BMW X1 on snow

[paven]

hi everyone. my first email. Wud appreciate some advice.
I have owned a BMW X1 since new for 2 years. All was well until the snow arrived. Despite being a 4x4 it is useless in the snow - undrivable infact.
Before this I had a Freelander which was fantastic.

Anyway, I complained to BMW and have been fobbed off with an offer to pay half for new winter tyres. As they never indicated I would have to change tyres in the winter I feel they should pay the full price and not be so petty as to offer only half. Its not the value of the tyres that concerns me. Its the sheer principle of the thing. How would you tackle it?

[CYMR0]

By taking the generous offer and running!

[mattnunn]

paven said:

How would you tackle it?

Two free winter tyres! I'd bite their hand off.

[mackie1]

I'm surprised they offered that to be honest! Are you serious?

[ewenm]

I'd take their offer. If you walk down a snowy street in inappropriate shoes, do you complain to the shoe shop or do you buy some shoes that can handle the snow?

[Simond S]

If BMW offered you half price winter tyres jump at the offer.

You are trying to drive a car on tyres designed to have very little friction on the road surface in conditions that demand a lot of friction.

I will guarantee that your freelander was not running on runflat tyres.

Tyres are the difference. My X6 is superb in the snow, but I have invested in a set of winter tyres on 18" rims.

(and not shouting you out, but at what point did you miss the "winter tyre" display as you walked into the showroom. The "Winter tyre" display next to the handover point and the web, tv and magazine adverts BMW put out saying "please buy winter tyres"

http://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/owners/wintertyres/...

Edited by Simond S on Wednesday 3rd April 11:20

[defblade]

paven said:

How would you tackle it?

Buy 2 pairs of snow socks (or a properly capable 4x4, if that was at all important to me)

[martin mrt]

paven said:

hi everyone. my first email. Wud appreciate some advice.
I have owned a BMW X1 since new for 2 years. All was well until the snow arrived. Despite being a 4x4 it is useless in the snow - undrivable infact.
Before this I had a Freelander which was fantastic.

Anyway, I complained to BMW and have been fobbed off with an offer to pay half for new winter tyres. As they never indicated I would have to change tyres in the winter I feel they should pay the full price and not be so petty as to offer only half. Its not the value of the tyres that concerns me. Its the sheer principle of the thing. How would you tackle it?

Are you actually being serious?

Why should BMW pay for your winter tyres? A car, no matter if its 2wd or 4wd is only as good in bad conditions as the tyres that's fitted to it, and that the person behind the wheel can drive in such conditions

I'm surprised they even offered 50% towards winter tyres

[SrMoreno]

Bloody impressed with the BMW dealer for not only humouring you, but for coming up with an offer to keep you on-side. As suggested above, I'd accept their generous offer.

[Backtobasics]

School holidays?

[excel monkey]

paven said:

I have owned a BMW X1 since new for 2 years. All was well until the snow arrived. Despite being a 4x4 it is useless in the snow - undrivable infact

Apologies if this is a patronising question: is your X1 an xDrive (4WD) or an sDrive (RWD) model?

Agree with others on this thread - BMW are being generous offering to contribute 50% towards the cost of winter tyres.

[fjord]

paven said:

I have owned a BMW X1

That's your problem right there.

Did you see the top gear test of the X3? It couldnt even get up a slightly damp 10 degree incline. I imagine an X1 is no better.

Manufacturers these days understand that people see 4x4 and assume it can easily take over everest.

[Krikkit]

SrMoreno said:

Bloody impressed with the BMW dealer for not only humouring you, but for coming up with an offer to keep you on-side. As suggested above, I'd accept their generous offer.

+1 really, pretty exceptional offer!

[dibblecorse]

Wow ... PH is truly epic ..... are you really serious OP ?? You actually went and complained ?? Would you have complained if the car came with Winter Tyres fitted from new and the car made a horrendous noise everytime you drove it because they weren't suitable for 90% of the british yearly climate ???

You sir are deserving of a reward for having this much front, its an X1, not a Hummmer .........

[paven]

Weeellll - I was amazed at the fast reponse from so many members.
Most of them thought I was a complete idiot (tho didn't actually use those words) to expect a better offer. But thanks for your responses anyway. It helps.
i'm going to continue to persue this quietly and if anything changes will post results

best wishes to all

[N Dentressangle]

mattnunn said:

Two free winter tyres! I'd bite their hand off.

Yeah, but should he put them on the front or the back?

[TommyBuoy]

Strange.

Take the offer before they tell you to F off. Can't see why they would offer anything to be honest.

Good luck with getting anymore - let everyone know if you do - it could open the floodgates!

Edited by TommyBuoy on Wednesday 3rd April 11:34

[Hoofy]

Are X1s that bad? What are X5s like on summer tyres in the snow, then?

[s p a c e m a n]

Im not that suprised theyve offered you a freebee, theyre not going to be selling many in April so you are just getting excess stock. Stick them in your shed until your runflats need to be changed, theyll be of little use to you at the moment unless you live up a mountain.

[RicksAlfas]

Hoofy said:

Are X1s that bad? What are X5s like on summer tyres in the snow, then?

Horrific.