After reading the posts on this site I decided to give it a shot and write to BMW. After a few emails I got this response:
Thank you for your reply. I apologize for your frustrations with your tires. The amount of safe driving your tires may be expected to provide is determined by a number of factors, such as tire inflation, wheel alignment, driving style, road conditions, and suspension settings. We do not have the ability to advise you in a technical matter via e-mail. I apologize for the inconvenience this problem caused you; however, BMW does not manufacturer or warrant tires. If you have concerns with the specific tires on your vehicle, I suggest contacting Bridgestone for additional information or warranty coverage. You may also want to have your tires inspected by your local BMW center. They are in the best position to review your concerns in person and offer technical assistance. If you have any further questions, please respond to this e-mail or contact the Customer Relations and Services Department at 1-800-831-1117, Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time. Again, thank you for contacting BMW.
No good, but I figured I'd share with the forum...
If you have a Bridgestone 325xi with the Bridgestone tires please tell me what pressure you are setting the tires too. I know this has come up before but there doesnt seem to be a final answer on what should be followed, the sticker, owners manual, what the dealer says? Currently, my fronts are set to 30 psi and rears to 35 psi. I would like to get this figured out once and for all so I can stop worrying about one aspect of thse shi&&y tires. Thanks in advance.....
Update on replacing the EL42 run flats on my 330xi:
Recap: My main reason for considering replacing the run-flats was the horrendous ride. After 2500 miles with them, I was not experiencing the noise issues that others have reported. But hitting certain bumps in certain ways was downright frightening, and even slightly buckled expansion joints at highway speeds was enough to send shocks up the spine. The ride was also unusually jostling. I wasn’t sure if the majority of the problem was an unusually stiff suspension with the xi or the stiff run-flats, or both.
Update: I replaced the Turanza EL42’s with normal tires and can now answer the question with confidence – IT’S THE RUN-FLATS! I kid you not, but I’d already noticed a difference driving the first 15 feet out of the parking lot in front of the shop I had replaced the tires at. I have now driven about 500 miles on the new tires, and although all bumps are still felt, they are taken so much more softly. The magnitude of difference in ride quality is huge. Having said that, I still think the suspension is a bit jittery (maybe it’s just me since this is the first 3 series I’ve owned and I'm used to driving bigger cars, so maybe it's normal).
Verdict: For those interested, I changed the Turanza EL42 RFT’s (225/45/17) with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (also 225/45/17). Aside from the dramatic improvement in ride quality described above, I will say that I think the tires are a little noisier than I expected based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Tire Rack (particularly true at low speeds). Overall though, I couldn’t be happier with the decision. Handling has been excellent and cornering is very confident, but I haven’t tested them in wet conditions yet. I assume they’ll perform very well wet. And tramlining is also improved.
As for the voiding of the warranty if you put non-run-flats on – it’s BS. My dealer told me I could put normal tires on if I wanted without voiding the warranty. And the tire pressure monitor still works. The monitor is independent of the run-flat tires.
The June issue of the Roundel devoted a substantial portion to the discussion of the RFT. Anyone who is concerned enough or interested enough in this matter should try to get hold of this BMW CCB membership magazine to read these articles. I'll share some highlights with you here. First off, the writer/tester of the 330xi did his driving in Europe and found the RFTs' handling excellent. However, the Bridgestone RFT tires listed on his car were Potenza RE050, not those on many of the current E90 cars, so it may mean these are improved version of the origial RFT? Additionally, Bridgestone RFT Blizzaks were put on for the snow driving and again, these tires were reported very effective in snow leaving many FWD as well as SUV behind, according to the writer. More importantly, there is an additional article discussing Pirelli's RFT development by another writer. Again, these tires are as good as their non-RFT of the same model. I think for current E90 owners with substantial complaints of the RFTs, they should know BMW developed the E90 suspension with these RFTs as part of the suspension system, so any "improvement" to replace them with non-RFT may actually render the handling not up to what BMW has originally designed for. So some of the less harsh and more compliant characteristics may be attributed to the softer ride as the result of the replacement. What I have gathered from my reading from these articles, is that RFT will be here to stay, not just with BMWs but a trend in the automotive world. BMW only happens to be the leader in the trend developmemt as they have always done. Since these RFTs have been built into the suspension system, I don't think one wants to alter its intended handling characteristics by their replacement. It seems RFTs are being improved continuously, so by the time your current tires need replacement, you'll have many excellent choices for our consideration, IMO.
as you can see from a couple of my previous postings, I am now once again in love with my 330xi...having replaced the Bridgestones with Continental RFT's (courtesy of my dealer and BMW !) and I too have noticed a substantial difference. The problem seems to be not RFT's but Bridgestone Turanza 42's. BTW...the Continentals perform well when wet and don't seem to have the skittishnes that the Bridgestones did. I would not be surprised to never see a Bridgestone tire on a new 330xi again! I get the feeling that BMW learned a lesson.
