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2Addicts | BMW 2-Series forum BMW 2 Series (F22) Forum BMW 2 Series Coupe and Cabriolet (F22/F23) General Forum So Much for the Blown Out RFT...

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      05-22-2019, 07:32 PM   #1
Unicorn123
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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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      05-22-2019, 08:28 PM   #2
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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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      05-23-2019, 01:39 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unicorn123 View Post
Well...

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.
This post and many others seem to suggest that run flat tires have something to do with bent wheels. I have trouble imagining how RFTs could increase the chances of bending a wheel.

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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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poochie View Post

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..
Thanks, Poochie. Appreciate the clip as well!

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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      05-23-2019, 07:00 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by albertw View Post
This post and many others seem to suggest that run flat tires have something to do with bent wheels. I have trouble imagining how RFTs could increase the chances of bending a wheel.

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?
Albert, As noted, I am not a "real engineer" but I do not think there is anything to miss and my intent was not to imply any such relationship. Merely stating the limited objective evidence regarding bent and misshapen wheels. As I noted in my response to Poochie, there does not appear to be any good data suggesting a causal relationship here, however if someone can establish a cause and effect relationship between RTF's and cast aluminum wheels bending, we would have evidence for a CAS against BMW NA for a poorly engineered setup that is potentially life threatening in their quest to achieve higher profits. I guess one alternate theory is that if the wheels are bent, the car is speed limited by vibration...

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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      05-23-2019, 07:19 AM   #6
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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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Quote:
Originally Posted by Poochie View Post
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..
Agreed. Forged wheels are very robust (my extra set of 20 Y/O S4 Avus forged wheels are still serving my son well on this GTI); although modern LP casting technology should create a pretty solid wheel. If you look at an aircraft engine, all of the critical rotating components are forged as the mechanical properties are superior...

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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      05-23-2019, 07:40 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unicorn123 View Post
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!
Just responding regarding the E93 335i 6M is what I had before I bought my M235. We put about 78K on it (2007) but it starting leaking oil from oil cooler and engine and didn’t want to put another $1,500 in it. N54 ran hard and no real problems other than ignition coils. On my side note, used to work for Lego and lived just above Hartford.
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      05-24-2019, 06:47 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky13 View Post
Just responding regarding the E93 335i 6M is what I had before I bought my M235. We put about 78K on it (2007) but it starting leaking oil from oil cooler and engine and didn’t want to put another $1,500 in it. N54 ran hard and no real problems other than ignition coils. On my side note, used to work for Lego and lived just above Hartford.
Thanks, Lucky. I appreciate the insights.

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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      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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      05-24-2019, 04:38 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucky13 View Post
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.
Lucky,

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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      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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