296 Alloys Again

Z

zebedee

Member
 Here & there
Just been told I have to pay £579-00 for yet another cracked 296 rear and really very very p***ed as this is the second time the NSR has been changed due to cracking apparently its run out test defined an out of round reading of 3.9mm.

Spoke to BMW customer services who frankly are as much use as an elastic noose and the 'advisor' was obviously reading from some pre-prepared blurb :thumbsdown:

I know several people have had the same issue with 296 wheels and just wondering if anyone has actually got anywhere with BMW in their endeavours to get BMW UK to admit a problem ??
 
Not to admitting a problem no, but getting replacements under warranty yes. But then I was told my wheels were not out of round. Who knows if and when it might happen again. Sorry you're faced with this but £579 is excessive as they're only £460 online from BMW. I'd suggest speaking with Sytner in Sheffield as they've told me they can supply them at around £375 inc vat. Its that or change them all for peace of mind for some third party wheels. Keep on at BMW tho, as while they might first throw you out, if you keep chipping away at them they will give something in the end. Perhaps highlight you're part of a forum and there are many reports of this. Ask them to replace it again, if that fails, ask them for half?
 
There's also this;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Genuine-BMW-Rear-296-Style-19-E89-Z4-V-Spoke-Alloy-Wheel-9J-x-19-/110899072604?pt=UK_CarParts_Acc_Wheels_tyres_Trims_Car_Rims_ET&hash=item19d2198e5c

I know the chap selling as I bought one of two he had to keep as a spare. Perhaps contact him via the ad above as if he still has it, I got mine for £150 delivered.
 
I would collate the many examples of failures and dealers providing warranty or discounted replacements from the web.

There may be examples of that dealer chain having provided free or subsidised replacement before, which sets a precedence.

If they still won't budge, then let them know you will be sending the wheel and tyre to MIRA for safety testing as this is a repeat failure under normal driving conditions, which constitutes a safety issue.

Also get them to put in writing that they are not providing any financial support for this second repeat wheel failure and ask for details of the dealer principal and the the contact details of their litigation department.

Get as much correspondence in writing as you can and document everything.

Like any negotiation, be professional, leave emotion at the door, but be very clear that you are not going to stand down on this issue.
 
Can't you show them this, http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=643047 It's obvious they've updated the wheels due to the cracking issues? Can't believe you have to pay the full price for a wheel that has known issues.
 
Both my rears done free of charge in December at service as I told them when it was going in that I expected them to be changed when I went to pick the car up.
Was given the blurb about out of round and away for testing, my fault for hitting potholes etc, politely but firmly told them that they were obviously not fit for the purpose of driving on our roads as plenty of other cars drive every day on same roads without cracking :wink:
Picked up car following day after service with two shiny new rear wheels on it :thumbsup:

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My two, I can't believe they were still full of air!! Asked mate to check them when two new tyres being fitted and above is what was present!!!
 
Thanks v much for all the replies and very good sound advice, apreciated greatly.

Maniac, looked for them online but would you have a precise website I can look at so I can put evidence before them that they are available online at a reduced price ?

Shambolic, did just that with regards to other cars etc. including why don't the fronts suffer as they hit any pothole or raised iron work before the rears but BMW just kept to the tack of 'out of limit' blah blah and as much as they were hearing certainley not listening. :headbang:

Defo going to speak to the DP at Wellsway Bath and discuss a way to reach a happy resolve. It does grate that these wheels are nffp and yet BMW will not acknowledge a problem.
 
Here's the official wheel straight from BMW:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1x-BMW-Genuine-Alloy-Wheel-19-V-Spoke-296-Rear-Rim-E89-Z4-36116785257-/170880859127?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item27c94afbf7
 
BMW owners and forum members need to make a comprehensive list of all occurrences of these problems. It is not isolated. It doesn't seem to be confined to a particular model of wheel, model of car, size of wheel or suspension type (M or otherwise). It seems to be a failure on BMWs part to understand that, on the whole, UK roads are not suitable for RFTs on BMW branded alloys. Therefore, at point of sale, their wheels simply aren't fit for purpose. My wife and I have three BMWs between us. Prior to us buying the cars, which came from three different areas of the UK, there has been a total of 12 replaced wheels. That cannot be coincidental.
 
They need a proper mechanical and metallurgical test of a damaged wheel in the area of the crack and other areas for comparison - I'm afraid a hunch or even an educated guess doesn't cut the mustard with me! If I had said that sort of rubbish to my chief designer I would have got a right good kicking! (metaphorical of course)

If they insist it's pot hole or impact damage then let them prove that conclusion - My last Z4 was driven over the same roads for eight years without any cracked wheels - ask why now? What's changed? Only the wheels!!!!! But that's only a hunch - equally valid then !
 
I took my 2011 35is into the dealers today and apparently it needs both rear wheels (296's naturally) replacing as they are cracked!

It's not resolved yet so I won't post too much before the dealer has had a chance to deal with it but BMW have initially said they will replace one but not the other as it is out of true by 2.5mm.

The previous posts look useful so here's hoping...
 
Hi James, out of interest are these both the newer or older style 296 wheels? The newer revised style has a bigger lip on the inner rim.
 
No idea, I have nothing to compare old and new and it is at the dealers now. Build date was April 2011 if it helps.

If they pay to replace both they can keep them, if I have to pay for one then I'm keeping it and will see how happy they are for me to keep something that the dealer says is unsafe to drive on.
 
On the rear of the wheel there should be an identification on the casting. Probably about 20mm dia it will probably have the year in the center and the month indicated around it.

If not this format there will be some form date ident.
 
Details here of the re-designed 296 wheel, useful information to take with you to the dealer.

http://e89.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=643047

I found out we have one of each on the rear of our Z4, both of which were replaced under warranty before we took ownership.

The wheels have the production date stamped into them on the back.
 
Hey Mate,

This is not just a problem in the UK, I'm in Australia and I had both my rear wheels replaced in August last year. The only reason I checked the wheels was after what I read on this forum. BMW did replaced them under warranty, but I did get some some crap story about the tyres being under inflated as being the cause.

From my perspective, these wheels are under engineered and not up to the task for what they have been designed for and I'm fully expecting them to crack again :thumbsdown:

Good luck.
 
Buckie said:
From my perspective, these wheels are under engineered and not up to the task for what they have been designed for and I'm fully expecting them to crack again :thumbsdown:
Click to expand...

You and the rest of us..
 
UPDATE

After dealer intervention, BMW are making a 50% contribution towards the second wheel as well as paying for the other.

The dealer is discounting the replacement tyres to what looks to be a reasonable price. I could probably have found them cheaper if I spent long enough looking but life is too short.

Overall I am reasonably happy with the outcome.
 
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