Some response and info in no particular order. 1. I had a 94 3 series and loved it, but decided against a 2006 BMW 3 series purchase due to the RFT issue. 2. The potential inconvenience as some have noted is a show stopper for many people; great car but not worth the trouble ... for many. 3. Looking at colors in the BMW lot I chatted with a few people buying the car and guess what ... none were aware of the fact that there were run flats. 4. Agreed that an additional inconvenience and possible another good reason not to buy the car is the lack of a spare. 5. 7% were dissatisfied...that is a HUGE NUMBER for any business 6. BMW as most other companies will "plausibly deny" any problem until they are forced to deal with it; in an effort to squeek out as many sales as possible, and get rid of as much inventory (cars and tires) as possible. 7. No matter how you slice it this is a potential black eye for the Ultimate Driving Machine, born out of either stupidity, arrogance or underestimating the public... remember idrive?
Pretty much the same results here. Basically told me to call Bridgestone. My response was I didnt purchase the ture , why should I have to call. When I called the dealer, I was told I was the only one that has conplained about the tires. yeah right
Agreed. Replacing RFTs with non-runflats in a car that is (a) calibrated to run RFTs and (b) has no spare would appear to be a little short sighted. The Potenza run flats on my Sport Package equipped 325i give a very smooth ride on moderate to decent pavement. The EL42 run flats on the cars with base suspension are somewhat rougher, but that's a price you pay for all season tires. The non run flat EL42s are not the greatest tires either. I had them on my old Acura TL and wasn't particularly impressed.
The E90 sport suspension will render a sharp bang if you hit a pot hole or other major imperfection, but I wonder how much of that runs to the RFTs, how much to low profile tires with stiff suspension. Anyway it's a suspension that really feels more geared to European roads -- in the US we pay a price for great highways clobbered by build it, cold-patch it and forget it maintenance standards.
I really question just how much the suspension was 'tuned' to run with the run-flats since there's so much variation in the run flats themselves. EL42 vs Potenza vs Blizzak vs Conti's - all approved for the 3. If the suspension was tuned for the run flats, I have to wonder why it rides so much better and handles the same with regular tires, which I now thankfully have on. Actually it handles better-less tramlining since the rear tires don't jump off the road now when I hit a bump on a curve. Hitting certain bumps with the 330xi and the EL42's was downright awful, and I know it was the tires since it's oh so much better since I took those tires off the car. So again, hard to imagine a suspension tuned to run with run flats that tramlines badly and provides a very rough ride. I can only think that if BMW really wanted to sync the suspension for the EL42's, they would have done a much better job.
And with the ContiComfort Kit, I can get the same 125 miles on a flat tire to get me to a tire shop, and better yet I can be sure he'll have a tire in stock. I asked a couple of tire shops around Long Island NY and they said they don't stock any run flats. And that's LI, so I can only imagine what it would be like in more rural areas.
Been reading alot of messages about people eing unsatisfied with their tire performance. After that, I went to go and look at what tires were on my car. I picked mine up last month in New York at Rallye BMW and it came with Continental Contipro SSR RFT. I actually have been liking the way the car rides at 3K miles so far and maybe this is the reason as opposed to the Bridgestone's??
I wonder whether many of the complaints about the suspension and ride are from individuals whose previous cars were not designed for handling and performance? To date, I've been happy with my runflats (knock on wood) in my 325 with sport package. The right is tight, and you do feel bumps, but I expected a tight ride because it is a European car designed for handling, and optioned with a sport package with ridiculously wide and low profile tires.
To shed some light on the run flat tire issue. Its not a 100% issue that the complaints are from 1st time Bimmer owners. The 3 series with Sport suspension has Bridgestone RE050 which are a much better riding tire that the EL42 non sport package tire. Its the EL42 which has the most sever complaints. Even several BMW service managers have backed this up after over one year of experience with the 3 series Run flats. owner6
EL42 is supposed to be a touring A/S Tire which should theoretically should has a more softer ride than RE050 as RE050 is a high performance summer tire (ranks #2 in bridgestone's performance tire) . But you claim that RE050's ride is more softer than EL42, which is kind of hard to believe. The only explanation is that this EL42 is a very low quality tire, not even close to the standard of a A/S touring tire. BTW RE050 is almost 1/2 pricier than EL42. You get what you pay for.
I don't think the RE050s ride more softly, but they do ride more smoothly. The RE050s are summer performance tires. The EL42s are all season touring tires, and not particularly good ones in non-runflat form either.
I have been impressed with the tires on my E90 325i with SP(17"), including their behavior at high cornering loads (no side wall rollover, sticky, predictable). I plan to get Blizzak 205/55/R16 RFTs for winter.
