Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[New21er]

I'm about to take delivery of my new 1er. While i'm in the signing" hot box" they will try pushing extras. What is your take on the tire & wheel protection plan? Do you think it's worth the $ ?

[spfdenhugh]

I bought a complete set of wheels with TMPS and tires off a fellow member for $500. That is my wheel and tire insurance! (he had upgraded to aftermarket wheels/tires). Cheaper than the insurance and and extra set of tires to "prolong my runflat misery" if I desire (I am at that point now with my rears almost at the wear bars).

[onefastman]

I got it and it has paid for itself twice.

I live in the city so that makes a big difference but I have had 5 tires replaced due to nails or blow outs and at $300+ a piece and the warranty only being half that I say I made a good decision.

[tomegun]

Originally Posted by onefastman

I got it and it has paid for itself twice.

I live in the city so that makes a big difference but I have had 5 tires replaced due to nails or blow outs and at $300+ a piece and the warranty only being half that I say I made a good decision.

When I had the protection for my 335 they told me that they would only replace each tire once. For instance, if I had a replacement on my front passenger's tire they wouldn't replace that tire again regardless of what happened to it.

Was this something specific to my warranty or is this normal? I leased the 335 from a dealer in Pensacola.

[Diver]

I feel the wheel & tire warranty was the only item offered using high pressure sales tactics. Like any type of insurance, they don't sell it unless they expect to take in more than they pay out over time. Personally, I thought $1400 was insanely expensive for this sort of coverage.

They made a point of saying if you need a new wheel it cost's $1000. That is true, but a wheel repair guy I spoke to said about 98% of all damaged wheels they get in can be repaired.

In my many years of driving, at least 80% of all flats were at or near the end of the useful life of the tire. Keep that in mind.

YMMV

[Brandon26pdx]

My take is don't pay for any of that crap they try to shove on you, including the wheel/tire insurance. why pay the money up front for something that may or may not happen? If something does happen, then deal with it as you see fit.

[drufe]

It was the only thing I went with and I normally never go for that stuff. However, after having many nails in my tires over the years and hitting a few pot holes and damaging wheels, I thought it was worth the money to not have to worry. Plus, everything is negotiable and I was able to get them down in price to a reasonable amount. Also, they will cover the cost for aftermarket wheels/tires, up to the replacement cost of stock, so even if you upgrade to non-RFT tires or custom wheels, you're still covered somewhat. We'll see if I get my money back. Now that I've got it, I'm sure I'll never see another nail or pot hole as long as I own the car, but if I hadn't gotten it, I would have trashed two wheels already by now.

[Brandon26pdx]

Yeah, that's kinda how the universe works sometimes. Don't ever cancel your car insurance...you can count on that being the day some idiot will run a red and plow into you at an intersection.

[NewYearsBoy]

Originally Posted by Brandon26pdx

My take is don't pay for any of that crap they try to shove on you, including the wheel/tire insurance. why pay the money up front for something that may or may not happen? If something does happen, then deal with it as you see fit.

Thats what I thought... I have had 2 nails... in one week... On the same tire... The old one and then the new one... (Had less than 200 miles on it)

$400+$400= $800

Im switching over to regular tires...

[New21er]

Well, I got the tire & wheel protection after all. Paid $1149.00 for it. At .09 apr I put it on the contract. Almost free money.

[Bruck]

I almost never get that stuff but I decided to go with it. (wheel and tire). It has already paid for itself almost twice in the first year. Got 7 tires!!!

My dealer/policy pays out any time that I need to buy a tire due to road hazard. No once per location bs. I'd ask to see your contract. That sounds bogus.

Get it for sure!!

[Diver]

Sorry about all those nails. Are you guys sure there isn't some gnome running around hammering those nails into your tread while U sleep?

[onefastman]

Wow it has gone up in price, I paid $749 for the protection.

Are you sure they cover aftermarket wheels and tires up to the oem cost?
I have been buying run-flats because they told me they wouldnt conver them. I guess I need to read my agreement again...

[tpg22]

I only paid $700 as well. I guess I got a good deal.

[new128]

Originally Posted by Bruck

I almost never get that stuff but I decided to go with it. (wheel and tire). It has already paid for itself almost twice in the first year. Got 7 tires!!!

My dealer/policy pays out any time that I need to buy a tire due to road hazard. No once per location bs. I'd ask to see your contract. That sounds bogus.

Get it for sure!!

7 tires in one year! Do you drive through construction sites every day?
Sounds like most of your driving is to your dealer to replace tires.

[teddyb]

Finance guy basically told me yesterday that I was an idiot for not taking the coverage. I say to each his own. Mine is a car that will be driven about 5k miles a year for pleasure, not in day to day traffic and mainly on the highway. Might I blowout a tire on the highway - sure, but I see that as an acceptable risk. Others may not.

[drufe]

Originally Posted by onefastman

Are you sure they cover aftermarket wheels and tires up to the oem cost?
I have been buying run-flats because they told me they wouldnt conver them. I guess I need to read my agreement again...

I specifically asked the finance manager this question several times as I was very hesitant about purchasing the coverage. I said to him that I was balking at getting it because I would more than likely upgrade to some aftermarket wheels and tires at some point, so the coverage wouldn't be that useful. He told me several times that the coverage would still apply, but only up to the amount of OEM replacement cost. I'll pull out my agreement to verify this and let you know for sure.

[onefastman]

Wonderful as I cant find mine

[NewYearsBoy]

Originally Posted by Diver

Sorry about all those nails. Are you guys sure there isn't some gnome running around hammering those nails into your tread while U sleep?

HAHA... Thats what my dad said someone from BMW running around doing it....

In FL there are new developments everywhere... it sucks...

[FJUNO78]

i've been driving bmw's with sports package tires for 5 years in NYC. Our roads are bad, I have never had an incident that would have been covered. I never take optional insurance on something I can afford to replace.

Like other's have said, bmw doesn't push this crap on you to to be nice. They do it to tack on additional profit.

In 15yrs of driving, I think I have gotten 2 flats due to road hazzards. And if you catch a nail in a RFT, you can patch it as long as you do not drive on the tire without air. Don't drink the kool aid.

[IDBMW]

For the wheel/tire insurance some of you are paying you could get a second set of wheels and tires. Like some of the other replies mentioned, I have never damaged a wheel and only had a few flats so it would be a waste for me to get the insurance. I guess if you are damaging wheels and tires on your cars it would be worth it but if that is happening there is most likely some other damage going on with the car taking a beating like that.

One other option would to buy a used wheel and tire off e-bay that is the same and store it. If you did not use it you could get some of your money back when you sold your car. If you have the staggered wheels/tires it complicates it a little.

Most car buying guides say not to take any of the extras like wheel/tire insurance.

[teddyb]

Originally Posted by FJUNO78

Don't drink the kool aid.

+1!!