Runflats/spare tyres/etc
Runflats/spare tyres/etc
Author
Discussion

Fox-

Original Poster:

13,575 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Hi guys,

We have a BMW Approved Used Car, which mean it's been carefullly check, apparently.

Despite this they still managed to sell it to us with 2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front.

In order to rectify this I've put 2 normal tyres on the back and it even drives better. But there is no spare wheel, no can of tyre weld, infact, nothing.

Given they sold us a car with 2 non runflat tyres on the front should they not have given us some sort of tyre repair facility? Because the RAC are not going to be interested if the car has no spare, are they?

I've given them a call and they are 'calling me back'. I don't want them to replace the tyres or anything OTT just... supply us with a spare or a can of gunk or something. Is that reasonable?

Raify

6,556 posts

278 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Doesn't surprise me at all, the AUC system is as flawed / bent as the individual dealer, and offers no more peace of mind than a private sale.

Bear in mind, that if you'd been p/x ing a car to them that had run flats as standard, they would have refused to take it in with normal tyres.

I think the least they owe you is an apology for selling the car with dangerously mix-matched tyres (ruin flats have completely different grip levels) and a free BMW mobility kit (which includes a can of foam and a compressor).


Joe911

2,763 posts

265 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I'm gob-smacked that a "BMW Approved" car can be sold in that way (i.e. with mismatched tyres). I wonder if they even realised. Why not call up BMW HQ and ask them if it is against the rules? How old is the car? Which model?

I would definitely bin the runflats and go with regular. I bought the BWM space-saver spare kit and also have the tyre-weld thing just in case.

I would suggest that they owe you a damned sight more than a can of tyre-weld and would definitely be pushing for a free space saver kit (assuming there is one for the car).

BMW told me there was not one available for my car - when I told them there was and they should look again they managed to find the right part number!

Raify

6,556 posts

278 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Joe911 said:
I'm gob-smacked that a "BMW Approved" car can be sold in that way
Not me, I bought one with fake wheels passed off as CSL's! AUC system is a joke.

Fox-

Original Poster:

13,575 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
The car is a Z4 - is there a spare saver kit for this?

The car now has normal tyres all round because obviously I didn't want to put runflats on the back and leave me with the non RFT's they supplied the car with on the front.

phumy

5,828 posts

267 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Fox- said:
The car is a Z4 - is there a spare saver kit for this?

The car now has normal tyres all round because obviously I didn't want to put runflats on the back and leave me with the non RFT's they supplied the car with on the front.
But you could have put runflats on the front and then charged BMW for them.....Giving you runflats all round as it was designed

Raify

6,556 posts

278 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
You did the right thing binning the ruin flats. There's a standard kit that comes with the Z4m (because that's normal tyres as standard), ask for one of those.

Anyway, it's the same thing that goes in MINI's etc etc. Just a can of weld and a compressor.

In the AUC check document, there's a box to tick for "check for approved wheel and tyre combinations" and "check for non approved equipment". Both of these points should have been raised by your AUC check.

My AUC debacle was also on a Z4. Seems like they don't know these cars very well.

Fox-

Original Poster:

13,575 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
There was loads of other stuff wrong with it, gave up in the end. To this day the drivers door lock is broken because the barrel fell through the door when I put the key in. Local dealer said it was 'wear and tear or had been broken into', supplying dealer agreed and refused to pay.

The car lives in a locked garage...

Raify

6,556 posts

278 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
I see from your profile that you're in the South West, I wouldn't mind betting we bought from the same incompetent + fraudulent dealer.

Fox-

Original Poster:

13,575 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
You'll be very shocked and suprised to learn that nobody called me back.

Fancy that.

Fox-

Original Poster:

13,575 posts

276 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
sam919 said:
Perhaps it was a case of you bought it with "2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front". If you had any concerns you should have checked it and voiced them then.
When paying a premium for a BMW Approved Used car you do not expect to have to learn how to spot a Michelin Runflat tyre and then work out if the tyre fitted to your approved used car is corret or not.

Obviously buying privately you do these things - and save a load of cash for your trouble.

They did call back in the end and are calling back tommorrow, hopefully they shall resolve it. I'll be happy with the provision of the mobility kit from the Z4M.

sam919

1,078 posts

226 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Fox- said:
Hi guys,

We have a BMW Approved Used Car, which mean it's been carefullly check, apparently.

Despite this they still managed to sell it to us with 2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front.

Given they sold us a car with 2 non runflat tyres on the front should they not have given us some sort of tyre repair facility? Because the RAC are not going to be interested if the car has no spare, are they?
Perhaps it was a case of you bought it with "2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front". If you had any concerns you should have checked it and voiced them then before handing over the finances.


