Did you recently take on (or consider) a loan of 84 months or longer on a car purchase?
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
A reporter would like to speak with you about your experience; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com by 7/22 for details.
Options
Comments
Best Regards,
Shipo
I'm still in favor of the RFTs -- I like the staggered RE050A 17" setup on the sport suspension US Market 325/328 and feel the car is set up correctly for those tires.
I agree that the springs stiffen in colder weather -- but this has been true of all cars I've owned.
By the way, how do you think the torquey diesel compares to the top end urgency of the non-turbo 6-cyl petrol engines? Does it suit the character of the car -- add or detract?
Regards, NK
The cold weather 'stiffening' appears much more severe than anything I've come across in over 35-years of motoring. Add the stiffness of the RFT's when cold, and we have very fine tolereances before it is so noticeable. Even on a single trip I can notice the difference as the ambient temperature changes. (Can be up to 10-degrees Centigrade in a day, here in the Highlands). Plus if we drive into cold rain the cooling effect on the tyres, means the dynamics fall apart very quickly.
The 3-litre diesel, along with the 6-speed auto is a brilliant combination. Suits the lower revs and the torque the engine gives. I came from an E39 540i V8, the diesel has a greater urgency for overtaking, more instant in the punch it gives. But is so different and not addictive like a petrol motor at full chat. It is a car driven by the 'head' not really the 'heart'.
Highland Pete
Regards,
OW
The Cabriolet tires aren't run flat and they are great. The 330 xi has Bridgestone run flat tires and it's a DISASTER. The BMW engineers are supposed to be great but in this case here they clearly made the wrong decision. By selecting run flat tires they turned a great car into a very bad one. There are absolutely no upside with those tires but only a long list of downsides. I cannot believe BMW did this. It is the last time I buy a BMW...my lease still has 2 years to go and I am counting the days...
Change your tires to Continentals and you should be able to realize its positive effect on handling.
2nd complaint at ~17k (Dec 06), service adviser ignored about it again. I was helpless.
In March 07 (~19k) I saw the bulletin post, and finally got the replacement today. I took the 50% share cost, as I got 19k on my 325i 205/55/16. From Bridgestone EL42 to Conti's, total cost $310 + tax. (I think they still overcharge me...I call their Part dept, it's $139 each, it should be total of $278, I don't know where the extra $32 came from :confuse: )
Overall result? The ride is smoother, quieter (much...much...), and it's not that bumpy too. Oh, got a 328i coupe loaner, it's fun~
In any case, I'm wondering if I can request/demand the Continentals instead of the Bridgestones?
Also, can anyone speak about their experience with the '07 Bridgestones as opposed to the problematic '06's? Have they really gotten any better?
This is what I’ve got. Less than 1000 miles and still good.
When I order, I'll insist on the Contis. . .
BMW has one for $300.00. Any other benefits than improving handling on the turns?
As we all know, current suspension and RFT tires are pretty harsh on the car.
Would this thing help to preserve structural rigidity of the car longer, in comparison to the cars, which don’t have one installed?
As we all know, current suspension and RFT tires are pretty harsh on the car.
Strut towers/braces tend to improve handling but usually make the car ride a bit rougher.
I've had new roll bar bushes at 10,000-miles due to the noise from them. They were worn out. Also I've just fitted Koni FSD's (dampers/struts) to try and soften the suspension and stop the 'crashing' through the car. This has silenced the suspension and also stopped the creaking over speed humps. Very clear the original struts are wearing fast. They were weeping oil at 9,000 miles.
There is a lightweight brace already fitted on the E90/1 series cars. A 'full' brace may make it more rigid, but transfer the loadings somewhere else.
Highland Pete
I assume you have BS? The Conti's were a huge improvement IMO.
Regards,
OW
I noticed the dealer/pressure thing when they mounted the conti's on my car. 38 lbs in all 4.
I just rotated the tires at 5K miles but had a little problem with one lug...stripped it with a 12 point socket. Cheap Craftsman! Now I need to get that fixed. Reckon I should take it to the dealer.
Regards,
OW
My car was on the first generation Bridgestone Potenza RE 050 A RFT's. I'm currently running Goodyear Eagle F1's. But will be fitting the Bridgestone's again to see if the modified suspension works with them.
I've had a new driver's door seal as it groaned so much, due to the vibrations and pounding the car was getting. The feeling on RFT's, my car was shaking to bits.
Highland Pete
From your feedback, I'm thinking the RE050 was also mad with the BAD RUBBER. What do you think?
Regards,
OW
Highland Pete
After I replaced the tires, I also did a lot of complaining to Firestone. The local district manager examined the tires, confirmed they were bad and said I should have rotated them. He also said had I brought the car to Firestone, they would have replaced the tires at no cost.
It sounds like the Conti run flat is better. If I decide to go with regular non run flats, does anybody knoe if the wheel a warranty will still be in affect ?
