x5 Cracked alloy

[mudy]

Hi All
Some advice from those in the know please:
Just had a call from my local BMW garage where my car is in for its MOT to be told that I have a cracked alloy that's failed the MOT. The car is under warranty from BMW but they won't cover it as it's 'outside their tolerances' and they'd like £750 quid (but that is fitted sir ...).
Waiting for the manager to call but I'm pretty cheesed off. The guy said 'well what can you expect with the potholes on UK roads sir?' But BMW make cars and sell them to drive on UK roads don't they?
Apparently not a manufacturers defect ...

[a4cabrio]

I bought an approved used BMW and had a cracked wheel after 8 months, I took the car back to the dealer I bought it from and they fitted a brand new wheel free of charge, I had prepared myself for a bit of a battle with the dealer but they were great.

I'd be pushing your dealer to supply and fit a wheel FOC, them banging on about potholes is just them trying to make you think they are right when the reality is BMW wheels are prone to cracking and they should admit it instead of sticking their head in the sand

[Vixpy1]

If its a 20 we had exactly the same thing, BMW have guidance on what is replaceable under warranty and what is'nt. Its a common problem and lots of people have had their wheels replaced.

[mudy]

Thanks guys - they agreed half off on the phone but I'm inspired to go argue the whole thing off now!

[roofer]

I would.

[Jonsv8]

Try googling the wheel design as some are much more prone to this. If it's one with a lot of reports then you have a stringer case. Random bad luck can cause anything to break on a pot hole.

If it's not to bad there are companies that repair wheels. Whether they'd be repaired to fix a crack depends on the company but might be a thought. You'd be looking at £100.

BMW will always tell you 'new wheel'. I had two which were badly buckled and had them repaired rather than replaced. The place I went to said BMW sent all their damaged used car wheels to them.

[Helicopter123]

mudy said:

Thanks guys - they agreed half off on the phone but I'm inspired to go argue the whole thing off now!

That's a good result. How long have you had the car, and how old is it?

Useful Intel for anyone who finds themselves in a similar position.

[mudy]

I've had the car going on a year and it's a 59 plate with 20 inch wheels on runflats - the alloys are style 227s and there is this thread on honest john with a catalogue of cracked alloys on runflats:http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?t=75339

The manager didn't want to budge on the phone so I've asked him to give me a discount on future works - he's coming back to me.

[JonV8V]

mudy said:

I've had the car going on a year and it's a 59 plate with 20 inch wheels on runflats - the alloys are style 227s and there is this thread on honest john with a catalogue of cracked alloys on runflats:http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/?t=75339

The manager didn't want to budge on the phone so I've asked him to give me a discount on future works - he's coming back to me.

I think you've done well getting even half then on a 5/6 year old car, warranty of not.

[MitchT]

Cracked X5 wheels had a lot of coverage on Watchdog a few years back. You'd have thought they'd have learned since then what they can and can't get away with selling to use on UK roads. It does seem ironic that a supposedly off-road vehicle breaks when it's used on the road and then, being who they are, the manufacturer wheels out its usual "our st doesn't smell" argument.

[roofer]

MitchT said:

Cracked X5 wheels had a lot of coverage on Watchdog a few years back. You'd have thought they'd have learned since then what they can and can't get away with selling to use on UK roads. It does seem ironic that a supposedly off-road vehicle breaks when it's used on the road and then, being who they are, the manufacturer wheels out its usual "our st doesn't smell" argument.

That was mainly the MV4 made by Cromodora. A Dr or something won an out of court settlement against BMW iirc.