M Parallels - are they really forged?

[7BREYTON]

M Parallels ... are they forged??? I think I read somewhere there are 2 versions - with polished face and without, but are they really forged??? Is there difference between those for E31, E34, E39?

36 11 2 229 730
8JX18 ET:13
2 10.270 kg / 22.641 lb

36 11 2 229 731
91/2JX18 ET:25
2 10.535 kg / 23.226 lb

Original Equipment Front Size: 235/50-18
Original Equipment Rear Size: 255/45-18

Look here http://www.fuchsfelge.de/index.php?id=581&L=1

Exclusive Forged Wheel

BMW 7 series | model 01/90 - 12/01, type 7/G, 7/GK, 8/E
8 J x 18 ET13
High gloss polished
OF 34853 - 10.2 kg

but what about the rears???




34745_34853_06.jpg

[KenR740]

The consensus is that they are indeed forged.

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...cast-or-forged

[RIboater]

only the earliest versions were forged. When they introduced them on the E38, they went to mass production of cast.
http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/sh...ighlight=mpars

[Qsilver7]

If the later versions are cast...then why are there no indications of the wheel being formed in a mold like all cast wheels? The later e38 & the e31 MPars have the same manufacturing designs of the "forged" wheels that came on the e34/e39 5 series...with the engraved specs on the rear of the spokes being one of the most identifiable aspects of a forged wheel.

If the wheels were cast...then the specs would be in raised lettering like all the other BMW cast wheels because it would be a simplified process to add that info to the mold...so as the alloy is poured into the mold....it automatically becomes part of the wheel. To spend the time to have to physically engrave/carve/press this info into each wheel is additional & unnecessary time expended to the mfg process if the wheel was cast in a mold. There would also be indentations, markings, and hollows in the wheels from te process being formed in a mold...and again, all MPars have flat spokes and no hollows and indentations which is the appearance and design element of a forged wheel...which is pressed/cut/etc from a solid piece of alloy.

I used to think the e38 & e31 MPars were cast due to the word "forged" not being included in the part database...but after considering the aforementioned seeing that physically the e38/e31 MPars look just like the e34/e39 MPars..and nothing like the replica MPars which we know are cast...I had to change my position/thinking.

You can see in the pics below...the forged MPar (on top) has solid spokes (no hollows/indentations) & specs are engraved/pressed/carved into the rear of the spokes. Whereas the cast (replica) MPar in the bottom pic has hollows/indentations from the mold the alloy was poured into in creating the wheel...and if you're on a device that allows you to expand images....you can see that the writing in the cast wheel is in raised lettering...which is another indicator of cast wheels where this info is designed into the mold & automatically becomes a part of the wheel as its being mfg'd. :

[7BREYTON]

Thank you Sir. I agree with all ... it makes sense!

[inkacola]

looking at the second picture, i can tell that who ever balanced that rim/tire did not know what they were doing. that is just way too much weight.

[rgao007]

Sorry for the thread resurrection - just wanted to clarify this for anyone who was/is/will be interested. E38 M Parallels are cast alloy, according to BMW's Fast Facts 2000/2001 book. This was a super thick guide for the complete lineup intended for salespeople, issued September 2000.

IMG_20180314_174346.jpg IMG_20180314_172147.jpg

[georgebest]

Sorry for the thread resurrection - just wanted to clarify this for anyone who was/is/will be interested. E38 M Parallels are cast alloy, according to BMW's Fast Facts 2000/2001 book. This was a super thick guide for the complete lineup intended for salespeople, issued September 2000.

IMG_20180314_174346.jpg IMG_20180314_172147.jpg

That's a great booklet! I didnt know it should do 6.9s in 0-60, that's quite amazing from a car this size!
If you have a bit of a time and a good scanner...people here would surely love to see all pages, just sayin'!

[740ilDuke]

$733 for one forged wheel from the dealer / getbmwparts

[carnut1947]

I just bought 4 Mpars. They're 20 inches and chrome. I presume they are replicas?

[740ilDuke]

Correct.

I just bought 4 Mpars. They're 20 inches and chrome. I presume they are replicas?