Sticks2

9,710 posts

281 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Fox- said:
sam919 said:
Perhaps it was a case of you bought it with "2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front". If you had any concerns you should have checked it and voiced them then.
When paying a premium for a BMW Approved Used car you do not expect to have to learn how to spot a Michelin Runflat tyre and then work out if the tyre fitted to your approved used car is corret or not.

Obviously buying privately you do these things - and save a load of cash for your trouble.

They did call back in the end and are calling back tommorrow, hopefully they shall resolve it. I'll be happy with the provision of the mobility kit from the Z4M.
If you don't mind me saying so, I think you're letting them off lightly there. There's no way they should have sold a car in that condition. Worry-free is what you pay extra for at the main dealer. Maybe tell them you'll write to BMW Uk and see how they respond.. Maybe have the car checked over independantly.

sam919

1,078 posts

226 months

Tuesday 18th August 2009
quotequote all
Fox- said:
sam919 said:
Perhaps it was a case of you bought it with "2 runflats on the back and 2 regular Pilot Sport's on the front". If you had any concerns you should have checked it and voiced them then.
When paying a premium for a BMW Approved Used car you do not expect to have to learn how to spot a Michelin Runflat tyre and then work out if the tyre fitted to your approved used car is corret or not.

Obviously buying privately you do these things - and save a load of cash for your trouble.

They did call back in the end and are calling back tommorrow, hopefully they shall resolve it. I'll be happy with the provision of the mobility kit from the Z4M.
Spotting run flat tyres over standard radials isnt much of a learning curve. You must be an enthusiast if you have an interest in pistonheads.

Killwilly

446 posts

218 months

Wednesday 19th August 2009
quotequote all
Trading Standards and fit for purpose springs to mind on this occasion!!

DarkMatter

1,503 posts

261 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
I bought my "Approved Used BMW" 120D a year ago. It was MOT'd at my local garage today and they issued an advisory on the nearside rear tyre which was getting low on tread. I was very surprised to find that tyre to be size 225/45 R17 whereas the other three are 205/50 R17. I suppose I should be thankful that they are all the same make (Pirelli euforia rft) but nevertheless I would have thought it bad practice to put different size tyres on the same axle.


GoLo

18 posts

204 months

Wednesday 4th November 2009
quotequote all
Smidge off topic.

My AUC ex BMW fleet car came with a 'certified mileage' 2,500 miles higher than actually was on the car. I kept my trap shut on that one.

I would be willing to bet though that all the well know western-M4-corridor dealer does with fleet cars is valet them.

paoloh

8,617 posts

234 months

Thursday 5th November 2009
quotequote all
DarkMatter said:
I bought my "Approved Used BMW" 120D a year ago. It was MOT'd at my local garage today and they issued an advisory on the nearside rear tyre which was getting low on tread. I was very surprised to find that tyre to be size 225/45 R17 whereas the other three are 205/50 R17. I suppose I should be thankful that they are all the same make (Pirelli euforia rft) but nevertheless I would have thought it bad practice to put different size tyres on the same axle.
That should have failed MOT surely for different tyre size??

DarkMatter

1,503 posts

261 months

Thursday 5th November 2009
quotequote all
paoloh said:
DarkMatter said:
I bought my "Approved Used BMW" 120D a year ago. It was MOT'd at my local garage today and they issued an advisory on the nearside rear tyre which was getting low on tread. I was very surprised to find that tyre to be size 225/45 R17 whereas the other three are 205/50 R17. I suppose I should be thankful that they are all the same make (Pirelli euforia rft) but nevertheless I would have thought it bad practice to put different size tyres on the same axle.
That should have failed MOT surely for different tyre size??
That wouldn't surprise me, unless it's allowed because the rolling radius is the same?

paoloh

8,617 posts

234 months

Thursday 5th November 2009
quotequote all
DarkMatter said:
paoloh said:
DarkMatter said:
I bought my "Approved Used BMW" 120D a year ago. It was MOT'd at my local garage today and they issued an advisory on the nearside rear tyre which was getting low on tread. I was very surprised to find that tyre to be size 225/45 R17 whereas the other three are 205/50 R17. I suppose I should be thankful that they are all the same make (Pirelli euforia rft) but nevertheless I would have thought it bad practice to put different size tyres on the same axle.
That should have failed MOT surely for different tyre size??
That wouldn't surprise me, unless it's allowed because the rolling radius is the same?
I don't think so.

Different size on same "axle" is a no no IIRC.