Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[doubleA]

I, like most people on here, am planning to ditch the RFT's and put some aftermarket rims and tires on the 1er. What is everyone planning on doing if they get a flat or blown tire???

[ulrichd]

I keep an electric tire inflator that plugs into the cigarette lighter in my Cooper S since I lost the runflats. Should get me to a gas station in case of a flat. I have not had a blowout in 30+ years of driving.

Ulrich

[gotgemini2000]

fix-a-flat and triple A

[ichiban]

triple a for sure. Since the 1er is RWD = no more flat beds = no more worrying about tow truck driver scrapping my bumper/lip

[grant]

Originally Posted by ichiban

triple a for sure. Since the 1er is RWD = no more flat beds = no more worrying about tow truck driver scrapping my bumper/lip

You should NEVER let a tow truck drag any car you give a rat's ass about. I've never owned anything but RWD cars and I always insist on a flatbed.

[Motorsports_3]

I keep Fix a flat, a small electric pump, and plug kit in my car. Also have RSA.

If i am traveling far, i carry a stock fornt wheel and a jack in the trunk.

[Italteen3]

Going to get AAA once I get the 1er.

[larryn]

Do you guys not know that you get free BMW Roadside Assistance with the purchase of a new or CPO BMW? You don't even need AAA.

[ppDoc]

Originally Posted by larryn

Do you guys not know that you get free BMW Roadside Assistance with the purchase of a new or CPO BMW? You don't even need AAA.

that's only for a year. after that u pay 200 bucks a year.
also, if u cancel the service, they cancel the SOS function too i believe

[larryn]

Originally Posted by DiaBLoS

that's only for a year. after that u pay 200 bucks a year.
also, if u cancel the service, they cancel the SOS function too i believe

It's not for a year. Roadside Assistance is free for 4 years, with no mileage limitations, for no additional fee. Also, BMW Assist (which is the BMW OnStar-like service) if you get the Premium Package or the standalone Assist option is also included free for 4 years, starting with the 2007 model year. It used to only include 1 year of service.

These two are totally independent of each other, if you choose to extend them beyond 4 years.

[Race 1]

is there any option to get the car with out run flats from the dealer?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by Race 1

is there any option to get the car with out run flats from the dealer?

The US Ordering Guide is posted on this site.

No, there is no option, other than you doing it after you buy the car. There is no spare tire well either. So, if you want a spare, it takes up your trunk, plus there is no jack or lug wrench.

[ppDoc]

Originally Posted by larryn

It's not for a year. Roadside Assistance is free for 4 years, with no mileage limitations, for no additional fee. Also, BMW Assist (which is the BMW OnStar-like service) if you get the Premium Package or the standalone Assist option is also included free for 4 years, starting with the 2007 model year. It used to only include 1 year of service.

These two are totally independent of each other, if you choose to extend them beyond 4 years.

say, you get stuck out there in the middle of the nowhere, how likely is it that bmw will be able to send out someone to change a flat for u?

will it even get signal so you can call roadside assistance?

i never had a rft so i don't know if they change your tire with a new one

[larryn]

Originally Posted by DiaBLoS

say, you get stuck out there in the middle of the nowhere, how likely is it that bmw will be able to send out someone to change a flat for u?

will it even get signal so you can call roadside assistance?

i never had a rft so i don't know if they change your tire with a new one

You'll have the exact same response from either AAA or BMW Roadside assitance. BMW contracts with Town & Country for the Roadside Assistance, which is exactly who AAA uses.

I've used them 3 times before (since 1998), and they "guarantee response within an hour". I've found that to be the case.

Just like with AAA, you'll (obviously) need a cellphone signal to either call call BMW Roadside Assistance, or use BMW Assist to summon help. AAA has no miracle towers out there that give you coverage to call them and not BMW Roadside assistance. So, if you travel frequently to East Bum***, you'd be an idiot to run with non-runflats and no can of fix-a-flat or a spare.

[buster]

Run flat tires are something I deal with everyday. I work for BMW and Mini of Dallas. I must say that, yes, they do have their problems, but runflat tires are considerably safer. It should not come as a suprise that most car manufactures are going to start moving towards RFTs. This should be considered good news. As more cars start coming equiped with RFTs there will be more feed back on the odd tire wear and the lack of life in the tires. Improvements will continue until we eventually have a tire that is acceptable. These are just the first steps in the evolution of the run flat tire. To be completly honest, I will probably have regular tire put on my car aswell.

[Rook24V]

Btw, if you get your car towed with dollies under the front wheels its better than a flat bed (they don't need to hook to ANY suspension component to get the car up in the air (just raise the rear wheels like they do for drag-behind tows), then the dollies roll under the front wheels instead of the wheels rolling on the road.

Also, I plan on dumping the runflats once they wear out, no reason to get rid of good tires before then, even if the car doesn't handle/accellerate as well as it should.

[BMW Dreamer]

If I get a flat with the runflats on the 135i it says you have 150 miles at 50mph. Do you have to replace the tire then? I heard they aren't fixable. I also hear fix-a-flat ruins any type of tire. Basically, I hear of quite a few people say they got flats soon after buying a new BMW with them, and $400 each. If you buy regular tires and keep an air pump that plugs inot the cig lighter will this be acceptable. I never get flats, but I think this RF topic is another reason NOT to get a BMW. I really want a 135i, but worred about the overheating, reliability, runflats. SHIT.

[gatorfast]

What make a rft worse in terms of performance than a normal summer tire?

[larryn]

Originally Posted by gatorfast

What make a rft worse in terms of performance than a normal summer tire?

Basically, they are heavier and have extremely thick/stiff sidewalls. This increases unsprung weight, plus doesn't allow for the sidewall to budge much at all, giving you slightly less grip, but also giving a stiffer side.

[Gary@TireRack]

Originally Posted by doubleA

I, like most people on here, am planning to ditch the RFT's and put some aftermarket rims and tires on the 1er. What is everyone planning on doing if they get a flat or blown tire???

http://www.tirerack.com/accessories/...tkit/index.jsp

[MVF4Rrider]

^^ How about a discount?: forum, US military, BMWCCA...you take your pick!

...and when will you know what wheels fit the 135i? My car will be here in less than 60 days! I want lightweight 18" BBS or O.Z and conventional rubber in OEM sizes (tires for sure, wheels can vary).

[hellrotm]

Originally Posted by DiaBLoS

that's only for a year. after that u pay 200 bucks a year.
also, if u cancel the service, they cancel the SOS function too i believe

Eventhough its 4 years not 1. If you keep your car past the 4yr warranty, you can extend roadside assistance for $69.90/year, not $200/year.

They just sent me a warning letter, that my roadside assistance coverage will end on my 545i, now that its 4 years old. $70 a year sounds pretty reasonable.

Originally Posted by larryn

It's not for a year. Roadside Assistance is free for 4 years, with no mileage limitations, for no additional fee. Also, BMW Assist (which is the BMW OnStar-like service) if you get the Premium Package or the standalone Assist option is also included free for 4 years, starting with the 2007 model year. It used to only include 1 year of service.

These two are totally independent of each other, if you choose to extend them beyond 4 years.

Larryn, its interesting to read some of posts, people not knowing what they are buying. You think they would have done some research.

I guess with a lot of these new 1er owners, it will be there first BMW.