Beware style 296 wheels

[HerrK]

This 296 wheel issue, much like the HPFP, is just a subset of the legal/profit issues at BMW. BMW had their hand forced on the HPFP issue, although obviously they've been working the change. They've had other wheel recalls. They have to be presented with hard evidence of the failure mode because again this market segment is small peanuts. I will be cutting up one of my wheels for FA if one of them cracks. But actually I think the noted/documented failures to date are more random mfg problems rather than design defficiencies. Either design or mfg faults BMW will probably not act as with the RFT this is not trending to a safety issue. It will be interesting as the years and miles go by to see if this fault occurs with non RFT tires - this would be a safety issue - and one that BMW is certainly not liable for due to the use of non OEM tires.

[evangelos]

I do have the 296 19'' on the e89 35i, such a headache, I even bought a 5th wheel to have it standby for substitute when the others broken... in 2 years time they cracked more than 12 times and repaired all. Last month I bought same rft tyres, again repaired all 5 wheels and 2 days ago I was left stranded by another crack at some mountain resort area at night. That was it! The car was moved by truck to the dealer, I returned some 300klm by taxi in Athens (Greece). Tommorow I am ordering either the 276 or the 325m 18'' with non-rft tyres and hope I get rid of this mess...

[McLane]

Originally Posted by ManiacGT

I too have style 296 and have no issues despite some nasty pothole encounters. I'd be interested how many people do not have this issue vs those that do.

this is giving me some hope
i ordered a 35i mt on jan 31st, and i could not resist to order the 296 style wheels
the first posts in this thread scared me

[Blu Yea]

Originally Posted by McLane

this is giving me some hope
i ordered a 35i mt on jan 31st, and i could not resist to order the 296 style wheels
the first posts in this thread scared me

I didn't have an option on mine as i bought from out of state and the dealer wasn't budging. it came with the 296's and I "like many" was hoping that my experience would be better after a great Z3 experience. I am surprised that BMW let's this go on like this and am now told the 296 19" are not available as an option. Haven't bothered to confirm. I will post today's 296 resolution on the "cracked rim" thread.

[kernelkraut]

Hi Guys,

I'm deeply concerned about BMW's lack of interest in the 296 wheels cracking...

I discovered today that one of my rear wheels is cracked rather badly. I'm taking it up with BMW South Africa tomorrow and will let you know what they have to say this side of the world...

[Vintage]

Originally Posted by kernelkraut

Hi Guys,

I'm deeply concerned about BMW's lack of interest in the 296 wheels cracking...

I discovered today that one of my rear wheels is cracked rather badly. I'm taking it up with BMW South Africa tomorrow and will let you know what they have to say this side of the world...

Amen,

Maybe you will have better luck in South Africa but with BMWNA they want you to file a lawsuit, or at least seriously threaten one in writing, before they think about doing anything.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by kernelkraut

Hi Guys,

I'm deeply concerned about BMW's lack of interest in the 296 wheels cracking...

I discovered today that one of my rear wheels is cracked rather badly. I'm taking it up with BMW South Africa tomorrow and will let you know what they have to say this side of the world...

I send you a PM to your PM hope all works out with your wheel issue.

Good Luck,

Rolf-Dieter

PS. To my past Z4 friends I just like to say ... I've put the wheel issue behind me BMW in the US screwed me over good, sill I purchased two M3's since then since I love the BMW quality automobile too much. In the end I said to myself why should this issue spoil my fun

BTW I changed my handle from Rolf-Dieter to Alter Peter ... there is a church in München near the Hofbräuhaus (in the heart of the city) I climbed all the steps to the top in 2009 the church name is Alter Peter and I saw it more fitting as a handle. Be sure to visit and clim to the top it is a great view from up there of the entire city on a clear day Some teaser photos of the city in this garage ---> Click Here

When I signed up to this forum I used my first name during the registration and somehow it ended up to be my handle. I thought I explain it in case some of my friends are wondering .... then we M3 drivers so they say have no fiends

[09cbb]

Originally Posted by HerrK

This 296 wheel issue, much like the HPFP, is just a subset of the legal/profit issues at BMW. BMW had their hand forced on the HPFP issue, although obviously they've been working the change. They've had other wheel recalls. They have to be presented with hard evidence of the failure mode because again this market segment is small peanuts. I will be cutting up one of my wheels for FA if one of them cracks. But actually I think the noted/documented failures to date are more random mfg problems rather than design defficiencies. Either design or mfg faults BMW will probably not act as with the RFT this is not trending to a safety issue. It will be interesting as the years and miles go by to see if this fault occurs with non RFT tires - this would be a safety issue - and one that BMW is certainly not liable for due to the use of non OEM tires.

