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[sameh]

Got a flat at 10am on Sunday, 75miles away from home. Called BMW RSA and spoke to 3 different reps. One of them was very inappropriate, like "no spare or run flats!! Really? how?"
Anywho, got the flat-bed to tow me 3 miles to the closest dealer which of course was closed. Filled an early bird form, dropped it with the key in the box, called a cab and paid $180 to go home. A friend drove me this morning to the dealer and they fixed my tire ($50) and back home. From the minute I stopped with a flat till I got in the cab was 3 hours. I was very lucky that the dealer was only 3 miles away (I'm in suburbs and dealer could be easily 60 miles away" and was very lucky to get a friend to drive me back today and save myself another $180 cab ride. That got me thinking fir a plan B. I'm wondering what is the best solution for a flat?
Keep a spare (255/35/19 to fit front or rear temporarily) and tools in trunk?
Keep them at home and get a ride home then back to the car to fix it?

[Nelrock]

I've always wondered why they don't put a donut in the trunk...something besides the stupid fix-a-flat kit...to at least get you back to civilization.
What happened to you is the exact reason why I never use my M for road trips.

[elh0102]

There is a lot information about this if you do a quick Search function. You can find my previous post, but I made a compact spare solution by using a BMW compact spare wheel which is used, I think, in the X6. Bought a Bridgestone T compact tire from Tire Rack that was closest to the rear OD. Carry it tied down in the trunk with a compact BMW jack kit. It takes some space, but still plenty left. If I have a flat, I’m on my way in a few minutes. I assume you did not try the BMW fix-a-flat stuff that comes with the car. On a small puncture, it should work, although it may ruin the TPM.

The BMW roadside service is notoriously poor. I used it once, years ago, and never again. IF you need assistance, AAA is much better.

[sameh]

[QUOTE=elh0102;9232868]There is a lot information about this if you do a quick Search function. You can find my previous post, but I made a compact spare solution by using a BMW compact spare wheel which is used, I think, in the X6. Bought a Bridgestone T compact tire from Tire Rack that was closest to the rear OD. Carry it tied down in the trunk with a compact BMW jack kit. It takes some space, but still plenty left. If I have a flat, I

[sameh]

Originally Posted by Nelrock

I've always wondered why they don't put a donut in the trunk...something besides the stupid fix-a-flat kit...to at least get you back to civilization.
What happened to you is the exact reason why I never use my M for road trips.

My M is my daily driver. 2000miles/month.

[albert1028]

I would think about AAA service. I have had nothing but praises to say for their service, especially if you pay for primium ones where you are allotted more miles, the premium nets you 4 or 5 100 mile radius and 1 250 mile tow. One time use for flatbed long distance pays off.

[sameh]

This incident also got me thinking. At least we have BMW dealers around. How about lambo or Ferrari drivers? What do they do? there has to be a better solution.

[pbonsalb]

I am going to find a mini spare and a small jack (there is a thread on this that I have read before), although I have two sets of wheels and could use a snow in summer and vice versa. The mini takes up less space. I won't bother around town, but if I take a trip, it is definitely going in the trunk. The OP's experience highlights the issue. You may have BMW Roadside Assistance or AAA (I have Platinum), but you may be far from home, taking expensive cab rides, staying in a hotel, buying a tire at full retail price, or buying a wheel at full retail price, in addition to the major inconvenience.

[sensi09]

For $50 to fix, was it a nail or a puncture of some sort? You would have to replace the tire, but couldn't you have used the m-mobility kit to get home.

BTW the m-mobility kit is a rip off. Some other tire foam/sealant is like $10 at an auto store while, BMW charges something like $80 for the foam.

[sameh]

Originally Posted by sensi09

For $50 to fix, was it a nail or a puncture of some sort? You would have to replace the tire, but couldn't you have used the m-mobility kit to get home.

BTW the m-mobility kit is a rip off. Some other tire foam/sealant is like $10 at an auto store while, BMW charges something like $80 for the foam.

It was a 2 inch Phillips nail. Right in the middle if the tire. I'll actually take the M-mobility kit out of the trunk. If I haven't used it yesterday, I won't ever use it

[sbm3]

It would appear to me that would have been the perfect case for having used the M-Mobility kit rather than hasseling you and costing you a considerable chunk of change....

[Mr C]

Keep a Plug Kit and a Power Station (Battery Charger and Compressor) in your trunk!

