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Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Maintenance and Repair
4450 messages, Last post on Dec 05, 2009 at 12:23 PM
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Replying to: chef_jmr (Dec 02, 2005 10:50 am) |
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Hi all and kfdx.... I have an issue with the little red wagon (325 xit with sports package). Several weeks ago, the OEM Continental rear left tire came down with a flat. Had to move the car out of the road. Tire was changed to the donut. Next day fell on a Sunday. Have not really liked the Continentals 205/50/17 (I believe), and read a number of people complaining about noise, handling, etc. Only store open was a Firestone on Sunday. Was told that I could get away with Bridgestone Potenza 750, if I bought two tires and could switch the Contis to the front. Had one good one taken off, figuring I could turn it into a full-size spare. Afterwards, car handled much much better than it ever had, until about two weeks later, or one week ago. I started developing a wobble, or vibration somewhere on the passenger side. I could feel it in the wheel. Could also feel/ hear one of the tires rubbing somewhere when I turned a corner sharp, or did a -u turn. At first I thought I had a flat. Went to several places, had the pressures checked, they were off, but fixable. After I would drive for a little while, park to run an errand, and drive off, problem started again. Spent the past week back and forth to Firestone for hours at a time. Turns out they don't know or understand too much about BMW awd with the sports package, thought BMW only made rear-wheel drive (I'll leave it for others to wonder, too). Finally, stopped at a different Firestone who looked at the situation. Was told that an AWD car should never have sets of tires with a completely different tread, even if one set is in the back and the other is in front. Was told that they needed to come off immediately, and did I want to buy four new tiress??????? He called the other store, until they agreed to give me a complete refund. Before I went back today, I stopped at several tire places. I also looked at the reviews on Tirerack. This size is very tough to get. Two dealers complained that almost everything was gone by now, or was about to disappear in anticipation of the worse(er) weather. The choices I could possibly get tomorrow would be the all-season Nokian (a new company from what I heard), supposedly able to be used year round, but over $200 per tire; Kumho (maybe.... inexpensive but Tire Rack reviewers have give it good marks). I was thinking I'm sick and more fearful of the bad winter roads pocked with tons of potholes in the NY Metropolitan areaa (at least, last year). Thought maybe I should weigh going with four 16" snow-shoes down a size with steel rims to protect the original rims, and car. The store had Viking Tech; the Nokian snows, and one other maybe. I would have to go find my own steel rims at a BMW dealer for $96, or order them through Auto Racing, or something like that...... I also asked about Blizzaks but they're expensive. Another store told me I could go with the 17" Blizzaks on my original rims without downgrading, and use them all year round. I think they wanted over $176 per tire. A nearby BMW dealer confessed they had winter tire packages, one a Conti with a steel rim for about $220, and a Michelin with a steel rim for around the same. I thought that sounded cheaper than my other alternatives but really hard to believe there weren't other hidden costs involved. When I drove after my research efforts to the Firestone to take off the Bridgestone tires, put back my leftover conti, and a donut, I soon learned that the techs didn't put the donut back in the right place under the wagon's fake floor, and didn't put over it the extra Conti tire. I was told to go home to look for it, but I have, they closed, and it's nowhere to be seen. I've been told several times over the last two days, I better get the Bridgestone off, and they can damage the car, transmission, or ruin rims, the vibration, or wobbling, despite a temporary rebalancing tonight has gotten thousands of times worse. I still haven't figured out what this possibly is, save for maybe a slow leak, or a shifted belt. Last week at the beginning of my adventure, I stopped at a different BMW dealer to check the pressures and tires, and they told me nothing was wrong.... So, we can't really say BMW techs at the dealerships are all that knowledgable either. You guys are usually very helpful. I'm very lost, and would value your input. Also such a discussion could be of real help to others who will be facing a similar problem. All I want is a tire that won't be ruined, quiet, and good handling. I'm no speed demon, but would like to see this car handle a little the way it's supposed to, unlike a really sick dog. I also am on a budget by this point in the tyre game. The conti's weren't ever very precise in handling, and driving in them even with good treadwear left caused the car to handle pretty sloppy..... Lastly, can anyone explain the term, "staggered" wheels on a car to me? ;} Many thanks.... Cargal  
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Replying to: chef_jmr (Dec 02, 2005 10:21 am) A good indie would, I'm sure, do it for much less than I paid. They might even press in new bushings rather than replace the part (div, you know?) Unfortunately, the only place I'm aware of in my area that specializes in European cars is about 30 miles away. It's my understanding that it's just two guys and they tend to have unscheduled backlogs so the car could be tied up for more days than I could do without it. |
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Replying to: cargal2 (Dec 02, 2005 11:14 pm) 2) You probably aren't going to get your old Conti tire back... Did you get your donut tire back? If not, go back to the Firestone store and raise holy heck.. you need that for a spare... 3) The winter tires on steel wheels seem like a good idea, but that is $220 per wheel/tire... or $880 altogether... Not a bad price though, if that is the total.. If you do that, you'll still need to buy a good set of tires in the spring. I like this scenario the best, though it isn't the cheapest.. 4) You can put winter tires on your 17" sport wheels, but they are definitely pricy... I just ordered a set of Goodyear Ultra-Grip GW-3 winter tires.. 205/50-17... My tire dealer's total price, mounted and balanced and including sales tax is around $650... that doesn't include wheels.. just tires.. If you do this, you'll still have to buy new tires in the spring.. and put them back on the same wheels... Moral of the story: Find people you trust to work on your BMW... that have experience with your type of car.. If you can't find that, stick with the dealer.. They may not know a lot, but what they have is designed to work on your car.. Come back in the spring for all-season or summer tire recommendations.. Hope this helps, kyfdx Host-Prices Paid Forums |
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Replying to: cargal2 (Dec 02, 2005 11:14 pm) |
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Replying to: cargal2 (Dec 02, 2005 11:14 pm) I've asked a lot of people about this as well, and I'm sure the others in the forum can back me up, but it sounds like your BEST bet is to go with another set of winter tires. If that's not feasible, I would recommend going with an all season, but either way you are probably going to have to get them on all 4. |
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I have an '05 3-series with BMW Assist and Bluetooth.. Today, I acquired a new cellphone (Moto RAZR) for my wife that has bluetooth capabilities... I got it to sync up with the car, download the phone book, etc.. I can make calls using the steering wheel buttons.. scroll through the phone book, etc.. But, I'm having trouble with the voice recognition.. You hold the button down for three seconds, and it hooks up, but everytime I say anything, I get, "Sorry?".. and, then it disconnects.. Is the voice recognition phone-dependent? Or, do I just not know what I'm doing? (As if I didn't know the answer to that). Any help would be appreciated. But, please don't tell me to read the manual...lol. regards, kyfdx Host-Prices Paid Forums
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Replying to: kyfdx (Dec 04, 2005 7:34 pm) However, before you start fiddling with the mic and other components, I would go to the BMW dealer's service and ask them to make the voice recognition work. Because, in addition to the above, it could be that your Razr's software needs to be upgraded, and a number of other things that are in the Bluetooth connectivity game... Good luck.
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Replying to: skobola (Dec 04, 2005 10:24 pm) But, I don't think it is the microphone position.. My microphone is on top of the steering wheel column.. and, I most definitely was not talking with my mouth full...lol. My dealer has an orientation session once per month for new owners (wine/cheese,etc).. I'm going next week.. They are supposed to be able to tell you how to work everything.. I guess we'll find out.. Thanks, kyfdx
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Replying to: drddo (Nov 30, 2005 9:04 am) |
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