Wheel came off after buying

[Chiefsmith]

I recently purchased a nearly new BMW 2 series m sport and the wheel came off on the motorway 3 days after purchase. Has anyone ever experienced this before? I'm dealing with the car supplier bit looking for advice on the matter

[Scaleybrat]

How did the wheel come off? If something has broken to cause the wheel to part ways with the car then I would have thought BMW will cover under warranty. If the wheels bolts have all come out of the hub then you might find yourself in a tricky position.

[mickyh7]

All 5 bolts came out without you noticing any wobble, noises or vibration?
I doubt it.
What really happened?

[Lee630i]

Curious to see what happened here

[Chiefsmith]

Looks like all the nuts loosened after less than 50miles on the road

[essayer]

Pretty serious failure. Was it from a BMW main dealer?

[Chiefsmith]

Heard vibration but was unsure of the noise contacted the dealer and arranged to visit the garage. But didn't make it home after booking the appointment. Final moments were extreme vibration then large thud, tyre pressure warnings loss of traction control then my ABS went managed to get onto the hard shoulder and bring the car to a stop using the gears. Not mechanical savi so sorry for the vague description

[mickyh7]

Something not adding up here.
All of the nuts came undone, not bolts?

[Scaleybrat]

I think somebody got jealous of your new acquisition.

[Zarco]

mickyh7 said:

Something not adding up here.
All of the nuts came undone, not bolts?

What's to say it had all the bolts to start off with? Over sight at the dealership?

[mickyh7]

Chiefsmith said:

Heard vibration but was unsure of the noise contacted the dealer and arranged to visit the garage. But didn't make it home after booking the appointment. Final moments were extreme vibration then large thud, tyre pressure warnings loss of traction control then my ABS went managed to get onto the hard shoulder and bring the car to a stop using the gears. Not mechanical savi so sorry for the vague description

That sounds more like it.
I'm guessing it only had one bolt on to start with, as just said. Or someone's done this deliberately!

[kiethton]

Had this myself when I bought a 335i 10 years ago, however I stopped with the vibrations and found the issue - the salesman from the dealership drove with a mechanic the 10 miles to fix it where I was.

The wheel that had come loose had been refurbished prior to sale and not tightened...confirmed on the phone when he asked which wheel and I said the one which had been done immediately prior to my collection

[Touring442]

Five inadequately torqued wheelbolts come loose pretty quickly. With one bolt it wouldn't make a mile.

[Quattromaster]

Before collection had it had a PDI, a wheel refurb, new brakes, anything really that needs the wheel to come off.

[Chiefsmith]

Dealership are being very hush with the matter pending an investigation. Pre checks summary doesn't show any detail about whether the nuts were torqued properly though

[8Tech]

Here is the result of an aftermarket wheel supplier providing a "fitting kit" of new wheel bolts together with a set of brand new alloys but the bolts were too short.



So much for the experts!!

Repair Costs 23rd June 2021

BMW E39 540

Parts:

Headlamp Washer Reservoir 61677044896 £ 75.12
Headlamp Washer Hose 61678380983 £ 18.45
OSF Wing 41358162134 £230.57
OSF Wheel Arch Liner 51718159424 £ 58.04
Wheel Arch Liner Fixings As Required £ 5.00
OSF Wing Trim 51138159294 £ 24.15
2 x Wing Trim Grommets 51131960127 £ 1.42
OSF Lower Suspension Arm 31122339998 £135.78
16 x 40mm M12x1.5 Wheel Bolts £ 21.99
1 x Extended M12x1.5 Locking Wheel Bolt Kit.

Labour:

Recover vehicle from Sunbury-on-Thames.
Bodywork damage, see separate bodyshop invoice £770.00
Refurbish damaged wheel rim chips.
Refit original wing repeater
Chase threads in wheel hub and replace wheel bolts with extended 40mm
parts and extended locking wheel bolt kit.

Sub-Total £1340.52

VAT @ 20% £263.71


Total £1604.23

Edited by 8Tech on Monday 18th April 21:53

[threespires]

I had a similar problem with my BMW.

[dhutch]

8Tech said:

Here is the result of an aftermarket wheel supplier providing a "fitting kit" of new wheel bolts together with a set of brand new alloys but the bolts were too short.

Doh! Did they fit the kit, or did you? Thread engagement presumably less than 1x diameter?

[mickyh7]

Touring442 said:

Five inadequately torqued wheelbolts come loose pretty quickly. With one bolt it wouldn't make a mile.

Untorqued perhaps, but you've guessed at that, inadequately torqued, not a chance.

[Olivergt]

mickyh7 said:

Touring442 said:

Five inadequately torqued wheelbolts come loose pretty quickly. With one bolt it wouldn't make a mile.

Untorqued perhaps, but you've guessed at that, inadequately torqued, not a chance.

Pedant mode ON:

Define:

Untorqued...
Inadequately torqued...

Pedant mode OFF:

Sticking to the facts, we know the wheel came of shortly after buying the car. We have no idea why, and will probably never know, unless the dealer admits that they forgot to tighten the wheel nuts. Anything else is pure speculation.

The critical thing now is how the dealer deals with the situation.