I bought my '03 530i (SP,PP, CWP) at BMW of Peabody and recently purchased winter tires (Dunlop M2's) and wheels (Borbet from TireRack which I haven't yet put on. Just curious as to how much BMW o Peabody charged to change over your tires?
I picked up a set of used 16 x 8 wheels ('98 528i) on ebay. They were $240 including shipping. Then I ordered 205 55 16 Blizzak WS-50's. The local tire shop mounted them for $510. That's a grand total of $750 for OE BMW wheels and new winter stock. The SP Dunlops are not meant for winter duty and now I don't cringe at every chuck hole. For anyone looking for an inexpensive winter tire swap it's an option. Good Luck
I certainly hope that the local tire shop didn't charge you $510 to mount your tires !! Local shops here in the SF Bay Area charge $33 a tire or less to mount and balance.
BMW of Peabody charged me $170 for all four tires. The price included mounting, balancing, valve steams and of-course the swapping of my summer setup to the new winter ones. All of the tires were placed in bags and put into my car.
Not only do I used Peabody for my service but I also purchased my car from them. So far, so good.
The weather forecast is for possibly 6” to a foot of snow by this weekend. Not quite ready for winter weather, yet. Just in the limited amount of snow on Tuesday, it was obvious that my car with the summer tires struggle to get around.
I've got a set of OE Michelin MXM4 All Seasons (about 12K mi old) on my '03 530 and I'd read that they were terrible in snow. I was all set to buy a set of winter tires but before I had the chance I had to make a last minute trip to Michigan on Tuesday.
I decided to take the Port Huron border crossing to avoid Detroit and midway between London (Ontario) and Port Huron I was caught in a freak snowstorm. For about 40mi I went through some of the worst conditions I've ever encountered - 6in of snow, white-outs much of the way and high cross-winds, with a few hills to make it interesting. I lost count of the number of cars in ditches and jack-knifed tractor trailers but the car was rock steady and I didn't have a single problem.
That scary trip has reinforced my belief in the value of DSC, a full tank and gentle use of the pedals.
Do the change yourself; it's ridiculously easy and you'll save money to boot. I changed the 5er over yesterday and it took all of thirty minutes. I used my three ton hydraulic jack but you can use the jack in the trunk. However, it won't be nearly as convenient or fast as the hydraulic unit. As for storage, I simply stack up my summer set in a corner of the garage and I'm good to go until early April.
Yes, I could change the tires myself except for one small problem. The tires were not mounted on the rims. Therefore I needed to have a little outside assistance.
A little history, last year I purchased only tires as I was driving a 02 530i w/o the Sport pkg. This year I upgraded to a 03 530 w/ the Sport pkg resulting in the need to buy 16” rims.
I am in the market for a used 5 series and I'd like to buy one that is outfitted with the in-seat anchors for the LATCH car seat system. I'm talking about the anchors between the seat cushion and the seat back, not the rear deck tether connection points. Does anyone know what model year was the first to have in-seat anchors? I'm especially interested to know if 2000 model year cars have anchors or can be outfitted with anchors. Thanks.
I hear you on the Miata. That's why I like my ti so much; it's small, light, and nimble. It's not overrun with gadgets either-no power seats, no cruise, no trip computer-it even has a manual HVAC system. What it does have is a willing engine, a slick-shifting transmission, powerful brakes, and a chassis that-quietly but firmly-keeps you apprised of what's going on at each corner. I hope that Munich resists the temptation to cram the 1er full of high tech gadgets but I sadly suspect they cannot...
Chrism124, you seem to live in the same general area as I do....have you, or anyone from the boston area, found any backroads you can open up your car on and appreciate the drive it gives you? I found it frustrating driving behind people going 35 w/o the passing opportunity.
I revel in getting out on the open road around here and pushing hard but mind you, it's not the speed that generates the emotions for me.It is the sheer driving pleasure and the confidence I have in the engine and suspension and brakes to handle anything that comes my way. There is a particularly inviting trek from the ocean inland where the twisties are just made for this car. Several times I have been joined by other drivers in Vettes and Carerras to go swishing through the cutbacks at pretty darn high speeds . I'm not advocating recklessness, just the fun of driving . And it's not something I do every day... maybe twice a month. Exhilarating !!
I believe MY2002 was the first year BMW installed the LATCH anchors. I have a 2002 540i that has the LATCH anchors. I remember a post from on this forum maybe 12 months ago from someone that had a 2001 530i that did not have LATCH.
