05-22-2019, 07:32 PM | #1 |
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So Much for the Blown Out RFT...
Well...
A few weeks back we were commiserating with Plynth regarding his blown out RTF when I (again, noting the irony) had the same thing happen to me the next day at 0545 hours in the middle of Hartford on I-84W. I had a significant vibration in the front end after getting a tire replaced and finally had time to take the car to my local excellent mechanic. As suspected, the RF rim was seriously bent, not necessarily at the impact point but the run-out from the hub was freaking huge (we're talking 30mm at least, maybe more) and the damn wheel looked like a weeble on the balancing machine. In fact, all four wheels (I noticed a subtle vibration when I bought the car but chalked it up to a bad balance) are bent to varying degrees, which were visually obvious on the balance, as I witnessed all four wheels spinning. In every case, there was significant run-out. I was seriously bent (no pun intended). Besides just bitching in general (which is the essential purpose of my whinging here), how in the heck can BMW sell a car with such poor quality wheels. I realize we are not buying Hummer's here, but this is rather ridiculous. I have never had a BMW (or any other car for that matter) with such abysmal wheels and it is appalling that they feel that these factory wheels are "good enough", for a car that delivers such high performance. I am not a mechanical engineer (I'm the engineer that designs the materials and processes that the wheels are made from and with) but really? Considering the critical importance of wheels and tires in stopping the car and keeping it attached to the road, I find it very disturbing. Thanks for letting me vent. New wheels with real tires are being express shipped in Friday. Looking forward to spending the weekend enjoying a really great car that drives as it should with proper tires and wheels that are actually straight and round. Stuck with the square setup... On a side note, drove an E93 335i 6M 1 owner retractable my local indie is selling used. Might buy it to replace my Z3, which I love but as noted previously, is too low to drive on the pothole / frost heaved roads here in NE CT. The top on the E93 is wicked cool and I must admit, I really enjoyed the ride. It handled quite well, has plenty of power and was a fun ride...I miss having a ragtop, or a reasonable facsimile thereof!
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
Retired (a few of them...), 08 E60 550i 6M, 01 Audi S4, 70 Fiat 124, 88 E28 M5, 72 Datsun 510 2Dr, 73 TR6 |
05-22-2019, 08:28 PM | #2 |
Luxury at the redline :)
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Runflats saved me a few times but I live in NYC where the smoothest roads still resembles the Gaza Strip, so it's a costly investment but I'm glad the technology exist, in spite of that.. |
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Unicorn123186.50 happyjack1657.00 |
05-23-2019, 01:39 AM | #3 | |
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The stiffer sidewall of a RFT will spread the impact over a longer section of rim, and I suppose that might increase the chances of bending a longer section of the wheel a small amount instead of visibly denting a short section of the rim. So the nature of the damage might be different and less visible. But more frequent? If so, what am I missing?
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05-23-2019, 06:44 AM | #4 | |
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I agree that driving through the city requires a lunar rover (I drive to and through frequently and spend a frightening amount of time testing my reflexes to avoid tire damage) and in principle, love the idea of a RFT. As a precaution, I will likely buy a spare kit since I drive a lot and my M235 is my DD and go to car. So far, 7 months and 14K miles... Honestly, my big issue is with the wheels. I cannot necessarily make the determination for a link to a causal relationship between the tire design and the wheels bending... not enough good data.
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
Retired (a few of them...), 08 E60 550i 6M, 01 Audi S4, 70 Fiat 124, 88 E28 M5, 72 Datsun 510 2Dr, 73 TR6 |
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Poochie9099.00 |
05-23-2019, 07:00 AM | #5 | |
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As a fun time wasting exercise, I may take the rims once my new wheels are on the car and put them on a rock with a dial indicator or put them in a spindle with the same measuring tools and take a look at the wheel distortion. I have a feeling they will all rock on a surface plate...After seeing the wiggly worm in the balancer, I have to believe the variance will be staggering (again, no pun intended). A secondary query here is has anyone had reasonable success straightening these wheels? I'd hate to have to by another set of rims for the snow tires...
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
Retired (a few of them...), 08 E60 550i 6M, 01 Audi S4, 70 Fiat 124, 88 E28 M5, 72 Datsun 510 2Dr, 73 TR6 |
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05-23-2019, 07:19 AM | #6 |
Luxury at the redline :)
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To prevent your wheel from bending beside swapping it for a SUV, is to maybe get one the forged aluminum wheels BMW offers for the 2 series: 405M or 624M.
