Hey! This is NOT what I ordered! What would you do?

[mackeroni]

Just picked up my 2011 135i on Monday. Have driven 135 delightful miles. This car is simply awesome.

Anyway... this evening, I realized that my rear wheels and tires are the wrong size. I ordered the no cost all-season tire option: Star Spoke 142's with 17 x 7 fronts wearing 205/50 all-season tires, and 17 x 17.5 rears with 225/45 tires. As it turns out... all four corners are 17 x 7 with 205/50 rubber.

At first, I thought, what the h*ll! This is not cool at all! However, after a glass of wine and some reflection, I realize there are advantages to having four 205/50's.

1. I can rotate tires.
2. New tire sets will cost less.
3. There is a much bigger replacement tire selection. (19 run-flat choices in this size at TireRack)

On the other hand, if I stick with four 205/50's, what am I giving up?

1. Performance. The rear will not grip as well. I am already giving up some grip by going to the all-season tread. Downsizing from the standard 245/35-18 all the way down to 205/50-17 presents a serious grip compromise. Or... is this actually a benefit? For what it's worth, it will be much easier to break the rear end loose.

2. Rear tires look kinda skinny in this size. (No offense to our 128i brethren and sisteren.)


What would you do? Would you insist that you get what you ordered?... Or would you accept the situation and focus on the benefits?

[Basheezy]

If it were me I would go back to the dealer and get what I actually ordered

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Basheezy

If it were me I would go back to the dealer and get what I actually ordered

+1, but my 128i sport has the 205/50s in front on 17x7 and 225/45 in the rear on 17x7.5 rims.

[Impervious]

I'd be back at the dealership immediately. Your sports car shouldn't have econobox wheels.

[MTribe]

Here's my opinion:

- Breath a sigh of relief that the part you didn't order is as simple as a tire and wheel. It doesn't get any better than that. After reading your title, I was expecting no comfort access, or something impossible to change, but also a headache to wait for another car.

- Realize that any actual, noticeable performance benefits with one tire over another will basically be non-existent in the real world, unless you track you car, in which case the balance will likely be *better* with a smaller rear tire since the car has such bad understeer.

- If you're like me, understand now neurotic you are about these details over time, that that's actually the biggest factor involved, thus suggesting you should make the choice your hunch tells you, or it will eat at you over time, eclipsing any and all actual, practical benefits.

[blacknbean]

205 rears in a 135..thats crazy.

[dMau1986]

Originally Posted by blacknbean

205 rears in a 135..thats crazy.

Absolutely agree. Even the stock 245 rears are not wide enough for the torque of this car.

[kbimmer135i]

i'd take it back. get what you paid for.

[strati1]

im running a 245 rear on my 128 and its the perfect size....go back NOW and get your tires

[Wakka]

yea i'd go get that changed asap if i were you. demand free stuff too... you never know what they might give you

[oman135]

go and change the tires
and do a burnout before u go . jk

[ptack]

Why on earth would you buy a 135i and order even those staggered wheels? You should have saved yourself some money and got a 128i. You basically bought a 300 hp car and put 200 hp wheels on it.

[FJUNO78]

Originally Posted by ptack

Why on earth would you buy a 135i and order even those staggered wheels? You should have saved yourself some money and got a 128i. You basically bought a 300 hp car and put 200 hp wheels on it.

+1

[AW128i]

Originally Posted by ptack

Why on earth would you buy a 135i and order even those staggered wheels? You should have saved yourself some money and got a 128i. You basically bought a 300 hp car and put 200 hp wheels on it.

Well, even the 128i has more than 200 hp

But seriously OP, you need to get sh!t fixed. The 205 tires in the rear on the 128i are borderline adequate in terms of traction and whatnot when the engine is in the meat of the powerband. Throw on another 100 lb-ft and 70 hp and no way those tires can provide adequate grip.

[amancuso]

Originally Posted by Wakka

yea i'd go get that changed asap if i were you. demand free stuff too... you never know what they might give you

BTW, I love your wheels.

[SlickShift]

Originally Posted by blacknbean

205 rears in a 135..thats crazy.

Seriously. My 184hp 325Ci had 225s in the rear.

[The1]

your traction control light blinking at you is going to drive you crazy.

yes 205's are cheaper, but it's going to cost you more because you are going to wear through them twice as fast

it's a bit of a safety factor now too, entering a freeway and flooring it, you could lose control from rear wheel spin and such.

what package do you have? if you have the sport package (i don't know the american setups really) you have a rear sway bar, and with the narrow tires, you're going to have some monster potential for oversteer.

I'm not concerned so much about getting what you pay for, but i'm concerned about safety.

[mackeroni]

Planning a visit to my friendly dealer today to discuss options for my satisfaction. Thanks for all the comments.

[1on135_deal]

well broski its weird idk if you ever take a corner fast, if you never plan on going fast, or if you plan on geting 28-30mpg then keep the tires. Almost like you got the wrong car to begin with lol. But on the other hand you pothole proof tires lol

[IDBMW]

If it turns out the mistake is on BMW NA they will simply send the correct wheel/tire package and be done with it.

If it is the dealers mistake I would have them get you some after market wheels with tries that you like or if you really want what was supposed to be on the car have them make it right. If the price of the after market wheels are not the cost of the BMW wheels you were supposed to have them cash you out for the difference or have them give you some BMW accessories.

I would also try to keep the wheels and tires that were on the car to use as winter wheels. And like MTribe said, be glad it was not something like CA or sports package that they would have to get another car for.

Let us know how it works out.

[Brandon26pdx]

I'd approach them about it and see what they'll do. Shit happens.

[singular]

You should carefully check everything else and make sure you have everything you paid for.