The LATCH system holds the car seat very tight. In fact, the entire car will shake if I try to move the car seat that is attached using the LATCH anchors.
I switched over to my winter tire/wheel set this morning (Dunlop M2's/Borbet B-about $960 from TireRack). We have about 4-6 inches of snow with more expected this afternoon. So far I am very happy with the performance and traction and would recommend the Dunlops to those considering snow tires.
Glad to hear the winter wheel/tire combo worked out for you. I just placed an order yesterday for the exact same set . I should receive them next week. We have not had any snow yet, so they should arrive in time.
My Artic Alpins can stop most any snowstorm in it's tracks. For the past two years I've hustled to install them because the weekend forecast called for 5+" of snow. Both times the snow never materialized...:)
Div, you point out one of the trueisms of life - get the snows on, it will not snow. For this reason I have my 546 sitting as a big paperweight in my driveway, while I wait for the tirerack to deliver (Borbets, Blizzak LM22s). Couple of days ago I was out with the stock Dunlops, did not think I was doing too badly, until I got to my driveway... and took three tries, including a running start from as far back across the street as I could get, to get in. Of course, for the truism to hold, there will be no more significant snow.
div2: If you're happy with the Arctic Alpins (as many are due to their everyday winter drivability & snow/ice traction), Michelin just came out with a tire called the PA (Pilot Arctic) Alpin. Tire Rack told me they have the same great winter traction (as the standard Arctic Alpin), but with stiffer sidewall construction and an H speed rating (as opposed to Q). I ordered a set for my Prelude.
ny540i6: I too ordered the aforementioned set of winter tires that are going to arrive just in time for the 50 degree weather on Tuesday/Wednesday here in the city. My Prelude and It's V rated Bridgestones sit rotting in a garage next to my store in The Bronx.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Looking for some honest opinions on the purchase of a 525i. I have been a long time admire of the BMWs and think it's about time I take the plunge. I am looking at purchasing a used one to get my feet wet. I have been cautious on purchasing one due to what I have heard as hefty maintenance and repair charges. Can anyone share with me what the normal expected cost of maintaining a 525i? I am looking at an immaculate 92, with 110k on the odometer. This vehicle appears to be well maintained. As you can guess, there is no warranty with this vehicle. I appreciate any help you can provide.
Yes, the Pilot Alpins do sound nice. However, the 5er is my wife's commuter car and she's not at all interested in pushing the envelope. Come to think of it, hardly anyone around here knows how to take a corner. I recently ran away from a Subie WRX on a slick decreasing radius on-ramp. In my 1999 Jeep Wrangler. True story.
I was at the dealership last and had a chance to sit in the showroom '04 530i. While its a good looking car, I was kinda disappointed at a couple of things:
1. The door didn't have that hefty feel and didn't close with a nice clunk like on the 3series or the prev gen 5 series. I hope the quality isn't deteriorating. On the 3 series dvd that came with my car they showed a clip of how engineers worked to get that perfect "clunk" when you shut the door. Looks like they gave that up with the '04 5 series.
2. The interior ceiling was lined with material that looked out of place.
3. Seems like BMW and a lot of other car manufacturers are moving away from the center dash cluster tilted inwards towards the driver. While this is very minor (as are the other observations noted above) I like being the center of the universe in my car ;-)
I also got to sit in an X3 but I'll post my observations on that board.
I sold my '91 525i manual with 102k miles to buy my '02 530. The '91 still ran very well, but I too had experienced some a/c problems (intermittent problems with control module, also had to replace compressor drive belt.) Water pump is the Achilles heel, the only time the car conked out (at about 80k miles.) Rust at bottom of driver's door (I'm in the Midwest, where salt on winter roads is a way of life.) Clutch at about 65k, front and rear brakes and rotors. Full set of ignition coils at about 70 or 80k (about $100@). Car got new muffler under warranty early on.
The 2.5 liter 6 could not be smoother, but does not have much bottom end (best with manual trans.) Always a pleasure to drive, though, and comfortable to ride in, too. (Very big trunk.)
Obviously, this is 12 year old car you're looking at, that warrants careful checking by a mechanic, but if properly maintained, I don't think 200k miles is out of the question.
