When I took this car for its first service, I mentioned there was an irritating noise in the front of the car at speeds around 40 MPH which sounded much like a rubbing or that made by a bad wheel bearing. The service technician later contacted me and advised me that the front tires were badly cupped (10,000 miles) and all four tires needed to be replaced after aligning the car tires. The cost $2200.00. I asked him that if I replaced the tires and had the alignment performed would the problem be fixed, or could I be expected to have the tires replaced every year. He told me that he didn't know. This told me alignment was not the problem.
I went to a different BMW dealership, in a different state, and advised them of the problem as pointed out by the dealership where I bought the car and they agree to check the alignment of the vehicles tires. The service advisor advised me that the alignment of the vehicle's tires couldn't be more accurate. He further advised that the sports package on my car with larger tires in the rear of the car than in the front, which were deigned for sports driving, was the problem and the front tires commonly wore in a cupped pattern on the X5 with the sports package. He also advised that The tires do not last more than 18,000 miles and BMW, X5, owners commonly have them replaced much before 18,000 miles because of the noise the tires generate after wearing considerably in the cupped pattern. He agreed with me that only the front tires needed to be replaced and that he advised me that he could replace the front tires for $700.00 which was only $10.00 above cost for each tire. (Much less than the dealership where the car was purchased.)
Loaded with all of this info, I sent a number of letters to BMW customer service. To make a long story short, I was advised that nothing was wrong with the car and that possibly the tires were bad to begin with. It also took be more than two months to receive this ridiculous response.
I can afford the tires, no problem, but why should I. This car had a retail sticker of $81,500.00. My wife and I owned a 2011 X5, 35I, $56,000.00 and loved it dearly. Had it 5 years and with the warranty purchased nothing but gas. We both love our current 2016, X5, 50I; however, I refuse to replace the tires every year. Our last BMW had excellent tires still when we traded it off with 48000 miles, and now they want be to replace the tires every 18000 miles or less. For real????
I have no desire to own a Mercedes of a Lexus and am not sure which vehicle will replace the BMW; however, based on this experience, I will never own another BMW and advised against it for everyone unless they don't mind spending a ridiculous amount of money every year on tires.
When I took this car for its first service, I mentioned there was an irritating noise in the front of the car at speeds around 40 MPH which sounded much like a rubbing or that made by a bad wheel bearing. The service technician later contacted me and advised me that the front tires were badly cupped (10,000 miles) and all four tires needed to be replaced after aligning the car tires. The cost $2200.00. I asked him that if I replaced the tires and had the alignment performed would the problem be fixed, or could I be expected to have the tires replaced every year. He told me that he didn't know. This told me alignment was not the problem.
I went to a different BMW dealership, in a different state, and advised them of the problem as pointed out by the dealership where I bought the car and they agree to check the alignment of the vehicles tires. The service advisor advised me that the alignment of the vehicle's tires couldn't be more accurate. He further advised that the sports package on my car with larger tires in the rear of the car than in the front, which were deigned for sports driving, was the problem and the front tires commonly wore in a cupped pattern on the X5 with the sports package. He also advised that The tires do not last more than 18,000 miles and BMW, X5, owners commonly have them replaced much before 18,000 miles because of the noise the tires generate after wearing considerably in the cupped pattern. He agreed with me that only the front tires needed to be replaced and that he advised me that he could replace the front tires for $700.00 which was only $10.00 above cost for each tire. (Much less than the dealership where the car was purchased.)
Loaded with all of this info, I sent a number of letters to BMW customer service. To make a long story short, I was advised that nothing was wrong with the car and that possibly the tires were bad to begin with. It also took be more than two months to receive this ridiculous response.
I can afford the tires, no problem, but why should I. This car had a retail sticker of $81,500.00. My wife and I owned a 2011 X5, 35I, $56,000.00 and loved it dearly. Had it 5 years and with the warranty purchased nothing but gas. We both love our current 2016, X5, 50I; however, I refuse to replace the tires every year. Our last BMW had excellent tires still when we traded it off with 48000 miles, and now they want be to replace the tires every 18000 miles or less. For real????
I have no desire to own a Mercedes of a Lexus and am not sure which vehicle will replace the BMW; however, based on this experience, I will never own another BMW and advised against it for everyone unless they don't mind spending a ridiculous amount of money every year on tires.
- Price G., Ocean View, DE, US