Automotive Forums

[QUOTE:FRbimmer] No dealer ship is going to cover tires [UNQUOTE]

I've got a news flash for you FRb. I'm not talking about a dealership, I'm talking about the Toyota Corporation extending their car warranty for 3 yrs/36,000 miles to the Dunlop tires that come standard on the van. With enough pressure, BMW Corporation will do the same. Car manufacturers cannot afford to lose high dollar customers because of lousy tires.  

Hello,

Sorry, there is nothing you personally can do at this time.  I wasn't aware of the cupping problems until I logged onto this site.  I guess I have that to look forward to. I also had a nail puncture.  Punctures cannot be fixed on run-flats.  Bridgestone/Firestone stores do not carry run-flats because of the certification required to mount them as well as the low demand for them.  My dealership was the only option and their service department is closed on weekends. After a weekend without wheels I paid $300 for a new tire.  BUT, this is not my biggest complaint!!  I can't stand the noise!  It sounds like my wheel bearings are gone.  BMW has coached their SA's well; they all give you an innocent look and claim they are not aware of any problems with run-flats.  Keep the pressure on BMW and they may eventually admit their mistake.  

I just purchased a brand new 330i 06, and already i'm having problem after two days of taking delivery. I did not completely check the car, before leaving the lot, but after 2 days of having the car, i look at the front tire it has a bump. I called the dealership they give me the BS about tires are not covered, but my whole thought was I just got the car two days ago. So, offer few calls, they agree to replace the tire. I thought the problem was over. They take the car in for replacement, then 30min later service tech tells me this was due to impact and wheel and tire need to be repalced, which there telling me $1200. First, the car hasn't been driven that much, second no impact was made, unless normal driving causes problems. Currently, I'm waiting for the dealership to repond to my request to take care of my problem without charge. O, here's the funny party, the sale manager asked me did you purchase the extendy warranty? I did not even know BMW offered warranty on there tires. I think there intention are to let this go for a while, before getting back to me, but I'm ready to take thing long as it needs. I will be filling a complaint with BMW North America. This might be a stupid question to ask, but does anyone know the buyers right to return the car????  

Check with your state's atty. general office; "lemon laws" vary from state to state. And when you call BMW NA tell them you're doing so, that should wake someone up.  

I JUST PURCHASED AN '06 BMW Z4.  I HAVE JUST OVER 900 MILES ON THE CAR AND NOW THERE IS SOME TYPE OF MAJOR LEAK IN THE LEFT FRONT TIRE.  SO MAJOR YOU CAN PUT YOUR FINGER ON IT, BUT IT WASNT FLAT WHEN I DROVE IT INTO MY GARAGE HOURS EARLIER.  WHEN YOU PUT MORE AIR IN IT YOU CAN HEAR THE LEAK AND IT GOES COMPLETELY FLAT IN ABOUT 5 MINS.  FROM WHAT I CAN SEE, IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS LEAKING FROM SOME PART OF THE DESIGN OR SEAM IN THE TREAD, BUT I CANT SEE I VERY WELL, BMW IS SENDING OUT ROADSIDE *** TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.  OF COURSE NO ROAD HAZARD WARRANTY.  I AM GOING TO LOOK AT THE LEAK FIRST AND GET THE TIRE BACK FROM THEM, BUT IF ANYTHING LOOKS FISHY ABOUT THE LEAK IE..A TIRE DEFECT AND NOT A ROAD HAZARD ISSUE, I WILL LET YOU GUYS KNOW. THE TIRES ARE BRIDGESTONE POTENZA RFT'S.  I HAVEN'T HAD ANY OTHER PROBLEMS YET, BUT I ONLY HAVE 900 MILES ON THE TIRES, BUT I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS ALREADY.  

AutomotiveJC:
My 2006 330i just hit 9000 too, but I don't have the road noise and cupping problem. Do you have the sport package with the 18" rims? The road noise on my car is not as apparent as the wind noise. Definitely check the tire pressure at least every month!

Today I just discovered the 7th bad tire in just over 1 year on my 2004 M3. I do not drive fast at all, frustrated, definititely!  Thank god I now have the warranty.  

