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[Gav91183]

So let me tell you about my experience with my 19x9 and 19x10 Avant Garde M359 wheels. I purchased my 335i coupe in July 2013 with the wheels and loved the way the car sat/looked. Shortly after I had to buy some tires because some shop did a shotty repair job on the wheel after a flat. This is when I had my first encounter with these great ( looking) wheels. I had found out that Discount tire would not mount new tires on them because ALL 4 wheels had bends in them. I contacted the dealership in which I bought the car from and they apologized and got the wheels repaired from a very well known wheel place here in DFW, Tx. Then about 6 months ago I hit a small lip doing about 30mph(maybe a 1/2in) in the road where they were doing construction. My lovely low tire light came on about a week later and i had 2 cracked wheels. One was repairable and other had a really nice crack a few inches long. I went and repaired the one that was good for repair and bought a brand new one for the one that was screwed. This brings me to my situation today. About a month or so ago we had some bad ice in Fort Worth, TX. This caused many of nice sized potholes in our roads and on a dark and rainy night I hit one of these bad boys. It wasn't too bad but apparently it did enough to bend both passenger side wheels beyond repair and the driver side front has a little bend in it. Yes I understand with low profile tires and 19in wheels the "shock" has to go somewhere. But I guess like the saying goes, you get what you pay for. I love the look of the wheels as do many others. (hell everywhere is on back order too) But I think it is time I move on. It's been like that crazy ass girl that you date and try to make it work because the sex is so good. In the end you're tired of her craziness and walking on eggshells wondering when the next wheel will bend or crack....

///Rant over

[rohitsja]

Originally Posted by Gav91183

It's been like that crazy ass girl that you date and try to make it work because the sex is so good.
///Rant over

Sorry to hear that, that statement of yours kinda just touched a chord in me somewhere !! oh well that's life for some I guess lol

[Gav91183]

Originally Posted by rohitsja

Sorry to hear that, that statement of yours kinda just touched a chord in me somewhere !! oh well that's life for some I guess lol

I think it does with us all at some point in life haha

[map dit]

So what are you gonna do now? Switching to 18s or getting better quality 19s?

[HP_HOUND]

This is exactly why I didn't purchase new wheels. After much research, I came to understand why good rims are so expensive. Unless, I'm ready to drop the $$$ needed to get proven / tested wheels I'm going to stay with OEM rims. I look at this as a safety issue.

Some of the wheels that look a notch above quality-wise to me not just look good are:

BBS, Advan, BC, Morr, HRE, Work, Volk, etc.

The issue is anyone can start a wheel company in the USA. Germany has something called TUV which actually requires the destruction of 3 rims in 3 different tests. ( I think that is correct ). Even the companies that produce TUV wheels only certify the models that sell in Germany because of the expense related to TUV certification; however, their quality systems and manufacturing facilities have to be approved every 5 years so at least you know that their QC systems are certified even if the model you purchasing from them is not TUV certified.

So from my research it's German, Japanese, or top USA manufacturers that sell some wheels in Germany for me. If you are worried about price VMR or certain Forgestars? I know VMR has a couple of Free formed wheels which is supposed to be a better manufacturing process over traditional casting. HRE is also making a couple of flow formed wheel to provide a lower price point than their forged wheels.

Do your own research and look into more than just the aesthetics.

[Dan_Q]

These are depressing reads. Esp considering I have a set of 19" M359's on order at the moment. They haven't even arrived yet and I'm having second thoughts...

Originally Posted by HP_HOUND

This is exactly why I didn't purchase new wheels. After much research, I came to understand why good rims are so expensive. Unless, I'm ready to drop the $$$ needed to get proven / tested wheels I'm going to stay with OEM rims. I look at this as a safety issue.

Some of the wheels that look a notch above quality-wise to me not just look good are:

BBS, Advan, BC, Morr, HRE, Work, Volk, etc.

The issue is anyone can start a wheel company in the USA. Germany has something called TUV which actually requires the destruction of 3 rims in 3 different tests. ( I think that is correct ). Even the companies that produce TUV wheels only certify the models that sell in Germany because of the expense related to TUV certification; however, their quality systems and manufacturing facilities have to be approved every 5 years so at least you know that their QC systems are certified even if the model you purchasing from them is not TUV certified.

