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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 6, 2018 13:33:23 GMT
So heading down to Teesside this morning in the semi-darkness the tyre pressure warning light came on saying that my front nearside tyre was going flat. I pulled over into a layby to find it was indeed well soft, and further inspection revealed quite a large hole in the tread with the steel wire reinforcing visible, but no sign of the offending article that had caused it. Fortunately, I was able to drive the remaining 30 miles to work at 50mph and after a quick trip to Kwik Fit (and £230 lighter) I'm back up and running. That's the first puncture I've had in 10 years and it shows the value of runflats - perhaps not so much for me as I could have changed a tyre at the roadside, albeit a chew on, but if my wife had been driving anywhere the advantage of her being able to get to a safe place or home on a dark night cannot be overstated.
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 6, 2018 15:41:23 GMT
Its the only reason our 3 series still has runflats on the car as I hate the thought of having my wife and child stranded at the side of the road. However, they really are fucking horrid things that coupled with oversized wheels makes a nice car ride terribly.
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Post by Martin on Nov 6, 2018 15:46:47 GMT
One of those things that you don’t truly appreciate until you need it.
I had run flats and normal tyres on my old 520d and there was hardly any difference in ride quality, so I suspect the poor ride on the 3 series is more down to the suspension than the tyres.
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Post by michael on Nov 6, 2018 15:50:04 GMT
I do wonder if runflats get a bad press because the armchair warriors have read somewhere they affect handling and then regurgitate this wisdom like it was gospel. I've driven cars with them and it's usually the massive wheels that are causing the problems.
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Post by Tim on Nov 6, 2018 16:15:53 GMT
They were pretty horrible when they first appeared on the E90 shape.
I worry a bit that the hardness of the sidewalls actually conceals a lot of damage - EVO's green Audi RS3 needed a couple of tyres after going through a hole whereas, they said, the folloeing 340i didn't.
I'd bet that if they had looked closely enough the 340 tyres probably were damaged.
The only reason I knew my 4 day old front left was damaged after a hard hit on a pothole was because of a vibration that gradually developed. It took a sunny day and a particular angle with shadows to actually be able to see the sidewall bulge.
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Post by Martin on Nov 6, 2018 16:55:03 GMT
BMW have started to offer optional wheels with ‘performance tyres’ on some of the standard range now so at least there is the option of non run flats, but it’s more expensive of course.
The tyre tech is better and it doesn’t seem that BMW are making a decent job of setting the latest cars up. My Dads 6 GT has 19” wheels, run flats and standard (non adaptive but with rear air springs) suspension and the ride is great, much better than my 535d. If you want to experience what can be achieved with large wheels and run flats, try a 7 on voodoo suspension.
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Post by LandieMark on Nov 6, 2018 17:06:05 GMT
I don’t think I’ve ever driven a vehicle with runflats.
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Post by johnc on Nov 6, 2018 18:10:30 GMT
The Bridgestone S001's on my car are much better than the runflats (RE050) on my old car. My car has adaptive suspension and for most of the time, in comfort, it rides pretty well.
The M4 and C63 I drove, on non runflats, were considerably harder in the ride department.
I think the technology has come a long way and now it isn't just BMW offering them but Mercedes and Audi as well, on some models. I think they are a great invention which is gradually evolving into a great product.
I agree with Tim on the E90 ride quality on runflats and big wheels but this has been significantly improved in later cars. A friend of mine has a 1 Series on 17" rims with runflats and the ride is positively comfortable: it's just our vanity and the big wheels which cause a problem. |
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Post by Roadrunner on Nov 6, 2018 21:42:51 GMT
The Rolls Royce Phantom I drove was on runflats and that was as wafty as a very wafty thing. Our Mini is also on runflats and is knobbly and suffers from tremendous road noise.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 7, 2018 8:28:43 GMT
The Bridgestone S001's on my car are much better than the runflats (RE050) on my old car. My car has adaptive suspension and for most of the time, in comfort, it rides pretty well.
The M4 and C63 I drove, on non runflats, were considerably harder in the ride department.
I think the technology has come a long way and now it isn't just BMW offering them but Mercedes and Audi as well, on some models. I think they are a great invention which is gradually evolving into a great product.
