Got BMW to replace my runflat tires!
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Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Scottsdale, AZ USA
My Ride: 2004 545iA Jet Black, Black, Sport, Prem Sound, PDC, Rear sunshades, integrated phone, Sirius, Huper Optik tint, Euro Reflectors
Good to hear that BMW is finally acknowleding this as a problem. By the way, you won't believe the difference in ride and control with the new Bridgestones. My car is like new again!
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Joined: May 2004
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My $0.02 on my new tires - I recently replaced the Dunlops with Eagle F1 GS-D3s. I'd had them on my E39 and loved them, so they were my first choice for the E60.
1. They are much more comfortable than the Dunlops. Since the sidewalls are softer, bumps are softer, potholes, lane markers, etc. All are quieter and less harsh.
2. They are very responsive to steering input and really stick like glue in both dry and wet conditions.
3. They're quiet. I'm back to hearing only engine and wind noise, not road roar.
Now, the bad.
1. They develop temporary flat spots easily. The 275s are really prone to this, and you need to warm them up prior to getting on the freeway, or it's terrible. I have now had them road-force balanced, and once they're warm, they're smooth as glass, but until then, they're lumpy.
2. Since they have softer sidewalls, they will be prone to edge wear, especially on the fronts. So, I'm running them harder than the Dunlops to try to minimize this. Right now I'm at 35 Front, 39 Rear. That means that you do give back a little comfort, but they're clearly still much preferred over the Dunlops in this respect.
3. They give more in corners, due again to the sidewalls being softer. So, for the first time, the car is a little bit softer going into turns. That's a downside I hadn't expected, and is a little disappointing. Once you're in the turn and loaded up, it's great, but the car gives a little more than I'd expected.
4. On the freeway, the car is a little twitchier with the new tires. I'm not sure yet whether this is good or bad. It's not tramlining, but when active steering makes a correction for the wind, etc, the car reacts more than it did with the Dunlops. I suppose that's better steering response, but I'm not 100% convinced that a tire with really strong steering response is the best match for active steering. It ends up feeling like over-correction. I wonder if BMW didn't engineer AS to be matched with a more neutral tire. I list it as bad because it's different.
That's my initial feedback on the GS-D3s. All I have to compare them to on this car is the Dunlops.
1. They are much more comfortable than the Dunlops. Since the sidewalls are softer, bumps are softer, potholes, lane markers, etc. All are quieter and less harsh.
2. They are very responsive to steering input and really stick like glue in both dry and wet conditions.
3. They're quiet. I'm back to hearing only engine and wind noise, not road roar.
Now, the bad.
1. They develop temporary flat spots easily. The 275s are really prone to this, and you need to warm them up prior to getting on the freeway, or it's terrible. I have now had them road-force balanced, and once they're warm, they're smooth as glass, but until then, they're lumpy.
2. Since they have softer sidewalls, they will be prone to edge wear, especially on the fronts. So, I'm running them harder than the Dunlops to try to minimize this. Right now I'm at 35 Front, 39 Rear. That means that you do give back a little comfort, but they're clearly still much preferred over the Dunlops in this respect.
3. They give more in corners, due again to the sidewalls being softer. So, for the first time, the car is a little bit softer going into turns. That's a downside I hadn't expected, and is a little disappointing. Once you're in the turn and loaded up, it's great, but the car gives a little more than I'd expected.
4. On the freeway, the car is a little twitchier with the new tires. I'm not sure yet whether this is good or bad. It's not tramlining, but when active steering makes a correction for the wind, etc, the car reacts more than it did with the Dunlops. I suppose that's better steering response, but I'm not 100% convinced that a tire with really strong steering response is the best match for active steering. It ends up feeling like over-correction. I wonder if BMW didn't engineer AS to be matched with a more neutral tire. I list it as bad because it's different.
That's my initial feedback on the GS-D3s. All I have to compare them to on this car is the Dunlops.
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 18
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From: Tennessee
My Ride: 2008 535i
BMWNA is replacing my Dunlop RFT with Bridgstone RFT, no charge. 
I had 4000 miles on them, and they were cupped and causing vibration feedback beginning around 40 mph. Production of my car was 05/04. I would definitely pursue this tire issue with BMWNA if you are experiencing problems.
I had 4000 miles on them, and they were cupped and causing vibration feedback beginning around 40 mph. Production of my car was 05/04. I would definitely pursue this tire issue with BMWNA if you are experiencing problems.
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Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Alberta, Canada
Originally Posted by jeffnin' date='Jan 25 2005, 08:12 PM
Good for you, Brian! It really bothers me that we have to fight over this tire issue when there is clearly a problem with early production Dunlop RF. If neither you nor I had complained, we would have been forced to fork over $1000+ for new tires. Too bad that your dealer didn't go to bat for you as mine did.
