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BMW 5-Series Maintenance and Repair

2734 messages,  Last post on Mar 25, 2013 at 4:00 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Electrical, Engine, Sedan, Wagon

    
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Messages Page 236 of 274

#2348 of 2734 Re: Flat Tire? Perhaps... [ny540i6] & bdr127 [totalsystm] by ron2hoff

Jul 14, 2009 (8:07 am)

Replying to: totalsystm (Nov 19, 2005 8:31 am)
BWM refuses to acknowledge that their rims are defective and crack as a result of normal driving, especially their 18 inch rims when coupled with run-flat tires. We have a 2006 530i with standard 18-inch alloy rims and run-flat tires that came on the car. The car is driven 90% on Los Angeles freeways, and the other 10% on well-paved local roads. The car has never taken off road or driven on a particularly bumpy/potholed roads. Nor do we take speed bumps at 40 mph, run over curbs, or not slow for a pothole . . . events that might possibly crack a rim or break a tire. I tell you all this because BMW’s excuse for not replacing 2 cracked rims was that the cracks must have been caused by the driver impacting some object, like a pothole, rather then a result of a defect in the design of the rim. In the past several years we have owned 3 BMWs . . . but this will be our last.
 
After reading all of the threads on many websites about BMW’s problems with these rims and run-flat tires, it became quite clear what the problem is. The rims were designed too weak to take the impact of normal on-road driving. The problem is exacerbated by the run-flat tires, which are very hard and have strong sidewalls resulting in too much of the normal road force from small bumps being transmitted to the rim rather then absorbing some of the shock in the tire. Confirming the hundreds of comments on reliable Internet sites about the faulty rims and too hard run-flat tires is the reviews of Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat tires on cites from every supplier of these tires. In general, the comments conclude that the combination of weak 18-inch rims and 245/R40/18 Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Run Flat tires (original equipment) was a very bad mistake by BMW. One comment, similar to most, says: “These tires are terrible! Harsh ride, noisy and prone to impact bubble in the side walls from hitting small potholes. . . I am going to switch to non run flats . . . What was BMW thinking when [they] picked these tires?” [http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/readReviewsTire.do?postalCodeSelected=90291&ra- =%2Ftires%2Fbridgestone%2Fsize%2FviewProductResults&pc=25428&ar=40&rd=18&cs=245]-
 
We asked the Service Manager at Santa Monica BMW to replace the rims under warranty. Not only was he rude, but he was uninterested in any discussion about comments on many websites about the defective rims. It seemed apparent to me that he had been through this problem all too often before and did not want to deal with it again.
 
I then called BMW NA Customer Service. They were very nice, but totally useless. After four phone calls and escalation to a customer service supervisor, I began to understand the way it works. Customer Service has no authority whatsoever, all they could do was call the Service Manager at the dealership and get the same answer you had already had gotten. They seem to be in business of playing “good guy” to take the heat off of the Service Manager by providing the same answer as if it came from an independent, higher authority at BMW, which it does not.
 
Not willing to accept the result, I contacted the Director of Parts and Service at Santa Monica BMW, and told him of our displeasure with how his Service Manager had handled the problem, and asked him to involve BMW NA regional “team” to evaluate the problem and try to get some help. To his credit, he seemed very professional and appeared to want to help. He clearly understood the problem . . . you should be able to drive a BMW on normal streets and not have the rims break. Next day, he got a response from BMW regional team . . . “they would not participate” . . . meaning they would not cover it under the warranty or assist the dealer in any way.
 
My next step is to contact the General Manager of BMW Santa Monica and alert him to the problem. We certainly won’t be buying any more cars at Santa Monica BMW so he loses a loyal customer because the service folks won’t handle this problem. No response from the GM of Santa Monica BMW after two calls.
 
Next step is a letter to the CEO of BMW North America, and a compliant with U.S. DOT about the situation with these failing rim/tire combination. Perhaps DOT will investigate.

