BMW youve "blown it"
 

Hey guys, I need to rant with this.
My 06 X5, which I LOVE will be the last in a long line of BMW's
My major reason is that whoever in their INFINITE WISDOM" is the "person" who decided that X5's, a semi offroader doesn't need a spare tire, screwed up BIG TIME.
I thought to trade up to a DIESEL, great idea BMW...but the lack of a spare has turned me off completely. There isn't even room for one...aslde from perhaps having a doughnut, but then where do you put the full size "flat" one?
So 35 years of BMWCCA membership will be finished when the E53 is no longer...mind you I hope to keep this one on the road for MANY YEARS....but after that, a TAHOE, (if GM doesn't give up the spare tire)

My 06' X5 4.4 has a fullsize spare!??
 

:dunno:

Yah that really Wierd, my 04 3.0 has a full size spare

I think the point of his message is that newer BMW's come without spares, the 06 X5 he owns has the spare, and will be his last BMW over a silly little detail like that.

If you're that worried about getting stranded, get a AAA membership card and use it to wash the sand out of your vagoo.

E

The footnote for the new X5 on BMW's site says:
"Run-flat tires do not come equipped with a spare tire and wheel."

you can still get a spare for the new X5/X6. just gotta include it in your options

yeah, it's kinda funky but certainly not a deal breaker in considering the newer X's.

You can still get a spare as an option, just order it. It may be a temp spare but it works. Hell, that's all I have in the 4.6is because the big wide 20" wheels won't fit in the back.

Honestly, I've probably had to use a spare maybe 3 times in my life.

3 times in nearly 20 years of driving! To decide not to purchase a fine vehicle, where all the positives would outweigh one negative, is just poor rationale.

no spare needed with run flats... also you can get a spare tire if you wanted. just not needed with run flats.

Are you going to rant about this every month?

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...s-bmw-etc.html

Once again, if it were me, I would go this route;

getBMWparts.com powered by Tischer BMW - Your #1 Source for all OEM BMW Parts/Accessories!

If you want a full size spare tire that bad, just go out and buy an additional wheel and tire. There is plenty of room in the back of the X for that.

With regard to what you are supposed to do with the flat tire, just throw it in the back of the X. You can't possibly be talking up 100% of the cargo area in the X when you drive around normally. If you do, the X probably isn't the best choice for you in the first place as it does not even have that great of a cargo capacity. Let's say you do actually carry a ton of stuff everywhere you go, how would you get to the spare tire if you needed it? That is right, you would have to pull everything out of the cargo area to get to it, then reorganize and repack everything. Then you would probably be complining about why the tire isn't mounted under the vehicle.

There are plenty of solutions to this problem and I have to say that it is a pretty silly reason to not buy another BMW. Do you drive over nails and shards of glass for fun or something? Do you get a lot of flat tires?

OP can do whatever his choosing, I am with him that BMW is silly to get rid of spare space on newer models.
if you happen to take trip into remore area, you are SOL if the valve stem decided to pop, can't patch on the go like nail/screw. This happened to me once, BTW newer RFT are softer cause people complaints of harshness (one guy on 3-series forum needed new rim after 50-mile drive with flat RFT).

Honestly, I haven't heard compelling reason why BMW get rid the spare space (not the tires but the space in the trunk, so if someone wants to buy spare after market they can).

What FSETH said, imo...
There are a few reasons why I am not running out to buy a new diesel X5; the lack of spare & the use of RFTs are not it.
GL, mD

TAKE NOTE BMW

You can't really get a spare, only a "doughnut" and there is no room in the well for the wheel you have to remove....(what? tie it on the roof, have someone in the back seat keep it in their lap, when the back is pretty full with luggage)
Sorry, it's a DUMB IDEA. Aside from the fact that the Diesel I checked out was close to $70,000 SEVENTY THOUSAND DOLLARS...
I probably wouldn't even have given this any thought but for an incident that happened involving a cut sidewall, a saturday evening flatbed tow, 3 nights in a motel,
(waiting to get a tire)...3 people renting a car and going home (from NC to FL).
And waiting me till the tire coud be installed...
Keep in mind that my FIRST BMW WAS A 1600 in 67, then a few Tii's Bavaria's 3.0c , 2800cs, 320, 323s, 630cs 633cs, 535is, L6, 323ci, an 1800tsi, (in no specific order)
and a 35 year BMWCCA member....(editor of the NY club magazine for many years in the 70's) but unless they find a way to put a spare in the X5's, my 06 better last 10 more years.....because there is no way.....