I agree with Tim on the E90 ride quality on runflats and big wheels but this has been significantly improved in later cars. A friend of mine has a 1 Series on 17" rims with runflats and the ride is positively comfortable: it's just our vanity and the big wheels which cause a problem. When I got my E91 I test drove an E90 on 18" wheels and runflats and found the ride completely unacceptable for me, albeit I preferred the looks. I settled on an SE with 17" wheels and it was fine. All the F30s I have had recently have been M Sports with 19" wheels and runflats and the ride has been a big surprise to me. When the first one was delivered I feared for my spine but they ride very well, with controlled damping and none of the crashiness the previous model had. I'd be happy to sink my own money into one. |
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 7, 2018 9:26:46 GMT
It must be something wrong in our F30 then cause it rides like a bag of shit. Just going over catseyes is enough to knock your fillings out. Hit a pothole and its like an explosion in the cabin, its a hateful thing at times which is such a shame as a good car exists in there somewhere.
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Post by michael on Nov 7, 2018 9:33:35 GMT
The Rolls Royce Phantom I drove was on runflats and that was as wafty as a very wafty thing. Our Mini is also on runflats and is knobbly and suffers from tremendous road noise. I'm not sure it was. I think the Phantom uses the Michelin PAX system which is a different idea on the theme having a more conventional tyre but with an insert within that can be driven on in the event of a deflation. |
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Post by Tim on Nov 7, 2018 11:11:15 GMT
It must be something wrong in our F30 then cause it rides like a bag of shit. Just going over catseyes is enough to knock your fillings out. Hit a pothole and its like an explosion in the cabin, its a hateful thing at times which is such a shame as a good car exists in there somewhere.
Mine's similar and it's taken to tramlining across some bits of road, not just when you cross a white line for instance. I'd say the suspension on it is as firm as the 370Z was and at present it's not cushioning the blows from disintegrating road surfaces as well as that did.
I put a lot of it down to mileage though (102k) as I'm not sure what, if anything, was replaced prior to me buying it. What mileage is yours on?
Having said that there has always been an odd hop from the rear on certain sharp bumps - similar to the feeling you'd get in the old days when one of your dampers was leaking. I think Franki said his 335 did that from new as well so BMW haven't got the suspension perfect yet.
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Post by johnc on Nov 7, 2018 11:35:53 GMT
The tyres make a lot of difference to the ride. What tyres are you running?
Make sure you stick to the correct tyre pressure and if anything, make them half a lb harder. When runflats are running a bit soft, they run on the stiff sidewalls.
Tramlining is also a sign of worn tyres although worn bushes might also contribute to that. |
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Post by Tim on Nov 7, 2018 12:07:44 GMT
I'm running Goodyear Eagle Assymetrics on it.
They're about half (ish) worn so that's my first suspect for tramlining - the 370Z had started doing the same as the tyres wore too.
I suspect that some of the bushes are original but the car did get some new replaced - the oil filled ones that are part of the suspension arm that goes forward from the hub - a few months ago.
I Remember it helped a bit but its still crashy.
I wonder if the rear suspension setup and spring rates of the estate contribute to the hopping.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2018 12:56:27 GMT
Having just ditched the same tyres as you are running, that's unlikely to be a tyre issue - they ride well. I think it's car- or suspension-related
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 7, 2018 13:22:52 GMT
I have to say I've had no issues with crashing, hopping or tramlining and I don't half give it some welly up the A697 to Edinburgh.
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Post by Roadrunner on Nov 7, 2018 13:25:29 GMT
The Rolls Royce Phantom I drove was on runflats and that was as wafty as a very wafty thing. Our Mini is also on runflats and is knobbly and suffers from tremendous road noise. I'm not sure it was. I think the Phantom uses the Michelin PAX system which is a different idea on the theme having a more conventional tyre but with an insert within that can be driven on in the event of a deflation. That could explain the difference. |
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Post by Tim on Nov 7, 2018 13:27:41 GMT
Having just ditched the same tyres as you are running, that's unlikely to be a tyre issue - they ride well. I think it's car- or suspension-related
These are run flat versions though so have an extra stiff sidewall.
The M Sport 320d has a noticeably stiffer setup than the E39 M5 which I find odd for what is a family estate compared with a high powered sports saloon.
