Need help - Enkei 18" STI Rims

by **JakeC** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 12:07 pm

Hi guys,
I have recently been looking at puchasing some new wheels for my GT, really like the STI Enkeis that you can buy from Subaru (not the $3700 price tag though), so I'm thinking about trying to get some second hand. Hoping any of the old hats on this forum can give me some tips or suggest pitfalls to avoid. I have noticed a few advertisers noting that their wheels are genuine and not fake, are rip offs really a common issue? And if so, how can you detect them?
Also, with sizing, the subaru accessories for the liberty advertise 18x7.5 but I have also seen 18x8.5 online (in the same rim). Will different sizes matter?
Apologies for any dumb questions, this is the first time I've been through this process.
Cheers for any help/advice!

by **cruisn** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 4:36 pm

8.5's are copies ie ROTA's.

These only came genuine in 18 x 7.5 +55 (AUDM and JDM) and 18 x 8 +48 (JDM). Easy to pick the fakes as they dont have STi cast into them.

Troll the Subaru forums ie here, Rexnet, OzFoz, etc as they pop up occassionally. $1800 max for mint for AUDM ones with good tyres.

by **SYM** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 8:19 pm

^ What Mark just said

For the keener eye, the inner design (around the centre cap) is slightly different. On the genuine one, the 'fins' surrounding the centre cap are thinner and more refined, and angle towards the centre. Where as the ROTAs, the fins are parallel, and fatter.

Attached are two wheels pics below.... the first is the genuine tbSTI enkei.

And the second one (below) is a ROTA gravel

by **ez30rb** » Thu Nov 14, 2013 10:12 pm

PM Sent

by **JakeC** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 8:35 am

Excellent feedback, exactly why I posted. Thank you very much

by **circlethesky** » Fri Nov 15, 2013 6:50 pm

cruisn wrote:8.5's are copies ie ROTA's.

These only came genuine in 18 x 7.5 +55 (AUDM and JDM) and 18 x 8 +48 (JDM). Easy to pick the fakes as they dont have STi cast into them.

Troll the Subaru forums ie here, Rexnet, OzFoz, etc as they pop up occassionally. $1800 max for mint for AUDM ones with good tyres.

Is there a part number for the 18x8 enkeis? I imagine they're rare but I don't know what to type in to search for them. Every result I get are for the ones sym linked to but I really like the ones with the flat center like this:

My fronts are still scrubbing so I'm looking into other options.

by **cruisn** » Sat Nov 16, 2013 10:21 pm

Raise your car then.

You can get them new out of Japan for around the $2600 mark rims only for the round spoke style.

For that sort of coin there's mutlitudes of other options I'd go first.

They did make the later style pictured in an 18 x 8 +53 5 x 100. Very rare though.

by **Sean82** » Tue Nov 26, 2013 3:04 pm

circlethesky wrote:
cruisn wrote:8.5's are copies ie ROTA's.

These only came genuine in 18 x 7.5 +55 (AUDM and JDM) and 18 x 8 +48 (JDM). Easy to pick the fakes as they dont have STi cast into them.

Troll the Subaru forums ie here, Rexnet, OzFoz, etc as they pop up occassionally. $1800 max for mint for AUDM ones with good tyres.

Is there a part number for the 18x8 enkeis? I imagine they're rare but I don't know what to type in to search for them. Every result I get are for the ones sym linked to but I really like the ones with the flat center like this:

My fronts are still scrubbing so I'm looking into other options.

I got these from Jap Parts:

As CRUSIN says, hellishly expensive (I could have gotten 7 or 8 Rays Gram Lights in 19s for the same as 5 STi rims :shock:

); but it's what I love; these are my favourite wheel from Subaru.

Mine are 18 x 8 +48 (look under SG Foz for them)

FYI, part numbers for mine are:

EDIT: If you're not set on 18", but like the style I have, the Forester S-Edition came out with 17x7s, but they do not clear brembos if you plan on that (without spacers...) You can get a decent set of these 17x7s for under a grand from wreckers, or I think "pazilla" on OzFoz has a set up for sale...

They clear LGT brakes too:

by **Nemo1234567** » Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:30 pm

Hey guys,

Just tagging on to this... I bought a set from a wrecker and fronts are 18s by 7.5 and rears 18 by 8. They are stock Sti rims MY06..... Did he just stuff me up???? Should I go back n get my money back?? They wouldn't have come different sizes???

by **senator** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 7:40 am

Nemo1234567 wrote:Hey guys,

Just tagging on to this... I bought a set from a wrecker and fronts are 18s by 7.5 and rears 18 by 8. They are stock Sti rims MY06..... Did he just stuff me up???? Should I go back n get my money back?? They wouldn't have come different sizes???

they wouldn't be running a staggered width...... looks like he trying to sell 2 different pairs of wheels.

by **cruisn** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:34 am

Nemo1234567 wrote:Hey guys,

Just tagging on to this... I bought a set from a wrecker and fronts are 18s by 7.5 and rears 18 by 8. They are stock Sti rims MY06..... Did he just stuff me up???? Should I go back n get my money back?? They wouldn't have come different sizes???

Yeh no good. Subaru centre diff's dont much like staggered widths. Take them back, he is trying to take you for a ride. How much $$ did you pay?

by **Nemo1234567** » Thu Jan 23, 2014 9:10 am

Don't ask....... Fuks sake.... I called him and his like nah they came out like that... He is calling subaru now so hopefully they tell him 7.5 all the way around and he refunds my money at least... I paid 2K with rubbers!!!! But they are perfect not a scratch... I would love 18x8 all the way around haha

by **Sean82** » Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:43 pm

Fuk you got taken for a ride nemo. You shouldn't be paying more than a 1.5 g for four unless they're the rare 18x8!

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by **Shakibsaifi** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:48 am

I'll give you kine for 2k

painted black but not mint

by **SIMBAT** » Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:52 am

Just Get Gram Lights if your willing to spend that much! sheesh!