This happened over a month ago, your first rant on it was over a month ago, yet you decided to create another thread essentially saying what you did then? Let it go. Relax and have a drink or something.

I agree it would be ideal to have a full spare with a compartment that can hold any of the wheels taken off the car, but I wouldn't check BMW off my list of possible choices just because the new ones don't. To each his own though. If you would rather drive an inferior overall car like the Yukon on a daily basis because you dread getting a flat tire while carrying 4 people and luggage in your X5, then by all means have at it.

Daka,
Interesting CV, but BMW NA and BMW Mutha and BMW in Germany does not give a rat's azz about anyone's "involvement" in the "scene" or, a list of cars owned, etc.

Put your jacket back on because I'm on your side in terms of things/gizmos/mkting decisions made by BMW that I think are weird/unique...but, they make interesting and amazing handling cars, and we all enjoy them for some reason(s), or else we wouldn't be driving the damn things.

The Biff&Buffy nearly sealed, leased/turn it back in, image machine is what they are selling these days. And, RFTs will be as common as BT, on most cars before the decade is near over. Not fun, or easy to replace anywhere conveniently, but it is what it is...

Now, go look for the dipstick. ;)
GL, mD

I agree with the OP and its not just that when I test drove a new E70 the interior plastics felt cheaper. The color was flaking off the light switch on the test drive car that I drove.

BTW also noticed that the new E70 fenders are plastic, what the hell is up with that lol

Good lord folks. I believe some of you have a decision to make.
Don't like the RFT's the aluminum hood, the composite fenders,
the lack of a spare tire? Do yourself a favor. Don't buy a BMW.

Join the other happy throngs and Go Buy a Kia, a VW, a Ford Fiesta,
A Scion, a Toyota, a Hyundai. Something in that group is bound to bring
some happiness.... Just remember nothings perfect...:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

woah woah bmw4lyfe<3 lol

i think the plastic fenders are for weight reduction. IMO the e53 trumps the e70, however, i am bias :dunno:

Problem solved

http://www.rocky-road.com/media/garvin_sparetire.jpg

I'm still trying to figure out the claim that the X5 is a 'semi-offroader'. He's kidding, right?

Read an interview with a BMW engineer/designer (can't remember which one) in a magazine recently. He noted that run flat tires, because of their stiffer sidewall, have better turn-in, and thus proivde better steering response. Hadn't heard that before, but it makes sense.

Anyway, with my last BMW purchase, I considered the RFTs to be a positive. I bought RFT winter tires as well. So, to BMW, since Daka wants them to take note: Daka's potential lost sale is cancelled out by my purchase. You're even. :rofl:

He doesn't have to go that far, he could just buy one of these. But that wouldn't be nearly as much fun as regularly ranting.

In Australia there is no option for regular tyres or a full size spare. This is in my opinion a big negative....because....you buy this car for mod cons/ lux galore. I don't see anything convenient about the fact that over here RFTs are more expensive and harder to source. What if you need a spare/replacement when the dealers are closed? Hardly any third party stores to my knowledge stock these tyres and if they do, better bring your wallet..but sure...RFTs in theory go for ages after a puncture. But what if you are stuck in no mans land? Most of Australia is no mans land and on trips of long duration between states you need most of your boot for luggage. I know because I do it multiple times a year. We pay a premium so that essential functions are done luxuriously and then some...i dont see anything luxurious about carrying a spare anywhere but out of site and mind until you need it. This is not only my opinion but the opininon of most leading car critics downunder.

Also I agree with the claims of lower interior finish and materials. I love the thud my e53s doors make....thats gone on the new ones. Weight reduction or price cutting?? Anyway top Audis have surpassed top bmw interiors in quality...maybe not style though?

This is all IMO and not a stab at anyone...each to their own.

cheers

OT...no tire engineer, (or engineer of any kind ;)), but I agree that at least on my Vette, the oe GY RFTs had better "turn in" than my replacement GY Eagle Supercar F1 non-RFTs...just anecdotal, but I really feel it, imo. Not better overall "grip", but better turn in.

Hey, unique Spare Wheel and tire setup on the pic of that X5, JCL. :D
Looks like the rear of V's ol' Honda CR-V pos. Must be a GWN option. ;)
GL, mD

The quote from Steve Dinan during open house not too long ago (from a guy who is selling aftermarket mods not tires, mind you), when asked what the first mod should someone does to his/her BMW.
"get rid the RFT", not chip, exhaust, suspension; this time I have to agree with the man.

