- #1384 of 2414
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Re: RFT's & bmw [dan12]
by kywoody
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Sep 21, 2007 (5:23 pm)
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Replying to: dan12 (Sep 21, 2007 1:00 pm)
Thanks. I agree with the general negative comments on the RFTs but if the tires you get on the new cars give a better ride and are more durable, it makes the BMW a more reasonable choice, especially with limited driving in remote places.
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- #1385 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [Mr_Shiftright]
by capriracer
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Sep 22, 2007 (4:18 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 11, 2007 7:37 am)
With all due respect to your "highly respected tire retailer", but RFT's will not show the damage that is being done by operating the tire flat. The damage is hidden under the supporting insert and can not be seen. Repairing a RFT involves some degree of risk, and since there is no way to proper assess how much damage has been done, I hope the "highly respected tire retailer" realizes he has assumed the risk and has good insurance.
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- #1386 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [capriracer]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Sep 22, 2007 (12:12 pm)
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Replying to: capriracer (Sep 22, 2007 4:18 am)
I'm sure he knows what he's doing. He's been doing it for 40 years and outfits race cars, Ferraris, etc. I would guess that he examines each tire carefully and interviews the drivers about what happened. He seemed quite matter of fact about it...no big deal to repair RFTs that take a nail. He seemed more concerned over the proper training of his technicians who handle the machines that break down the RFTs.
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- #1387 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [Mr_Shiftright]
by circlew
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Sep 22, 2007 (1:09 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 22, 2007 12:12 pm)
Breaking the bead/seating the bead, mounting/remounting on the alloy wheels is the area of concern because the damage done is high value to the shop due to improper technique/equipment.
Regards,
OW
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- #1388 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [circlew]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Sep 22, 2007 (2:21 pm)
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Replying to: circlew (Sep 22, 2007 1:09 pm)
Oh yeah, you can do damage so many ways on an RFT. You can damage the wheel, you can break the sensor, and you can damage the RFTs sidewall....all in a few seconds.
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- #1389 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [Mr_Shiftright]
by shangti
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Sep 22, 2007 (5:42 pm)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 22, 2007 2:21 pm)
While you can repair an RFT you have to find someone other than the dealer, because they won't repair the RFT. Plus, some tire shops won't repair a RFT. Since there have been so many complaints with RFTs, I suspect that BMW is aware of the issue and could have addressed it, prior to placing them on the 328. In fact, Toyota consumers faced the same problem regarding RFTs in 2005.http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=7on_your_side&id=3463443
There ended up being a class action from Toyota Sienna owners against Toyota and Goodyear. There ended up being a settlement http://www.rftprogram.com . Recently, there was another class action lawsuit filed against another car manufacturer - http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/11/automobiles/11FLATS.html?em&ex=1190433600&en=4- 497fc78a38f28bd&ei=5087%0A
I believe there is a class action lawsuit against BMW on RTFs - is anyone aware of that? Funny thing about the other lawsuits - they involve the same issues that we are talking about in regards to RFTs.
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- #1390 of 2414
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Re: RFT's & bmw [raphaelhom]
by jgraffman
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Sep 23, 2007 (3:00 am)
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Replying to: raphaelhom (Sep 21, 2007 8:37 am)
Sorry I wasn't more clear. This thread is about RFT's, and this is the problem I am referring to. If you read this entire thread you will find that BMW has aknowledged via a service bulletin that there are many RFT problems. After the bulletin was issued, my dealer paid for the non-RF Michelins that I previously bought from them.
As far as I am concerned, BMW should go back to regular tires until the RF durability problem is solved.
Even if rapid uneven tire wear was not problem, it doesn't make much sense to use a $400 tire that according to BMW should be discarded after a simple flat.
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- #1391 of 2414
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Re: RFT's & bmw [jgraffman]
by circlew
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Sep 23, 2007 (5:43 am)
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Replying to: jgraffman (Sep 23, 2007 3:00 am)
As recently posted, if you use the warning light and do not travel far on the flat, the RFT can be repaired. But if you limp home over 50 miles, which I did on the EL42 flat I had, not repairable.
Regards,
OW
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- #1392 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [shangti]
by Mr_Shiftright HOST
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Sep 23, 2007 (7:50 am)
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Replying to: shangti (Sep 22, 2007 5:42 pm)
That might be true but the reason many shops don't repair them is not that it's hard, it's just that they don't know how.
So really it's as much a consumer-awareness + a training problem for BMW as it is a product problem.
My two cents is that they launched a new technology without any foresight about how to deal with it. It's the equivalent of Apple shipping the new iPhone without any instructions whatsoever on how to operate it, install peripherals, etc. You get a box with a product in it and nothing else. Can you imagine the problems that would have caused? "Oh, you don't plug it into the wall? Ohhhhhh...."
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- #1393 of 2414
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Re: Try getting a nail in your RFT after only 500 miles [Mr_Shiftright]
by circlew
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Sep 23, 2007 (8:06 am)
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Sep 23, 2007 7:50 am)
...yet thousands camped out on line waiting to be the first with the new iphone. I guess there is always a way to take advantage of the unknowing.
Regards,
OW
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