I agree that summer performance tires like RE050 handles very good dry or wet especially in BMW and cannot be matched by OEM low cost tires. And your choice of Blizzak RFT indicates you are a car enthusiast and your loving of driving. BTW is your RE050 a non run-flat (SP??) or run-flat SP ?
A few days ago I learned that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 comes with run-flats. I had no idea; those guys are driving way too fast and no one has ever posted a complaint.
I suspect that Imran62781's response from BMW is going to remain the party line.
BMW replaced my OE run-flats at no charge after 14,400 miles. I had noticed an increasing level of tire noise at about 8,000 miles, so I took my 325i to the dealer for an evaluation. The tires were badly cupped, so the service manager rotated them and recommended 37psi in the front and 40psi in the rear. This helped reduce the cupping, but at 14,000 miles the tire howl was just unbearable. When I brought it back to the dealer the second time I stated that I would not drive the car home without a new set of tires, even if they were not run-flats. I expected a prorated replacement, but was glad to discover that there was a one-time good-will replacement policy supported by BMW North American. I drove home with some very good Continental ContiProContact SSR run-flats. I am very satisfied with my 325i, the dealership and the BMW Company
You are very fortunate! Our new 3 series was not even drivable do to the tires-BMW of North America claims there was no problem with those tires, and have never heard of any problems as did Prestige BMW of New Jersey. I replaced all 4 at my expense, after replacing 3 of the originals. I own a 2006 3 and a 5 and will never do business with this lying company again! I defy BMW of North America to come to this board and refute their lies! Tom
Reading the postings on this board has repeatedly confirmed my own reservations about RFTs. I drive an E46, without run-flats, and have test-driven the new E90s, with run-flats. How can a company of this reputation make such a marketing decision (I believe it was marketing, rather than engineering)? And what will it take to get their attention? To my amazement, people continue to purchase BMWs with run-flats, which prompts me to wonder how many of those purchasers really examine the product they are buying. Exasperating!!
Have you driven an E90 SP with Bridgestone RE050 run flats? I own an E90 325i with these tires,and am very impressed with the handling and the overall quality of the tires and car. The idea of a tire that is less likely to deform dangerously in the event of a puncture at high speeds, on a car designed to be driven at high speeds, makes sense to this somnambulist.
From what I read in this forum, those BMW owners who pay extra for sport package are more satisfied with their runflat (RE050) than those who don't (A/S runflat). It seems that BMW provide you four inferior runflats (to save their cost) for the car to come off the assembly line to the dealership. Its upto you to upgrade your tire.
I just returned from a long drive 800 or so miles and saw a number of people changing flat tires at night on the shoulders of busy highways. At that time, I certainly appreciated the safety advantages of run flats. I have the 325 with sport package, so I have the RE050 tires, which seem to be doing quite well so far.... Of course, if I got a flat, and was unable to find a repair/replacement in a timely manner, I would have been one unhappy camper.
re the runflats on the base suspension: non run-flat EL42s are not getting the best reviews either. Check out Tire Rack's owner reviews or the Acura TL posts on this site.
I have a nail in one of my rear tires, just 6k (RFT Bridgestone Turanza EL42), and I can not patch it like regular tire!!!! Well, I have to do something about these RFTires.
However, I thinking about these options. The orders are my preferences. Questions: 1. Change the bad one with one regular Bridgestone RE050A which is currently on sales for $79. 2. Change both rear tires with 2 regular Bridgestone RE050A which is currently on sales for $79 if this is recommended. 2. Change the flat one with one Continental ContiProContact SSR RunFlat. 3. Change the flat one with the same RFT Bridgestone EL42).
If you are satisfied with the performance with your existing EL42, 4. is the best and safest option. No. 1, will create different traction on the rear. no. 2 will be a little bit safer than no. 1. but the car will tend to understeer. no. 3 is same as no 1. I recommend you to change all four to RE050A if you don't drive too much on the snow since they are on sale and performs better (but need to make sure that the tires are not manufactured older than 1 year).
This is a no brainer.... replace all four with the contiprocontact SSR runflats. They're $135 at tirerack and you will think you have a new car! so much better tires than the bridgestone's....read some of the earlier postings...people are thinking about getting rid of BMW's with the turanza's. They are pure junk. BMW is now shipping the 3 series with the continentals...they seem to have bagged the bridgestone's all together...so many complaints./
I would take #4 even if you haven't been too happy with these EL42 and replace all four of the same make based on what available when time comes. RFT techonology is improving rapidly, so I think you'll have plenty to choose from by then. Since you have 6,000 miles on your car already, it will only take a year for you to have the opportunity to do a replacement without any compromise. Any of your other options presents compromises at this point IMO.
