Is the spare optional?

[Kentish]

My e60 has runflats as standard but there's no spare wheel; I assume this is normal and b/c it uses run flats?

The carpet in the wheel well looks spotless and there is also a plastic support in there to support the boot floor which would be in the way of a wheel if it had one which makes me think that perhaps they don't have them on models with RFT's

Trouble is I now have ordinary winter tyres and I have no spare!

I have a can of tyre weld of course but they don't always work depending on the type of puncture.

Am I right in my assumptions or has the previous owner forgotten to pop it back in the boot?

[mrmr96]

Lots of cars come with no spare these days. Does that answer your question?

[Kentish]

mrmr96 said:

Lots of cars come with no spare these days. Does that answer your question?

I can kinda see the logic in that with RFT's as you're not left completely stranded and I know many sports cars don't b/c of space issues but are you saying that run of the mill stuff with regular pneumatic tyres often don't have spares now?

If so, that is nuts!

[mrmr96]

Kentish said:

mrmr96 said:

Lots of cars come with no spare these days. Does that answer your question?

I can kinda see the logic in that with RFT's as you're not left completely stranded and I know many sports cars don't b/c of space issues but are you saying that run of the mill stuff with regular pneumatic tyres often don't have spares now?

If so, that is nuts!

Yes, lots of cars with non-run flats will carry a can of "tyre weld" or similar instead of a spare. It's reasonably common on smaller cars, as it helps provide a bigger boot volume, and also lower weight for better performance and economy figures. But yeah, unless you've a specific type of puncture then these kits are no good. As you say, 'nuts'.

[Kentish]

Just shows how out of touch I am with modern shopping trolley's/hatchbacks

Thanks for the replies.

I think I'll try and source a suitably sized spare for the BM; just a steely with the same rolling diameter as the standard wheels & tyres but small enough to fit the wheel well (I tried the 275/35 18" & it was too wide to fit the well and lay the cover down again). Just to plod home on if the need arises!

[mrmr96]

Have a look on ebay, some BMW dealer is on there selling "spare wheel" kits. Fits in the well, includes a jack etc.

[Kentish]

Thanks for the tip - I'll head over to e-bay to have a look shortly.

[Denis O]

My e61 came with runflats which I ditched as soon as possible. Once ditched I bought a space saver spare wheel kit from Cotswold BMW for about £220. The kit contained:

Space Saver Spare

Jack for raising the car

Trim so that it would fit perfectly in the boot. Although the original trim had a space for the spare, on the estate it won't fit. Not sure if that is the same with the saloon.

A nice neat package with polystyrene insert to hold everything together.

[RicksAlfas]

E90 320EDs came as standard with normal tyres and no spare. It's always bugged me a bit, but I don't think the well under the boot floor looks big enough even for a space saver. Anyone tried one on an E90?

[mrmr96]

RicksAlfas said:

E90 320EDs came as standard with normal tyres and no spare. It's always bugged me a bit, but I don't think the well under the boot floor looks big enough even for a space saver. Anyone tried one on an E90?

This surprises me, but a quick look on ebay turned up this as the "official bmw" solution...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/121053518862



And REAL OEM confirms it!!

[RicksAlfas]

Thanks for that.
Not pretty is it?

[mrmr96]

RicksAlfas said:

Thanks for that.
Not pretty is it?

No, it's fking horrendous!

AA Card and patience (and luck) is possibly a more appealing alternative for most people.

[youngsyr]

Plus, it seems you have to go home on the bare rim!