AC GRUPPEN - BLOG

MORR Wheels | 2013 BMW F10 M5 Build – Judgement Day

1/23/2013

As part of the continuous release of our project: Judgement Day continues, we now deliver you the actual pictures of the shoot. These pictures will be featured in Performance BMW Magazine in the near future, so keep an eye out.

MORR Wheels | 2013 F10 M5 Build - Judgement Day

Obviously we are still here (thank you very much Mayans...you killed our drama of releasing this on 12/12/12)

Some SPECS of Judgement Day:
• 2013 BMW F10 M5 Individual
• 21" MORR Multiforged MS5.2
• KW Variant III Coilovers
• Akrapovic Evolution Titanium Exhaust (Carbon Tips)
• Black Side Fender Grilles
• Black Front Kidney Grilles
• Color matched Reflectors
• BMW Individual Azurite Black
• BMW Individual Platinum Interior

We are MORR Wheels Authorized Dealer, Singapore

1/17/2013

Thanks to our counterpart in Singapore working very in promoting MORR Wheels and guess what? We have got MORR Wheels Singapore Dealership, special promotion price for any inquiry

Look out for more line of MORR Wheels rolling out in 2013!

Contact us for details and best pricing!

ORIGINAL WHEELS NOT GOOD ENOUGH?

1/8/2013

When you see how many car enthusiasts fit custom wheels, one question immediately comes to mind: Shouldn't the original wheels be the best wheels you can get for a car? After all, nobody knows the vehicle better than its manufacturer. For many drivers the original wheels are perfect. When the manufacturer of your vehicle decided what wheels to mount as original equipment, he didn't have the dedicated car enthusiast in mind. The goal was to satisfy that statistical average customer who wants a low price, decent comfort, decent performance and decent looks. This is not good enough for a true car enthusiast who wants stunning looks and stunning performance. A true enthusiast is willing to pay a little extra to get what he wants, and is willing to sacrifice a little comfort to get a car that performs well enough to match his driving skills. That is why there is a big market for lightweight custom wheels. For example, custom wheels by MHT offer a choice of designs, fitments and properties that cater to individual tastes and needs or car enthusiasts.

It is easy to understand why many people want wheels that look better than the originals, but custom wheels can offer much more than just looks. Original wheels are, with exception for some high end sports cars, an inch or two too small to give the performance that car enthusiasts desire. They are chosen to give the everyday driver a comfortable air cushion between the road and the wheel, not for road feel or fast and precise cornering.

The high tire sides of the original wheels flex and give less precision in steering response than the stiff low sides of a low-profile tire. The flexing tire walls of high profile tires can also lift part of the tire tread off the road surface on hard cornering, seriously reducing the car's grip on the road.

Performance driving is very different from the everyday commute and requires different wheels and tires.To avoid a complete rebuild of the suspension and the vehicle's computer system you must stay with some key measurements that the vehicle manufacturer set as design parameters:

The total wheel perimeter must stay within tight limits, very close to the perimeter of the original wheels, as this is a measurement used by the on-board computer system to feed correct data to the speedometer, odometer, anti-lock braking system, the traction control and the stability control systems. For 4wd vehicles this is also a key measurement that the vehicle computer uses to decide how much power to send to which wheel.
The wheel offset (the distance between the center of the tire tread and the wheel mounting plate) must stay the same as original, or you will lose the directional stability and the precise steering of your vehicle.
The wheels must not be so wide that they hit the bodywork on bends and bumps.

The solution is to get bigger rims, with the correct off-set for your vehicle, and fit low profile tires. This will give your vehicle the desired high performance big-wheel look, while keeping key measurements to the original specs. If you have chosen wisely, your new wheels will not only make your vehicle look much better, they will also make it perform much better. The wide low profile tires will take a firm grip on the pavement and hurl you down the road, where the original radial tires would spin, smoke and scream in desperation trying to get you off the mark.

Your performance wheels will take your car through corners as if it was a go-kart, where the original wheels would have you fight for your life to stay on the road.

The low profile tires might give you a slightly harder ride, but the lighter weight of true performance wheels will let the suspension keep the wheels down on the ground on uneven surfaces where the original wheels would bounce around wildly. Keeping the rubber on the ground is key to performance and control. That is what performance wheels are all about. Browse the digital shelves in our wheel shop to find the wheel that is perfect for you and your vehicle. If you don't find your favorite wheel in your favorite finish, give us a call. Our custom wheel facility can provide any finish you want on the wheels of your choice.

Happy New 2013

1/8/2013

Happy New Year!!

AC Gruppen wants to wish everyone and their families a very Happy New Year and a Prosperous 2013!! We also want you to remind you that we are running a Holiday Special from now so make sure to contact our local dealer for more information.

20-inch Morr SpunForged VS8.2 wheels add to the performance of the BMW F10 5-Series

12/16/2012

Noted American wheels manufacturer Morr Wheels has created quite a name for themselves with their range of exclusive wheel kits for BMW vehicles. The company’s latest offering is the 20 inch Morr SpunForged VS8.2 wheel which was fitted onto this stunning BMW F10 5-Series in white. The successor of the MonoForged VS8, the new SpunForged VS8.2 wheel is designed to enhance the performance of the vehicle without adding any extra weight to it.