If I replace all 4 tires with RE050A, how would I handle the flat tire? Buy one of those tire kit to bump air and fill the hole? Does that work well? My daughter car is the new Mazda RX8 and that what comes with the car.
Also, what is understeer (I'm a little bit ignorant about these terms)?
EL42 is OK on snow for the first 15,000 miles. Continental RF will be better on the snow than EL42. If the front tires break loose and lose traction while making a turn and cannot run on the same path of the rear tires, that is understeer. that means if you make a left turn, you end up not being able to turn that much as intended. I can't answer whether you need a airpump or spare tires. Other BMW owners which have the sport package can help you.
Please help! I have an E90 330i and have been struggling with what to do about getting rid of the Turanza EL42 run flats (I hate them)....Today, I ordered 4 "regular" Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S tires at my cost and my BMW dealer has agreed to change over the tires and balance them. I would also buy an on-board repair/inflation kit...... Now I learn that Continenental run flats are much better than the Bridgestones....did I screw up?? Does anyone here have experience with the ruin flat Contis??
It may have been a good idea to get the Conti RFTs with the whole spare tire problem. However, you ordering something else does not negate the fact that the Bridgestone tires su*k. Your purchase will probably still improve the quality of your ride so I don't see a reason to worry so much....
Need some help! I have 325i 2006 with 24000 miles on it.I have original Bridgestone 205 55 16 RFTs.These tires have deteriorated significantly in terms of comfort and ride.They were pretty quiet during the first 10,000 miles but after that they started making unbearable noise. At 65 miles/hour it sound like you are sitting in a helicopter. I am also struggling to get rid of these tires and replace them with regular 18 inches tires. At this time I don't care much about RFTs. Any suggestion: 1. What wheel and tires i should go for. RFTs VS Regular what options I have? 2 Do Contiprocontact SSR runflats,come in 18 inches. 2. Will there be any significant effect in handling if I go two numbers higher. (I mean from 16 inches to 18 inches).
Hey, I've owned my E90 for a little over a month now and I have the Continental RFT's on my car (regular 17 X 8) At around 2200 miles I have not had any problems with them.
Also, to add to my last post, the continental tires have been extremeley quiet with excellent ride and handling. My previous car was an 02 MB SLK 230 and the handling seems just as good if not better.
This is my first BMW. I did alot of research, attended the BMW ultimate driving experience shows and was extremely excited to buy my 330i. However, the tires are horrible! They are 225/45/17 Tarenza (sp?) run flats from Bridgestone. I first noticed the problem at 9,600 miles. Yes only 9,600 miles!! I contacted my dealer and was told that the pressure in my tires were ok but that I probably needed "new" tires and that the first available appt was 10 days away. I waited and in the meantime, stumbled on this site and others where consumers complained of problems with the Bridgestone run flats. When I finally took the car to the dealership (10 days later) they rotated the tires and told me that the noise which, sounds like a loud flat tire or air plane, would be in the back of the car instead of the front and that I really should "try to get more miles out of the tires" and "ignore the noise." This is completely unacceptable. Not to mention that when driving on the highway I feel like my safety is comprimised.
The dealership will require me to pay for 4 brand new tires. However, on this site I discovered that BMW North America had agreed to replace one owner's tires under a "one time" goodwill policy. I will look into this with BMW North America. In the meantime, I am researching and it appears Conti run flats are the way to go. Anyone had the contis on a 330 and run them more than 10K miles?
I would appreciate any feedback. Finally, BMW should be responsible for chosing a component manufacturer such as Bridgestone who provided such a horrible tire. The truth is that most if not all of us just don't have the time to argue for what is right which is that we should not be responislbe for new tires at 9,600 miles.
BMW of NA has consistentlly lied about and ignored this problem. Our dealer Prestige BMW of NJ refused to do anything either. We bought 2 new 2006 BMW's this year , and the Bridgestone Turanza's are horrible and unsafe. We were forced to replace them with 4 new tires, after buying 2 new Bridestones. The other tires cupped and feathered, BMW NA has told us they have heard of "no problems" even when I have presented them with about 4,000 complaints! They finally told me to call Bridgestone which I didi, and they gave me the same story. They finally put me in touch with their local affiliate who told me they do not work on the Run Flats! I am sick and tired of BMW, their lies, and their obvious disregard for their customer base. They just lost a customer!
The Bridgestone was horrible. Since I had a nail in one back tire, I decided to change both in the back for the Bridgestone RE050 regular tires and they're much better. No issue that I notice in terms of mixing tires, however, I will replace all with regular tires when these wear out. So far not not impressed with my BMW ride: bumpy and jolted versus my older 2000 Boxster, awesome handling and fun to drive.