But I always joke that all maintenance is in $500 increments (small jobs, $500, medium repairs, $1000, etc.) If you want to economize, get a Toyota. Generally, my car was quite reliable, but I did not scrimp on costly maintenance (coolant and brake flushes, etc.) Nothing was cheap, but I liked it enough to buy about the identical car. Get full service records to see what's been done, items that needed work on mine are typical, I believe.
Has anyone recently boughta 2004 530i, and are the dealers still holding to MSRP? I am starting to find some "softness," and some dealers are quoting about $1200 off of MSRP
Thanks for the info. I will keep it handy in my search for the ultimate driving machine. I think I will expand my searches to include manual trans... Take care, RC
Well a co-worker bought a 2004 525i yesterday for $1500 under MSRP. He threw me the keys and away I went. The car has auto and had the premium package.
Yes, I am biased towards my 2002 530i. The 2004 was parked in the garage two spaces from my car, and yes I like the looks of my car better. I think my car is more elegantly styled. The 2004 just does not look as classy and expensive.
Inside the 2004, I noticed that the seat did not feel as comfortable nor was the feel of the steering wheel as nice (maybe not a fair comparison, because my car has M steering wheel included in sports package).
First thing I did was play with the i-drive. I was able to figure out its basic functions very quickly. But I think that it is more of a driving distraction than a benefit. Instead of reaching over and turning a knob or pushing a button, you now have to concentrate at a screen and go through menus. However, you can avoid i-drive except for the radio because there are no external radio controls. This is a pain. I like pushing buttons and turning knobs. In most cases, I can do it without taking my eye off the road. However, there is a volume control on the steering wheel. I did not notice a channel control on the steering wheel like my car, but there may have been one. I like the climate control dials better than my car's, but the plastic material is cheap feeling. The cup holders are very strange, coming from the passenger side. Not really an improvement on my car's (which are terrible - mine is currently broken, dealer will fix at no charge). The tilted window lift buttons require a little time to get used to also.
The gages look cool, especially when they are lit up. However, I again like mine better. I like the idea that the information readout on my car is in the instrument cluster, instead of on a separate screen at the center of the dash. Also, they still have the useless mpg gage. Why bother? The center arm rest is still not adjustable, but at least it has storage and has a little more padding.
The car drove smooth and quiet, but I really cannot compare it directly to mine, which has sports package and is manual. Also, it was not my car and had just 150 miles on it, so I was not going to put it through the paces. However, a complaint I have about my 530i is that it should have more low end torque. Also, I wish the car had an easier to use clutch. Even now, 24K miles later, I still have to work on getting smooth 1-2 shifts. Both of these also would probably apply to the 2004 530i.
I sat in the back. A little more foot room, but not by much. The back center arm rest has cup holder slots built in. That corrects the lack of rear cup holders on my car. The trunk is odd shaped, but appears slightly larger than mine.
Again, I think I am a little biased. I love my 530i, both the way it looks and the way it drives. From what I have seen today, I don't think the 2004 is that much of an improvement. Just different. But this is not bad, because being near perfect is hard to improve on.
Why don't they make the i-drive screen a touch screen? They do something like that in the Lincoln LS and it makes it VERY easy to use. Give the users the idrive wheel, but make the screen touch sensitive and I think complaints would go down quite a bit.
Good analysis; from an ergonomic standpoint, the radio in my 1999 Jeep beats my two BMW radios hands down. Why? BECAUSE IT HAS A TUNING KNOB!!! Now as for sound quality, it's superior to the 5er and comes in a distant second to the 3er-but thats another topic. There is a simple fix for clutch woes-BMW put a clutch delay valve(CDV) in the slave cylinder hydraulic circuit. It's purpose is to help cushion abrupt shocks to the drivetrain, but it also makes the clutch difficult to modulate. The best way to eliminate the problem is to replace your CDV with a modified unit. See: http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm
Any warranty concerns if I do the CDV fix? If so, excluding the clutch (which is not covered anyway) what driveline components might they deny? Also, since this is a lease, whoul I have to switch it back later? (i.e., would they notice?)
I have found the combination of hard to modulate clutch and the traction control (turned on in slick conditions), make 1-2 shifts a pain. I'd rather spin the tires than get the uneven acceleration I have now. Less of a problem in the dry with TC off, but still poorly modulated. Dealer claims (correctly), they all do that: get used to it.
