Edmunds.com | Inside Line | Auto Observer Your Account | Help | Directory
You are here:
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires
2003 messages, Last post on Aug 30, 2008 at 8:27 AM
You are in the BMW 3-Series Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens
|
3 questions: (i) how receptive have others found the dealers being to switching the tires from bridgestones to conti's? (ii) if not receptive, what is the addt'l cost (and model number would be great too), and (iii) is there any other people out there with a 330xi with the SPORT PACKAGE?! i happen to live in NYC and use my beautiful car to escape the city most weekends. we travel to all parts of the east coast and with the smallest pot-hole or construction issue on an expressway, i have teeth-jolting "bottom out" hits to the automobile. does changing the tires to conti's soften the ride and quiet it at the same time? i never thought i'd say this, but would consider NOT getting the stiffer suspension package on my next bmw because it is so stiff with the hard sidewalls of the rft's. (btw, my 70 year old mother drives a volvo S60(sport 60 model), which has a suspension and chassy multi-point change option on her dashboard). we have many debates about the ultimate driving machine, but she wins when she can select "comfort" and avoid her fillings falling out. (she's also owned bmw's, so you can understand my defensiveness...) signed, a devoted and concerned 2006 330xi, 1993 325i [mint, restored condition] and 2000 r1100r owner. |
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jfdiamond (Aug 28, 2006 7:06 pm) While it was only test drives, I can't say I noticed any differenece handling-wise between the two. There is such a big difference between the Bridgestones and the Contis, I can't believe BMW considered the Bridgestones as one of their OEM tire choices. From what I can gather, at least in my general goegraphic locale, Bridgestones gave way to Contis pretty early in the inventory cycle this year. I have heard of some who recently bought a 3 series that are still shod with Bridgestones, though. |
|
|
Replying to: jfdiamond (Aug 28, 2006 7:06 pm)
|
|
|
Replying to: mpt1 (Aug 30, 2006 1:08 pm)
|
|
|
|
|
Replying to: jfdiamond (Aug 30, 2006 1:30 pm) The BMW dealer, a Bridgestone dealer, and the tire / wheel road hazard insurance I bought are all saying its not their responsibility. Seems there are only two options: change cars or change tires. If I change tires to the Continental OEM RFTs, I have a couple of questions that I'm wondering if anyone can help answer. If I buy from Tirerack, and have them mounted locally, can I get road hazard insurance? Will the tire / wheel road hazard insurance I bought from the dealer carry over to cover the replacement Continentals? If not, will I still have coverage for the wheels? As an aside, we also purchased a 2006 X3 at the same time we got the 330Xi. I was leery of ride issues with the X3 after reading comments about a stiff ride from Edmunds.com and others, so I made sure we did not get the sports package. We did get the 18" wheel option, but its with the standard suspension. The X3 has the same Bridgestone EL42 tires on it, although they are a different size and are not RFTs. The ride of the X3 is great, it is firm but not harsh, and does not bottom out like my 330Xi, so that is even further evidence in my mind that the EL42 RFTs are a problem. Thanks Bruce |
|
|
Replying to: bmwmaxum (Aug 24, 2006 7:38 am) Hi Miss Zinkhan/Mr Duffield President CEO BMW Canada I just cant believe that you dont care at BMW about customer complaining about tose tires and the handling.I was expecting a better judgement from your part.It seem that I'm wasting my time for more than a year by writing to you at customer service or calling my dealer.By the way I'm sorry if at the beginning I was a fool by trusting the advice (and didnt ask the guy name or asking him to put that in the system) from my BMW dealer over the phone saying that the kind of handling was due to RFT tires and they were new!Anyway....Funny cause 2 of my friends were looking to buy your bread and butter 3-series.Guess what? they were waiting on YOUR decision to make their mind on my case.Dont get me wrong I like the car and my buddy too!But do you think they want to put up with that run around?I dont think so and I dont blame them.You?By the way one will go for Passat and the other one for the G35.Just to let you know.You losing around $90000-$100000 just by not replacing my tires for those RFT CONTINENTAL $800 at tirerack.com.Is it a good investment $800 for $90000-$100000 an a chance to have repeat customer?You make the call.Before letting you go I would like you to answer few of my concerning regarding Jim Deloughery.Did he told you that those 2 front tires were defective and he was ordering 2 new tires at no charge?How come you re just giving me one.Jim told you about damaging my rim in front when he install the new tires?Jim told you that he was to call me back tuesday or wednesday and I had to call HIM back on thursday?What are you going to do about that?Sorry but enough it's enough.You dont seem to believe that I had problem since the beginning cause you dont have it on file and dont tell me that you are not aware about those BRIDGESTONE RFT EL 42-BMW problem.If you want a few good web site on that let me know.By the way there a good chance that you will find me on those web pages.I would like to get the e-mail or office phone number of the Worldwide President CEO for BMW.It will be appreciate it.I think it's the least you can do.Like you re saying at the bottom of your letter"I value the choice of my car and are sorry that you were unable to meet my expectations.For that reason this is my LAST BMW"Thank you all for your time and support and by letting down your real bread and butter....the CUSTOMER!  