Bingo! I have a 2006 330xi and it when you hit any bump in the road or even a slight depression like a  man hole cover , the car bottoms out so badly that passangers continually say "what is wrong with your car!' I have owned two previous BMWs and a have never even remotely encountered a problem like this.
I sucks the joy out of any fun that the BMW usually is to drive. I took the car in and they insist that there is nothing wrong with it. What I can't understand is why everyone doesn't complain about this!  

I have the same problem with my 2006 330xi. It has gotten to the point where I am so concious of hitting a bump that I grab the wheel with both hands and flex to avoid the impact when I am about to hit a bump. I've had coffee spill, Cd's skip, and passengers complain about the vehicle. The car only has 12000 miles on it and I have more than two years left on the lease but I can't wait to get rid of it. Also i've had three flats in 9 months thats three more flats than I've had in ten years before owning this vehicle. Has anyone out there replaced the run flats with "regular" tires? Does the car still bottom out? I want to replace the tires but want to know if it makes sense to put in non run flats.  

Great! I have a 2006 330xi with run flat tires. I love the car in general but just this morning the red "Flat Tire" warning light came on. I live in Chicago and the roads are terrible, with lots of hidden pot holes and bumps. Not running over one of those at least once a day is impossible!

The car does bottom out very easily, more than ANY other car I've driven or driven in. I thought I'd made the right decision by NOT picking the Sports Package, rather sticking with the Luxury Package. I actually think that the combination of bad tires and the fact that the car bottoms out like crazy is a big safety concern. Does that worry anyone else here?

I'm on my way to bring the car to the dealership and we'll see what kind of suggestions they will make. But from all I have read here, replacing all four tires with "normal" tires seems to be the only option to take care of the run-flat tire problem.  

I will be replacing my factory runflats to Michelin Pilot PS2s when they wear out. However, please be aware that the 3 Series chassis is designed with the run flats. Therefore, if you change the tires to a different brand or non-run flats, the quality of the ride, handling, and even tire durability could be affected in a negative way.  

I went to the dealer again this week with another flat tire and was told that there is nothing wrong with the tires or the ride. The dealer mentioned that the car rides exactly how it was designed to ride. He also mentioned that the roads in my area are particularly bad and that I am probably riding over glass and nails so I keep getting flat tires. This is absolute BS, BMW is refusing to acknowledge this problem and consumers like us expecting a quality luxury sports car are getting royally screwed. This is my second and last BMW.  

Does anyone have the ContiTouring Contact tires?  I have them on my 06 525i.  I just got two new front tires after 24k miles.  The flat tire light went on the day I got the car back.  The tire pressure was around 35 on the tires but the sidewall states max press at 51psi?  Did BMW screw up and put too little pressure in?

Thanks  

I bought a 2006 3.20i (with 16" Continental RFT) 4 weeks ago and already have a flat tyre. Dealer says its not covered in the 5 year warranty/service package I paid for. Should I change to non run flat tyres and buy a spare or keep on replacing RFTs. I would NOT have bought the car had I known that OE *** RFT are so ***
So many people are complaining, BMW should sort out this mess. Lawyers please file a class action suite against BMW.

From Troubled with BMW RFT in Bahrain  

After complaining to dealer in Madison WI about terrible tire noise on BMW 330xi with Bridgestone RFT's I was surprised to get call about replacing all four with new Continental Conti-Sport RFT's at no charge. They are very quiet and handle great. I note on service paperwork a note about a BMW tire program. Suggest owners contact local dealer and press for new tires under this program. Good Luck !!  

I have the same car, and the run flat Bridgestone tires and the same thing happened to me.  Right at 9K miles, I took the car to the dealer because of the horrendous noise the tires made and was told that they were cupped and needed to be replaced.  I was also told that the warrenty had just run out on my tires.  The ride is terrible.  You go over a small pot hole and it jars your brain!  I like the car but the tires are ruining the whole experience.  Not only that but these tires are expensive.  I refuse to buy another set of Bridgestones.