640d GC and run flats?

[moffat]

sinly said:

Morning! All 4 20" RF tyres will be needing replacement soon on my 640 and given price and ride issues now thinking of non RF especially after reading some experiences on here ??

Concerned about and BMW warranty issues as can imagine OPC will recommend the original spec tyres....also any issues with warning lights etc!? Anyone also know if BMW assist would attend if had a puncture and changed tyres for non RF or would need to join inde breakdown for peace of mind?

Any advise on this please!?...thanks.

There are no warranty issues replacing your RFT's with non-RFT's.

You can return the car at the end of a PCP with non-RFT's too.

BMW Assist works in the same way as it would if you have an M car or another normal BMW that doesn't have RFT's.

[smashy]

Moffat hi ,not being funny Is that that definitely 100% re returning PCP on non runflats when purchased with runflats

..and your take on BMW assist coming out to a puncture when the car was puchased with Run Flats

Can I ask how you know this? Thanks

Edited by smashy on Tuesday 19th January 18:33

[ashway]

My understanding is that if the car was supplied on runflats and its on a PCP then it has to go back on runflats, the tyres should also be BMW star marked. It may be different if you are trading in but on hand back I'm pretty certain that's the case.

My daughter had the misfortune to hit a pothole in her 1 series last week, the wheel was buckled and the tyre sidewall burst. She was running after market winter wheels and non runflat winter tyres. BMW assistance came out and recovered the car to our home address so looks like no issue there

[cslwannabe]

Our 640d was leased directly from BMW and returned with non runflat winter tyres fitted.

Regarding brake pads, after 42k miles iDrive was still claiming 70k remaining life in front pads and 22k for rears (although the rear life was never above 23k miles even from brand new),

[Fox-]

Monty Python said:

According to the documentation they won't attend a puncture, just advise you on how to use the mobility kit that's supplied with the car.

After all, if you change the car from the manufacturer's original specification you can't expect them to help you out since the problem is of your making.

I'm not sure I buy that line of thinking. Remember, BMW Emergency Service is a paid breakdown service - it just happens to be free with the new car warranty. Once you renew you are paying for it just like you are the AA. I'm sure the AA attend many 'problems of your making' though its hard to claim a puncture on a nonRFT is a 'problem of your making' - get a puncture 150 miles from home on an RFT and you're coming home on the back of a lorry just as much as you would on non RFT's.

I'd be genuinely interested to know if anyone has had assistance from the breakdown service. After all, my F10's manual has a section about the use of the BMW Mobility Kit..

[anonymous-user]

REALIST123 said:

I'm sorry but there's no evidence at all for most of what you've said. If you have any real issue its stupidly low profile tyres of any ilk but perhaps if you looked where you're going and drove appropriately you wouldn't suffer as you do. Brake pads at 11k? Really?

I live out in the country and we have as many narrow, potholed lanes as anyone else but haven't had a puncture or damaged tyre or wheel in the 6 years we've been here. RFT or otherwise.

Don't be so stupid - I've plenty of evidence for everything I said, as it has happened to me - it doesn't come more 'first hand' than that. And yes, if you took your time to do some research, you'd quickly find that low mileage replacement of rear brake pads on the current 6 series is not at all unusual. Speak to any BMW service tech and they'll tell you all about RFT side wall deformation too.

I do love the way you are so definite with your assertions though, it's obvious you clearly know my driving style, location, and the condition of my surrounding roads so well.... And of course as it's never happened to you, you're clearly right.

I thought this part of PH was a haven away from the usual muppetry, but it seems not.

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 20th January 06:46

Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 20th January 09:13

[Monty Python]

Fox- said:

I'm not sure I buy that line of thinking. Remember, BMW Emergency Service is a paid breakdown service - it just happens to be free with the new car warranty. Once you renew you are paying for it just like you are the AA. I'm sure the AA attend many 'problems of your making' though its hard to claim a puncture on a nonRFT is a 'problem of your making' - get a puncture 150 miles from home on an RFT and you're coming home on the back of a lorry just as much as you would on non RFT's.

I'd be genuinely interested to know if anyone has had assistance from the breakdown service. After all, my F10's manual has a section about the use of the BMW Mobility Kit..

The comment earlier specifically mentioned BMW Assist, which is not an emergency service - it provides information over the phone and nothing else. If you buy BMW Insured Emergency Service then they probably will attend.