If RFT has better performance then Nascar, F1 should use them in the track.

I agree BMW will not listen to the rants here etc, but I don't have to buy KIA, FORD etc just to get spare, Audi will be happy to get my money next time, mind you I have 3 BMW right now before you think I am biased about brand one way or another. Funny, I am defending BMW handling score between S4 and 335i done buy C/D in other forums, I always believe the number of 335i would've been better have the RFTs are not used in slalom test.

Count me in as one who wants a spare tire. Drive I-70 in the middle of Utah some night and decide if you want to rely on your RFTs to get you to the next exit (100 miles between exits on one stretch). Good luck getting that RFT in Green River, Utah!

If I cared about gas mileage as a key buying decision, I wouldn't have bought an X5.


If weight loss is a big concern, BMW could quit saving weight in stupid ways and instead maybe integrate an 8 ounce Garmin, etc. as their nav system instead of 10 lbs of whatever they put in there as a nav system. Eliminate 9 of the 14 speakers and put in 5 quality ones (2 tweets, 2 midbass, 1 sub, done). I offer these suggestions without need of payment for coming up with these outstanding ideas that were too complex for their engineers to discover...

OK, I see that I am not the only one who feels this way
Sure, I am a crusty old (75) curmudgeon, and like to bitch...mainly only about things I think are NOT RIGHT.
A few months ago I was in NYC and just happened to be looking at the bumpers of cars parked in the street...what a mess...since the demise of real bumpers on cars...even the " basher bumpers" on the 70's BMW's ugly as they were...these chesey things take a beating and look like s**t...I even saw one X5 whose owner had "nerf" bars made that extended out past the front and back of the bumpers, what the hell did that cost?
If they wanted to do away with the spare give us NO OPTION run flats at least LEAVE THE DAMN SPACE FOR SPARE.
Sorry, I'm taking really good care of my 06...I has to last at least 10 more years....

Aye , keep the E53 going . BMW are still making money from you .
my 2002 X5 is costing £1000 , that`s $1500 per year on servicing and repairs .
I only drive it 6500 - ish miles per year . car has total 66000 miles .
a piece of crap requiring this amount of maintenance .
I might never buy another BMW .
trying to save my pennies for a Rolls Royce , but then again , BMW still own that company .
hoping nothing else breaks on the X5 .

Good call - I hear Rolls Royce cost hardly anything per year to maintain and upkeep. they are practically Toyotas in that respect.
:bustingup

Good call? Right..... How much are they? and what will you pay for fuel?
Kinda strips away any cost savings imho......:rolleyes:

No, not the Great White North in this case. It was posted by another member here. It is a BMW Australia option, for those owners who want to head out into the bush/outback, days from any dealer. I understand the concept of a spare tire in those cases; I have driven from Perth in Western Australia out to Kalgoorlie/Cue/Meekatharra, and there were some long lonely stretches of road. Of course, if I wanted to be several days from a dealer in the outback, I wouldn't start with choosing a BMW. Landcruisers worked very well in those cases. Similar story in the GWN, when I regularly drove for a full day into the bush off the Alaska Highway, I chose a Ford 4wd. Horses for courses.

All kidding aside, Daka, I don't think you are correct at all in saying that BMW blew it. There is nothing wrong with their direction IMO, which includes improved fuel economy and cutting costs, and that is evidenced by their sales success.

What you are really saying is that the current vehicle that BMW is building, in response to market pressures, no longer fits your personal requirements. Nothing wrong with that, that is when you buy something else. You seem to have a very large emotional stake in buying another in a long line of BMW vehicles, and are expressing that they should design one for you. You need to get over that and move on. Life is too short, especially at 75....

OMG....:D Hey MD....... There's someone older than the 2 of us round these parts..... :rofl:

Methinks your sarcasmeter is broken... :D

hey DAKA at 75 i doubt you could GET a full size spare out of the trunk area. man i struggle at 57, as for jacking it up and swapping out a flat, i think you are probably relying on a good samaritan to help.

as for off road your kidding, right, no low range and independent suspension, pretty much cancels out off road usage unless its been seriously modified.

personally thats why i kept my XJ cherokee as well as my X5 , 4 inch lift big wheels and re geared diffs

personally as suggested i think you would do better moving on

oh the last time i changed a flat tyre was about 9 years ago and on my jeep, i tore a hole in the side wall on a rocky outcrop, had to continue driving it for about 1/2 mile to find somewhere safe to change it, and even with the jeep, stowing the dirty road tyre was tight.

i really struggle to see where the added weight of a spare is justified, especially for me with BMW 24 hour assist

When we got my wife's 07 328i, we didn't even ask for or look for a spare, and imagine my surprise when I noticed it doesn't come with one? WHAT? WTF?? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?

oh well, can't back out of that now (nor would I, given the wife wanted a 3 series for a long time.)

