I am sure 'some' know and some may have guessed that I don't actually have BBS LM fitted to my Z. Despite never advising that I actually have them, I also have never dispelled that! They are in fact replicas. There are a lot of differences and I can spot replicas a mile off!

 

The story is that I used to have a lovely set of 18" Advan Sienna 3 piece forged wheels. Alas, these were a bitch to maintain as they needed polishing after pretty much every wash and was partly the precursor to my fear of taking my Z anywhere near the rain (well, it's always been like that). The intention was always to get genuine BBS LM, but in the interim, I got some new replica wheels to tide me over for a while.

 

So these have been on my car for slightly longer than I'd have hoped as I've been waiting for the right set of genuine ones to appear. Now I didn't really have a budget, they would cost whatever they cost and was originally going to buy a brand new set. Unfortunately BBS have stopped making the LM in the 9" and 10" sizes @ 5 x 114.3 and are only now available in an 8.5" and 9.5" with our bolt pattern with a less favourable offset.

 

Well, I found a set of near immaculate ones in 9" and 10" in perfect offset (means I can wave goodbye to the spacers) on Japanese Yahoo Auctions, with the help of a Japanese friend in California, I've bought them!

 

Because of the size/weight (they come with tyres also), with shipping etc, they aren't going to cost much less than brand new ones without tyres. But you can't get this spec anymore from BBS so whatever!

 

The LM has always been my favourite wheel. It's one of the highest quality forged wheels you guy buy.

 

Anyway, my replicas with tyres will be up for sale soon and they are virtually unmarked with zero curbing. :)

 

 

Edited June 15, 201510 yr by Funkysi

Nice one Si I love these wheels, always wanted the newer style BBS LM good find.

Think your old wheels would really suit my white TT think they will feel right at home there.

Awesome purchase Si. I always assumed your last ones were genuines.

250K Yen plus shipping - well done! No doubt you will be keeping a close eye on the tracking number/progress.

What diameter are the new ones?

Still 19". There's a tax on top of that. Delivered locally, they'll be close to 300,000JPY. International shipping (likely to be ocean freight to minimise cost) - that's likely to be about £500....then there's tax on landing. Estimate that they'll cost me about £2.5k delivered which is still very good especially since you can't even get this spec anymore. :)

Are you keeping the red BBS centre caps?

Yeah, I think so. I wouldn't normally, but they look nice and I will likely go for the 99/00 red Z nose panel badge too to compliment it.

Yeah, I think so. I wouldn't normally, but they look nice and I will likely go for the 99/00 red Z nose panel badge too to compliment it.

 

Absolutely!

Absolutely!

 

Well this is something you've been twisting my arm over for quite some time! :)

Congrats Si, They are a fantastic set of wheels!!:bow:

Great wheels mate, they were on my list too but I couldn't find a good set. What offset are they?

 

I'm actually a little surprised you chose a 19"

 

I had always assumed you had upgraded during your "time off"

 

Out of interest do you know any good places/sites for parts in Japan, I travel to Tokyo a few times a year

Thanks guys!

 

Rears are ET40 and fronts are ET34, with those widths, it should give me a pretty flush look, especially if I fit 295s at the back and 255s up front. Surprised I chose 19s? I had 19s before....I know there are a few Z32s with 18" BBS LM in the UK, but I don't know of any with genuine 19". Being a 2+2, they fit the proportions nicely. :)

 

The best place in Tokyo or, close to, for Z32 parts...in fact most of Japan is Z32-Zone. Their website is : http://www.z32-zone.com they're also known as fairlady proshop. They are about 50 miles south west of Tokyo in Sagamihara. RHDJapan is based in Tokyo, but are more of a mail-order place.

is 2.5k with the new rubber or with out ?

is 2.5k with the new rubber or with out ?

 

 

Yeah they do, but I will probably change the tyres for wider ones. These wheels would have retailed around £1kea, so it's pretty good value.

there nice wheels, i hope for that money there in very very good order when you get them thats for sure

Even if they needed a bit of work, I wouldn't mind. You can't get this fitment anymore and new, they were twice what I'm paying for them. They are in good condition though.

i would have them myself but as you know in 18s i have seem them on a few 911s am sure

Yeah, I think so. I wouldn't normally, but they look nice and I will likely go for the 99/00 red Z nose panel badge too to compliment it.

 

Yup, absolutely - I concur with Andrew as well.....

 

.....And good choice of wheel Si....:thumbup:

I'd fit them as they are to start with Si and don't worry about the tyres just yet [emoji106]

I will.

 

Airfreight is gonna be £750! :rofl:

Well they're on their way! FINALLY! It nearly didn't happen as sending payment to Japan is seemingly impossible! PayPal isn't widely used in Japan, paying with credit card as a user not present is also seemingly impossible as most systems use kana so inputting your Weston typeset name into the boxes (even if translated) won't work and the card will be refused.

 

Fortunately, I know the owner of Daytona Racing who's based in Fukuoka one of the southerly islands in Japan and he was good enough to help me transfer payment as he has a PayPal.

 

The financial system in Japan couldn't be any different to here. You can pay for stuff on online auctions at your local convenience store and there are sorts of funny ways that the Japanese can pay online too - but as a westerner, it's near impossible unless you have a Japanese bank account.

 

You can buy smaller items from 'buyee', but large heavy things such as wheels, it starts to become difficult. The guy I used to use in California who ran wheel-choice no longer does this.

 

Anyway, currently the wheels are travelling from Kobe to Toyko to a courier's warehouse where I will then ship them internationally via airfreight. If you're outside of Japan, quotations for such size and weight were coming up 250000JPY (£1500) - the same price as the wheels (before Japanese taxes)! Fortunately I know another Japanese national in Los Angeles who's negotiated me a deal down to $750 which is around the £480 mark which is a little better!

 

Can't wait for these buggers to land! :)

 

Its not what you know its who you know :thumbup1:

£480 is a bargain for airfreight.

It'd cost you that to stick it in a container with most shipping lines.

Yup, I agree! I was quite happy with this. Ocean freight was coming out about the same.