Forged wheels and the cockroaches are the only two things that would survived an apocalypse.. i.e. They're strong.. |
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05-23-2019, 07:44 AM | #7 | |
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Regarding SUV's, I am a wagon / hatchback guy myself. Really do not understand the attraction, but my wife loves her X5, which I drive as little as possible.
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
Retired (a few of them...), 08 E60 550i 6M, 01 Audi S4, 70 Fiat 124, 88 E28 M5, 72 Datsun 510 2Dr, 73 TR6 |
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05-23-2019, 07:40 PM | #8 | |
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1995 325i, 1996 328ci, 1997 528i, 1997 Z3 2.8, 2000 528i, 2001 X5 3.0, 2001 330i Convertible, 2002 M3 Convertible, 2003 M3 Coupe, 2004 M3 Coupe, 2004 Z4 3.0, 2004 X3 3.0, 2007 X3 3.0, 2007 335i Convertible, 2013 X1 28 sdrive, 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30i Xdrive
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05-24-2019, 06:47 AM | #9 | |
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I am at a funny point here with my convertible needs. Until the Z3 (excepting a 325i Vert from 1998-2001), I have had a steady diet of Alfa and Fiat roadsters from the mid-80's until 2014, when I sold my '70 Fiat 124 and bought the Z3 later that year. I really like the Z3 but I bought it modified and it drives great but really is not a practical driver due to the suspension modifications. My time is very tight so perhaps I am just getting lazy, but the E93 was nice and the convenience of the hardtop combined with the 6M (which I really miss with my M235I xdrive) and one of the 5 great days we get in CT annually made it a real pleasure to cruise in. On the heavy side (you can feel the bulk on the twisty bits) but really easy to enjoy, more of a GT than a sporting machine. My son wants me to get a 911 Vert (probably so he can borrow it) but if I am going to get a 911, it will be a hardtop, I'd rather have a more practical vert than a 911.
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
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05-24-2019, 11:18 AM | #10 |
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I didn’t realize summer lasted 5 days in CT, didn’t even have air conditioning in our house it was so cold. Had 5 BMW convertibles all with manuals, Z3, Z4, E46 330i, E46 M3 and the E93 335 and I do miss having one in South Carolina. The 335 was 4,000 lbs so in that respect didn’t handle great even with the sport package.
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1995 325i, 1996 328ci, 1997 528i, 1997 Z3 2.8, 2000 528i, 2001 X5 3.0, 2001 330i Convertible, 2002 M3 Convertible, 2003 M3 Coupe, 2004 M3 Coupe, 2004 Z4 3.0, 2004 X3 3.0, 2007 X3 3.0, 2007 335i Convertible, 2013 X1 28 sdrive, 2014 M235 manual, 2020 X3 30i Xdrive
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Unicorn123186.50 |
05-24-2019, 04:38 PM | #11 | |
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I visit SC frequently as we have a factory there and would definitely have a convertible if I lived there, even if it was an older "classic". Driving from our plant near Charlotte to another one near Roanoke, VA I would love to rent a vert for that drive. Lovely. I'll get one this summer. Here in CT, the weather thus far in 2019 has been rubbish, but Wednesday was a prefect day (70F, Sunny) to take a test drive. Regarding the length of the summer, your observation is correct, it is slightly longer, but we seem to get few "perfect" days for a nice convertible ride... So many cars, so little time!
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
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05-24-2019, 04:42 PM | #12 |
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On a separate note, my new wheels (18X8 low pressure cast, 45mm offset, hub centric) arrived with Conti Extremes (OEM Size) on them, and the first drive was wonderful. No shimmy at speed, handling is much better. Seems like a new car...
Will take it for a run tonight...
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Current Fleet, 16 F22 M235i xDrive, 15 Audi Q5 3.0 TDI (my Wife's), 07 E85 Z4M Roadster, 01 Toyota Tundra 2wd Long Bed
Retired (a few of them...), 08 E60 550i 6M, 01 Audi S4, 70 Fiat 124, 88 E28 M5, 72 Datsun 510 2Dr, 73 TR6 |
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