To much has been said about this 296 Cracked wheel issue. I wonder how long it will take for BMW to stand up to the bar so to speak in North America and offer replacement to Z4 Drivers that experience cracked wheels like BMW has done in Korea ... see thread below Dated 04-13-2011 Beware style 296 wheels.
Have people in North America not paid the same hard earned dollars then people in Korea? Is it not time to offer replacement wheels to Z4 drivers having 296 wheel cracks?
The facts are that A) 296 wheels are the ones that crack B) they only seam to be cracking in the rear and C) Other Z4 wheels are okay.
If you have a 296 wheel horror story to tell and share your dealer experience why not go to the Dealer Review and add your story right here, perhaps someday you might get a replacement wheel or haven forbid your money back ---> CLICK to Open the Dealer Review Link
My brief story is right here
This is why I drive an M3 without RFT
Username: Rolf-Dieter
Region: Idaho USA
Dealership Name: Idaho Falls BMW
Sales or Service: Service
Name of Salesperson/Advisor: Service and Parts Manager
Overall Experience (1 lowest 5 highest): -1
Work Performed/Attempted: see comments below
Recommended? (Yes or No): NO
Additional Comments: While on a US road trip last summer with my then new Z4 35i I experienced a flat on my rear driver site wheel. The flat was due to a crack on my wheel. I was told by this dealership: The US and Canadian Warranty are not the same (this turned out later not to be true) and I only have two options open to me, 1) Be towed to the nearest Canadian dealership by road side assistance or 2) Order a new wheel and have them ship the old one to Canada for warranty claims.
I opted to order a new wheel. Once the dealership received the new wheel (BMW Style 296) they said, sorry we don't change wheels this is done at the tire shop. So I followed the Parts Manager to the tire shop. He introduced me and then promptly left. The shop people there went to work on my old wheel using tire irons and actually damaged my wheel (BMW Canada later declared the wheel bend). While in this tire shop I asked all other wheels to be checked for cracks, this was done and the passenger rear wheel was also found having 2 hairline cracks. I decided to drive home very carefully (3000 KM) with the two hairline cracks.
All this dealership did for me is a) put air in my tires. b) order a new wheel. and c) gave me wrong information about the BMW warranty.
If you live near this dealership avoid it like the plague
The final "Resting Place" of the wheel that I had to drag all the way home in my then 2 seater now a $700- Garden Hose Holder can be seen below, keeping my winter cover company.
Have people in North America not paid the same hard earned dollars then people in Korea? Is it not time to offer replacement wheels to Z4 drivers having 296 wheel cracks?
The facts are that A) 296 wheels are the ones that crack B) they only seam to be cracking in the rear and C) Other Z4 wheels are okay.
- Dated 02-03-2012 Wheel Surprise ---> Wheel Surprise
- Dated 02-03-2012 Non-runflat tires with 296 wheels? ----> Non-runflat tires with 296 wheels?
- Dated 02-01-2012 Cracked rim ---> Cracked rim
- Dated 02-07-2011 BMW OEM Style 296 Wheel POLL post ---> BMW OEM Style 296 Wheel POLL
- Dated 03-13-2011 Which will be the better wheel option? ---> Which will be the better wheel option?
- Dated 04-14-2011 Z4 35i Love-Hate Relationship---> Z4 35i Love-Hate Relationship
- Dated 04-13-2011 To all 296 wheels haters!!!! ---> To all "296" wheels haters!!!!
- Dated 04-13-2011 Beware style 296 wheels ---> Beware style 296 wheels
- Dated 04-08-2011 I HATE RFT ---> I HATE RFT
- Dated 09-12-2010 Calling all Style 296 Wheel Drivers ---> Calling all Style 296 Wheel Drivers
- Dated 09-12-2010 Made it home with BMW 19 INCH Cracked Rear Wheel ---> Made it home with BMW 19 INCH Cracked Rear Wheel
If you have a 296 wheel horror story to tell and share your dealer experience why not go to the Dealer Review and add your story right here, perhaps someday you might get a replacement wheel or haven forbid your money back ---> CLICK to Open the Dealer Review Link
My brief story is right here
This is why I drive an M3 without RFTUsername: Rolf-Dieter
Region: Idaho USA
Dealership Name: Idaho Falls BMW
Sales or Service: Service
Name of Salesperson/Advisor: Service and Parts Manager
Overall Experience (1 lowest 5 highest): -1
Work Performed/Attempted: see comments below
Recommended? (Yes or No): NO
Additional Comments: While on a US road trip last summer with my then new Z4 35i I experienced a flat on my rear driver site wheel. The flat was due to a crack on my wheel. I was told by this dealership: The US and Canadian Warranty are not the same (this turned out later not to be true) and I only have two options open to me, 1) Be towed to the nearest Canadian dealership by road side assistance or 2) Order a new wheel and have them ship the old one to Canada for warranty claims.
I opted to order a new wheel. Once the dealership received the new wheel (BMW Style 296) they said, sorry we don't change wheels this is done at the tire shop. So I followed the Parts Manager to the tire shop. He introduced me and then promptly left. The shop people there went to work on my old wheel using tire irons and actually damaged my wheel (BMW Canada later declared the wheel bend). While in this tire shop I asked all other wheels to be checked for cracks, this was done and the passenger rear wheel was also found having 2 hairline cracks. I decided to drive home very carefully (3000 KM) with the two hairline cracks.
All this dealership did for me is a) put air in my tires. b) order a new wheel. and c) gave me wrong information about the BMW warranty.
If you live near this dealership avoid it like the plague
The final "Resting Place" of the wheel that I had to drag all the way home in my then 2 seater now a $700- Garden Hose Holder can be seen below, keeping my winter cover company.