My RFT problems began several months ago and can be reviewed on this forum. To make a long story short, I was persistent with BMW NA and I finally reached a compromise with them regarding replacement of the Bridgestone tires on my '06 325I. My problems were excessive noise, and poor handling caused by cupping. Rotating the tires was only a temporary fix. After too many phone calls to count, BMW NA agreed to replace two tires if I paid for two. The tires had 22,000 miles on them when this offer was made. I took them up on the offer and had the new CONTINENTAL RFT's installed last Friday. Drove the car over 300 miles this weekend and you can't imagine the difference. Quiet, smooth and great handling. The Bridgestones were a major problem and the lack of concern on BMW's end was disheartening. I was working with one CR Supervisor at BMW NA who was great. He went to bat for me with upper management and helped us reach a compromise. Privacy prohibits me from passing his name along. Don't give up if you are having RFT problems with your Bridgestone tires. They can't hide from this issue. Final note: Would I buy another BMW? NO, because the attitude of BMW's upper management, when it comes down to consumer issues is the worst of any company I have ever dealt with. They really don't stand behind their product.
Thanks for the information. I recently put Conti Pro Contacts on my 2006 330i. Frankly, I got sick of dealing with BMW. That is not to say that I have not preserved my right to further action against them.
The ride with the Conti's seems good but I guess I am hypersensitive to road noise now in light of the previous cupping and feathering with the Taurenza tires. However, I understand there is a break in period for the tires and I only appear to get noise on grooved roadway - sort of roaring noise until it returns to smooth roadway. Since all 4 tires are brand new, and that is the only issue I have with them, I am hoping that they are breaking in and that issue will pass soon. Did you ever experience that problem? Any insight is helpful. Thanks again and congrats on your success with BMW albiet after an arduous undertaking.
If there's a break in period, and these tires will be even quieter, then I will be even happier. I never heard of a break in period on tires! Again, the difference between the Continentals and the Bridgestones is like night and day. I am very pleased, but if you asked me: "Would you buy another BMW"? The answer is, NO. They are the least customer oriented company I have ever dealt with.
My last contribution to the BMW Run Flat Tire Forum was June 9th #217 "I am thru with BMW's"
Since that time I wasted much time and energy trying to work with one of the many awful car dealers (Trust Ira) and BMW N.A. customer service. The latter would not even respond to my e-mails or return my phone calls. BMW N.A. customer service just threw me to the pack of dogs at Ira. The whole experience was a nitemare.
I felt so strongly about the non-responsive & defensive treatment, that I resorted to picketing the dealer and wasting more of my time. However, it did feel really good because nothing drives the salesmen on duty more crazy and who in turn get on their superiors.
Finally, I got smart about the whole miserable matter. I located the name of a BMW Director in Germany and sent him off a letter. I also found out the name of BMW's N.A. President, also sending him a letter, informing him of my experiences and asking him to assign me to someone who might actually return a phone call and work the problem thru with a committment to get it solved.
After receiving a call from the President himself, I finally understood the problem. It is obvious that the miserable customer service system currently in place keeps senior management unaware of these problems unless some "persistent nut" like myself breaks thru.
The bottom line is that I finally have their commitment to work with me in an attempt to rectify my displeasure with my '06 330xi. It also appears BMW N.A. is now looking into their blatant lack of customer service.
Was it all worth it? No, but if I can save others from wasting all their time, energy & money by imparting this information on the only strategy that works, then all is not lost. Good Luck!
Hi S.Gray, I have similar experience. I called today BMW North america they referred me to brigdestone cutomers service which in turn referred to me firestone cooperate store to have a look at the tire. The brigestone service rep also told me that there is not much they can do as there is only gereral warrenty on tires. I guess my next step is sending a letter to the president. Do you have any info/address?
Since the President of BMW N.A. was extremely kind and responsive to me, I don't want to stick him personally with all unhappy customers.
Instead, I only recommend you send a letter directly to:
Assistant to the President BMW North America, LLC 300 Chestnut Ridge Rd Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07675
I would include a request to be passed to a client relations manager, who might be interested to hear about your specific problem with the car and your unsuccessful attempts of reasonably solving it via the customer service system presently in place. Again, I honestly believe that the key executives have been sheltered and have not heard what has been happening within their customer service system.
I couldn't have said it any better. You are absolutely correct. I owned a 2003 330i model and put 18" "regular" performance tires on it. I was thinking about buying a 2007 335i when they come out next month. I took the 330i (2006) for a test drive on the RFTs everyone is talking about.
What a TERRIBLE decision by BMW. Anyway you slice it, they don't get the performance a regular tire does, they cost more, have that tramline feeling, and now the forum people are saying; "Should I or should I not buy the warranty". So let me get this correct. We had a previous model E46 that had great performance on regular tires. Now potential buyers are asking the Q, should I take out the extended warranty to "protect" myself with these RFTs. Come on!!!! The best solution would be for all of us to send a letter to BMW headquarters saying give us 4 regular performance tires and a space saver spare again. If enough people took the time rather then worrying about buying the extended warranty, maybe BMW would listen. Who the heck made this stupid decision for RFTs.