Best regards Eric Dear Mr. Fournier We acknowledge receiving your email dated August 23, 2006, regarding your concern with the Bridgestone runflat tires with which your vehicle is equipped. We appreciate the time taken to express your concerns. It was with genuine concern that we read of the unfortunate circumstances related to addressing the issues surrounding the damage to the tire and the resulting replacement process. As it is the common desire of BMW and its retailer network to maintain customer satisfaction, we have reviewed your letter and have taken the liberty of contacting Jim Deloughery, Service Manager at Elite BMW and our Regional Aftersales Manager to further discuss this concern. Mr. Deloughery informed us on June 19th the vehicle was diagnosed by Elite BMW as the tire pressure light was illuminated. The retailer’s findings were that a piece of steel in your right rear tire and that the tire would need to be replaced. At that time no decision was taken to replace the tire as this would not be covered under warranty. On August 11th, you contacted Elite BMW due to same tire now being completely flat. For safety reasons, BMW does not recommend repairing runflat tires as this repair may potentially compromise the structural integrity of the tire. As explained to you during our telephone conversation on August 23, tires are warranted by their specific manufacturer. Your authorized BMW Retailer can assist you in addressing your concern with the specific parties. Mr. Deloughery has advised us he did contact Bridgestone and due to the mileage on the vehicle they would not assist in the replacement of your tires. Mr. Deloughery also advised us there are no records of this concern being mentioned at 2000 kms. As a gesture of goodwill BMW has provided you with one tire at no cost to you. We trust that you understand that this is our final position in the matter. We value our BMW customers and are sorry that we were unable to meet your expectations. Thank you for contacting BMW Group Canada. Sincerely, Customer Service BMW Canada c.c. Elite BMW : Jim Deloughery, Service Manager Regional Aftersales Manager |
|
|
Replying to: tturedraider (Nov 02, 2005 5:44 pm) August 23 2006 Mrs. Leah Zinkhan/Mr Lindsay Duffield Executive assistant/President CEO BMW Canada BMW CANADA As we spoke ealier today here is my story.Sorry for the writing I'm french. After reading and talking to a different garage(BMW) that i was not the only one having problem with those RFT bridgestone tires i decided to write my story.This is my second new BMW i owe a 2006 325I.I live in Canada and i only have about 25500km or 18000 miles on it.Problem start after 2000km.Tires where noisy and handling was different so i call different BMW dealer an look around for answer they told me at Elite BMW Ottawa,Canada that it was normal cause the tires are new and they are RFT so the handling is different.I said ok with time it should be better.Not exactly.It's worst.Sometimes i think i have problem with my directions at slow speed cause it vibrate.Over 20000km,to make the thing worst i ran over a scew.So itook my car to my BMW dealer.They inform me to my surprise that you can extract a srew from a RFT.So I have to replace the tire.Cost $400 including inst-bal and taxes.So I ask that everytime I have or hit something with that car I'm gonna have to replace that tire??? $400 each???They told me yes.I said ok ill think about that.Imagine my car was not running great at first with 4 new tires.let say im changing that tire im gonna have 1 new and 3 used wright!Do you think the ride gonna be better???I dont think so.My other option its to change all 4 ($1600)even if 3 tires still good.What to do???I call BMW customer service line on August 10th speaking to Stephanie telling her about my problem and she refered me to Jim Deloughery at Elite BMW.He call me wright after saying to me that he's gonna have a look at my car on August 18th and work something for me.Im very disapointing in that car just because that RFT even if they change it I dont understand why BMW did the switch for those RFT anyway. On friday aug 11th i woke up an find that the tire that had an nail in it i had a flat RFT.Remember I was suppose to go back to my dealer on friday aug. 18 th?Call the service manager Jim, back on Monday aug 14th telling him about my problem that i couldnt wait till friday.So he had a look at it an just by passing his hand(honest to god) on my 4 RFT,said that something was wrong with the 2 front tires.He didnt even have to test drive the car!!!After complaining and talking a bit about my problem(by the way he was trying to deny it) with the handling and tires he told me that he's gonna try to get 2 brand new tires from Bridgestone for me.Again i was telling him about getting 2 new tires in front 1 with a nail at the back an another one but used at the back.Do you think that my car gonna run great with 2 new only?I dont think!So again saying to me that he'll see what they can do with that,an call me back later on Monday.I was on my way back home when my BMW dealer Elite,Ottawa,Canada call me back saying that i have to come back cause bridgestone wants the serial numbers for my tires and tread measurement.So i had to go back tuesday morning aug. 15 in order to give them the