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Originally Posted by jeffnin' date='Jan 10 2005, 12:31 PM
Well after putting up with the horrendous tire roar on my 04 545i, BMW has agreed to replace my Dunlop runflats with Bridgestones. I have 11,400 miles on the car (picked it up on 1/17/04) and like many on this board, I have seen the noise worsen over the past 2000 miles or so. This is my 7th BMW, all with Sport Packages, and the first one with tire noise at such low mileage. In the past, I have gone at least 20,000 miles before I've noticed wear and noise. My Dunlops show little sign of wear, but the noise from these tires is unbearable. My SA indicated that he has had many complaints from early Dunlop runflat owners, so I guess our complaining is finally resulting in BMW doing something about it. Needless to say, I am very pleased with the outcome having just recently been quoted $1000+ for new tires. While I would have preferred to go with Goodyears, I guess that I can't be too picky since BMW is picking up the tab.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
[snapback]77760[/snapback]
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 111
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From: Southern California, Irvine
My Ride: Soon to be 2005 5-series
Originally Posted by jeffnin' date='Jan 10 2005, 10:31 AM
Well after putting up with the horrendous tire roar on my 04 545i, BMW has agreed to replace my Dunlop runflats with Bridgestones. I have 11,400 miles on the car (picked it up on 1/17/04) and like many on this board, I have seen the noise worsen over the past 2000 miles or so. This is my 7th BMW, all with Sport Packages, and the first one with tire noise at such low mileage. In the past, I have gone at least 20,000 miles before I've noticed wear and noise. My Dunlops show little sign of wear, but the noise from these tires is unbearable. My SA indicated that he has had many complaints from early Dunlop runflat owners, so I guess our complaining is finally resulting in BMW doing something about it. Needless to say, I am very pleased with the outcome having just recently been quoted $1000+ for new tires. While I would have preferred to go with Goodyears, I guess that I can't be too picky since BMW is picking up the tab.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
[snapback]77760[/snapback]
Thanks,
Leonard.
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Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 59
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Originally Posted by a061444' date='Feb 25 2005, 11:51 AM
[quote name='jeffnin' date='Jan 10 2005, 10:31 AM']Well after putting up with the horrendous tire roar on my 04 545i, BMW has agreed to replace my Dunlop runflats with Bridgestones. I have 11,400 miles on the car (picked it up on 1/17/04) and like many on this board, I have seen the noise worsen over the past 2000 miles or so. This is my 7th BMW, all with Sport Packages, and the first one with tire noise at such low mileage. In the past, I have gone at least 20,000 miles before I've noticed wear and noise. My Dunlops show little sign of wear, but the noise from these tires is unbearable. My SA indicated that he has had many complaints from early Dunlop runflat owners, so I guess our complaining is finally resulting in BMW doing something about it. Needless to say, I am very pleased with the outcome having just recently been quoted $1000+ for new tires. While I would have preferred to go with Goodyears, I guess that I can't be too picky since BMW is picking up the tab.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
[snapback]77760[/snapback]
Thanks,
Leonard.
[snapback]94318[/snapback]
[/quote]I had the same response from my dealer but after speaking with the "factory" they now say BMW NA is aware of the problem and is replacing all load Dunlop RFs. I am told that the same result can be obtained by going to a Dunlop dealer and that Dunlop is paying for all, including ones done by a BMW dealer.
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 157
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From: Philadelphia, PA USA
My Ride: MY 2004 545i; April build; 6 speed; silver grey metalic; black leather; poplar; sport package; cold weather; active steering; xenons .
The Bridgestone Run-Flats are much better than the OEM Dunlops.
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Joined: Aug 2004
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Originally Posted by dstompkins' date='Feb 25 2005, 11:56 AM
[quote name='a061444' date='Feb 25 2005, 11:51 AM'][quote name='jeffnin' date='Jan 10 2005, 10:31 AM']Well after putting up with the horrendous tire roar on my 04 545i, BMW has agreed to replace my Dunlop runflats with Bridgestones. I have 11,400 miles on the car (picked it up on 1/17/04) and like many on this board, I have seen the noise worsen over the past 2000 miles or so. This is my 7th BMW, all with Sport Packages, and the first one with tire noise at such low mileage. In the past, I have gone at least 20,000 miles before I've noticed wear and noise. My Dunlops show little sign of wear, but the noise from these tires is unbearable. My SA indicated that he has had many complaints from early Dunlop runflat owners, so I guess our complaining is finally resulting in BMW doing something about it. Needless to say, I am very pleased with the outcome having just recently been quoted $1000+ for new tires. While I would have preferred to go with Goodyears, I guess that I can't be too picky since BMW is picking up the tab.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
I'll provide a report on how the new Bridgestones hold up. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
[snapback]77760[/snapback]
Thanks,
Leonard.
[snapback]94318[/snapback]
[/quote]I had the same response from my dealer but after speaking with the "factory" they now say BMW NA is aware of the problem and is replacing all load Dunlop RFs. I am told that the same result can be obtained by going to a Dunlop dealer and that Dunlop is paying for all, including ones done by a BMW dealer.
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[/quote]Update: BMW will only pay for 50% of my new tires...after much arguing, dealer agreed to pay for 25% and I'm paying $300.
