Are OE Q45 BBS Wheels Worth Anything?

[carcrazyguy]

Hey everyone, when at the junkyard yesterday, I saw an early 90's Q45 with a nice set of factory BBS wheels (mesh style). I was thinking about buying them, but talked myself out of it while there. I didn't know if they were valuble (or popular) for Q45 owners, so I didn't want to get stuck with them if they had no resale value (as we will be selling the family Q45 soon).I also thought about putting them on a Maxima (I may be buying a 92 SE) but not sure if they would fit.

So I am asking for opinions...are those anything special...they sure looked cool! Do people buy those to put on Q's the regular factory wheels? If so, what have they paid?

[Q45tech]

There were no ZERO BBS OEM WHEELS. Dealers purchased and installed them from BBS USA to jazz up profit margins.

The only ones worth anything had a outer and inner lip for clip on weights and were forged, Lots of cheap copies with no lips and cast to look forged.

[carcrazyguy]

That's strange since

There were no ZERO BBS OEM WHEELS. Dealers purchased and installed them from BBS USA to jazz up profit margins.

The only ones worth anything had a outer and inner lip for clip on weights and were forged, Lots of cheap copies with no lips and cast to look forged.

That's strange since many early Q45 adds in magazines had them on the pictured cars. Either way, these look identical to the ones that come on RX7 convertibles, or really close., but say BBS rather than "Mazda" of course. Anyway, these were the ones with the center caps that locked with a special wrench (that I have also seen being sold as "Q45 BBS wrench").

[qship96]

There were no ZERO BBS OEM WHEELS. Dealers purchased and installed them from BBS USA to jazz up profit margins.

The only ones worth anything had a outer and inner lip for clip on weights and were forged, Lots of cheap copies with no lips and cast to look forged.

Not true, the 94-96Q with Touring packabe came with the BBS wheels from Japan as a standard part of the touring package

[elwesso]

first time i ever heard that Q45t or Q45a didnt come with the BBS wheels from the factory... hmm.

Either way, the wheels are good to have, theyre ultra strong and super light... I know the 5 lug 240 guys like em for that reason.. If you can get em cheap you might be able to get 200-300 out of them for resale.

[Rex]

They're not really worth much to the 240 guys due to the high offsets, they'd like something in the 20's not 40. They are interested in Crown Vic (real) BBS wheels though.

[carcrazyguy]

They're not really worth much to the 240 guys due to the high offsets, they'd like something in the 20's not 40. They are interested in Crown Vic (real) BBS wheels though.

It always escaped me why they want to do that, since the 240 has "new generation" high offset wheels from the factory...and the deep wheel thing is an old school thing (like early late 70's - early 80's Celica / Corolla / 280ZX). Seems a little backwards.

In addition doing that for looks on a car not designed for it stresses thing more than normal. But to each his own, as these are the days of doing things that make no sense - like the "sleepy eye mod" that 240 driftkids do - which looks like the headlights are broken, staggered rear wheel sizes on cars that didn't come that way (and are not tuned for it), or painting a perfectly good bodycolor hood black (emulating CF maybe?) making everyone else think the car has a replacement hood they could not afford to paint. I must be too old to understand, lol.

Anyway, no more digression. The wheels in question looked very straight, and had all center caps and even had tires mounted (but I didn't pay attention to their condition). If I can snag them for, say $100-120 would that be worth my time? Heck, you can barely get one new wheel for that.

[thejapino]

I guess you could pick them up and use them. Use your old stocks as winter wheels

[Rex]

IMHO, given the lack of quality tire options for Q45's, these would only be helpful as winter wheels ... sad thing.

Wait, VW guys might like them for the "BBS-ness and the off sets are high enough they can use PCD adapters. Still probably not worth much.

[carcrazyguy]

I wonder if J30 owners might use them?Once again, there is a chance that my next DD will be either a Maxima or J30, so I might put them on that. I dunno...even at $100 it is such a toss-up.

[maxnix]

If they don't meet or exceed OEM specifications, they are worth nothing.

I don't think the first stubby spoked forged wheels on early a and t models were BBS. Kind of a unique classic look for me.

[qship96]

If they don't meet or exceed OEM specifications, they are worth nothing.

I don't think the first stubby spoked forged wheels on early a and t models were BBS. Kind of a unique classic look for me.