I've owned 3 BMWs and will NOT be buying one until the RFTs are NOT a standard item. I'm not going to spend $40K plus just to run out and put regular tires on it; then have to buy a spare that will take up the truck space. At least they could have provided the space in the truck for the small spare, if the owner WANTED to switch over to regular tires. No but I guess that thought went out the window when they placed those cheap looking cup holders in the (horizontal) dash area of the cabin. Nice job BMW on the RFTs and those cheap cuper holders too.
Comments
Thank you for your reply. I apologize for your frustrations with your tires.
The amount of safe driving your tires may be expected to provide is determined by a number of factors, such as tire inflation, wheel alignment, driving style, road conditions, and suspension settings. We do not have the ability to advise you in a technical matter via e-mail.
I apologize for the inconvenience this problem caused you; however, BMW does not manufacturer or warrant tires. If you have concerns with the specific tires on your vehicle, I suggest contacting Bridgestone for additional information or warranty coverage. You may also want to have your tires inspected by your local BMW center. They are in the best position to review your concerns in person and offer technical assistance.
If you have any further questions, please respond to this e-mail or contact the Customer Relations and Services Department at 1-800-831-1117, Monday through Friday from 9:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M., Eastern Standard Time. Again, thank you for contacting BMW.
No good, but I figured I'd share with the forum...
Recap: My main reason for considering replacing the run-flats was the horrendous ride. After 2500 miles with them, I was not experiencing the noise issues that others have reported. But hitting certain bumps in certain ways was downright frightening, and even slightly buckled expansion joints at highway speeds was enough to send shocks up the spine. The ride was also unusually jostling. I wasn’t sure if the majority of the problem was an unusually stiff suspension with the xi or the stiff run-flats, or both.
Update: I replaced the Turanza EL42’s with normal tires and can now answer the question with confidence – IT’S THE RUN-FLATS! I kid you not, but I’d already noticed a difference driving the first 15 feet out of the parking lot in front of the shop I had replaced the tires at. I have now driven about 500 miles on the new tires, and although all bumps are still felt, they are taken so much more softly. The magnitude of difference in ride quality is huge. Having said that, I still think the suspension is a bit jittery (maybe it’s just me since this is the first 3 series I’ve owned and I'm used to driving bigger cars, so maybe it's normal).
Verdict: For those interested, I changed the Turanza EL42 RFT’s (225/45/17) with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S (also 225/45/17). Aside from the dramatic improvement in ride quality described above, I will say that I think the tires are a little noisier than I expected based on the overwhelmingly positive reviews on Tire Rack (particularly true at low speeds). Overall though, I couldn’t be happier with the decision. Handling has been excellent and cornering is very confident, but I haven’t tested them in wet conditions yet. I assume they’ll perform very well wet. And tramlining is also improved.
As for the voiding of the warranty if you put non-run-flats on – it’s BS. My dealer told me I could put normal tires on if I wanted without voiding the warranty. And the tire pressure monitor still works. The monitor is independent of the run-flat tires.
I'll share some highlights with you here.
First off, the writer/tester of the 330xi did his driving in Europe and found the RFTs' handling excellent. However, the Bridgestone RFT tires listed on his car were Potenza RE050, not those on many of the current E90 cars, so it may mean these are improved version of the origial RFT? Additionally, Bridgestone RFT Blizzaks were put on for the snow driving and again, these tires were reported very effective in snow leaving many FWD as well as SUV behind, according to the writer. More importantly, there is an additional article discussing Pirelli's RFT development by another writer. Again, these tires are as good as their non-RFT of the same model. I think for current E90 owners with substantial complaints of the RFTs, they should know BMW developed the E90 suspension with these RFTs as part of the suspension system, so any "improvement" to replace them with non-RFT may actually render the handling not up to what BMW has originally designed for. So some of the less harsh and more compliant characteristics may be attributed to the softer ride as the result of the replacement.
What I have gathered from my reading from these articles, is that RFT will be here to stay, not just with BMWs but a trend in the automotive world. BMW only happens to be the leader in the trend developmemt as they have always done. Since these RFTs have been built into the suspension system, I don't think one wants to alter its intended handling characteristics by their replacement. It seems RFTs are being improved continuously, so by the time your current tires need replacement, you'll have many excellent choices for our consideration, IMO.
1. I had a 94 3 series and loved it, but decided against a 2006 BMW 3 series purchase due to the RFT issue.
2. The potential inconvenience as some have noted is a show stopper for many people; great car but not worth the trouble ... for many.
