Another cracked wheel

[mattstav]

I had a crack in the summer, dealer said it was within their limitations but that the damaged wheel had damaged the tyre too and that needed replacing at £390. My argument that they should pay for the tyre too didn't go down well so I phoned BMW customer services who said I'm lucky the dealer was paying for the wheel because they wouldn't have!

Apparently BMW do a tyre and wheel insurance policy... kind of says it all about the sorry state of their wheels with run flats really. I'm going to enquire about it but has anyone here tried it?

It will probably have a raft of wriggle clauses in the policy!

I phoned my local dealer (Sytners) and was told that they don't offer the policy but to phone BMW Park Lane as they do. I phoned them and was told that they only offer the policy on Tyres, not wheels. They do a number of different policies based on duration but the three year policy which covers up to 5 tyre changes a year was £500.

First thought was wow that's a lot of money but then thinking that potentially could be 15 tyres over the three years, Sytner wanted to charge £380 for one so it actually sounds like a good deal.

There are a number of clauses namely for the tyre to be replaced free of charge it must have a minimum of 6mm tread, between 6mm and 2 mm the price would be 50% of the tyre cost and beneath 2mm it would be 100% of the cost as that is the legal limit, or there abouts. Not sure what would stop you putting nails in your tyres once a year to make sure you get value from it but i'm thinking of taking this out.

 

[RoyE]

I have insured my tyres with Gap123 for a cost of £399 for four years. They also have a sister company called Shortfall. I have already had a claim for damaged alloy which was handled very well.

 

[trucker99]

I had a crack in the summer, dealer said it was within their limitations but that the damaged wheel had damaged the tyre too and that needed replacing at £390. My argument that they should pay for the tyre too didn't go down well so I phoned BMW customer services who said I'm lucky the dealer was paying for the wheel because they wouldn't have!

Apparently BMW do a tyre and wheel insurance policy... kind of says it all about the sorry state of their wheels with run flats really. I'm going to enquire about it but has anyone here tried it?

It will probably have a raft of wriggle clauses in the policy!

I phoned my local dealer (Sytners) and was told that they don't offer the policy but to phone BMW Park Lane as they do. I phoned them and was told that they only offer the policy on Tyres, not wheels. They do a number of different policies based on duration but the three year policy which covers up to 5 tyre changes a year was £500.

First thought was wow that's a lot of money but then thinking that potentially could be 15 tyres over the three years, Sytner wanted to charge £380 for one so it actually sounds like a good deal.

There are a number of clauses namely for the tyre to be replaced free of charge it must have a minimum of 6mm tread, between 6mm and 2 mm the price would be 50% of the tyre cost and beneath 2mm it would be 100% of the cost as that is the legal limit, or there abouts. Not sure what would stop you putting nails in your tyres once a year to make sure you get value from it but i'm thinking of taking this out.

have got the same policy and they don't pay the whole price of the tyre it's only up to I think 280 per tyre and you have to wait for a couple of hours before the tyre gets changed as they take photos and then you have to wait for the company to give bmw the go ahead. I waited three and half hours once was so fed up told them to just change the tyre i Payed the difference which was 75 pound. the dealer then phoned me when i got home and said it was covered and I didnt have to pay the outstanding balance which was 280. the tyre had 6mm of tread on so goodness knows how long i would have waited if it was 3mm.

 

[ronk]

A new tyre starts life at about 8mm - so their risk drops off quite quickly!

 

[mattstav]

maybe it's not such a good deal then. I was trying to avoid situations like I had earlier this year when the dealer told me I needed three new tyres and a new wheel. I'll stick to checking the tyre pressure regularly!

 

[ronk]

Insurance companies are bookmakers who not only set the odds but also the conditions of payout as well - it's not like a horse that passes the post first!

The 2mm wear band is not good is it?

 

[Angie4m]

maybe it's not such a good deal then. I was trying to avoid situations like I had earlier this year when the dealer told me I needed three new tyres and a new wheel. I'll stick to checking the tyre pressure regularly!

I believe they only sell it to you when you buy the car, BMW won't sell it to you now.

I was offered tyre, wheel and gap insurance when I picked up my Zed grand total £1600 which I politely declined. They tyre insurance only covered as above upto £280 but as I planned to chuck the run flats for something else when they are done I knew tyres wouldn't be too bad. The wheel insurance didn't cover cracks or buckles and only covered things like kerbing and any other cosmetic issues and that again wasn't worth the money. If it covered issue like cracks etc I would have taken it but the policy clearly stated it didn't. Infact I think I still might have the quotes and documents somewhere.

However regular checking of your tyre pressure should be something you do out of habit, it shouldn't take such incidents to make you do it. At the end of the day your wheels and tyres and their condition can make the difference between you having or not having an accident and your safety as well as friends and family should be your top priority.

 

[ruggedscot]

Ive had a few cars with alloy wheels - and never had any wheels crack. So to have two wheels crack with no obvious pot hole or kerbing within a few months of each other.

Its a design flaw in the construction of the wheel and you also have the offset loading acting on the inner lip of the wheel. To experience as many failings with the wheels and not acknowledge that they have a problem is dishonest and shows a disregard for peoples safety. Is that what you want from a car manufacturer. You make a product and that product is basically not fit for purpose.

If they have bought the wheels from a supplier and you buy the car from BMW then its not the supplier you are chasing up. The original contract is with the supplier, if you bought new.

Most disappointed with it overall to tell you the truth. Bespoke cars but def not a bespoke company.....