[moffat]

smashy said:

Moffat hi ,not being funny Is that that definitely 100% re returning PCP on non runflats when purchased with runflats

..and your take on BMW assist coming out to a puncture when the car was puchased with Run Flats

Can I ask how you know this? Thanks

Edited by smashy on Tuesday 19th January 18:33

returning the car with non-RFT's was fine and that was what I was told - to be fair I was only interested in PX as I won't keep the car 4 years.

I've a mobility kit just in case I get a puncture but again I was told that this wasn't a problem as many other BMW's are sold with no spare and on non-runflats.

Runflats are increasingly becoming an option (no cost) and cars provided with BMW mobility kits.

Give them a call if you are worried!

[smashy]

A while to go yet so I wont ring yet ...But you got the dealer to give you a figure before the end ,you didnt hand the car back to BMW at the end of PCP ,that could be a different proposition

[Fox-]

Monty Python said:

The comment earlier specifically mentioned BMW Assist, which is not an emergency service - it provides information over the phone and nothing else. If you buy BMW Insured Emergency Service then they probably will attend.

People use BMW Assist and BMW Emergency Service interchangeably. BMW Insured Emergency Service is the same product as the Emergency Service you get on a new car.

BMW Assist is actually a collection of ConnectedDrive services, but 95% of people who say BMW Assist mean BMW Emergency Service.

[Ken Figenus]

Got rid of RFT's on our 535d & the 120i - best move ever. So much more planted and just not skittish on poor surfaces any more.

[rlg43p]

Fox- said:

I'm not sure I buy that line of thinking. Remember, BMW Emergency Service is a paid breakdown service - it just happens to be free with the new car warranty. Once you renew you are paying for it just like you are the AA. I'm sure the AA attend many 'problems of your making' though its hard to claim a puncture on a nonRFT is a 'problem of your making' - get a puncture 150 miles from home on an RFT and you're coming home on the back of a lorry just as much as you would on non RFT's.

I'd be genuinely interested to know if anyone has had assistance from the breakdown service. After all, my F10's manual has a section about the use of the BMW Mobility Kit..

I had a puncture in my 525d M Sport (currently for sale!) with non-runflat tyres fitted. I was recovered by BMW Emergency Service with no questions asked.

[cerb4.5lee]

I swapped my run flats to normal in June last year and Sod's law I picked up a puncture on the rear left tyre last weekend and annoyingly it couldn't be repaired and only managed 15k miles out of it, so had to put a new one on.

I now think that if I had stuck with the run flats that it probably wouldn't have happened so you just can't win! I do still appreciate the improved ride and feel of the car on normal tyres though for sure.

[JMBMWM5]

had ham said:

I have RFTs on 20" on my 640d GC, and have driven a similar car with non-RFTs and it was immeasurably better.

Another major issue with RFTs, particularly on the 20s is that they don't react very well at all to hitting pot-holes, and the side walls tend to fold and bulge rather than bounce back (as a normal tyre would) - this then leads to slow punctures, further tyre deformation (even with a small bulge, replacement will become a necessity sooner rather than later), or in the worst cases, a requirement for immediate replacement.

I live in a rural area with very poorly maintained roads, many of which have been 'dressed' multiple times (with no accompanying attention to drains, turning them into 4"++ deep hazards) and which have multiple other holes, cracks,etc. The roads are narrow, typically NSL, very twisty, with aforementioned hazards often sited immediately after blind bends. Unless you drive everywhere at 20mph, you WILL hit one of these when you go round one of these corners and a car is coming the other way, so no way to avoid....

Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs are not cheap - and I've just replaced my third off-side front in 2 years...

So the cost of swapping them when the car is new perhaps could be off-set by likely replacement costs you'd face if you didn't, and you get a better car in the interim. Sure someone can do the man-maths on that...

Then of course there are the brake pads, which at 11k miles now need replacing...

Love the car for so many other reasons, but won't be going anywhere near another!

Not sure just how you drive, BUT I had the 640D and covered 50K miles and the pads were only HALF worn 11K miles for pads is frankly b**locks unless tracking it.
My M6 GC CP did 12K miles and the pads Indicator said 58K left on them.
Some poor driving to damage wheels like that also, is this trolling?.

[Honeywell]

Buy a runflat wheel and tyre and put it in the boot. 20000 miles on non-run flat tyres pays for it.