Guess what? We picked up our first nail going to a party on saturday night about 2000 miles into the ownership, on the left-rear tire. At about 85 mph, I noticed the car is not handling like it should, it 'floats' a little, and the navigation screen came up with the low tire pressure warning.

Pulled out at the gas station, checked, huge nail inside. I was pretty pissed since I knew this is not repairable (already drove on it for god knows how many miles), it is going to cost more to buy, etc.

I just drove to the destination, attended the party, drove back home, and asked the wife to drive to the nearby tire store (favorite) the next day to have it changed. $270 or so later all was good again.

I was still pissed.

Then my wife brought up a good point: she would prefer to be able to drive home whenever she gets a flat, especially with the baby in the car, instead of waiting on the road (like she had a couple of times) for AAA to arrive.

Then I thought to myself: for the number of times that I will get a flat, and buy the more expensive tire, the difference in dollars is not much (for the peace of mind of driving home, and not having to wait/change wheels on the road.)

Mind you, I still am afraid of going on long trips with run flats only, but I think even then, with chances of getting a flat being as low as they are these days, I would be ok to drive to a nearby tire place and waste a couple of hundred more bucks than I should in the long run.

And I also agree with what JCL is saying below: if what BMW is offering (including options like small spare or tail mounting of full size spare) is not good enough for you or your purposes... well, don't buy the next one. (I guess that is what the OP is saying anyway, so why am I rambling? :)))

Hold on there;

I'm right behind him in age and I know i can pull it out with one hand j/k so don't be doubting us senior citizens.......:rofl::rofl::rofl:

You're right about one thing though. I don't change tires period. AAA is my friend...:thumbup:

Not really: Consider this

With an annual Maintenance costs of $3900 and an oil change for $650. The RR is phenomenal but may not be the best option after its 4 year warranty is up. The umbrellas in the doors cost $600 a piece so imagine what the cost of repairs is on a transmission job. The cost of ownership for the RR Phantom is in a word high. Don't forget some RR's cost about $450.000.

I've been screwed by run-flats going on my E90 more than once on a friday afternoon and getting shredded, but not enough to lug another one around. I think about it before I get on the road to head from Upstate SC to FL then remember that I pass and can easily limp on the side roads to one of two Tire Rack warehouses or 12 BMW dealers along the way. The E70 comes with one if you order it, and a space saver is better than the one my mom's old VW Touareg and neighbor's Cayenne came with: flat, and space saver.

Get a Tahoe and you're gonna be lugging around a whole Parts Department with you after the first 10,000 miles are up.

I'm with Quicksilver, I'm frickin 20 and still call AAA.

About a month ago we got a flat in my mothers E39 on the highway... Sidewalls let fully go all at once and in a split second as we went to pull over the tread, still in one complete piece, passed us up! She timed me, barely took 4 minutes to swap to the spare with only OEM supplied toolkit and jack. That was the first time I changed a flat on the side the road in about a decade...

Run flats suck. They came on both X's they're gone ready from the M and soon the M Sport.

What I'd like to FINISH THIS OFF WITH IS, at least give me (us) the OPTION of having a spare tire...leave the space for a full size tire under the rear...that's it
I do not like the attitude YOU WILL NOT HAVE A SPARE TIRE....perhaps the cars are OK with runflats, but not the SA(U)V's and especially not the M cars (performance)
As far as replacement...I had a CHEV SUBURBAN a few years ago, ran it 125,000 miles, cheap replacement parts, fixed by me or any monkey at a gas station but having owned so many BMW's I had the "jones" for the X5, don't get me wrong I love my X5
Here in south Florida a BMW Mercedes, Audi etc is what I call a Ft Lauderdale Chevie.. if's about the FLASH...
Back in the early years of BMW we had meetings where 30 guys would show up on a friday night for a meeting, hoods up...we had all kinds of "tech" sessions at someones house, who did what to their car, what works, what doesn't,
A BMW was an enthusiast car....
BMW has it right now however, you can't sell that many cars these days without a MASS MARKET...you'll take what we give you.
"WE" (us guys on this m/b) are not BMW's main customers, we actually BUY THE DAMN CARS, what percentage of their market are we?...
Most are leasers...new car every 3 years...and thank those people for that, it's how we get an affordable BMW.
BMWNA dictates the colors and options...they market...ride by any big car dealer and what do you see...a "sea" OF WHITE, BLACK and some form of GREY...
You guys haven't got a clue about what used to happen in the late 60's and 70's with overheating Bavaria's cam shaft problems etc....and we bought those too...
Well guys that's it my rant is over, I'm done...keep up the good work....
Daniel...35 year member of BMWCCA ex editor of the NY chapter magazine 'Zugspitze' (a long time ago)