#2349 of 2734 528 Steering Question by markhotop

Jul 14, 2009 (1:00 pm)

I have a BMW 528 with nearly 180K on it. It has recently started to make funny noises when turning. The noise only happens when it's cold, once the car worms up it stops.
 
There are some vibrations along with the noise, but the car steers OK. Could this be a belt? I've had the car serviced, and the mechanic could not repeat the problem - but said every checked out fine.
 
Any ideas what this might be?

#2350 of 2734 Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? by pham

Jul 21, 2009 (11:31 am)

When I got my brand new BMW 535 2006 model from a dealer, the "front" car didn't have a place to hang the license plate. The dealer told me "if the front car doesn't have the place to hold the license plate, then it doesn't require by law. If the car does have the place to hold the license plate in the front, then the law requires to have the front license plate." Recently I got a ticket at SFO, I told the policeman the same thing, however he still gave me the ticket because missing the front license plate.
At that time, I pointed out many luxury cars (mercedes, BMW and more) at SFO and they didn't have the front license plate because no front license plate holder. The policeman got confused but he doesn't want to recall the ticket.
 
What is a CA law about the front license plate requirement? If there is no exception, then how can I contact BMW to handle this issue? because their design.
 
If the BMW dealer told me about the front license plate for my car is true, then where should I get the statement or something to show it to the police in case the policeman stop me again in the future.
 
Thanks in advances.

#2351 of 2734 Re: Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? [pham] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 21, 2009 (6:14 pm)

Replying to: pham (Jul 21, 2009 11:31 am)
It's two plates and that's it. There's no exceptions I'm aware of, and yes, you have to drill holes into your brand new bumper or get some special plate holder (I've seen these for different fancy cars). California DMV sends everyone two plates.
 
If the cop had been in a good mood, he would have given you a "fix-it" ticket rather than a traffic violation.
 
Maybe your dealer should pay the fine for bad advice.
 
I suspect this is just part of the revenue-gathering going on now. This type of ticket has long been the "sucker punch" for motorists parked in public places.
 

#2352 of 2734 Re: Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? [Mr_Shiftright] by kyfdx HOST

Jul 22, 2009 (4:20 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 21, 2009 6:14 pm)
Not only that.. every 5-series is available with a license plate bracket... Just because yours wasn't installed won't get you out of a ticket..
 
Or.. move to Kentucky! No front plates!

#2353 of 2734 Re: Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? [kyfdx] by andys120

Jul 22, 2009 (8:28 am)

Replying to: kyfdx (Jul 22, 2009 4:20 am)
. move to Kentucky! No front plates!
 
No need to go that far, Arizona has no front plates either.

#2354 of 2734 Re: Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? [Mr_Shiftright] by andys120

Jul 22, 2009 (8:30 am)

Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jul 21, 2009 6:14 pm)
If the cop had been in a good mood, he would have given you a "fix-it" ticket rather than a traffic violation.
 
I once got one of those in NH because my plate mount had been knocked off by a careless parker.

#2355 of 2734 Re: Front license plate holder requirement by law, is it true? [andys120] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Jul 22, 2009 (11:25 am)

Replying to: andys120 (Jul 22, 2009 8:30 am)
Plate violations at airports are the new "quickie tax".

#2356 of 2734 2 Plates by kevin530

Jul 22, 2009 (4:06 pm)

No end to the political correctness.
Plus a revenue stream for already bloated budgets and bennies.
Never seen so many cops looking to give tickets since this recession started.

#2357 of 2734 anything I should look for.... by ghulet

Jul 24, 2009 (1:01 am)

.....in my constant quest to find a beater that is not an Escort or Corsica, I'm going to look at a 528e tomorrow ('88, automatic, 151k miles, allegedly owned by a mechanic, new brakes and battery). Yeah, I already know they're slow; this is basically going to be a 'run around town and possibly visit mom once in a while' (second car). This one looks OK for the price, and supposedly runs great. Anything endemic to these I need to know about? Owner supposedly has all books and records, which I like a lot. Thanks!!

Messages Page 236 of 274

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