Touch screen would be a big improvement but costs more... and it doesn't completely solve ergonomic problems as there are still too many moves. With regard to driving, the best ergonomic designs still require dedicated controls and gauges. It may seem low-tech but so does the wheel. We had the wherewithal to recognize the ergonomic benefits of analog. Perhaps we can expect a similar "discovery" in this latest round of digital gambits.
I agree. Anything taking eyes off the road can be a problem. But touch screen would help. Voice activation of the common features would be great. I thought the Idrive had some, but this is what I have in mind...
Well, I suppose that 1.IF the dealer was a jerk AND 2.That dealer knew the CDV was gutted then that dealer could try to deny coverage for any driveline part from the clutch back. Some cretinous dealers comb the CCA chapter newsletters for autocross results so they can deny coverage on cars that competed. IMHO I doubt anyone would ever notice; I'll bet that a large percentage of BMW dealer techs think that a clutch delay valve is something you buy at an adult bookstore.
My intent there was to show that the commands could be very simple. Simple commands would make the voice recog part easier to get working in a car producing noise (wind, road, electrical, etc) and have it work reliably. You wouldn't want to try and program recog software to recognize "Tune the radio to 95.5 and set the air conditional to 71 degrees."
Even IBM can do voice recog when the words are simple. It would just be a matter of providing the owner with the software's vocabulary. Better yet, allow programming of phrases into the unit and having it do several functions at once...
Example: "Cool down the car" could turn the AC to max, roll down the windows a bit, pop the sunroof, and lower the rear shade. That'd be cool (no pun intended)
I have read read on one of these message boards that BMWNA makes a percentage payment to the dealer on every car sold. As I understand it this percentage is based on the dealer's customer and quality ratings. Does anyone know what these percentages are or where I can find out? Thanks
chpqdk... I concur with kdshapiro. Likely highly confidential business information.
Only way you'll see things about subjects like this is either mention in press or published court opinions. Remember seeing a Federal 8th Circuit Appeal court decision on their public web site from within the past decade in which a dealer in Des Moines (think might have been Jaguar franchisee?) sued over the manufacturer's use of the CSI data. Forget how the mfgr was using it, but think it had to do with getting an additional franchise or keeping the one he had. Was interesting information about how the CSI data was collected and how used by the parties.
Conflicts over CSI data have periodically flared up between powerful franchise dealers (who usually have quite favorable treatment under state law) and the manufacturers.
Checked the tires the other day on my 530i and noticed that there is still a good amount of tread left on them. So far have 24K+ miles on them. They are Michelin Pilot Primacy 235/45/R17. Anyone else getting this kind of tire mileage? Is there any hope of going my entire 36K mile lease without buying new tires?
I guess it's possible to get one set to last the whole lease, But I'd check the lease return package they sent you. I seem to recall that there was minimum tread depth required in order not to get dinged some $$.
Edit: found it on their web site (Lease return requirements, under the safty tab):
"Five (5) serviceable, BMW recommended tires. At least a 1/8-inch (3-mm) tread depth from wear indicators on all tires, as measured by the BMW Inspection Wheel."
any one have any idea how much the lease payment for the 04, with just auto would be, anyone have 04 lease they wouldn't mind sharing on how much monthly payments where... thankx or one can email me it @ cjsg35@hotmail.com
I have these tires on my 2001 530 and so far they have taken me over 28K miles. I had my car in for inspection 1 in August of this year and they told me the tires looked good. I haven't rotated at all, just keep the tire pressure checked regularly. I am pleasantly surprised by how long they are lasting after hearing that performance tires usually need to be replaced more frequently.
I've read elsewhere that it's 7% of MSRP. That's right! On a $40,000 car the dealer is making $2,800 gross profit even if he sells at invoice (which ain't gonna happen!).
Thanks hicaira. I also checked BMW's web site. The hope is that the blue lines (wear lines) will not show by the lease end date.
Also thanks cmr530i for the info. 28K and looking good. Maybe it is possible on these tires. But I will not drive the car like my grandma to get there.
Does anyone know when AWD will be offered on the 5 series. I have an Audi A6 ready for replacement next year and love the AWD. I would like to be able to consider BMW and the 3 series is too small. Kendux
postoak... There are many different types of payments by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not all manufacturers make the same payments or in the same amounts.
There is the infamous "holdback". You can see that routinely discussed in books, etc. Some mfgrs reportedly don't do this.
