Ilyam5

Sorry about one more tire topic... but after talking to my service advisor I left the shop without changing my winter tires to summer ones... reasons:

1) When car is returned from lease it must have run flats on it according to BMW. I know they won't last (45 K- winters = 30K miles) or even if they do I'll need to replace them to be able to return the car.. I really don't wont to buy expensive runflats to give back to BMW + I'll have to drive on inferior tires (runflats) + risk wheel damage due to hard rubber (style 124 wheels)

2) Tried the car with runflats (my brother's in law) and my car with winter tires ? (bought car back in November so had winter tires since new - Pirelli winter sport 240s all around 265 back, 235 front).
I like my winter tires more than performance runflats: my winter tires are quieter, softer and have better grip - I can go faster through the same corner on my tires than on runflats - I was surprised

3) Dilemma is - Buy new summer tires (preferably PS2) and keep the runflats to return with the car at lease end. - Expensive ($1200)
Drive on winter tires - since they are great - but I know they'll wear out in the summer (new winter tires - $800)
Suck it up and put runflats on (will pay 1400+ at the end of the lease for new runflats)

John W

How can BMW mandate what kind of tires you have, to the point of run-flats? I can see them not liking winter tires, but if you have a spare (here in US), can they really "mandate" run-flat replacements?

That would seem only possible if tires were included in the maintenance program, or if it's specifically stipulated in the lease documents, and disclosed at signing.

Wiu-Bimmer

Can anybody post the lease return conditions in the US?

speedracerF4i

There is a simple solution to this. Just replace your tires with 1/8" of thread still showing, and buy whatever tire you want. Store your original RF tires and put it back on before you return the car.

Sure, you may still have some life on your replacement tires, but on a 36,000 miles lease, you know you have to change the tires at least once.

Tgrey

I thought there was a problem with regular tires not fitting on the runflat rims. If thats that case you have to also buy another set of rims, which changes the economics. My lease paragraph 30(i) on the back related to excessive wear and tear describes tires as "serviceable tires with tread of at least 1/8 " remaining at the shallowest point, all of the same greade, quantity and quality as those delivered with the Vehicle." I suppose that suggests runflats when sold, runflats when returned.

TitaniumGray5

I thought there was a problem with regular tires not fitting on the runflat rims. If thats that case you have to also buy another set of rims, which changes the economics. My lease paragraph 30(i) on the back related to excessive wear and tear describes tires as "serviceable tires with tread of at least 1/8 " remaining at the shallowest point, all of the same greade, quantity and quality as those delivered with the Vehicle." I suppose that suggests runflats when sold, runflats when returned.
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Regular tires fit just fine. If your car is a 545 and you have a spare, I'm sure you won't have any trouble returning the car without runflats.

Rudy

Whey they say "same grade" of tire, they mean something with a similar performance and speed rating. They're trying to make sure you don't throw the cheapest tires on the car before lease turn-in.

I doubt they will be expecting runflats...

Tgrey

I have an '05 525i with a spare, so if you're right, and no runflats are required, that is great news.

Now has anyone actually dealt with this at the end of a lease?

Ågent99

I don't think anyone's lease is officially up! 2006/7 will be the return of the 2004 cars. Isn't 3 years the minimum lease time?

This assumes no one has broken their lease, of course....

Rudy

I've never done it but I think you can lease for 12 or 24 months...