Losing center caps - escalating the issue!

riccappa · 10-11-2016, 12:29 PM

After two and a half years, I finally lost one. Front passenger side. Dealer was cool, replaced it for free, no questions.

Untdrums · 10-11-2016, 05:20 PM

My dealer said the replacement was a "one time goodwill." I've been with the same SA for 4 years now. He's usually good about helping out with things like this and if it happened again I think he'd get me another one.

Spydeputy · 10-12-2016, 12:08 PM

I lost one (FL) last month, and didn't give it a thought. But now that i see this post, I'm going to pop mine off, tape the prongs, and pop them back on.

Thanks to the "Losing center caps post!"

Spydeputy · 10-12-2016, 12:09 PM

Oh.. and I had to pay $$$

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

I lost one (FL) last month, and didn't give it a thought. But now that i see this post, I'm going to pop mine off, tape the prongs, and pop them back on.

Thanks to the "Losing center caps post!"

chattanooga240 · 10-12-2016, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Untdrums

My dealer said the replacement was a "one time goodwill." I've been with the same SA for 4 years now. He's usually good about helping out with things like this and if it happened again I think he'd get me another one.

Tell them it is a design flaw and to keep the car until they figure it out next time

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

I lost one (FL) last month, and didn't give it a thought. But now that i see this post, I'm going to pop mine off, tape the prongs, and pop them back on.

Thanks to the "Losing center caps post!"

Good idea, tape them up.

supernova72 · 10-17-2016, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

It is covered due to this being a design flaw. If they try to give you any crap, point them to the internet, this is an obvious issue with these particular wheels.

So---yes my SA emailed back that the "shop foreman" says it's NOT covered under warranty. This is BMW of Seattle WA. I pointed him to this thread. We'll see...

chattanooga240 · 10-17-2016, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova72

So---yes my SA emailed back that the "shop foreman" says it's NOT covered under warranty. This is BMW of Seattle WA. I pointed him to this thread. We'll see...

Escalate the issue.

I have gone so far as to snap photos of the caps laying in the gutter at the bottom of the driveway due to popping off during wheel flex.

These dumb things should be designed better.

supernova72 · 10-18-2016, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

Escalate the issue.

I have gone so far as to snap photos of the caps laying in the gutter at the bottom of the driveway due to popping off during wheel flex.

These dumb things should be designed better.

Good tip. Must admit not super impressed thus far with the response I got and general lack of understanding of the issue.

chattanooga240 · 10-18-2016, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova72

Good tip. Must admit not super impressed thus far with the response I got and general lack of understanding of the issue.

I received the slightest bit of hesitation when I first brought the issue up months ago. That was after I already bought 2 caps myself.

Enough became enough, and refused to leave without getting them for free.

It is not on the customer to replace items falling off of the car, they need to realize that.

Spydeputy · 10-19-2016, 12:40 PM

So after I put duct tape (thin piece) around all 4 caps I noticed the front caps don't seat as deep as the rear caps do. I made sure the tape was only around the plastic prongs.
You can can see and feel the difference.
Don't take my word for it, check your BMW and let us know.

(hope this wasn't covered before)

Spydeputy · 10-20-2016, 07:31 AM

So I checked on how snug the cap felt with the tape around the prongs.
Using a jewelry (tiny) flat headed screwdriver to pry them off, and they didn't feel that much tighter.
So I removed the tape, cleaned the prongs again and applied the RTV adhesive to every other one.
I let it dry for one hour and then replaced them back on the wheels.
We Will See?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

I've also done a dab of epoxy on a couple of the tabs as a more permanent solution. Not glued to wheel, mind you. Remove, apply and let dry to make the tabs a bit thicker then reinstall.

chattanooga240 · 10-20-2016, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spydeputy

So I checked on how snug the cap felt with the tape around the prongs.
Using a jewelry (tiny) flat headed screwdriver to pry them off, and they didn't feel that much tighter.
So I removed the tape, cleaned the prongs again and applied the RTV adhesive to every other one.
I let it dry for one hour and then replaced them back on the wheels.
We Will See?

It's not that the tape makes them that much tighter, it provides more resistance to them being able to move with the tape in between the plastic and metal.

Adhesive is probably the best bet for those having them pop off frequently, but tape helps too.

Spydeputy · 10-20-2016, 01:55 PM

Yes, the RTV glued to the prongs made them stickier so they grip better to the inside of the hub, and won't come out as easy. Much better than the duct tape it terms of grip.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nvmaddog

It's not that the tape makes them that much tighter, it provides more resistance to them being able to move with the tape in between the plastic and metal.

Adhesive is probably the best bet for those having them pop off frequently, but tape helps too.

supernova72 · 10-27-2016, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova72

Very good to know. Cheers!!

So I have a favor to ask. My SA did reply back and said as a one time good will gesture he will replace my left front center cap for free.

