Space saver to fit a 125i M Sport

Space saver to fit a 125i M Sport

Author
Discussion

Andrew Coates

Original Poster:

272 posts

198 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
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Looking to swap the run flats on my wife's 125i M Sport for normal tyres.

I know a lot of people have done this from previous posts on this forum, but I wondered if anybody has found a space saver that fits the front and back in case of a puncture.

Cheers for any help and advice.

Sohlman

590 posts

253 months

Thursday 15th January 2015
quotequote all
You can get one from BMW that has its only little bag. It won't be cheap. However all you need to do is get an electric tyre pump and a large tube of tyre weld. All in for around £35 from Halfords or you can get the BMW kit from an m3 for around £100. This will get you out of trouble.

J

Andrew Coates

Original Poster:

272 posts

198 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
Thanks for that. I spoke to a local BMW breakers and they are talking £85.00 for one if they can get hold of it, so I think I may go down the pump and tyre weld route.

Just another point, for anybody that took this route from RFT's to normal tyres, what brand have you gone for?

Also, is it wise to inform the insurance company of the change?

Cheers

bodhi

10,331 posts

228 months

Friday 16th January 2015
quotequote all
I was investigating this on my own 125i M Sport (great car by the way smile) and the general consensus seemed to be that Michelin Pilot Supersports were the way forwards if you can stretch to them. Think they are standard fitment on the current M135i, and an all round brilliant tyre.

After a lot of head scratching I decided to put some more Bridgestone runflats on mine, as I'm nudging 25k a year and didn't fancy getting myself stranded (still a possibility with the RFT's I appreciate), and being a golfer there isn't room in the boot for my sticks AND a space saver, so the clubs took priority.

Not sure if what I have had fitted is a later generation of RFT (they are RE050's), but the ride seems much more compliant than it did on the old ones. Cobbled streets are still a nightmare, but I can at least make it over speed bumps without slipping a disc.

Andrew Coates

Original Poster:

272 posts

198 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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Well, decided to go down the non-runflat route with a tin of tyre weld in the boot.

Just one question, I am assuming that the tyre pressure monitor will still operate without the run flats on?

Is this the case?

Does anybody know for sure about this?

Thanks

Billyray911

1,072 posts

203 months

Tuesday 27th January 2015
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It will work perfectly well without run flats.I have had no issues whatsoever-just reset on the Idrive when you've refitted and finalised what tyre pressures you will be using.
From another forum:
There are no sensors inside the tyres, it works on differential speed calculated from the ABS sensors. So if you get a lower pressure in one tyre, the rolling circumference is different, then it will trigger an alarm....easy

Edited by Billyray911 on Tuesday 27th January 22:46

RicksAlfas

13,354 posts

243 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Andrew Coates said:
Well, decided to go down the non-runflat route with a tin of tyre weld in the boot.

Just one question, I am assuming that the tyre pressure monitor will still operate without the run flats on?

Is this the case?

Does anybody know for sure about this?

Thanks
Yes. There are no magic sensors buried inside a runflat tyre. biggrin
Post above explains how it works.

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 28th January 2015
quotequote all
Billyray911 said:
It will work perfectly well without run flats.I have had no issues whatsoever-just reset on the Idrive when you've refitted and finalised what tyre pressures you will be using.
From another forum:
There are no sensors inside the tyres, it works on differential speed calculated from the ABS sensors. So if you get a lower pressure in one tyre, the rolling circumference is different, then it will trigger an alarm....easy

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 27th January 22:46
Not necessarily true, you should check because BMW do also use wheel sensors on their TPMS systems. Some of the 1 series have been so equipped, I believe. It should be easy to find out though you don't need to know necessarily.

The TPMS will of course work with non runflats which is lucky as there's a good chance that tyre weld won't. Much better if you catch any deflation early, keep the tyre inflated and get it properly repaired which, again, tyre weld will quite possibly rule out.


Mr Tidy

22,065 posts

126 months

Thursday 29th January 2015
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Well good luck with the change!
My experience has been with an E46 with Space-saver - 1 puncture in 3 years, happened in June/July in Windsor Great Park on a summer day so changed the wheel and travelled on, but the wheel I took off nearly filled the boot but at least I still had the BMW plastic bag to put it in!
Then got a 1 Series with Run-flats and had 2 punctures in 6 and a half years, both times in snow and slush in January and didn't have to get out of the car - much better idea!
RFT's vary by generation - the Bridgestones on my Z4 are sh*te but I think I will keep RFT's on it when they need replacing, albeit another brand.
RFT's are also useful if the OH uses the car - no over-tightened nuts to try to remove!