What Brand Run Flats Are On Your E70?

[jochet]

I'm curious, I've got a 4.8 w/Sports Package on order; Iv'e seen Bridgstones and Michelins. What seems to be the tire of choice at this time? 19" all season performance would be the standard tire on this car.

[X5FX]

mine are Michelins

[onesixeight]

I test drove a 4.8 w/ SP 19" and they had the Michelins. The car that I have with the 20s have the Dunlop Sport Maxx DSST.

[emcman]

My 4.8 non sport came with Bridstones and I am happy with them

[thisX5life]

4.8, Sport Package with 19s, mine are Michelins.

When I was touring the factory at the end of May, all the tires in every size I could see were Bridgestones; then again, they only keep 2-4 hours' worth of parts in the factory at any time, so it may be the luck of the draw. Or maybe there wasn't a 4.8 w/ Sport coming down the line for a few minutes yet...

[jochet]

How many X5's are made each day?

[thisX5life]

Originally Posted by jochet

How many X5's are made each day?

The number changes every day, because 5 different models (X5, Z4 Coupe, Z4 Roadster, and the Z4 M Coupe and M Roadster) are made on the same single production line. Oh, 6 models if the X6 production has started...

During my tour we were told that the factory runs two 10-hour shifts every day. There are digital signs clearly visible from all over the line that show the shift production target and the actual number completed as of that moment. I think the target was in the neighborhood of 340 vehicles for the shift that was in progress when I was there, but I don't recall the exact number.

All the models are freely intermingled on the production line; I watched a steady stream of X5s (both 3.0 and 4.8) interspersed with Z4s of every variant and color. The wheels with tires already mounted are delivered to the line as they are needed, so I saw a variety of wheel sizes and styles ready to be mounted. Come to think of it, I don't think I spotted any of the Style 211 or 214 wheels while I was next to that station, which was only for a few minutes.

It's a very impressive operation.

[rdengineer]

I've got 20" tires on mine and they are Dunlops.

[Shumdit]

The 20's are all Dunlops on the couple of dozen used at the plant as runner vehicles and by the ones at the PC. Our 4.8 non-sport is on Michelins (November 16th production date), but there's not a system for them, rather they take what they can get since they do not stockpile parts at the plant. It's a just-in-time plant (as most all are these days), which means the parts arrive (including wheel and tire assemblies) only a day or two before they are installed on the car in most cases. This is true of seats, exhausts, IP's, etc. also, but most items, unlike the tires are from a single supplier.

[jochet]

Thanks for the info, I'm sure you had a great day; I know I would have. I had hoped to pick up our new X5 (being produced this week) but we would have had to wait till Sept maybe the next one.