The SpunForged VS8.2 from the MORR Alloys line is crafted out of T6061-T6 aluminum alloy. The 7-spoke monoblock wheel is created using Morr’s proprietary “SpunForged Technology” which allows the wheel to be stronger yet lighter than the company’s previous offerings. Approximately 2.26 lbs lighter than its predecessors, the new SpunForged wheel weighs just 19.52 lbs thanks to the extensive use of a number of advanced techniques used in the manufacturing process.

Through the use of Vehicle Specific Weight Optimization, Vehicle Specific Load Ratings, Finite Element Analysis and Vehicle Specific Profiles, the Morr was able to slim down the new wheel by almost ten percent. Standard finishes offered in the line include Midnight Black, Signature Black, Signature Silver, Smoked Titanium and Sparking Silver with two custom finish options including a Satin Black finish and a Gloss Black finish. The SpunForged VS8.2 retails at a very special price and is available on special order through AC Gruppen.

Tire Pressure Guide: Finding and Maintaining the proper tire pressure

12/11/2012

Tire Pressure Hints
Tire inflation pressure may have gained greater awareness in the public's mind in the last two years, but it has always been a priority for the enthusiast. Obviously, when going to an autocross or track day, tire pressures are one of the items that will be checked and set by anyone who is at all serious. Most manufacturers recommend checking tire pressures weekly or monthly but, like flossing one's teeth, checking tire pressures on a daily driver is one of those things that is very easy to forever do "tomorrow."

Driving in an ordinary manner may not reveal even a completely flat tire on a light car with today's high-performance, low-profile structures. A visual check with a walk-around of the car at least each morning is the easiest and most basic way of preventing trouble. A flat tire will be obvious, though simply sagging pressures will be considerably less so. On one project car around the office, I noticed a rear tire looked a bit low and guessed it had 12 psi. It turned out to be completely flat and, while the original puncture was repairable, driving on it had made the expensive tire scrap. Neither driver nor passengers had detected anything amiss. Similar misfortune has befallen several other cars, so it's definitely worth taking some precautions.

Even tires in perfect condition lose air over time and should be checked periodically. It may be easier to remember if you buy a quality gauge and keep it in the glovebox rather than in your toolbox. A quality, trustworthy gauge makes it more pleasant than with the uncertainty of the gas station's beater, though in european car's tire-pressure-gauge test (July 2000), four randomly selected gas station air hose pressure gauges were checked, and none was in error to a degree that would lead to a dangerous condition. Since then, the Porsche(R)-approved gauge we chose as our favorite has been seen all over the place, from The Tire Rack to local auto parts stores, at very affordable prices.

Some people aren't sure where to set their tire pressures. The one thing that is certain is that the maximum inflation pressure on the sidewall is not the right one to use. The vehicle manufacturer's recommendation is always a good starting point. It will be somewhere in the car. This used to be a sticker in the driver's door jamb, but more and more it's located on the back of the gas filler door. If that fails, the information should be in the owner's manual. Sometimes, there will be a range specified, or two different recommendations, depending on load. Anywhere between these numbers should be safe.

Changing the tire size or going to a plus-size fitment will change the required inflation pressure somewhat. Within the range of optional OE tire sizes, the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations should be followed. For sizes outside the range, the tire manufacturer should be able to help. Yokohama, for instance, includes pressure recommendations for stock and plus-sizes, by vehicle, in its annual Fitment Guide, which your tire dealer should have a copy of. Typically, these are 0-3 psi higher for a Plus-one or Plus-two fitment. Also listed are maximum load ratings at maximum inflation pressure for each size of each tire Yokohama makes.

If the recommendations you find leave you with a range and you want to know more specifically, you can experiment. Air, after all, is free. A change of 2-3 psi can completely change a vehicle. An underinflated tire will ride smoothly but feel sluggish, have mushy turn-in and go around corners with high slip angles or just not much grip at all. An overinflated tire will feel harsh on impact and over smaller bumps, and while responding crisply, will lack grip when pushed hard. To an experienced person, these characteristics are obvious even from the passenger seat. Try the minimum and maximum of your target range, and maybe slightly outside it, and decide what you like.

In the event that you aren't able to find a recommendation for your car, or the tires on your car are so different from those that were originally fitted from the manufacturer as to be incomparable, we received the following rule of thumb from Oscar Pereda, an engineer for BFGoodrich. He calls it a "realistic starting point," saying it has never been just right, but is a good place to start. The rule is:

(Vehicle Weight in lb/100) + 2 psi at heavier end + 2 psi all around if suspension and alignment are stock.

Example: Stock 911, 3,000 lb.
(3000/100) = 30 psi
Add 2 psi all around = 32 psi
Add 2 psi to heavy end = 34 psi at rear
With modified suspension, the result is 30 psi front, 32 psi rear.

