04-17-2012, 09:19 PM | #1 |
New Member
6
Rep 24
Posts |
Should I buy wheel & tire insurance?
The dealer is offering me wheel and tire insurance for $1,299.00 for five years. For the wheels it covers warping, cracking, etc if I hit a pothole, curb, etc. It does not cover scuffs. For the tires, it provides a new tire if I get a puncture on the run-flats as long as they are not "bald" already.
I am ordering a 328i luxury line with the standard 18 inch wheels with all season tires. Is this a good investment? Tires are about $240 each and a wheel is around $1,000 each. |
04-17-2012, 09:32 PM | #2 |
Second Lieutenant
46
Rep 223
Posts |
Generally dealers make out thieves on these 'deal closing' offers and are normally something you will never fully use. You normally can find better, cheaper tires (stock are usually softer compound that wear quicker, meaning you will have to replace in 1-2 years anyway). If it's worth the piece of mind to you, then go for it, but IMHO I don't think it's worth it.
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-17-2012, 10:40 PM | #6 |
New Member
6
Rep 24
Posts |
Let me re-state my question...
This is my first BMW. This is my first car with "low profile" tires (though, not as "thin" as the sport line, for example. My past cars were like Honda Accord and Mazda Protege. I just don't know if tires and wheels with a car like this is likely to have a problem if I hit a pothole or not. I do tend to get nails and screws in tires every once in a while, but in the past they could be patched...now they will not be able to be patched...replaced is the only option. AAARRRGH! In some respects, it seems sensible, but in others, it seems unlikely. I need to know what "real world" drivers in BMW's are experiencing... |
Appreciate
0
|
04-17-2012, 11:01 PM | #7 |
Second Lieutenant
46
Rep 223
Posts |
The only point I was trying to make is that on average, you overpay for these types of deals. If you look at most car-buying advice articles, they say not to do these deals. Odds are against you having a problem in the short term, and if it's for 5 years, the tires will not last that long, it doesn't cover normal wear and tear.
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-17-2012, 11:23 PM | #8 |
New Member
6
Rep 24
Posts |
Thanks for the advice!
Food for thought: over the course of five years, each set of tires I buy will be covered under the "new tire" warranty. So, for example, if at the end of year two, I buy 4 new tires, and a month later 1 of them gets a flat, it will be replaced. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-17-2012, 11:58 PM | #9 | |
Second Lieutenant
46
Rep 223
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 06:38 AM | #10 |
Private First Class
26
Rep 125
Posts |
Agreed. Odds are that this insurance will cost you more in the end--that's how both the dealer *and* the insurance provider profit from this. FWIW, I've been driving BMWs for nearly 20 years and have never bent a rim!
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 09:15 AM | #11 |
Major
176
Rep 1,063
Posts |
Geography might also be a decision factor here as well. Given that you're in Austin, TX....you might not necessarily need this. If you were further north where massive potholes are an annual road hazard and sometimes unavoidable, you might be more inclined to consider this. Not saying that TX doesn't have potholes, but they don't seem to pop up as quickly and ominously in snow-bound areas.
__________________
Delivered --> '21 G01 X3 M40i, 8SA, Sunstone Metallic with Cognac Vernasca, 22Z, ZDA, ZDB, ZPK, ZPP w/ 4HA, ZPX, 2VF, 3AC, 4K1, 688, 6NW, 5DF
Past --> ?19 G01 X3 m40i, 15 F33 328xi, 8SA, '13 F30 328i, '08 E92 335xi, '95 E34 530i, '88 E30 M3 |
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 09:28 AM | #12 |
Major
424
Rep 1,325
Posts |
The price is steep. Do you plan on keeping the stock rims/run flats for 5 years? If You can negotiate with your dealer the price to say 700. Then maybe it would be a better deal.
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 09:32 AM | #13 |
Lieutenant
41
Rep 516
Posts |
Around here BMW wheels are known to damage very easily due to all the potholes. Pretty much everyone I know with a BMW has replaced one, or more.