But there is the even murkier world of what does the mfgr link to the CSI numbers received by a dealer. Money? Car allotments? "Hot" cars?
Believe the original query focused on the latter (CSI-link payments) rather than the former (holdback).
Comments
Regards,
Chris
I bought my '03 530i (SP,PP, CWP) at BMW of Peabody and recently purchased winter tires (Dunlop M2's) and wheels (Borbet
Not only do I used Peabody for my service but I also purchased my car from them. So far, so good.
The weather forecast is for possibly 6” to a foot of snow by this weekend. Not quite ready for winter weather, yet. Just in the limited amount of snow on Tuesday, it was obvious that my car with the summer tires struggle to get around.
Regards,
Chris
I decided to take the Port Huron border crossing to avoid Detroit and midway between London (Ontario) and Port Huron I was caught in a freak snowstorm. For about 40mi I went through some of the worst conditions I've ever encountered - 6in of snow, white-outs much of the way and high cross-winds, with a few hills to make it interesting. I lost count of the number of cars in ditches and jack-knifed tractor trailers but the car was rock steady and I didn't have a single problem.
That scary trip has reinforced my belief in the value of DSC, a full tank and gentle use of the pedals.
A little history, last year I purchased only tires as I was driving a 02 530i w/o the Sport pkg. This year I upgraded to a 03 530 w/ the Sport pkg resulting in the need to buy 16” rims.
Regards,
Chris
The LATCH system holds the car seat very tight. In fact, the entire car will shake if I try to move the car seat that is attached using the LATCH anchors.
ny540i6: I too ordered the aforementioned set of winter tires that are going to arrive just in time for the 50 degree weather on Tuesday/Wednesday here in the city. My Prelude and It's V rated Bridgestones sit rotting in a garage next to my store in The Bronx.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD, 2025 Toyota Camry SE AWD
Thanks!
1. The door didn't have that hefty feel and didn't close with a nice clunk like on the 3series or the prev gen 5 series. I hope the quality isn't deteriorating. On the 3 series dvd that came with my car they showed a clip of how engineers worked to get that perfect "clunk" when you shut the door. Looks like they gave that up with the '04 5 series.
2. The interior ceiling was lined with material that looked out of place.
3. Seems like BMW and a lot of other car manufacturers are moving away from the center dash cluster tilted inwards towards the driver. While this is very minor (as are the other observations noted above) I like being the center of the universe in my car ;-)
I also got to sit in an X3 but I'll post my observations on that board.
The 2.5 liter 6 could not be smoother, but does not have much bottom end (best with manual trans.) Always a pleasure to drive, though, and comfortable to ride in, too. (Very big trunk.)
Obviously, this is 12 year old car you're looking at, that warrants careful checking by a mechanic, but if properly maintained, I don't think 200k miles is out of the question.
But I always joke that all maintenance is in $500 increments (small jobs, $500, medium repairs, $1000, etc.) If you want to economize, get a Toyota. Generally, my car was quite reliable, but I did not scrimp on costly maintenance (coolant and brake flushes, etc.) Nothing was cheap, but I liked it enough to buy about the identical car. Get full service records to see what's been done, items that needed work on mine are typical, I believe.
Monty@lmnands.com
Yes, I am biased towards my 2002 530i. The 2004 was parked in the garage two spaces from my car, and yes I like the looks of my car better. I think my car is more elegantly styled. The 2004 just does not look as classy and expensive.
Inside the 2004, I noticed that the seat did not feel as comfortable nor was the feel of the steering wheel as nice (maybe not a fair comparison, because my car has M steering wheel included in sports package).
First thing I did was play with the i-drive. I was able to figure out its basic functions very quickly. But I think that it is more of a driving distraction than a benefit. Instead of reaching over and turning a knob or pushing a button, you now have to concentrate at a screen and go through menus. However, you can avoid i-drive except for the radio because there are no external radio controls. This is a pain. I like pushing buttons and turning knobs. In most cases, I can do it without taking my eye off the road. However, there is a volume control on the steering wheel. I did not notice a channel control on the steering wheel like my car, but there may have been one. I like the climate control dials better than my car's, but the plastic material is cheap feeling. The cup holders are very strange, coming from the passenger side. Not really an improvement on my car's (which are terrible - mine is currently broken, dealer will fix at no charge). The tilted window lift buttons require a little time to get used to also.
