j's is in the process of setting up legal framework in the united states to get all of this handled, will it ever happen...who knows...but the process has already begun. for those of you looking for blood about the copying of their kit, you may get your chance. for those of you looking to get the replica...well the future is uncertain.

it's easy to go after the companies when they use copyrighted promotional photos, but when you're dealing with a company like J's that has no legal entity in the US, nothing can be done until they get a base here.

for Mugen it's different, King Motorsports can step up and do more just like they have done recently with the grey marketing of their products(remember they are the only authorized importer of Mugen, nobody else can bring it in on a container but them), but the time investment and possible legal expenses for them is too much for a shop their size to invest in. i'm surprised though that c-west has never done anything about it as well, they are such a small operation that they should have the time to spend to take care of protecting their intellectual property.

in the end though, realistically there will always be replicas out there of anything that is high dollar and has demand...its up to the consumer to decide the path they take and the consequences that come with it.

 

I personally am a firm believer in buying only 100% authentic products. I never owned any replica parts nor did I plan on getting them for my S. Closest thing I had to a replica was NRG hood dampers which were replaced by ASM ones.

It's a personal choice to buy real or fake parts but the thing I hate most is people that try to pass off fake for authentic parts. People always claim to have a mugen hardtop when it wasn't anything even close.

Also to people who are saying they can't afford the real part or this or that should probably be looking at their priorities. If you can't afford getting the real part then in most cases you shouldn't be buying the part at all. That's just my opinion.

ALL 100% REAL AUTHENTIC PARTS

 

so me buying replica parts that have the same function as the authentic is not a smart thing considering the amount saved on them. don't get me wrong I have yet to buy any replica parts, but I don't understand how people can keep telling those that can't afford the authentic not to buy at all! or save your pennis!

While you guys buy your authentic front bumper costing upwards of $3000, another person can buy the replica for a few hundred with maybe not the exact same quality, but good quality(sometimes better), and decent fitment(not like the authentic ones have good fitment), and still have that extra money for additional parts if wanted. I see the smart choice here.

Oh and how can anyone claim what hood dampers are authentic and which are fake?! Every company makes hood damper, so what makes the NRG fake enough for you to replace them with the ASM ones which are over priced and do the exact same thing?...wait...let me guess...the sticker that says asm on them...

love the car by the way...very clean...

 

Actually the ASM ones do not have any marking or sticker on them.

Like I said. It's all personal choice. I would rather spend the money and support the company that did the R&D because if all people buy is replica then we will not have any parts for our cars. Also my biggest gripe with replicas is when people try to pass them off as real. If buy a replica then you buy one but just don't try to pass it off as real. I'm not saying you would but there are tons of people on these boards that have.

Also thanks for the compliments!

 

I'll agree with you and every one with that aspect...I don't mind replicas at all and think it is OK for people to buy then, but also agree that they should not be passed of as the real deal.

 

s2kmugen, if you're going to part-out, you better do it soon before the prices plummet

In all seriousness, I would just keep with your current set-up, even if everybody and their grandmother in Texas drove a J's replica-kitted car. Yours was done right. The ones with replica kits won't look anything like yours

For the detractors, s2kmugen actually tracks his car frequently and he's pretty darned good at it. At least he is using his JDM parts for its intended use: for the TRACK. He has advanced from the novice group to the advanced group below the instructors within a few months only.

 

Something that I have been very curious about given the very different views shared here on s2ki about replicas is this:

What would the consensus be if a company 'replicated' a part, but did not make it identical. What if they instead improved upon the original's fitment and possibly the design.

Playing devil's advocate of course: Let's say such and such company saw the J's bumper, liked it...did some Air Flow testing and found that if they tweaked the design slightly they could generate better flow, or more downforce etc. In addition to that, they also fixed the fitment and alignment issues (not trying to insinuate the original has fitment problems).

What is the group's opinion here?

Essentially they've taken allllllll of this wonderfully expensive R&D from these glorified and revered Japanese companies and made the product even better! Therefore benefiting the consumer (through competition).

Thoughts?

 

Its the same as J's taken upon the mugens hood design. Its a copy game and it won't be stop between JDM companies to fake companies and the same to JDM companies to other JDM companies. Its all upon your opinion whats worth buying. I'm not going to look down upon a person for buying a fake replicated part compared to someone buy an expensive JDM part. I will look down upon you for claiming something is authentic when its not thats a different story. Everyone has their reasons for purchasing parts, but you shouldn't get all torn up about it I say.

 

I recently bought My Full CF V.2 J's Racing Kit From BEN@A&J RACING!

And the first guys that post this was on my FORUM, They were like, Ohhh look at this group buy, 1,200 For the Whole kit and you WASTED ALL THAT MONEY!

I was like, Dude, I like Authentic parts, and its all on my choice you know, But at least they didnt copy V2 Diffuser, I'll be Mad 2 bro!

But i dont mind replicas, But J's Kit Replica NOOOOOOOOO

 

I think that's fine as long as the "replica" is different enough to call it their own. Password JDM makes some replica parts, but they did change it up a bit by releasing kevlar versions. Although the difference between that and the CF is cosmetic, I think it's different enough to call their own. The only other kevlar intakes I can think of is the Spoon kevlar snorkel and the Mugen prototype kevlar intake.

While the Mugen whores will cry foul at J's Racing for copying the design of the hood, it's actually different enough underneath in regards to functionality (ie. Mugen has rain channels, J's does not). So they kind of get away with it (sort of...).

Now, I don't think all replicas are necessarily evil. For instance, my T1R CF side diffusers (ver. 1) are in essence, replicas of the ASM CF side diffusers. But for a small thin slab of carbon-fiber, I can't justify spending $3k (probably more now) versus the T1R for only $200. I love my CF mud guards

It is kind of sad to see that certain parts don't seem to hold as much value over the long-term. The only exceptions I can think of to that caveat are: Mugen, TODA, and Comptech. These 2 companies have been around forever and the quality/craftmanship is as good if not better than OEM Honda. Their extensive racing history and motorsport involvement also helps keep the value of their goods despite the replicas. Despite the Seibon and J's Racing hoods, the Mugen SS hood always has and will retain its value. Take another example on the flipside. ASM has lots of nice quality parts (many of their parts are outsourced from Mugen's suppliers as well). I can guarantee that my ASM intake v1 has lost a lot of value due to the Password JDM ASM-style intakes. ASM has some name recognition, but not as extensive as my other 3 examples. People in the future will likely not want my intake unless it's priced similarly as a new PWJDM intake. Will J's Racing maintain its value? I would like to think so, but I somehow doubt it.