I have the 296 and immediately switched to non-RFTs. So far no cracks. {knock on wood}

[kernelkraut]

I thought I'd post some pics of my rim

I have contacted the DP at the dealership where the car was bought and am awaiting a reply.

By the way, posted some pics of my baby below.

[The_Hulk]

I had my 35i for only 3 months when my rear 296 wheel cracked.
The local dealer said that they would charge £110 to examine the wheel and this would be refunded if it was found not to be damaged by me.
I had been reading this forum and others and decided i'd change all four wheels at my own cost.
The 35i is an amazing car but i'm really disappointed by BMW's stance on this issue.
Modifying cars has been my passion for a long time and i was planning to change the wheels anyway. (Makes is easier to justify the cost)
Would have been pissed if i wasn't wanting to upgrade the wheels.
Good luck for anyone taking legal action against BMW.

[robertrichhart]

My dealer replaced mine at no cost, after finding two additional hairline cracks in the wheel in addition to the one I took it in for. The new 296 wheel is significantly thicker across the entire mid-section. Hopefully they have now fixed this problem with the new design!

[Kief]

Originally Posted by robertrichhart

The new 296 wheel is significantly thicker across the entire mid-section. Hopefully they have now fixed this problem with the new design!

Can anyone confirm that BMW did in fact strengthen newer 296 wheels? Perhaps this information may help those with the original 296s if they ever experience cracks.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by robertrichhart

My dealer replaced mine at no cost, after finding two additional hairline cracks in the wheel in addition to the one I took it in for. The new 296 wheel is significantly thicker across the entire mid-section. Hopefully they have now fixed this problem with the new design!

Rolf, maybe this can be new ammunition for you with BMW, if it's not too late. Seems like if they thickened the wheel, theyre' admitting it was weak.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

Rolf, maybe this can be new ammunition for you with BMW, if it's not too late. Seems like if they thickened the wheel, theyre' admitting it was weak.

Thanks for the heads up.

Perhaps I will write one more letter as a follow up to the local BMW dealership with copies to Germany BMW AG expressing my disappointment once more the way I was treated in the US as well as on my return here in Canada.

A Canadian so called BMW Specialist (perhaps having some engineering background) totally ignored the fact that my wheel was changed out to a new BMW wheel in the US by a ordinary tire shop. Two mechanics using two tire irons applied great force to remove my RFT from the cracked alloy wheel that was later declared bend by this aforementioned BMW Specialist.

I will not return my wheel to BMW it found it's final resting place on my garage wall holding my garden hose. The wheel along with unnecessary expenses I encountered in Idaho Falls has cost me close to $1,000- and as I said remains on the wall that I call "The wall of BMW Wheel Shame"

I will send that letter and if I get a response I will post it here, however, no one should hold there breath that I will get a response.

For the benefit of others I will post my link on the "Dealership Review Thread" Below where you can see a picture of the wheel in question on my garage wall that I named "The wall of BMW Wheel Shame" I call it so since BMW saw it fit to mount such a inferior wheel on such a fine car.

The thread below briefly outlines my cracks of two rear wheels on my former Z4. Some of you might ask why did he not change the wheels on his Z4 well I needed more room for my vacation trips and therefore went back to a M3 a car that gave me countless years of problem free service. I still see the BMW as one of the best cars on the road in fact we still have a 1987 e28 5-Series 535is in our family that I upkeep and maintain. So as you can see I am still loyal to the brand. I just came to the realization that a bad BMW experience should not spoil my retirement fun. Sure it left a bad taste in my mouth ... then that is all.

Let me once more say this, whatever I posted in this forum was for the benefit of the Z4 drivers that have Style 296 wheels on there Z4. As it has proven itself more and more wheels have cracked since I posted my first post on this subject in June 2010.

I maintain to this date that the Z4 is a great car, perhaps some day I may add one to my stable as a short trip weekend car. Who knows it might be your car (Fellow Ontarian) that I purchase time will tell, one thing for sure it will not have Style 296 wheels

Go to this thread and scroll down to --->Region Idaho and you see my story and the wheel

Below a few more pictures of my cracked wheel for the benefit of others that have encountered the same issues as I have. Notice the gauge marks from the 2 tire irons used to remove the RFT (by the obviously inexperienced unsupervised mechanics [grease monkeys is perhaps a better word] in the tire shop that acts as BMW subcontractor for tire work) from the soft alloy wheel in the last pictures.