They really work, and they can get you out of a pinch until you can get it taken care of.

Put a little cement (lube) on the tool shove the rubber piece into the tire, pull the tool out, cut the excess off, and pump up the tire.

[calintexas]

The very last thing you want to do is use the M Mobility kit because of the mess the sealant goop will cause. Alternatives are to buy a temporary plug kit (Stop & Go temporary plug kit (http://www.stopngo.com/automotive.asp#tireplugger) or the Patchboy kit (http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc...tegory_Code=ki) are reported to be good ones), or you can put together a temporary spare for about $200 (look at this thread for the details: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253769). You'll need a jack with either option. There's quite a bit of info about jacks (and patch kits) here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272610

[elh0102]

Originally Posted by calintexas

The very last thing you want to do is use the M Mobility kit because of the mess the sealant goop will cause. Alternatives are to buy a temporary plug kit (Stop & Go temporary plug kit (http://www.stopngo.com/automotive.asp#tireplugger) or the Patchboy kit (http://patchboy.com/mm5/merchant.mvc...tegory_Code=ki) are reported to be good ones), or you can put together a temporary spare for about $200 (look at this thread for the details: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=253769). You'll need a jack with either option. There's quite a bit of info about jacks (and patch kits) here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=272610

I have one of the Patchboy kits, and it works very well. But the problem with any plug kit, you still have to plan on taking the tire off, and there is rarely a very desireable place to work on the side of the road. I figure, if I have to remove the wheel anyway, the investment in a compact spare is well worth it. I can be on my way much quicker, especially if at night and alone.

[Dannys M3]

With my scenario, vredenstein tires are not sold locally or easy to acquire in a hurry. So I purchased another set of rims and tires. I am using the factory rims with new vredenstein as spares and I'll call AAA to tow me home if anything happens. I can have a new set of rims and tires on in an hour and deal with the tire problem at my convenience

[M5280RCR]

Food for thought, though I do not do this "around town". Whenever I am on a road trip, I travel with a spare tire since 19's (or 18's for that matter) may not be available in the middle of nowhere. You can pack a lot of stuff inside the tire, so you really don't lose a lot of space. This way you only have to be towed to a Les Schwab or other tire installer to be back on the road relatively fast.

[SenorFunkyPants]

I carry a "space saver" tyre...used it once and that one time alone made it worth the effort.
I drive long distances and trips abroad without giving punctures a second thought.
I can't figure why BMW don't offer a "space saver" as an accessory.

[saeedg48]

yah you're pretty much f*cked if you have a flat on the Ms.

[kaykay]

I remember having an inflatable spare on my E55 AMG, great move for a problem. No idea why BMW didn't do something similar????

Can't imagine the mess if you're on a road trip and the M gets a flat.

[elh0102]

Originally Posted by Dakar92

Keep a Plug Kit and a Power Station (Battery Charger and Compressor) in your trunk!

They really work, and they can get you out of a pinch until you can get it taken care of.

Put a little cement (lube) on the tool shove the rubber piece into the tire, pull the tool out, cut the excess off, and pump up the tire.

Not to be a naysayer, but the problem is, this simple 4 step process turns into a nightmare with certain variables, such as: you are alone; it’s dark; the puncture, assuming it can be plugged, is on the inside portion of tread on a rear tire, requiring that either the wheel be removed, or, you dive under the car to attempt the plug job. From experience, I can tesitify that a plugging operation that works great at home in the driveway, can be frustrating at best on a dark roadside. For around $300, you can assemble a compact spare that works. Each to his own, but I found it well worth the investment. And when you sell the car, it can probably be sold “as new” for about what you paid. With a 10 mm spacer, the wheel even works on the front of my car with 380 mm StopTech rotors.

[xccess]

I am glad some one brought this up, I alway wonder about BMW no spare tire. My audi S4 got full spare, and that full spare save me plenty time. look like I will invest me a plug kits for the road

[sameh]

I'm trying to order a spare kit including the jack, tire etc..I did my search and found most of the items but the tire..The ones I found on this forum are 18...I’m wondering if I can put an 18 space saver when the 3 others are 19s..the web doesn't help much whenever you combine the words M3 and spare tire in one sentence. Anyone out there with a spare tire for his 19s? Please let us know the website to order it and the part number if possible. Thanks