information.So i went back with that.I told me that he is trying to get me 4 new tires from Bridgestone.While I was waiting for my car i've look around on their lot to see if their 3-series was equipped with Conti or Bridgestone.It was about half.Anyway he is suppose to call me back this tuesday or wednesday.Even if they replace with 4 new should I have confidence with those Bridgestone tires???No.Remember my dealer Elite Bmw,Ottawa was supposed to change at least 2 tires and was trying for 4 tires.So i went back on friday August 18 th 2006 ,so they can change my tires.Arrive there at 8h00 am.The service manager Jim Deloughery told me that he didn get info since tuesday from Pierre the regional BMW service Manager....very customer oriented!!!So told me that he's gonna order 2 tires(EL 42)right away to install in front of my car saying that Brigdestone was back order so he cant get 4...I said ok.wait for about 2 hours.Went back to get my car guess what?...He had just install 1 tire!!!another bs from that manager Jim saying that he was enable to get the other tire on time ... I had to leave at 11h00 am cause I was heading to Buffalo,NY about 6 hr from my place!.I tolm him that I was not happy about that run around the entire week and ask him why that he had wait to order those tires in the day i was leaving!!!What he did its first he install the new tire in front and the one that was in front at the back.Again saying to me that he'll get back to me this week.Do you think that it was safe for me to drive 6 HRS with tires like that???Anyway....... Got back to me on tuesday August 22 telling me that BMW WONT DO ANYTHING FOR MY PROBLEM!So Im stuck with:1 feathered tire at the front,the other one at the front new,the one that was at the front now at the back(feathered) and the one I had at the back still there.WERE TALKING BMW HERE RIGHT?How can you promess something to somebody and lyied about it?IT WONT STOP THERE.I just call back customer service and I was talking to Richard Deschamps over there telling him the run around.He took some note and tolm me that he will get back to me no later than tommorow with a answer.I told him that I was done with Bridgestone and what I want to be done was to get 4 new CONTICONTACT tires like other customer did at NO CHARGE.So he call me back saying AGAIN that they can do anything cause I have to many KM....easy exit.But I'm complaining since the BEGINNING.He wanted me to contact Bridgestone with my problem I said what?.Who sold me that car BMW or Bridgestone???After all I just want my car to run like a brand new one.Remember I have been dealing with that problem since I had 2000 KM.How can a company like BMW can threat their customer like that and think that the customer gonna back to BMW.I tought you were customer oriented.I'm a just tired of the run around.I'm in that business and I dont think that you cant afford to lose customer for $800 set of Continental rft tires(at tire rack.com).I had other cars before like Saturn,Vw,Mitsubishi and had problem before but at least they were happy to fix my problem and fast....no RUN AROUND!How come I had better service with those companies???I guess my BMW was not expensive enough or I didnt buy a 7- series?I thought you where the best in service..... Why do I have to go through that???Why are you giving me such a hard time.I just hope that I'm gonna be able to be satisfied(finally) with that car.I just |
|
|
Here's one for you. At 4:30 p.m. one week ago, I leased a new '06 330i sport/prem/cold pkg. Has 18" Bridgestone summer RFTs. My first new car in a long while BMW after 3 '95 Audi S6's in various degrees of tune. Finance guy offers me wheel & tire insurance for $450. I'm a car guy but I'd never heard that Run Flats can't be patched. I asked to wait a day on that insurance while I research it, and drive the new car off the lot, to a meeting, then home. Get up early the next morning, pull out, and the low tire pressure warning comes on. Sure enough, a screw through the tread on the rear. Went back to the dealer who "let" me sign up for the insurance which covered the bill of $426 for one rear Pontenza! That is an outrageous price, but even worse is I must travel thinking about where might I buy a RFT if I ever get a flat. Hope it doesn't happen on a weekend or holiday. Also annoying is the tire insurance doesn't cover winter wheels and tires, even if they're BMW. Does anyone have experience with 18" all seasons on an '06 330i in the snow (P Zero Nero m+S?)? In light of the expense of the Run flats, I may buy a set of all seasons, wear them out, then turn the car in with the RFT's as required. Can we speak as a class action to BMW to get them to get us tires with a spare and jack? THanks, Dan |
|
|
|
|
I noted several postings here that the Continental RFTs are quieter and have a smoother ride than the Bridgestone RFTs. I just called Tirerack for their opinion. They commented that the Continentals would be quieter, but they doubted I would notice much if any difference in ride quality as both are RFTs with stiff sidewalls. I'm trying to decide if its worth spending the money to replace the Bridgestones, with have 7,500 miles on them, with Continentals to try and mitigate ride harshness and bottoming out. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks Bruce |
|
|
Replying to: bruceomega (Sep 05, 2006 9:27 am) |
|
You are here:
Forums
Sedans BMW 3-Series BMW 3-Series Run Flat Tires
New? Join Now!
Forum Tools
Search Forums
Browse by Vehicle
2008 BMW 3 Series
Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
Today's Chats