"There is no 'golden' tire pressure," Oscar said. The optimal setting depends on the individual driver and his preferences. For those inclined to find the ultimate setup for track use, Oscar provided additional instructions. First, get a skidpad, and plan to be dizzy. Take your dramamine. Drive in a circle, first one direction, then the other. Measure and record tire temperature distributions with a probe-type pyrometer that actually penetrates the rubber, not the "aim and click" infrared type. You want bulk temperature, not surface temperature, because the surface cools rapidly while the inner temperature is more stable. When measuring tire temperatures, if center is hotter or cooler than shoulders, there is too much or too little pressure, respectively.

Adjust pressures in 2-psi increments and record all adjustments. Adjust pressures by differences. If you start at 30 psi, and want to take out 2 psi, but the tires have heated up and are at 33 psi, set them at 31 psi rather than 28. The sum of all the changes made will be very close to the change from your initial cold setting. To check this, leave the tires alone at the end of the day, let them cool, and check the pressures in the morning. If at any point during the day you "reset" your pressures to some arbitrary starting place, you are suddenly lost, and all the work you have done that day is gone.

The ideal caster and toe alignment settings will give even tire pressures all across the tread. This can be determined in the same way as the optimum tire pressure. You'll never get the tire temperatures perfectly even, but the best you can do is the best you can do, which is the point of the exercise. What works best will vary from car to car depending on camber curves, body roll, ride height and other factors.

Which tire pressure gauge to use? Oscar told us that, in general, less expensive gauges tend to deviate more at higher pressures. To run the vehicle manufacturer's recommended pressure, accuracy is more important. To dial in a car, precision and repeatability are more important.

For more information, consult your tire manufacturer. The better tire company websites have extensive technical information. Another good source is the Rubber Manufacturer's Association. http://rma.org/tiresafety/

NICHE SPORTIVA BY MHT- A200 | Sporting 2010 Porsche Cayenne S

12/8/2012

We couldn't help but share this beautifully paired photo shoot we did with this 2010 Porsche Cayenne S. It went out with our Niche Sportiva's which are a 3 piece custom forged wheel. This wheel is set to be custom tailored to order and is available in 18"-26" x 7"-17". With a million in one possible finishes you can get this wheel anyway you desire. The 5 spoke really adds to the body and style of the Cayenne, hope you enjoy the photos.

Happy Thanksgiving!

11/23/2012

Happy Thanksgiving!!

AC Gruppen wants to wish everyone and their families a Happy Thanksgiving!! Take this time to enjoy those who matter the most to you and remember to be thankful for everything that we have in life. We also want you to remind you that we are running a Holiday Special from now until the end of the year so make sure to contact your local dealer for more information.

AC Gruppen

Grand Opening of New Flagship Store in Singapore

11/18/2012

AC Gruppen celebrated the grand opening of its first new Asia Flagship Store in the most beautiful island in the Southeast Asia, Singapore last Sunday . The store was designed to make our visitors and acquaintances a feel of home and touch of luxury, all thanks to our design team.

With the grand opening of the 250m2 Flagship Store in the very heart of luxury retail, AC Gruppen is reaching out to shoppers with the objective of allowing them to experience the brand in their chosen environment. The new store was witnessed and inaugurated by clients, friends, and acquaintances.

With the opening of this Flagship store in Asia. We felt that the world of retail has changed significantly – customer behaviour, needs and expectations have changed, as well as communication technology. As part of our corporate Strategy Number ONE, we critically reviewed our processes and customer feedback. We will now build upon our strengths and implement a comprehensive programme named Future Retail. This will entail a whole range of initiatives and tools designed to enhance the customer experience and to set new standards for retail in the wheels industry and beyond.

Throughout all of this and supported by an increased number of customer contact points with our brands, the dealer’s role becomes even more essential – as our face to the customer and the provider of a true, personal and emotional, premium experience.

Advantages of Lightweight Wheels

11/10/2012

After purchasing a car, many owners look for ways to make it their own. Adding modifications, custom paint jobs, tinted windows and undercarriage lights are all popular modifications for high-performance, street drivers. These vehicle alterations can quickly add up. As a less expensive alternative, many car owners opt for simpler modifications, such as adding lightweight wheels.

Often seen as a fashion accessory, lightweight wheels provide many advantages to your vehicle. However, like actual fashion, car wheels change with the season. Many creators of these aftermarket wheel designs value look over weight. Yet, opting for the lighter wheel will help improve your vehicle’s overall ride and performance.

Lightweight wheels, such as magnesium alloy wheels and lightweight aluminum alloy wheels, greatly reduce the overall weight of the vehicle and pressure on the tire. This allows for easier control of your vehicle. However, most magnesium wheels are too fragile for street use and are typically seen on Indy and Formula 1 race cars. Aluminum wheels, on the other hand, offer greater durability and often come in a variety of finishes.

Additionally, by reducing the overall weight will decrease the amount of energy your vehicle uses. The features of lightweight wheels will save you money and add comfort to your ride.

Have you put lightweight wheels on your vehicle? What changes or improvements have you seen? Contact us today for your set of wheels!