Still for $1700 thats like 4 new high quality wheels. The tires, I doubt you will need that unless you work or live near a construction zone. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 09:36 AM | #14 | |
Colonel
99
Rep 2,323
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 10:51 AM | #15 |
Lieutenant
47
Rep 420
Posts |
Counter View
I'm going to give a counter view on this, seeing as it was a forum like this that actually helped me to make a more informed decision for me.
Prior to my 2006, 330i e90, I had no experience driving or handling run-flat tires, nor did I know that they were more expensive (I gathered they were) and that they cannot be repaired. So, I researched and got information from various forums and websites which encouraged getting the insurance. Initially, I was against it myself but after getting 3 tires replaced in less than three years, I'm so happy I did. No cost, no frustration and totally worth it. I see you got a 328i Luxury Line, and the lowest price on a run-flat I found was $200 for a Pirelli P7 and that depends on if you got that particular one. If not, it'll be somewhat more expensive. Typically the tires will not be that price, they will be marked up at the dealership, plus you've got to account for labor and the mounting of the wheel. Total will come out to roughly $300. In any case, this is my opinion and hopefully good advise to you. I'm happy I went with it, essentially it's the "price to play" for getting run-flats. You never know when you might get a flat, and if you happen to be as flat prone as I seem to be over the course of 5 years you'll probably need at least 5 replacements. P.S. if you really want to make it worth your while, nobody tells you can't put a nail in your own tire for a replacement, it's not ethical but if that's what it takes for you to see a "value" you've got to do, what you need to do. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 10:52 AM | #16 |
Mouseketeer
45
Rep 102
Posts
Drives: 2018 BMW M3/Tananite
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Snoqualmie, WA
|
The pitch that I got was that if you got a flat that you would not only have to replace the tire but the entire wheel, making having one flat more or less pay for the cost of the insurance. They also said that if you have one flat and drive for any distance (more than 5 miles say) that it was likely you would have to replace the wheel/tire on the opposite side as well.
This is my first BMW and first experience with RFT. Are RFTs really that sensitive? |
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 11:08 AM | #17 | |
Lieutenant
47
Rep 420
Posts |
Quote:
Regarding your question, if they're really that sensitive, I don't think so, however, if you get a nail, metal, or some other debris that punctures the tire you'll be SOL and need a flat out replacement (which is what happened to me 3 consecutive times). Our European friends might want to look that one up but it I'm trying to keep the language clean. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 11:30 AM | #18 | |
Lieutenant
41
Rep 516
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 11:44 AM | #19 | |
Second Lieutenant
5
Rep 215
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2012 328i Base, Auto, Melbourne Red
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 01:00 PM | #20 |
Enlisted Member
0
Rep 30
Posts |
Throwing my two cents in here. My new F30 is my first BMW as well as my first vehicle with run-flats. The finance manager offered me the wheel and tire protection program for $1,000. Although I knew that it was definitely slanted in their favor (or else, why would they sell it), I decided to go ahead and purchase it for peace of mind for at least my first BMW.
My reasoning was, in every car I've ever owned, I've had bad experience with nails. And yes, while I know it's technically feasible to repair run-flats that have had nail punctures, I didn't want to play those odds. Guess what?!?! Within a week I already had a nail in my right rear tire. Dealer replaced the tire no questions asked. Only thing they might not have pointed out is that every service visit covered under the warranty costs a $50 deductable. Total price, out the door was about $425. So as of now, less than a month into having my 328i, I've already received the value of $375. I'm already ahead on my $1,000 investment. But this is my example. Your mileage may vary. |
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 01:21 PM | #21 | |
Second Lieutenant
5
Rep 215
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
2012 328i Base, Auto, Melbourne Red
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-18-2012, 01:49 PM | #22 |
Major General
651
Rep 5,803
Posts |
I mean for some crazy reason, i get quite a few flats. Must be the damn construction in south florida
__________________
F30 330i Alpine white/Coral red Msport 6MT
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|