3. Looking at colors in the BMW lot I chatted with a few people buying the car and guess what ... none were aware of the fact that there were run flats.
4. Agreed that an additional inconvenience and possible another good reason not to buy the car is the lack of a spare.
5. 7% were dissatisfied...that is a HUGE NUMBER for any business
6. BMW as most other companies will "plausibly deny" any problem until they are forced to deal with it; in an effort to squeek out as many sales as possible, and get rid of as much inventory (cars and tires) as possible.
7. No matter how you slice it this is a potential black eye for the Ultimate Driving Machine, born out of either stupidity, arrogance or underestimating the public... remember idrive?
When I called the dealer, I was told I was the only one that has conplained about the tires. yeah right
The E90 sport suspension will render a sharp bang if you hit a pot hole or other major imperfection, but I wonder how much of that runs to the RFTs, how much to low profile tires with stiff suspension. Anyway it's a suspension that really feels more geared to European roads -- in the US we pay a price for great highways clobbered by build it, cold-patch it and forget it maintenance standards.
And with the ContiComfort Kit, I can get the same 125 miles on a flat tire to get me to a tire shop, and better yet I can be sure he'll have a tire in stock. I asked a couple of tire shops around Long Island NY and they said they don't stock any run flats. And that's LI, so I can only imagine what it would be like in more rural areas.
owner6
I have been impressed with the tires on my E90 325i with SP(17"), including their behavior at high cornering loads (no side wall rollover, sticky, predictable). I plan to get Blizzak 205/55/R16 RFTs for winter.
An Extra Bulge in our BMW (Long Term Road Test Blog).
A few days ago I learned that the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT-8 comes with run-flats. I had no idea; those guys are driving way too fast and no one has ever posted a complaint.
I suspect that Imran62781's response from BMW is going to remain the party line.
Steve, Host
Tom
Bryncerdd
However, I thinking about these options. The orders are my preferences.
Questions:
1. Change the bad one with one regular Bridgestone RE050A which is currently on sales for $79.
2. Change both rear tires with 2 regular Bridgestone RE050A which is currently on sales for $79 if this is recommended.
2. Change the flat one with one Continental
ContiProContact SSR RunFlat.
3. Change the flat one with the same RFT Bridgestone EL42).
Can you give me some advise. Thanks.
No. 1, will create different traction on the rear.
no. 2 will be a little bit safer than no. 1. but the car will tend to understeer.
no. 3 is same as no 1.
I recommend you to change all four to RE050A if you don't drive too much on the snow since they are on sale and performs better (but need to make sure that the tires are not manufactured older than 1 year).
Also, what is understeer (I'm a little bit ignorant about these terms)?
How does EL42 or Continental RF perform on snow?
Thanks.
If the front tires break loose and lose traction while making a turn and cannot run on the same path of the rear tires, that is understeer. that means if you make a left turn, you end up not being able to turn that much as intended.
I can't answer whether you need a airpump or spare tires. Other BMW owners which have the sport package can help you.
What about the tire pressure monitor, will they work?
I have 325i 2006 with 24000 miles on it.I have original Bridgestone 205 55 16 RFTs.These tires have deteriorated significantly in terms of comfort and ride.They were pretty quiet during the first 10,000 miles but after that they started making unbearable noise. At 65 miles/hour it sound like you are sitting in a helicopter.
I am also struggling to get rid of these tires and replace them with regular 18 inches tires. At this time I don't care much about RFTs.
Any suggestion:
1. What wheel and tires i should go for. RFTs VS Regular what options I have?
2 Do Contiprocontact SSR runflats,come in 18 inches.
2. Will there be any significant effect in handling if I go two numbers higher. (I mean from 16 inches to 18 inches).
SIT
This is my first BMW. I did alot of research, attended the BMW ultimate driving experience shows and was extremely excited to buy my 330i. However, the tires are horrible! They are 225/45/17 Tarenza (sp?) run flats from Bridgestone. I first noticed the problem at 9,600 miles. Yes only 9,600 miles!! I contacted my dealer and was told that the pressure in my tires were ok but that I probably needed "new" tires and that the first available appt was 10 days away. I waited and in the meantime, stumbled on this site and others where consumers complained of problems with the Bridgestone run flats. When I finally took the car to the dealership (10 days later) they rotated the tires and told me that the noise which, sounds like a loud flat tire or air plane, would be in the back of the car instead of the front and that I really should "try to get more miles out of the tires" and "ignore the noise." This is completely unacceptable. Not to mention that when driving on the highway I feel like my safety is comprimised.
The dealership will require me to pay for 4 brand new tires. However, on this site I discovered that BMW North America had agreed to replace one owner's tires under a "one time" goodwill policy. I will look into this with BMW North America. In the meantime, I am researching and it appears Conti run flats are the way to go. Anyone had the contis on a 330 and run them more than 10K miles?