Can one of the 2ers here give me the part number? I searched for a bit can came up short.

. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

supernova72 · 10-28-2016, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova72

So I have a favor to ask. My SA did reply back and said as a one time good will gesture he will replace my left front center cap for free.

Can one of the 2ers here give me the part number? I searched for a bit can came up short.

. Thanks in advance. Cheers.

bumping this up hoping to get a response on part number for center cap...

doccyber · 11-02-2016, 09:08 AM

My front driver one popped off too. After one year of driving. Need a new one but I also need the size and/or part number if anyone has it please post. Thx.

supernova72 · 11-05-2016, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doccyber

My front driver one popped off too. After one year of driving. Need a new one but I also need the size and/or part number if anyone has it please post. Thx.

Glad you have the same question. I've done multiple searches on Ebay etc and keep getting "this will not fit your vehicle" once I put in the M235i as the model.

doccyber · 11-05-2016, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supernova72

Quote:

Originally Posted by doccyber

My front driver one popped off too. After one year of driving. Need a new one but I also need the size and/or part number if anyone has it please post. Thx.

Glad you have the same question. I've done multiple searches on Ebay etc and keep getting "this will not fit your vehicle" once I put in the M235i as the model.

This is what I found on Amazon for 8 Dollars. OEM. 68 mm diameter.
Part number is on the box. It did fit

supernova72 · 11-06-2016, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doccyber

This is what I found on Amazon for 8 Dollars. OEM. 68 mm diameter.
Part number is on the box. It did fit

Sweet, thanks so much for the part number. Cheers!

Spydeputy · 11-09-2016, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doccyber

This is what I found on Amazon for 8 Dollars. OEM. 68 mm diameter.
Part number is on the box. It did fit

I found the problem with the center caps!
German car part "Made In Italy"

Maynard · 11-10-2016, 03:32 PM

And apparently by Lexus, going by the trademark - probably just an underhanded way to make our cars look worse than theirs.

bluemeanie · 11-10-2016, 05:45 PM

Rtv'd my second front pair. So much fail in these so-called premium vehicles.

10-11-2016, 12:29 PM	#111
riccappa Second Lieutenant 54 Rep 189 Posts Drives: 14' M235i Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	After two and a half years, I finally lost one. Front passenger side. Dealer was cool, replaced it for free, no questions.
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10-11-2016, 05:20 PM	#112
Untdrums Private First Class 76 Rep 132 Posts Drives: '18 440i GC, '15 i3 REX Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: DFW iTrader: (1)	My dealer said the replacement was a "one time goodwill." I've been with the same SA for 4 years now. He's usually good about helping out with things like this and if it happened again I think he'd get me another one. __________________ 2019 CW i3s BEV 2018 EB 440i Gran Coupe 2015 SO i3 REX lease return 2015 EB M235i Euro Delivery 11/26/2014 lease return 2014 MG X1 sDrive 28i MSport lease return 2011 BS 335d sold
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10-12-2016, 12:08 PM	#113
Spydeputy Brigadier General 205 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: 2015 F23 M235i/2008,E90,335xi Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The County, Maryland iTrader: (19) Garage List 2017 X5 M Sport Pac ... [0.00] 2015 M235i, F23 [0.00]	Caps I lost one (FL) last month, and didn't give it a thought. But now that i see this post, I'm going to pop mine off, tape the prongs, and pop them back on. Thanks to the "Losing center caps post!"
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10-19-2016, 12:40 PM	#120
Spydeputy Brigadier General 205 Rep 3,523 Posts Drives: 2015 F23 M235i/2008,E90,335xi Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: The County, Maryland iTrader: (19) Garage List 2017 X5 M Sport Pac ... [0.00] 2015 M235i, F23 [0.00]	Front Caps Don't Seat As Deep !!! So after I put duct tape (thin piece) around all 4 caps I noticed the front caps don't seat as deep as the rear caps do. I made sure the tape was only around the plastic prongs. You can can see and feel the difference. Don't take my word for it, check your BMW and let us know. (hope this wasn't covered before) Last edited by Spydeputy; 10-20-2016 at 07:32 AM..
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11-02-2016, 09:08 AM	#126
doccyber Captain 259 Rep 628 Posts Drives: %D0%97%D0%B0%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B0 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	My front driver one popped off too. After one year of driving. Need a new one but I also need the size and/or part number if anyone has it please post. Thx.
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11-10-2016, 03:32 PM	#131
Maynard Colonel 3848 Rep 2,873 Posts Drives: 228iX & M2C Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (1)	And apparently by Lexus, going by the trademark - probably just an underhanded way to make our cars look worse than theirs.
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11-10-2016, 05:45 PM	#132
bluemeanie Private 17 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 228i=awesome Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: NoVa iTrader: (0)	Rtv'd my second front pair. So much fail in these so-called premium vehicles.
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