why centerlock adaptors are so expensive?

You can buy the entire center lock conversion kit with wheels for $5k: Ferrari 360/430 Centerlock Conversion Kit w/ complete set (4) OEM BBS 19" Wheels | eBay

 

It's not completely clear to me but that eBay advert looks like a set of OEM Challenge wheels and aftermarket bolt-on adapters. Adapters carry an unsprung weight penalty, not a saving like the originals, and they also affect wheel offset.

The original Ferrari parts replace the entire stub axle, hub, bearing, and sensor assembly.

 

Yes, but this is what OP referred to with "adapters". If you want OEM you have to get Ferrari 430 Challenge (race car) uprights etc. None of the 430 family street cars came with center lock wheels.

 

Ask the supplier and maybe there's a good reason.

 

It includes more than just the adapters: Ferrari 360-430 Centerlock Conversion Kit ONLY | Ferrari 360

4 OEM wheel nuts, center nut tool, 4 pins, 4 OEM caps - did you try price out those items included in the $4k kit?

 

Design
Engineering
Materials
Production time
Equipment costs (Have you priced a Haas CNC mill lately?)
Labor (including Obamacare)
Supply and demand
.. plus the Ferrari privilege tax.

 

I am not aware of any product or service sold for a price based on costs. Products and services are sold based on what the market will pay. Production costs only determine if it is worthwhile to even bother.

Do you really think it costs $700 to make an I Phone?

 

This. To copy is definitely cheaper and that's the mentality the world is going through. Lots of kickstarter failed cause once they looking for funds, someone else took the idea and have it manufactured in China before the original guy with the design comes up with the fund to manufacture them.

 

Haven't you heard of the Ferrari tax?

Let's be honest, all the overhead to create wheel adapters does not equate to aforementioned. It's the fact that it's a low volume vehicle with an owners group that has a healthy amount of disposable income.

 

It's not to cover overhead. It's to make profit so it is worthwhile to do it. Like you said, low volume. Is it worth it to make $100 profit per kit if you can only sell 10 units? I can think of better things to do with my time. Now if you can sell 10,000 units, the $100 profit per unit, might be worthwhile.

 

because that's what the market will bear

 

OK, with you - wasn't sure if the OP meant originals. I can have a set of billet 7075 adapters designed and machined for less than $1000.

RifeDriver is on the money here.

 

Get your guy to make some, sell them for $1700 a set.

 

But be sure you do the engineering, the forces are high, and don't forget the potential liability so you need insurance, business license, etc. Honestly, if it is so easy to make that much selling these I suggest you jump right into the market. If you won't just jump in, the normal profit isn't high enough to offset the opportunity cost at your price point. Pretty basic economics.

 

There are a broad range of mechanical analysis packages: thermal, stress, strain, shock, etc. You start by defining bounding conditions and running analysis. You refine the choices and design to meet the design criteria. THEN comes some mechanical testing to validate that your calculations are correct (just like crash testing cars). The process isn't cheap but it is the only way to manage liability.

 

I don't think product liability is as big a deal in China vs. the USA.

 

$1000 for the center lock bits, $3000 for the yellow caps with the horsey on them?

 

I just bought the last set of new center lock adaptors and wheels in the USA !
I am interested in getting the 5 fixing bolts for each wheel made in TITAINIUM
ACER racing is willing to make ONE set, 20 in titanium for $900 WE enquired IF the price could be reduced if additional were ordered at the same time ?

Is anyone w/ a set of the wheels interested in a set ? PLs PM mayhaps we could do a sort of group buy ?
I already have a set of the ACER racing titanium lug bolts for OEM 5 bolt wheels they are superlative quality and very light saving about 6 Lbs ! ( total )
Photo" a rusty set , ( not mine ! ) of the adaptor bolts we want to have made in Ti ! ( sorry only photo i could find ! ) Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

Did you get there display set. If so was looking at that one about a year ago. But going a different route