When I put winter tyres on my first E46 estate I was surprised when I compared the summer tyres that came off it - there was a mix of Conti Sport Contact 3s and some Dunlop Maxx something or other. The sidewall of the Contis was very firm - you had to push them with your hand (while not on the tyre) to get any deflection - but you could push the Dunlop's sidewalls in with your little finger. However there was no apparent change in ride comfort when the Dunlops were originally fitted.
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Post by johnc on Nov 7, 2018 13:28:06 GMT
Perhaps the earlier cars had different shockers or spring rates.
BMW do have a habit of quietly fiddling with suspension through a car's life cycle and not really making it public |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 7, 2018 14:45:42 GMT
Having just ditched the same tyres as you are running, that's unlikely to be a tyre issue - they ride well. I think it's car- or suspension-related
These are run flat versions though so have an extra stiff sidewall.
The M Sport 320d has a noticeably stiffer setup than the E39 M5 which I find odd for what is a family estate compared with a high powered sports saloon.
When I put winter tyres on my first E46 estate I was surprised when I compared the summer tyres that came off it - there was a mix of Conti Sport Contact 3s and some Dunlop Maxx something or other. The sidewall of the Contis was very firm - you had to push them with your hand (while not on the tyre) to get any deflection - but you could push the Dunlop's sidewalls in with your little finger. However there was no apparent change in ride comfort when the Dunlops were originally fitted.
Thinking about it, mine might have been the previous version - no idea if they were RF or not. |
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Post by Boxer6 on Nov 7, 2018 22:20:23 GMT
On a course with colleagues today and 2 of the (other) 15 had punctures on the way in this morning! one of the women was driving her and her partners' new-to-them 57-plate Q7; she wasn't sure if it has run-flats on or not, but felt the steering go "a bit funny" on the M8 about half way through her journey. Decided to keep going, as she wasn't sure what had happened! Turns out the alloy (21", so not cheap!) had been cracked and repaired already; due to the puncture it is now cracked again and completely FUBAR'd! Oops!!
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Post by PetrolEd on Nov 7, 2018 22:56:31 GMT
It must be something wrong in our F30 then cause it rides like a bag of shit. Just going over catseyes is enough to knock your fillings out. Hit a pothole and its like an explosion in the cabin, its a hateful thing at times which is such a shame as a good car exists in there somewhere.
Mine's similar and it's taken to tramlining across some bits of road, not just when you cross a white line for instance. I'd say the suspension on it is as firm as the 370Z was and at present it's not cushioning the blows from disintegrating road surfaces as well as that did.
I put a lot of it down to mileage though (102k) as I'm not sure what, if anything, was replaced prior to me buying it. What mileage is yours on?
Having said that there has always been an odd hop from the rear on certain sharp bumps - similar to the feeling you'd get in the old days when one of your dampers was leaking. I think Franki said his 335 did that from new as well so BMW haven't got the suspension perfect yet.
15 plate and it’s done about 38000 miles so don’t think it’s mileage related |
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Post by Martin on Nov 12, 2018 14:07:56 GMT
I'm unexpectedly in a brand new X4 today and the ride is awful, borderline horrendous.
It's on 20" wheels and standard suspension, but higher profile tyres than the 7 and it's really firm but bouncy at the same time, I felt a bit car sick when I got home and I'd only driven 17 miles.
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Post by Bob Sacamano v2.0 on Nov 12, 2018 15:36:48 GMT
I'm unexpectedly in a brand new X4 today and the ride is awful, borderline horrendous. It's on 20" wheels and standard suspension, but higher profile tyres than the 7 and it's really firm but bouncy at the same time, I felt a bit car sick when I got home and I'd only driven 17 miles. Mrs Sacamano saw one of those the other day and remarked that it looked quite nice. I'm getting her tested tomorrow, something's gone wrong in there. |
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Post by Martin on Nov 12, 2018 15:41:19 GMT
I'm unexpectedly in a brand new X4 today and the ride is awful, borderline horrendous. It's on 20" wheels and standard suspension, but higher profile tyres than the 7 and it's really firm but bouncy at the same time, I felt a bit car sick when I got home and I'd only driven 17 miles. Mrs Sacamano saw one of those the other day and remarked that it looked quite nice. I'm getting her tested tomorrow, something's gone wrong in there. Hopefully it was just the colour she liked? That what Lindsay said when she saw this one, nice colour...shame about the rest of it. |
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