 pm
looks like everyone has clarified this for you but i spent months searching for 1 genuine monza, that 1 is def a replica! good luck...
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 14, 2012, 06:30:43 pm
I think I've found a real set:

(https://www.mk5golfgti.co.uk/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fdaz.co%2Fmedia%2Fjj530%2Fprajames%2Fmonza2.jpg&hash=55a39d19eb697be55d2ad73c3f2be0e911371a9a)

Just need to
- check the inside for ET, etc.
- bargain him down to £20 a wheel :laugh:
- get a refurb

Thanks for all the advice and please don't tell me these ones are fakes too!!

PJ
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 14, 2012, 06:47:29 pm
^^^^
The edges don't look like they do on fakes to me. At least, not viewed at this distance.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Saintsteve on August 14, 2012, 08:03:54 pm
Those look genuine at first glance
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Kalpsn2000 on August 14, 2012, 08:33:33 pm
Those look genuine at first glance

+1

The centre caps and edges look right :happy2:
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: janus909GTI on August 15, 2012, 12:05:53 pm
look good to me, you need to see the reverse to know for sure..........

how much are they selling the set of 4 for?
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 15, 2012, 12:30:58 pm
you need to see the reverse to know for sure..........
I know - I've all the info I need thanks to forum members :smiley:
how much are they selling the set of 4 for?
£250. Does this seem steep?
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: janus909GTI on August 15, 2012, 08:37:58 pm
250 sounds good to me!
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: RedRobin on August 15, 2012, 10:29:36 pm
^^^^
Yep, £250 sounds good. Check out what they have sold for in the forum in the past.
Title: Re: Is this a genuine Monza?
Post by: Tortaruga on August 15, 2012, 10:32:46 pm
There's a set on this forum for £200 at present.