I would appreciate any feedback. Finally, BMW should be responsible for chosing a component manufacturer such as Bridgestone who provided such a horrible tire. The truth is that most if not all of us just don't have the time to argue for what is right which is that we should not be responislbe for new tires at 9,600 miles.
We bought 2 new 2006 BMW's this year , and the Bridgestone Turanza's are horrible and unsafe. We were forced to replace them with 4 new tires, after buying 2 new Bridestones. The other tires cupped and feathered,
BMW NA has told us they have heard of "no problems" even when I have presented them with about 4,000 complaints!
They finally told me to call Bridgestone which I didi, and they gave me the same story. They finally put me in touch with their local affiliate who told me they do not work on the Run Flats! I am sick and tired of BMW, their lies, and their obvious disregard for their customer base.
They just lost a customer!
The ride with the Conti's seems good but I guess I am hypersensitive to road noise now in light of the previous cupping and feathering with the Taurenza tires. However, I understand there is a break in period for the tires and I only appear to get noise on grooved roadway - sort of roaring noise until it returns to smooth roadway. Since all 4 tires are brand new, and that is the only issue I have with them, I am hoping that they are breaking in and that issue will pass soon. Did you ever experience that problem? Any insight is helpful. Thanks again and congrats on your success with BMW albiet after an arduous undertaking.
Since that time I wasted much time and energy trying to work with one of the many awful car dealers (Trust Ira) and BMW N.A. customer service. The latter would not even respond to my e-mails or return my phone calls. BMW N.A. customer service just threw me to the pack of dogs at Ira. The whole experience was a nitemare.
I felt so strongly about the non-responsive & defensive treatment, that I resorted to picketing the dealer and wasting more of my time. However, it did feel really good because nothing drives the salesmen on duty more crazy and who in turn get on their superiors.
Finally, I got smart about the whole miserable matter. I located the name of a BMW Director in Germany and sent him off a letter. I also found out the name of BMW's N.A. President, also sending him a letter, informing him of my experiences and asking him to assign me to someone who might actually return a phone call and work the problem thru with a committment to get it solved.
After receiving a call from the President himself, I finally understood the problem. It is obvious that the miserable customer service system currently in place keeps senior management unaware of these problems unless some "persistent nut" like myself breaks thru.
The bottom line is that I finally have their commitment to work with me in an attempt to rectify my displeasure with my '06 330xi. It also appears BMW N.A. is now looking into their blatant lack of customer service.
Was it all worth it? No, but if I can save others from wasting all their time, energy & money by imparting this information on the only strategy that works, then all is not lost. Good Luck!
I have similar experience. I called today BMW North america they referred me to brigdestone cutomers service which in turn referred to me firestone cooperate store to have a look at the tire. The brigestone service rep also told me that there is not much they can do as there is only gereral warrenty on tires.
I guess my next step is sending a letter to the president. Do you have any info/address?
SIT
Instead, I only recommend you send a letter directly to:
Assistant to the President
BMW North America, LLC
300 Chestnut Ridge Rd
Woodcliff Lake, NJ 07675
I would include a request to be passed to a client relations manager, who might be interested to hear about your specific problem with the car and your unsuccessful attempts of reasonably solving it via the customer service system presently in place. Again, I honestly believe that the key executives have been sheltered and have not heard what has been happening within their customer service system.
Good Luck!
I couldn't have said it any better. You are absolutely correct. I owned a 2003 330i model and put 18" "regular" performance tires on it. I was thinking about buying a 2007 335i when they come out next month. I took the 330i (2006) for a test drive on the RFTs everyone is talking about.
What a TERRIBLE decision by BMW. Anyway you slice it, they don't get the performance a regular tire does, they cost more, have that tramline feeling, and now the forum people are saying; "Should I or should I not buy the warranty". So let me get this correct. We had a previous model E46 that had great performance on regular tires. Now potential buyers are asking the Q, should I take out the extended warranty to "protect" myself with these RFTs. Come on!!!! The best solution would be for all of us to send a letter to BMW headquarters saying give us 4 regular performance tires and a space saver spare again. If enough people took the time rather then worrying about buying the extended warranty, maybe BMW would listen. Who the heck made this stupid decision for RFTs.
I've owned 3 BMWs and will NOT be buying one until the RFTs are NOT a standard item. I'm not going to spend $40K plus just to run out and put regular tires on it; then have to buy a spare that will take up the truck space. At least they could have provided the space in the truck for the small spare, if the owner WANTED to switch over to regular tires. No but I guess that thought went out the window when they placed those cheap looking cup holders in the (horizontal) dash area of the cabin. Nice job BMW on the RFTs and those cheap cuper holders too.