Me again..... wheel valves!

S

Steve.Eagle

Member
Sorry for all the random questions I'm posting guys, hope you don't mind........ so far you've all been a great help!

Anyway, latest question...... thought I'd give my Z a quick once over this afternoon, all spot on apart from I couldn't check my tyre pressures due to my valves being so short!

Anyone else had this problem?????

IMG_3765.JPG
 
I had it once on my first Z4 with the same wheels, main dealer fitted valves which were too short when fitting new tyres and had to redo it. Must be a pain to add air too.
 
Adam D said:
I had it once on my first Z4 with the same wheels, main dealer fitted valves which were too short when fitting new tyres and had to redo it. Must be a pain to add air too.
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Funnily enough I've just bought the car from a main dealer and they fitted a set of new tyres to it during the prep!!

I can change them myself, just was hoping to not have the hassle of doing it. Yes they are a pain, I've got two inflators for my compressor at home and neither fitted the valves!

Will try my inflator at work on Monday but I don't think that'll fit either.
 
Yes tyre fitter should have used longer valves I had this issue and told them to change the valves as they were unserviceable all good now :thumbsup:
 
I guess you guys don’t have access to the tools we have over here. I have pressure checker / fill that works great for wheels like that. Most free air fuel stations have the same. Odd
 
Had the same problem myself last weekend, three of my split rim wheel valves were okay to put air in but one was slightly crimped so I went to my local ATS and had a longer valve fitted for £9.00 :thumbsup:
 
I asked for the shorter stem valves when I had my last set of tyres - think it looks neater and I’ve never had problems with the various pumps and pressure checkers I’ve used (I have a particularly cruddy set of 108s that I WILL get refurbed soon).

Guy at the tyre place referred to them as motorbike tyre valves, although they don’t look like the valves I have on my bike???
 
The valves on my 108s are like that too - luckily I've got a pressure gauge that goes straight on rather than needing to be at any sort of angle!

Back when I had bikes I used to have a valve extender with a 90 degree bend in it - much easier to get a reading than between the spokes!
 
Just had 2 new Rear Michelin PS4s fitted - the valve stems they fitted are too short for my inflater, tyre pressure gauge and more importantly the emergency in car inflater will no longer fit.

Was told to buy an extension!

Have requested that the correct valves be fitted which I believe are 414's for a BMW 108 wheel. These protrude about 5mm from the rim.
This argument is still ongoing

Anyone know where valve spec is listed for BMW wheels - cant find a definitive guide. ?
 
Rucky said:
Just had 2 new Rear Michelin PS4s fitted - the valve stems they fitted are too short for my inflater, tyre pressure gauge and more importantly the emergency in car inflater will no longer fit.

Was told to buy an extension!

Have requested that the correct valves be fitted which I believe are 414's for a BMW 108 wheel. These protrude about 5mm from the rim.
This argument is still ongoing

Anyone know where valve spec is listed for BMW wheels - cant find a definitive guide. ?
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I understand you want the job done right and don’t want to have the extenders on...probably because they just don’t look nice. If you get tired of arguing, just keep one extender in the glove box and move it from tire to tire as you check and fill the tires. A little bit of a pain but how often do you really check tire pressure? If you eventually get another set of tires, make sure they do it right then.

Sometimes life is too short to deal with idiots who don’t do things right, and don’t care about customer satisfaction. I surely would never spend another penny with that shop and if they do break down your tires to put in the correct valves then there is more opportunity to damage your wheels...then more arguments!
 
COSTCO - who I have recommended on this site before have many safety policies in place for tyre changes.
They fitted the correct valves when tyres were replaced in Jan 2019 and to my X5, daughters Focus and previous cars I owned
This time round they fitted short ones - stating that :
They only supply two lengths of valves the short for alloys and 3in ones for steels!
I can buy an extension.
I didnt specifically ask for long valves
All new cars carry extenders
They are the correct valves for my wheels
Noone else has complained

I got every response except for an apology and Yes I see what yout issue is so we will get the right valves

I haver emailed a complaint to their head office as I cannot believe this is Costco policy for the huge range of tyres they sell and fit. Especially when they sell high end tyres for high end cars and trucks.
If you are from the US you probably use Costco too

I agree there are only 2 lengths of Valve : The right ones and the wrong ones which is all the rest.

Its my wifes car and at present it takes pliers just to remove the dust caps.
( I even had to remove the wheels at home as their jacks do not fit under the car - but I accept this)

I suggest Anyone buying tyres from Costco - especially as they are currently running a promotion should specifically ask about correct valve availability
 
Steve.Eagle said:
Funnily enough I've just bought the car from a main dealer and they fitted a set of new tyres to it during the prep!!
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I'd be more worried about what sort of rubber they fitted? Runflat? :cry:
 
Costco jacks fit under my lowered Z4MC fine at both the Liverpool and Haydock branches.

Didn’t even know there were different length valves and never had an issue checking pressures or topping them up on any wheel I’ve had, even 2-piece BBS baskets :o
 
Follow up

Just been back to Costco who have now fitted the correct valves - matching the fronts that they fitted last year!
Tyre gauge, inflater and emergence compressor all now fit.

For informnation the current valves are 414's and look like this on 108 wheels

Valves.PNG

The Stubbys that did not reach outside of the rim were just not suitable.
View attachment 1

Just to confirm MY Z4 would not fit safely on the 4 point car lift in the Bristol Costco Tyre depot
They tried again but gave up rather than risk damaging the cills - I had the trolley jack in the car so took the wheels off in the carpark.

Other branches might be different - check before you commit

The Mich PS4's were £125ea fitted and balanced.
 

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Just had the wheels refurbed and new PS5s fitted.
2 years on and Costco still only have 2 valve sizes so I took my own 414s which they fitted after I signed a disclaimer.
 
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