[parksie]

had ham said:

REALIST123 said:

I'm sorry but there's no evidence at all for most of what you've said. If you have any real issue its stupidly low profile tyres of any ilk but perhaps if you looked where you're going and drove appropriately you wouldn't suffer as you do. Brake pads at 11k? Really?

I live out in the country and we have as many narrow, potholed lanes as anyone else but haven't had a puncture or damaged tyre or wheel in the 6 years we've been here. RFT or otherwise.

Don't be so stupid - I've plenty of evidence for everything I said, as it has happened to me - it doesn't come more 'first hand' than that. And yes, if you took your time to do some research, you'd quickly find that low mileage replacement of rear brake pads on the current 6 series is not at all unusual. Speak to any BMW service tech and they'll tell you all about RFT side wall deformation too.

I do love the way you are so definite with your assertions though, it's obvious you clearly know my driving style, location, and the condition of my surrounding roads so well.... And of course as it's never happened to you, you're clearly right.

I thought this part of PH was a haven away from the usual muppetry, but it seems not.

Edited by had ham on Wednesday 20th January 06:46

I agree with you, got to say I was a bit 'miffed' with the REALIST 123 crasse comments like you? Arrogant tosser!

[CSK423]

had ham said:

I have RFTs on 20" on my 640d GC, and have driven a similar car with non-RFTs and it was immeasurably better.

Another major issue with RFTs, particularly on the 20s is that they don't react very well at all to hitting pot-holes, and the side walls tend to fold and bulge rather than bounce back (as a normal tyre would) - this then leads to slow punctures, further tyre deformation (even with a small bulge, replacement will become a necessity sooner rather than later), or in the worst cases, a requirement for immediate replacement.

I live in a rural area with very poorly maintained roads, many of which have been 'dressed' multiple times (with no accompanying attention to drains, turning them into 4"++ deep hazards) and which have multiple other holes, cracks,etc. The roads are narrow, typically NSL, very twisty, with aforementioned hazards often sited immediately after blind bends. Unless you drive everywhere at 20mph, you WILL hit one of these when you go round one of these corners and a car is coming the other way, so no way to avoid....

Dunlop Sport Maxx GTs are not cheap - and I've just replaced my third off-side front in 2 years...

So the cost of swapping them when the car is new perhaps could be off-set by likely replacement costs you'd face if you didn't, and you get a better car in the interim. Sure someone can do the man-maths on that...

Then of course there are the brake pads, which at 11k miles now need replacing...

Love the car for so many other reasons, but won't be going anywhere near another!

11k miles on brakes ? assume the majority of your driving is rural roads meaning a decent amount of national speed limit speed and in turn braking ? I'm on 16k miles in a GC and it's telling me I have another circa 30k miles on my brakes with a mixture of motorway/A road/B road driving.

[Ken Figenus]

Nah. New front disks and pads fitted on the 535d @52,000 miles. Just hit 110,000 and have only replaced rear pads that were on car way before that. And this isnt a little Miss Daisy car - its a big, heavy, fast fab car! But lifting off in anticipation is far better than slamming on the brakes last minute! So it is driven with a proper level of mechanical sympathy - pays dividends all round.

[anonymous-user]

JMBMWM5 said:

ot sure just how you drive, BUT I had the 640D and covered 50K miles and the pads were only HALF worn 11K miles for pads is frankly b**locks unless tracking it.
My M6 GC CP did 12K miles and the pads Indicator said 58K left on them.
Some poor driving to damage wheels like that also, is this trolling?.

Another fool who presumes to know my area/driving style intimately off the back of a couple of posts - and no, I'm not trolling - why would I do that, what could I gain from that? All facts. There are some very well known issues with tyres (partic on 20s) and brakes with the 6 series.

I had thought you would get reasoned debate in this part of the forum, but it seems not. I'll leave you to it.

[JMBMWM5]

had ham said:

Another fool who presumes to know my area/driving style intimately off the back of a couple of posts - and no, I'm not trolling - why would I do that, what could I gain from that? All facts. There are some very well known issues with tyres (partic on 20s) and brakes with the 6 series.

I had thought you would get reasoned debate in this part of the forum, but it seems not. I'll leave you to it.

Having owned 3 6 series cars I still say B*llocks being spoken.
You must be a Farmer driving to his chicken shed in it every day flat out

Edited by JMBMWM5 on Monday 22 February 16:57