Correct, the 90-93 had either the piepans or the unique looking nissan forged wheels.....dealers swapped many of both these wheels for BBS mesh, or BBS look alike{Rial, Elite} mesh wheels due to the public not liking either factory wheel and to increase profits

The 94 model year Q switched to a shiny polished machined look version of the piepan wheels or factory installed BBS mesh wheels for the upmarket touring package

In 95 & 96 the turbine wheel became standard with touring models getting the factory BBS mesh wheel

[carcrazyguy]

These were definately real BBS (RG series I believe) so quality is not an issue since they always passed TUV standards. As mentioned earlier, I had owned a RX7 convertible a few years back, and these looked virtually identical (other than these actually saying "BBS" on the cap).Either way, maybe they are not worth anything now, but I remember when people would kill for these. On top of that, they looked much better than most of the stock Q45 / J30 wheels of the era. Oh well, I may get them just out of principle...will sleep on it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I also thought about putting them on a Maxima (I may be buying a 92 SE) but not sure if they would fit.

They will not fit. I've tried.

However, if you do get the Max and want that look for it, there were select I30s that came with the same style wheel in a Maxima-friendly offset.

These are the wheels you're referring to, right?http://is.rely.net/3-4-8224-l-...Q.jpg

Those ARE indeed real BBS (say so on the back).

IMHO, given the lack of quality tire options for Q45's, these would only be helpful as winter wheels ... sad thing.

That's exactly what I'm doing with mine. It is sad in a way that beautiful BBSs would be relegated to winter wheels, but it's certainly nice to know my car will not look cheap with it's snow tires on.

[Jesda]

I paid $50 for BBS-style OZ wheels in 2006. They were old and tired looking, but balanced SO nicely. Miss them.

[maxnix]

Either way, maybe they are not worth anything now, but I remember when people would kill for these. On top of that, they looked much better than most of the stock Q45 / J30 wheels of the era.

Being forged, they are lighter (16.5 lbs) and stronger than cast, and so tend to maintain OEM specification longer.

[carcrazyguy]

Quote »These are the wheels you're referring to, right?

That's exactly what I'm doing with mine. It is sad in a way that beautiful BBSs would be relegated to winter wheels, but it's certainly nice to know my car will not look cheap with it's snow tires on. [/quote]The wheels in question had actual BBS caps, but were very similar if not the same.

I live in TN, so the last thing I need is an extra set of winter wheels

[captainluigi]

Brian if you are weighing just the stock 96 BBS wheel they come in @12.5 lbs.That's what one of mine is w/stem.(3 5 grams W/cap) All 4 on the ground took 1/4 oz. or less and on the inside across from stem w/pilot exaltos. 1 in boot took 1oz. w/some cheapass cooper. I like the idea of a full spare. just old school mentality perhaps. as i recall the donut was only 3 or 4 ponds lighter.

Florida i in such a $ fix right now so road maint. is first to go from budget.

BBS WORKS FOR ME.

[carcrazyguy]

I like the idea of a full spare. just old school mentality perhaps.

I agree. How many people can say their spare is a full size BBS?

[maxnix]

Brian if you are weighing just the stock 96 BBS wheel they come in @12.5 lbs.

Maybe you are correct. I may be remembering the cast turbine wheel.

[carcrazyguy]

FWIW, the wheels looked like the ones below (but w. BBS center).

[Peterofdevon]

I got $175 for a set two months ago with craigslist.

I listed them a year ago at $350 (duh) and got an offer for 275 and passed on it (double duh) Then they sat for another year.

I was about to curb them.

I think they make the car look OLD.

Just mo.

Peter

[maxnix]

I think they make the car look OLD.

Just mo.

Peter

Well, maybe old school. My set of 18"forged BBS RGR look much the same, for which I am glad. But most of all, they are light and strong.

[carcrazyguy]

I think they make the car look OLD.

I can see what you are saying, as modern cars have wheels with little or no lip - usually with spokes that come to the edge for aerodynamic reasons. But you know what they say, "what's old is new again".

[carcrazyguy]

On a slightly different note, I picked up one of the handy service manuals from a J30 when I was at the yunkyard that day. I figured that knowing my luck, if I buy a J30, the manual will be missing. However, if I do get a J30 and it does have the manual already, what are these worth (if anything):

[captainluigi]

They are worth exactly what the market will pay, no more no less. Remember these words of Zig Ziggler, ''All you really need is one buyer.''

[carcrazyguy]

Remember these words of Zig Ziggler, ''All you really need is one buyer.''

That's sounds nice in a proverbial sort of way, but does nothing to help one avoid wasting time as well as losing a couple bucks by listing something (on Ebay) too high. It's often is worse when something gets no bids even at a low starting cost...or much worse, you end up giving an item away for 0.99...while spending $5 in gas, half an hour of spare time, and still pay a couple bucks in Ebay / Paypal fees. This is why I asked for an actual guestimate of what the manual would be worth.