My Turn on the 296 wheel of fortune :( - Now with good news!

Should I assume that if my tyre pressures are ok, that my alloys aren't cracked? It's just a pain taking my car to a tyre place and have them take the wheels off to check every month or so,,,,,,

My rears were at 2.8, and should have been 2.9, front were dead on at 2.4.....the rears were good considering I haven't checked the pressures in 6 weeks or so
 
I'm pretty sure the figure for the rears is 2.8 with driver only. :?

Is it 2.9 with passengers and luggage?
 
Nickm said:
Should I assume that if my tyre pressures are ok, that my alloys aren't cracked?
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I think tyres losing pressure could be a sign that the alloy is cracked. I tend to check the wheels by looking from the back of the car (you can see half of each alloy) and feel round the inner rim when I'm washing the car.

All has been ok....... So far! :)
 
It's 2.9 with normal load and 3.1 with passenger and luggage.......
 
Reading this almost seems that people understand BMW have been selling an inferior component. This is my first BMW & in past experience & that of friends can't remember any case of an OEM alloy of another manufacturer cracking under duress from the likes of a pothole, not unless you ditched it into an immovable object - aftermarket alloys yes, but never a factory fit.

I'd be thinking if this has happened to one, maybe there was something wrong with this batch... what about the other 3? If it's under warranty, I'd do as some of the others here have said & try the dealer, saying yours has cracked, from looking on the net this style seems to have suffered from a common problem thus clearly appears to be of defective design & you want them changed.

Ask nicely, 50/50 chance of a strong no. If you get a NO, gather your research evidence, check your facts 100% & get a solicitor to write a letter. Businesses know that people who just continually whinge often just eventually give up, those who ask nicely & don't get what they want then immediately follow it up with a solicitor's letter mean business. Can't guarantee you'll get 4 new alloys, but am sure they will want to work with you amicably...

J
 
sars said:
Your assumption that if the tyre contains no pressure then the sidewalks take the entire load is correct, however once the tyre contains pressure, say more than a few psi, then the load is transmitted by the pressure.

Just imagine a balloon on a table, place your hand on the other side of the ballon and apply force to it. What your saying is that the walls of the balloon transmit the force, obviously that is absurd, If the balloon contains a few psi then it will compress and swell sideways more than if it had 30 psi given the same load, however the force exerted by your hand onto the table would be identical.
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Afraid not, not the way RFTs are deigned to work - the load is only shared when the sidewalls can deform completely, as per your balloon example and as for non RFTs.
 
Nickm said:
It's 2.9 with normal load and 3.1 with passenger and luggage.......
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Nope, no mention of 3.1 on the door sticker on my car. Definitely 2.3 and 2.8 for the 19" rims.

Do different models have different values for the tyre pressures, or is it because yours has the DCT box...? :?
 
Garvin said:
sars said:
Your assumption that if the tyre contains no pressure then the sidewalks take the entire load is correct, however once the tyre contains pressure, say more than a few psi, then the load is transmitted by the pressure.

Just imagine a balloon on a table, place your hand on the other side of the ballon and apply force to it. What your saying is that the walls of the balloon transmit the force, obviously that is absurd, If the balloon contains a few psi then it will compress and swell sideways more than if it had 30 psi given the same load, however the force exerted by your hand onto the table would be identical.
Click to expand...
Afraid not, not the way RFTs are deigned to work - the load is only shared when the sidewalls can deform completely, as per your balloon example and as for non RFTs.
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Rft have reinforced side walls that are stiffer so they can run flat for a short period of time, all this really means is the wall of that balloon is thicker and stronger. If the side wall was completely rigid allowing for no deformation then the wall would indeed take the majority of load, however this would be completely impractical as the ride would be horrendous, in fact it would be like having solid tyres. So as long as the tyre can deform, even slightly, the pressure takes the load not the wall :)
 
Lots of good tech talk ....the gist of all the talk in the last two years is that the rears crack if you have run flats on, and are 19" tires. With 18 s or non run flats there seem to be little to no problems . It would seem the 19s and rft equal the failure mode of the rims. I will be changing to non rft's fairly soon and have 30k on my rims so far with no cracks (yet). Just a pisspoor design and we appear to be at the design limit......

I thought that they were being replaced in the UK by the dealers at no cost ? It's about time for a class action suit to get a recall going ......
 
sars said:
Garvin said:
Afraid not, not the way RFTs are deigned to work - the load is only shared when the sidewalls can deform completely, as per your balloon example and as for non RFTs.
Click to expand...

Rft have reinforced side walls that are stiffer so they can run flat for a short period of time, all this really means is the wall of that balloon is thicker and stronger. If the side wall was completely rigid allowing for no deformation then the wall would indeed take the majority of load, however this would be completely impractical as the ride would be horrendous, in fact it would be like having solid tyres. So as long as the tyre can deform, even slightly, the pressure takes the load not the wall :)
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Well, have it your way if you like. However, I did not state that the RFT sidewalls are completely rigid - wouldn't need any air in them at all if that were true. But the sidewall can support the weight of the car without completely collapsing (like a non RFT) but in order to share the load properly the tyre pressures are somewhat higher than for non RFTs and, therefore, as that pressure decreases the RFT sidewall, because it doesn't deform as much as a non RFT, begins to transmit ever more of the load to the wheel rim edge until at the limit of no pressure it does it all.
 
