c6 chrome wheels from China?
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2007
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c6 chrome wheels from China?
I just rceived a set of 4 chrome wheels that I purchased on EBAY that were advertised as GM Take Offs and not CHEAP REPLICAS; however when I looked at the inside of the wheels there were no GM part numbers or GM stamps. Instead there were MADE IN CHINA STICKERS AND it was also stamped into the wheel. The center caps were made in Tiawan. The EBAY seller says he watched his dealer take these off of his Vette at 700 miles. His car was a 2005 C6. He also sent me an article that GM has in fact used China as a source for some wheels, and he maintains that these are GM wheels. Does anyone have any information regarding this issue?
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
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From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
May want to post your query on C6 Gen. I think I did read on here, CF, that there were some wheels made in China for GM. Don't know if chrome was offered in '05 model year tho.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
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From: Austin Texas
Chrome wasn't a factory option for '05, Polished, Silver painted and Comp Grey painted were the only choices. A couple of companys were offering stock wheels that had been chromed by the aftermarket.
My stock Polished '05 wheels have USA stamped on the back.
My stock Polished '05 wheels have USA stamped on the back.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 3,563
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From: Dallas Tx
Get his VIN number and post it here or take it to a dealer. Someone will look it up in VIS and can tell you what wheels it came from the factory with. VIS will list every RPO. He may have watched his dealer take them off at 700 miles, but what he didn't see was the dealer swap them on before he bought it.
It will be very easy to prove whether that car came with chromes (it didn't), then push for a price adjustment for the mistruth.
It will be very easy to prove whether that car came with chromes (it didn't), then push for a price adjustment for the mistruth.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 46,295
Likes: 2,596
From: Northern, VA
St. Jude Donor '15
"In honor of jpee"
Get his VIN number and post it here or take it to a dealer. Someone will look it up in VIS and can tell you what wheels it came from the factory with. VIS will list every RPO. He may have watched his dealer take them off at 700 miles, but what he didn't see was the dealer swap them on before he bought it.
It will be very easy to prove whether that car came with chromes (it didn't), then push for a price adjustment for the mistruth.
It will be very easy to prove whether that car came with chromes (it didn't), then push for a price adjustment for the mistruth.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Pacific Northwest
St. Jude Donor '06
I saw new Vettes on the lot at a Phoenix area dealer with aftermarket chrome wheels. These particular ones were GM wheels with aftermarket chroming...but the dealer sticker did not disclose that...it said that they were 'GM chrome wheels' or something to that effect. By doing this I'm sure the dealer was able to boost his profit on the car.
My point is that the wheels could have come on the car but been put there by the dealer and not GM. Either way they are not GM wheels.
My point is that the wheels could have come on the car but been put there by the dealer and not GM. Either way they are not GM wheels.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 967
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From: / California
I have an '05 and I'm sure that chrome wheels were NOT an option from the factory. As someone said, perhaps a dealership installed some aftermarket chrome wheels that are not GM on the car before it was sold.
The only other thing I can tell you is that my car came with the polished wheels and they had the letters GM on the barrel as part of the casting. I later exchanged my polished wheels for chromed GM wheels and I made sure the chrome exchange wheels I got had that same stamping. My wheels are definitely GM wheels that have been chromed.
Chances are good that today's chrome wheel option on the C6 uses wheels from China or elsewhere.
The only other thing I can tell you is that my car came with the polished wheels and they had the letters GM on the barrel as part of the casting. I later exchanged my polished wheels for chromed GM wheels and I made sure the chrome exchange wheels I got had that same stamping. My wheels are definitely GM wheels that have been chromed.
Chances are good that today's chrome wheel option on the C6 uses wheels from China or elsewhere.
Last edited by quickride; Jul 15, 2007 at 10:51 AM.
Race Director
Joined: Jun 2005
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From: Phila Suburbs 2023 C8 & 2013 650ix
China is a big place and I'm sure there are many companies that manufacture wheels to various degrees of quality. I'd look for the GM trademark. There were no chromes in 05.
Race Director
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From: Bergen County, NJ
Le Mans Master
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Melting Slicks
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From: Evans Colorado
Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
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Any chrome wheel, whether "factory" or not will weigh more than its painted counterpart. As to your issue, it sounds like someone is speaking with a forked tongue, perhaps the dealer when he sold the chromes to the person from whom you purchased on e-bay. I have an '05, built in late January. The wheel options at that time were limited to painted or high polished. The competition gray came later in the year. To the best of my recollection, chrome was not available from GM until '06. There were, however, a number of after market chrome purveyors.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,237
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From: Oakville Ontario
Chrome was not an option in 05. The only way that you could have chrome was to have the wheel chromed, on an exchange basis. The GM polished wheels were of poor quality ( at least the polishing). I know mine are now in boxes in the basement! Switched to Chrome!
