- My model of MX-5 is: Eunos 1992
- I’m based near: Hounslow
- I’m looking for technical help or recommendations on: How to tell if these ebay BBS 14" alloys are original
That centre cap isn’t original, I can tell you that much. You’d also need to see photos of the inner wheel as well, for signs of the BBS markings.
Drop me a PM if you’d like a set of these though, as I’m putting an advert up this week. They were original to my '93 S-Special which I sold last year, but the buyer preferred some other wheels I had for it.
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Thats enough for me not to take it as the person is claiming the centre caps are worth £200 alone. Ill PM you now
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I’ll re-phrase slightly - the centre cap may well be genuine BBS, but those wheels don’t appear to be original in terms of what would have been fitted to a Eunos.
As you’ll see from photos I’ve sent across in my PM reply, the design differs both around the centre cap and also at the end of the spoke design.
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That is the type of centre cap used on VW BBS wheels
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He did say it came off his MK2 Golf
If they came off a VW golf they will be both heavier than the MX5 ones, and a slightly wrong offset sorry.
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Thanks for letting me know
To help you find the right ones here’s some information from Miata.net:
Markings on front of wheel between lug holes (under center caps) starting straight under valve stem and going clockwise (between the holes:
98
1Y18 (stamped)
VA
BBS Germany
GESCHMIEDE
14X6JJH2ET45
NA
JWL
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Don’t understand this thread. The seller is saying these are not original BBS because they came off a Golf. OP is wondering if they are originbal BBS supplied to Mazda,
I was just wondering whether they are original regardless of which make it was made for. I have just found out the offset wont fit properly anyway on my Eunos.
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It’s helped establish some detail and information. There’s certainly a point in that.
The wheels could have been on a Eunos, prior to the Golf. We’ve helped to confirm that these particular wheels weren’t original fitment to a Eunos.
All part of the MX5OC service!
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Those wheels are genuine BBS just not the ones fitted to Eunos Roadsters.
I paid £400 for a set of 15" Mazda ones about six years ago.
BMW and VW also had OEM BBS Wheels
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This wheel oroginally came off a 30 year old Corrado. Wheels from Golfs had various offsets, including 45mm. This style of BBS is specific to the Corrado, which had narrower range fitments. In 15", Corrado wheels are 35mm. In 14", they are 38mm. The offset is likely cast into the wheel under that centre cap. 38mm means they will stick out by 7mm compared to factory 45mm.
The offset is perfectly compatible with a Mk1. Most of the wheels fitted by MCL to UK special editions were 35-38mm offset. The Mk2 14" was also 45mm, but in 15", Mazda moved to 40mm.
The wheels you have to watch out for are Minilite style wheels with thick banana spokes; the way these bend back mean on cars with 1.8 brakes (and some 1.6 cars have upgraded brakes), the rim can kiss the front calipers, even if the offset seems “fine”.
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Thanks to ‘ast’ for a really clear answer to the original question.
My S-Special came with standard daisy wheels. I had the opportunity to get some 15" BBS wheels off a VW Golf Mk2 GTi. these are a great fit and have the added ‘advantage’ that there is no center cap to lose. Obviously, I’m not bothered about ‘originality’ on this car.
I had some original BBS wheels from a Eunos. As well as the centre cap being different, mine had diamond-cut outer rims.
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Technically, on a BBS, a clear anodized coat. This is why they corrode much less than “diamond cut” rims which are usually just lacquered.