The gages look cool, especially when they are lit up. However, I again like mine better. I like the idea that the information readout on my car is in the instrument cluster, instead of on a separate screen at the center of the dash. Also, they still have the useless mpg gage. Why bother? The center arm rest is still not adjustable, but at least it has storage and has a little more padding.
The car drove smooth and quiet, but I really cannot compare it directly to mine, which has sports package and is manual. Also, it was not my car and had just 150 miles on it, so I was not going to put it through the paces. However, a complaint I have about my 530i is that it should have more low end torque. Also, I wish the car had an easier to use clutch. Even now, 24K miles later, I still have to work on getting smooth 1-2 shifts. Both of these also would probably apply to the 2004 530i.
I sat in the back. A little more foot room, but not by much. The back center arm rest has cup holder slots built in. That corrects the lack of rear cup holders on my car. The trunk is odd shaped, but appears slightly larger than mine.
Again, I think I am a little biased. I love my 530i, both the way it looks and the way it drives. From what I have seen today, I don't think the 2004 is that much of an improvement. Just different. But this is not bad, because being near perfect is hard to improve on.
-Paul
There is a simple fix for clutch woes-BMW put a clutch delay valve(CDV) in the slave cylinder hydraulic circuit. It's purpose is to help cushion abrupt shocks to the drivetrain, but it also makes the clutch difficult to modulate. The best way to eliminate the problem is to replace your CDV with a modified unit. See: http://www.zeckhausen.com/CDV.htm
I have found the combination of hard to modulate clutch and the traction control (turned on in slick conditions), make 1-2 shifts a pain. I'd rather spin the tires than get the uneven acceleration I have now. Less of a problem in the dry with TC off, but still poorly modulated. Dealer claims (correctly), they all do that: get used to it.
HiC
"RADIO"
"FM"
"Station 1" or
"95.5"
"Climate"
"Air"
"71 (degrees)"
"Eject"
"Passenger"
"Front"
BOOM
err
"Open Roof"
"Eject"
"Passenger"
"Front"
WOOSH
1.IF the dealer was a jerk
AND
2.That dealer knew the CDV was gutted
then that dealer could try to deny coverage for any driveline part from the clutch back. Some cretinous dealers comb the CCA chapter newsletters for autocross results so they can deny coverage on cars that competed. IMHO I doubt anyone would ever notice; I'll bet that a large percentage of BMW dealer techs think that a clutch delay valve is something you buy at an adult bookstore.
"Tea"
"Earl Grey"
"Hot"
sorry, too much idiot box
My intent there was to show that the commands could be very simple. Simple commands would make the voice recog part easier to get working in a car producing noise (wind, road, electrical, etc) and have it work reliably. You wouldn't want to try and program recog software to recognize "Tune the radio to 95.5 and set the air conditional to 71 degrees."
Even IBM can do voice recog when the words are simple. It would just be a matter of providing the owner with the software's vocabulary. Better yet, allow programming of phrases into the unit and having it do several functions at once...
Example:
"Cool down the car" could turn the AC to max, roll down the windows a bit, pop the sunroof, and lower the rear shade. That'd be cool (no pun intended)
-Paul
-Paul
Only way you'll see things about subjects like this is either mention in press or published court opinions. Remember seeing a Federal 8th Circuit Appeal court decision on their public web site from within the past decade in which a dealer in Des Moines (think might have been Jaguar franchisee?) sued over the manufacturer's use of the CSI data. Forget how the mfgr was using it, but think it had to do with getting an additional franchise or keeping the one he had. Was interesting information about how the CSI data was collected and how used by the parties.
Conflicts over CSI data have periodically flared up between powerful franchise dealers (who usually have quite favorable treatment under state law) and the manufacturers.
Edit: found it on their web site (Lease return requirements, under the safty tab):
"Five (5) serviceable, BMW recommended tires.
At least a 1/8-inch (3-mm) tread depth from wear indicators on all tires, as measured by the BMW Inspection Wheel."
HiC
Also thanks cmr530i for the info. 28K and looking good. Maybe it is possible on these tires. But I will not drive the car like my grandma to get there.
There is the infamous "holdback". You can see that routinely discussed in books, etc. Some mfgrs reportedly don't do this.
But there is the even murkier world of what does the mfgr link to the CSI numbers received by a dealer. Money? Car allotments? "Hot" cars?
Believe the original query focused on the latter (CSI-link payments) rather than the former (holdback).