[BMWZ4]

So much for putting the issue behind you.....too funny.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by robertrichhart

My dealer replaced mine at no cost, after finding two additional hairline cracks in the wheel in addition to the one I took it in for. The new 296 wheel is significantly thicker across the entire mid-section. Hopefully they have now fixed this problem with the new design!

Seems like some people get good customer service and some don't. I wonder if it has to do with whether you bought the car at your local dealership or not. I could see them not bending over backwards to help you if you didn't buy the car locally. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but I bought both my BMWs locally and they have definitely treated me well, including replacing peeling sideview mirrors covers on my 525xi at no charge after warranty, and many other things. Just my 2 cents.

[BMWZ4]

My instincts tell me that BMW's failure to cover (or recover) costs for this, has to do more with a Canadian vehicle travelling south of the border and possibly being fixed at an unauthorized dealer, although the BMW dealership did recommend the tire repair shop to Rolf, doesn't mean it was an authorized BMW 'fix-it' shop...(Tire Shop was it, can't recall the full story now?)...so BMW Canada or BMWNA had an "opening" to turn down the request. Certainly not unique to BMW.

As you read the other postings, members appear to be getting reimbursed for their cracked/bent wheels.....and in these cases, I'm assuming the repairs/replacements occurred in the same country/city where the damage happened in the first place.

My opinion, naturally.
D

[ManiacGT]

Originally Posted by McLane

this is giving me some hope
i ordered a 35i mt on jan 31st, and i could not resist to order the 296 style wheels
the first posts in this thread scared me

Well I hate to switch sides on this but my two rears did crack in the end. I had to fight BMW to get them replaced then fought further ( legally) to get compo for the tyres too. I love my wheels but they're always a cause of stress.

[robertrichhart]

For what it's worth, I did NOT buy my Z4 from the local dealership that replaced my cracked 296 wheel... I bought it used, not from a BMW dealer, and in another state!
They also gave me a BMW loaner while they had my car for a week and a half. I will say this, they impressed me and bought some serious consideration for where I will buy my next BMW!

[Jayda]

Originally Posted by robertrichhart

For what it's worth, I did NOT buy my Z4 from the local dealership that replaced my cracked 296 wheel... I bought it used, not from a BMW dealer, and in another state!
They also gave me a BMW loaner while they had my car for a week and a half. I will say this, they impressed me and bought some serious consideration for where I will buy my next BMW!

I love my wheels too....I am sitting here with tire and wheel insurance in hand just waiting for the inevitable.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Jayda

I love my wheels too....I am sitting here with tire and wheel insurance in hand just waiting for the inevitable.

They are nice wheels indeed, hope when yours start showing hairline cracks you are near a dealership that removes RFT properly with the right equipment (meaning a tire machine where there will be no contact with the rim whatsoever only the tire to remove the RFT). Also make sure you have a dealership lined up that does this work and not uses a subcontractor tire shop like this outfit that calls itself a BMW Idaho Falls Dealership. Further I hope they will replace your rims all of them with Generation II.

I washed my cars today it was a wonderful pre-spring day up here 14 C (a booming 57 F). When I rolled up my hose on to my cracked 296 wheel / garden hose holder (you notice it there on the driver side wall) I noticed something that I neglected to mention before.

See the last picture notice the black rubber markings on the rim. The markings are not evident opposite (on the spoke side of the wheel). This is further evidence that all pressure and stresses are predominant on this side - the inner rim due to the 2.5 negative camber the rear wheels are set to on the Z4.

Perhaps some day soon BMW will replace Style 296 Generation I with Generation II and reduce that negative 2.5 degree chamber to say 1 degree. Recommend to people that take there Z4 with 296 wheels to the track to leave it at negative 2.5 degree. Who knows time will tell. I recall teagueAMX mentioning the reduction to 1 degree sometime back to reduce somewhat the vertical stress transfer to that side of the wheel. I value the opinion of teagueAMX very highly. He also mentioned that any alloy wheel will crack under severe condition, so in the end it is up to us with todays modern wheels to be on guard. So if we hit something or go thru a large pot hole then common sense tells us to check the wheel(s).

Certainly the black rubber markings only on the side of the wheel where it cracks does mean something. Unfortunately I don't remember much about Finite Element and Stress Analysis since in my long mechanical courier we send everything out to the Lab for FA. Who knows perhaps on my next trip to California I may just toss my wheel in the trunk and drop it off at HerrK so he can have his friends cut out sections and perform the Finite Element and Stress Analysis Evaluation of the remittance on that wheel. I know this kind of work can be very expensive.

Anyway more food for thought on the subject ... any comments ideas other then what I've mentioned on the black rubber markings from the RFT ? Anyone ?

[jparnes1]

Yeah, I have a comment...nice ram's head.