A spare fits under the rear floor, I don't understand why you're saying you can't carry one. :dunno:

IF YOU LOOK UNER THE REAR TRAY OF A NEW (2010/11) x5, what you see is a well that is about 5 inches deep....Maybe enough space for a doughnut, but no way can you put the wheel you are taking off in there....
Oh enough of this, carry on

If your purpose is to have a spare in case you get stuck, then yes, a donut fits in there. The wheel/tire you take off can fit in the back on top of the load floor.

This sounds like a rant about nothing. I just don't get it.

Honestly, I'd get a spare and immediately get rid of the runflats. They wreak havoc on your suspension and ride/handle like garbage.

Perhaps it's nothing to you but it's a big issue for many. Personally I would prefer the option of having a spare over RFT's. My 2006 330xi has RFT's and I would dump them in a heartbeat if I could carry a spare (without having to place it in the trunk where it consumes trunk space). It's a legitimate concern.

This could be rant, could be venting, could be whatever...
I still doubt BMW would change their stance on spare deletion but I still hope they at least make spare-well in the trunk.

Reminds me of M3 tall owners complaining about why sunroof is standard option in their cars; they hate it cause sunroof rob head room by almost 2 inches and with Snell-95 helmet they have to lower the seats all the way down (not only short people track their cars so do tall people). That started as rant like this one in internet forums; look what happens, now M3 can be had w/o sunroof, BMW recognized the logistic inconvineince in assembly line to support it but at the end when the number of sales affected they'll listen.

Scenario:

BMW installs RFT, promotes safety benefits in case of blow out.
Some drivers that prefer non-RFT start campaign to get BMW to change back.
BMW removes RFT in response to pressure
BMW car with non-RFT crashes, injures driver and passengers.
Driver sues BMW for deleting safety equipment.

Ain't never gonna happen.

PS: I special ordered a 3 series (not an M3) with no sunroof to gain 2" of headroom. All it took was a factory order with a delete code. BMW was happy to make it that way, they just weren't prepared to stock it on dealer lots that way. Not the same as if I had asked them to sell me one without seatbelts so that I could install a racing harness.

thats a very valid point JCL. its really actually pretty sad how the entire world revolves around lawsuits these days.

but what about the distance that the RFTs allow. I know this is a far stretched situation, but lets assume that i'm driving in the middle of south dakota in the middle of the night. BAM my tire goes out. After the allotted 60 or so miles, then what? :dunno:

If it is a sudden blowout, BMW published a recommendation to continue for up to 100 miles. If it is a slower deflation, and not a blowout, BMW published a recommendation to continue for up to 1200 miles. How far is it to a garage in South Dakota?

If you drive further, you are unlikely to be able to repair the RFT. But you can probably push a fair bit of distance if you keep your speed down. They aren't unlike temporary spares, which have similar speed/distance limitations.

well i've never driven in south dakota so i have no idea. just an odd example

my X5 has an almost full size spare (the 17" wheel) so i could drive on that for as long as i really wanted. I do have a small discomfort towards the RFTs; but, i'm not about to stop buying BMW because of it. Within the next couple years i can see most car companies making the switch--well atleast all luxury car companies

:thumbup:

As usual, JCL's distillery skills nail the issue...RFTs are here, they ain't going away, (the Biff&Buffy LowImpact/"Safety" hook),
so drive 'em or, toss 'em. Anyone can put a spare on any X5, somewhere; my Vette is another issue, space-wise). It is what it is.

Kudos to JCL for boiling this arm wrestle item, down. Take your pick
and learn to live with it, imo.
BR, mD

:iagree: I've had my spare inside the X for maybe a combined weeks time in all the time that I've owned it, otherwise its in the garage saving weight.