The car has been collected and delivered to BMW in Manchester. I have a 1 series loaner from AVIS currently, paid for by BMW UK. I have been told that tests will be made on all wheels and dependent on outcome I will either have to pay for entire replacements or BMW will apply a contribution to same. I await to hear the results of the test before deciding what to do. I have been very stressed by this all weekend not knowing what I may face, replacement costs or battle. Just a few more hours to wait hopefully.

*Update: 9:26 They are checking all wheels, the first has been checked (with the notable crack) they tell me its out of their 'test' tolerance (measuring .28 when the max is .12 so I'm told). I await the full results.
 
Easier said than done, but don't get stressed... its just not worth it! :thumbsup: I think everyone on here with 296 wheels probably feels the same and disappointed about this cracking issue. I know I am, and my wheels are ok at the moment.

Did you speak to BMW UK direct, or do this all through your dealer?

Keep us updated.
 
Z4 Beemer said:
Easier said than done, but don't get stressed... its just not worth it! :thumbsup: I think everyone on here with 296 wheels probably feels the same and disappointed about this cracking issue. I know I am, and my wheels are ok at the moment.

Did you speak to BMW UK direct, or do this all through your dealer?

Keep us updated.
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I've involved the original dealer, my current dealer and BMW UK as of today. The stress is born simply of the £740 per wheel and tyre replacement cost. Out of tolerance means no contribution from BMW which I feel is unfair as I know I've treated this car very well. Its the most expensive car I've ever owned, and cannot justify £740 (perhaps times two or more) never mind afford it.

If I face £1500+ I'll consider repairing the wheel and selling the car on as I'm fast falling out of love with BMW and at least at this moment in time, feel I'd never buy another given the issues I've had (and been very tolerant about). I can't express how disappointed I am about all this, its quite sickening really.
 
The thing that sticks in my mind is that you could replace the wheel and tyre, and then the same thing could happen again months later, especially as we are heading towards winter.

I agree that £740 as a "running cost" is just not acceptable.

It's just bloody minded of BMW not to deal with this properly. I think I would also consider selling the car on if I was faced with a bill like this, only I would sell it on with the cracked wheel still on the car!
 
As I might have suggested to someone else, ditch the 19" wheels and buy a set of 18" and then you wont have to worry again. Sell the remaining 3 wheels on here as spares for the others who have the misfortune. As for the fourth wheel send to a metallurgist and get a report completed on the failure. If the report is in your favour take legal action against BMW UK to cover the cost of replacements. Have attached links to a third party company who sell oem wheels.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/19_bmw_296_wheel_1421 - these are a direct replacement for yours

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/18_bmw_294_wheel_1420

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/3_series_e93_alloys/18_bmw_313_performance_wheel_1823 - think these are the nicest, there are quite a few on here that have the 19" version

Don't give up though and good luck, my heart really does bleed for you and I agree this is a class action waiting to happen
 
sars said:
As I might have suggested to someone else, ditch the 19" wheels and buy a set of 18" and then you wont have to worry again. Sell the remaining 3 wheels on here as spares for the others who have the misfortune. As for the fourth wheel send to a metallurgist and get a report completed on the failure. If the report is in your favour take legal action against BMW UK to cover the cost of replacements. Have attached links to a third party company who sell oem wheels.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/19_bmw_296_wheel_1421 - these are a direct replacement for yours

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/18_bmw_294_wheel_1420

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/3_series_e93_alloys/18_bmw_313_performance_wheel_1823 - think these are the nicest, there are quite a few on here that have the 19" version

Don't give up though and good luck, my heart really does bleed for you and I agree this is a class action waiting to happen
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The 18's (style 294) are more expensive than the 19's !! :?

Is it fair to say that only 35i owners have been affected so far? The setup on the 35i is different to the 23i and 30i - the rear track is slightly less on the 35i. Also, the Adaptive M suspension gives the car an overall lower ride height of 10mm.

Is it a particular combination of things that make them more prone to cracking...?
 
Z4 Beemer said:
sars said:
As I might have suggested to someone else, ditch the 19" wheels and buy a set of 18" and then you wont have to worry again. Sell the remaining 3 wheels on here as spares for the others who have the misfortune. As for the fourth wheel send to a metallurgist and get a report completed on the failure. If the report is in your favour take legal action against BMW UK to cover the cost of replacements. Have attached links to a third party company who sell oem wheels.

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/19_bmw_296_wheel_1421 - these are a direct replacement for yours

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/z4_e89_alloys/18_bmw_294_wheel_1420

http://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/bmw_alloy_wheels/3_series_e93_alloys/18_bmw_313_performance_wheel_1823 - think these are the nicest, there are quite a few on here that have the 19" version

Don't give up though and good luck, my heart really does bleed for you and I agree this is a class action waiting to happen
Click to expand...

The 18's (style 294) are more expensive than the 19's !! :?
Click to expand...

I know! What does that tell you though! :wink:

Mind you, being split rim they may cost more to produce!
 
Z4 Beemer said:
The 18's (style 294) are more expensive than the 19's !! :?

Is it fair to say that only 35i owners have been affected so far? The setup on the 35i is different to the 23i and 30i - the rear track is slightly less on the 35i. Also, the Adaptive M suspension gives the car an overall lower ride height of 10mm.

Is it a particular combination of things that make them more prone to cracking...?
Click to expand...

Earlier in the year I had a discussion with a visitor at work who had the 23i with 296 wheels, he was complaining bitterly that he had just had two wheels weld repaired, he stated that the welder was making quite a good living repairing 19" wheels!
 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/2009/10/bmw_alloy_wheels.html

Another wee line to watchdog mibbee :poke:
 
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