To join in the debate on RFTs when I bought my car 2006 520d tourer, I did not like the concept of them as I tow a caravan to remote areas in Scotland and when car is fully laden you can only drive 30 miles on punctured tyre!! No use to me.
I managed to source a space saver wheel from ebay, cost ?63 for a E46 17" 125/80 which fits car perfectly and fits in well below rear floor (after carpet covering removed) no probs. I spoke to my local tyre dealer who says no problem to change to normal tyres from RFTs on my rims so just waiting for them to wear then replace them all. = better ride and piece of mind.

bengbong.

 

I'm sort of in two minds now about runflats.

A couple of weekends ago, I was driving back from Devon when I heard a big bang under braking. And while the 'tyre pressure warning' symbol came on, it's been playing up (gone off incorrectly probably 5 or six times overthe last six months) and at the time I didn't link the two. I originally thought that one of the bags in the boot had slammed into the back of the rear seats as I had to brake suddenly for someone who pulled out onto a fast road at about 10 mph.

Anyway, as I drove off, the car didn't feel right and I did then begin to wonder whether we did actually have a puncture this time. So I pulled over and looked over all the tyres. Nothing obvious, but the nearside rear looked a little under-inflated.

Carried on and it seemed to be getting worse so we headed for the nearest garage to check the tryes. Typically the garage was closed for repairs. After a saga which included the BMW assistance guy telling us that someone was coming, but then phoning us an hour later to say they weren't, I finally got recovered to a friend's house. Where I then had to be recovered again to a Kwik Fit in the morning.

The tyre fitter took off the tyre and asked me how bad I thought it was.

Upon turning it around there was what I can only describe as a massive gash in the back of the tyre. Probably about an inch and a half wide and at least 10-12 inches long.

Now I can't say if it was that bad to begin with or driving a further 30 miles or so made it that bad, but it was remarkable it got us that far. The tyre fitter reckoned the tyre would have been off the wheel had it been a normal tyre. Which doesn't bear thinking about.

So, while being essentially stranded overnight was a pain, I do think the tyres saved us from something a lot more serious.

HOWEVER.

The blow out was caused by some tracking/toeing issue. FRom the outer edge, the tyre was nearing the limit, but due to the angle they sit at, the inner edge was through to the canvas.

Impossible to spot on the rear without being under the car. BUT, as I mentioned earlier, the tyre indicator keeps coming on and the car was in at BMW the week before to resest that and (presumably) check all the tyres to ensure that there wasn't a puncture.

So I'm miffed that they didn't spot it, however, ultimately the responsibility for your own tyres rests with the owner. Me.

Finally, the fitter also noted a bulge on the other rear tyre, so that needs to be replaced too.

Damn expensive.

 

My father had RFTs on his 335i convertible. After two high speed blowouts, we decided that the RFTs are a defective design and a danger. We replaced them with non-RFTs and bought the BMW "Mobility Kit" for the trunk.

He's very happy with the upgrade in ride quality and he hasn't had a blowout in four months.

I keep saying this - BMW should be ashamed of themselves for going with RFTs. They suck.

 

Hear hear