Regards,
OW
I switched from the EL-42s to the Continental RFTs on my 06 330Xi about 6 months and 8,000 miles ago. They were a huge improvement over the EL-42s in ride smoothness and quietness. Now, I seem to notice some road noise, more than when I first put on the Continentals, although they are nowhere near as noisy as the EL-42s had become with the same mileage.
I'm curious what others have experienced.
Thanks
Bruce
Same car with 6,000 miles. I notice no road noise at all with the Conti SSR's.
Regards,
OW
Post on run flat tire experience
She's a fool. She should pull off and get it checked immediately. Use her cell phone to call around for a costco, sears, tire store nearby.
she could not slow down to 50MPH as traffic was moving at 75+
Turn on emergency lights and EXIT the freeway.
Mountain View BMW dealership
Second foolish move. Dealerships screw people on any non-warrantied item (tires are about the only item not covered by warranty).
When she reached the dealership, about 40 miles later, the rear left tire was shredded to pieces and the car could no longer be moved.
Totally her fault.
This happens because you have not been checking your tire pressure and that with 24,000 miles on them they've reach their end-of life
Possible. Many fools never check their tire pressure.
The cost for tires and labor will be $2000
Typical dealership prices.
The agent calmly explained that when you have run flat tires, you have to check them for correct pressure every two weeks.
True. I do this with all cars. But I also notice changes in pressure when driving.
Nice proposition for a luxury car owner – having to stop at a gas station every two weeks to check your air pressure!
If you can afford a BMW you can afford a $1 tire pressure gauge. It's 2 minutes of time to check and no more than 5 minutes to get them filled if you don't have a compressor at home.
we called around to see if we could get a better deal on a set of 4 tires. No one around had the tires in stock except for a small Michelin dealer in Cupertino who could give us a comparable brand and model for $1200 mounted and balanced.
This internet stud doesn't know of Tire Rack? He doesn't realize you can use non RFTs?
they requested $150 for inspection fees. It took quite some arguing with them for them to remove the fees.
She did drop the car off with a non-warranty related issue.
Run-flats are supposed to last 100 miles at no more than 50MPH. It is very dangerous to drive 50 on a freeway,
Emergency lights and get off the freeway ASAP.
Cost of new run-flat tires is absurd
Should have checked beforehand.
especially through BMW dealerships, which will in most cases be the only ones that have them in stock for your model. At least currently.
1. Only a fool expects to get service from a dealer at a reasonable price.
2. Tire Rack has RFTs in stock. This guy is poorly informed.
BMW dealership service centers are closed on weekends! (put two and two together)
Maybe in your area. Dealers in SD are open; you should check this before you buy and you shouldn't take a car to a dealer for a flat tire.
You can’t repair a run-flat tire.
You can. Ignorance again.
Run flat tires make the ride bumpy AND as the thread wears, they get louder especially if you have sport suspension (trust me on this)
Known. So replace with real tires or shut up as you bought knowing this.
Run-flats are not available everywhere.
Known.
Most shops we called did not have what we needed for the BMW.
Again, there's a fancy invention called the internet.
There is such minor weight gain by not putting a donut in the trunk that it doesn’t make it a financial or ecological benefit.
Space.
You must always check your run-flats pressure (?)
This is a given with any car.
BMW tire wear on the inside, check them well as you can’t see it.
Her fault for not checking pressure.
Sports run-flats don’t last long as the compound is gummier and stickier. They cost an arm and a leg. If you drive 25K a year, at an average of $1500 for a set, it will cost you $125/month for tires!
Known. Do some research. I never get more than 15k out of my 18 inch tires.
Have you ever seen a BMW service department open on a weekend?
Saw it every time I had my 2003 & 2006 BMWs serviced.
Unless BMW can come up with a way to put a spare in it, there's no way i'll be making the purchase.
Buy go flat tires: easy to replace, get a run flat kit and live life. God, it's not that big of a deal.
Regards,
OW
Never had to change a tire. Yes they are expensive to replace but they don't go "flat" and damage a $300 to " $500 chrome rim
We can't have it all, everything is a compromise.
You were lucky you were near a BMW dealership, and that they happened to be open. Imagine being on a weekend trip to Mendocino or such... then what?
15,000 miles? Looks like you'll need 2 more tires in about 5-10K miles. Hope the insurance covers it.
Really, it's nice to hear positive experiences such as yours -- it's actually rare.
...and you are right, we can't have it all. But i will take a car with a spare in the trunk over one without any day.
Not that rare, I suspect, as BMW is still fitting them and selling lots of cars. Strong opinions on both sides of this one -- I do like my RFT RE050As, and wonder if the car would feel flabby on GFTs. Can't say without trying, however. One thing for sure -- the RE050As are much better than the flat-spotting W rated GFT EL42s on my old Acura TL, and in my opinion, they really weren't as bad as many seemed to think.
In any case, let's drop the personal exchange and get back to the tires themselves.