I have a Passat rim that I was going to attempt to put on my 88 Vanagon, but decided not to do it after all.

I ordered a set of 5 15" steel VW Vanagon rims.  I compared the two over the weekend and there are some major differences.

The metal thickness on the Vanagon rim is about twice the thickness of the Passat rim.

The cooling vents on the Vanagon rim are smaller and more circle in shape where as the cooling vents on the Passat rim is larger and more oval.

The off-set is also different.

The Vanagon rim is painted shiny black where as the Passet rim is more flat black...

Based on these differences, I am glad I did not try to make a set of Passat rims work BUT got a set of rims MADE to handle the weight of the Vanagon.

If you are going to 15" rims and do not want alloy, I would get a set of 5 15" steel VW Vanagon rims.
Accept no Substitutes, your life(and your family and friends) is (are) riding on the rims.

Robert

The rims were bought from:

http://www.TIICO.com