So from my research it's German, Japanese, or top USA manufacturers that sell some wheels in Germany for me. If you are worried about price VMR or certain Forgestars? I know VMR has a couple of Free formed wheels which is supposed to be a better manufacturing process over traditional casting. HRE is also making a couple of flow formed wheel to provide a lower price point than their forged wheels.

Do your own research and look into more than just the aesthetics.

ALL wheels can/will eventually crack or bend. It doesn't matter who makes it. Especially when you have this heavy of a car on low profile tires; that's just the way the cookie crumbles.

[techwhiz]

bent/Broke two Forgestar wheels.
Rotary forged wheels get trashed too.
I also had two piece wheels on my e36. Spun barrels cracked.

With 18 or 19, you will bend or crack one. It's only a matter of time.

[Yozh]

Are you guys on run-flats? I used to bend at least a wheel a season with RF tires on. That was on OEM 18" 189s.

[JP.Williams]

i just try and avoid potholes. Saves wheels tires and time.

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by JP.Williams

i just try and avoid potholes. Saves wheels tires and time.

This

[sudo4re]

I saw birds taking a bath in a pot hole here in D.C. the other day after a rain storm, that's how deep some of these craters are. No matter how careful you try to avoid these potholes, it's just a matter of time before your wheels find them. My stock 19 313's are getting chewed up left and right and I'm feeling really bad about f'ing them up.

[DSteele41]

I'm having the "Exact" Same Experience !!!

Looks like the Dreaded Option is to go down to 18"
and/or 18" Forged Wheels instead of Avant Garde $$$$ (2 more $k)

[POBEP]

Originally Posted by techwhiz

This

How's one could possibly avoid potholes in SF BAy Area?

101 from SF to Palo Alto is death route.

[DSteele41]

Originally Posted by Dan_Q

These are depressing reads. Esp considering I have a set of 19" M359's on order at the moment. They haven't even arrived yet and I'm having second thoughts...

I would Cancel it may not be the Rim alone, but just the Fact that you can not get enough Sidewall to counteract jarring impacts if that makes sense

I Do not Want to either but may be forced back to 18" Wheels down from 19"

[jacbo]

I'm on 18" AG M359s and not had any issues yet. And that's on horrible UK roads. Had plenty of unavoidable pothole moments. Glad i didn't bother with 19s as nice as they look...

[M-technik-3]

Some of my local roads have signs saying "travel at owners own risk" Potholes ahead. What they should say is they refuse to properly use your tax dollars to fix the roads and bleep off.

[Bimmer_Bro]

I have had the Avant Garde M590 19 inch in on my car for 5 seasons. Roads are also terrible here in Canada and they have held up great. I honestly love mine and would probably buy them again if given the choice.
Also been impressed with the paint quality on them. Only 2 rock chips in those 5 seasons.

I think any "cast" wheel has a chance of being bent or cracked with little side wall and terrible pot holes.
Forged wheels will always be stronger (and lighter) but of course more expensive.

[glocknick]

My 335i has the OEM 17s on it and when I bought it 2 of the wheels were already bent. I'd like to put 18s on but there are just too many potholes in the PA/NJ area. With 19s you probably should buy 2 sets of wheels and tires and just keep swapping them as they bend and crack. I have a 300zxtt that has 18s. I only drive it from April to November to avoid pot hole season.

[Mavus]

17" or 18" forged is the way to go … never had a bent wheel and less unsprung weight. Apex aee also great for non fordged wheels.

You should always buy a wheel design that was stress tested and even better certified.

One of the best options is oem 513m.

[michaelalex17]

I had 18 inch OEM style 189s on my 335i and I bent like 3 of them before saying let me try something else. Ended up going with Avant Garde 19 inch wheels. Ran them on my car for about 3 years without a single bend. I think a lot of it is luck of the draw, hit a bad pothole and anything will bend.

[Bimmer_Bro]

Originally Posted by michaelalex17

I had 18 inch OEM style 189s on my 335i and I bent like 3 of them before saying let me try something else. Ended up going with Avant Garde 19 inch wheels. Ran them on my car for about 3 years without a single bend. I think a lot of it is luck of the draw, hit a bad pothole and anything will bend.

This exactly. Most wheels are cast unless you paid a pretty penny for forged.
So many factors as well, it really is luck of the draw.
Staying on top of tire pressure can help a little as well.