Calling all Style 296 Wheel Drivers

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

We have a nice poll regarding what wheels we have Here is another just for us 296 wheel owners ...

Should you have 19" do check your wheels for cracks. You may have come across my posts stating that both my rear wheels cracked on a road trip.

BMW changed one wheel (that had hairline cracks) under warranty the other (with an open crack) they claim has a bend.

Cracks if there are any can be found here see photo

So my tips for you are as follows;

Check your wheel on the inside for cracks.

You might have to elevate your car to do it.

Also check your tire pressure often.

Your tire may also wear on the inside should this happen I was advised to increase the tire pressure by 10% above spec.

Hope you find no cracks, however, if you detect them early you may have a warranty claim if you pass BMW's out-off-round spec. limit of 0.300mm / 0.012" TIR (Total Indicator Reading).

So let us vote to see what Style 296 wheel size we all have.

so that there be no confusion this is a 296 BMW Wheel

SORRY THE POLL ADDITION DID NOT WORK ..... SO HERE IT IS

1) MY WHEELS ARE 17 INCH

2) MY WHEELS ARE 18 INCH

3) MY WHEELS ARE 19 INCH

4) I HAVE RFT

5) I CHANGED TO NRFT

WEBMASTER; Perhaps if you see it you can edit the thread to add the POLL Questions. If the Webmaster cannot include the poll questions perhaps we can summarize below.

In any case fellows keep an eye on your rear wheels. I plan to take mine off at least 3 to 4 times a year clean and inspect them. Seams like if you go to BMW with an open crack game is all over.

[richard in NC]

I definitely plan to check them. Although, I just had the tires replaced and the tire dealer didn't notice anything. Although, I didn't know at the time to look for that.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

1) MY WHEELS ARE 17 INCH

2) MY WHEELS ARE 18 INCH

3) MY WHEELS ARE 19 INCH (Rolf-Dieter)

4) I HAVE RFT (Rolf-Dieter)

5) I CHANGED TO NRFT (Rolf-Dieter) Plan is to change soon.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by richard in NC

I definitely plan to check them. Although, I just had the tires replaced and the tire dealer didn't notice anything. Although, I didn't know at the time to look for that.

Ritchard,

When dealing with tire shops make sure they know what they are doing, the soft alloy wheels can easily be damaged. BMW in the US that ordered a new wheel for me ushered me to a tire shop to change out my cracked wheel with a new wheel. BMW in the US where I was only were capable of checking air pressure. No tire change out equipment. So the tire shop damaged my cracked wheel. see this photo below

Photo of damage done by US Tire shop

Then my BMW dealer here at home fond my wheel bend, so the cost of a new wheel plus expenses hotel etc. are mine to this point 1,000- CDN

In the past 20 years all my BMW tire work was done at BMW nowhere else. I still cannot get over it that BMW sell us an expensive car and wheels then this dealer did not have a tire machine and trained manpower to handle the delicate alloy wheels. I am not done with BMW by a long shot believe me.

[marcw]

I'm still wrestling with the idea of downsizing to 18" wheels. But for the time being I'm running with the OEM setup.

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

1) MY WHEELS ARE 17 INCH

2) MY WHEELS ARE 18 INCH

3) MY WHEELS ARE 19 INCH (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

4) I HAVE RFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

5) I CHANGED TO NRFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw) Plan is to change soon.

[HerrK]

Rolf,

How's your FA going. Were you able to get a detailed TIR report printout from the dealer which may have indicated where the wheel took a hit? I am planning on a 5K miles inspection cycle R&R of my wheels. But plan on keeping the RFT's on them none the less, as I had purchased the 5yr/50K tire/wheel warranty back in Apr when completing the final papers prior to ED. I like the look and ease of cleaning the 296's so unless I am forced to ante up $ to replace broken unit(s), at which time I will reevaluate my plan, I will burn through at least a couple of sets of RFT's. Maybe the new and improved 3rd gen will be available after set 1 (expected end of life - early 2012). I have also looked at some other RFT profile options (Frt - 235 or 245/40) (R - 265 or 275/35) which will fit the rims and give more sidewall height. So it will be interesting to find root cause for your failure (manufacturing defect, tire stiffness, design deficiency, etc). For now 3K+ happy motoring miles with no issues.

[siscobmw]

checked my tires and alloys when I removed them this last august weekend, before a wash/clay/seal session....no problems here....I touch wood...
Francesco



1) MY WHEELS ARE 17 INCH

2) MY WHEELS ARE 18 INCH(siscobmw style 293)

3) MY WHEELS ARE 19 INCH (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

4) I HAVE RFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

5) I CHANGED TO NRFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw) Plan is to change soon

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by HerrK

Rolf,

How's your FA going. Were you able to get a detailed TIR report printout from the dealer which may have indicated where the wheel took a hit? I am planning on a 5K miles inspection cycle R&R of my wheels. But plan on keeping the RFT's on them none the less, as I had purchased the 5yr/50K tire/wheel warranty back in Apr when completing the final papers prior to ED. I like the look and ease of cleaning the 296's so unless I am forced to ante up $ to replace broken unit(s), at which time I will reevaluate my plan, I will burn through at least a couple of sets of RFT's. Maybe the new and improved 3rd gen will be available after set 1 (expected end of life - early 2012). I have also looked at some other RFT profile options (Frt - 235 or 245/40) (R - 265 or 275/35) which will fit the rims and give more sidewall height. So it will be interesting to find root cause for your failure (manufacturing defect, tire stiffness, design deficiency, etc). For now 3K+ happy motoring miles with no issues.

HerrK,

Thanks for your update, I do agree with your plan, the dollar outlay is too high.

I just like to alert others of the potential issues, if others inspect there wheels often they might catch a crack at the early beginning (hairline) and have a chance for a warranty replacement.

No feedback from my dealer as to the TIR report. I strongly believe that my wheel (the one with the open crack) was further damaged by the tire shop that changed out the wheel to the new one in Idaho. I made this a point to BMW head office. I cannot understand that it would not be a BMW requirement to be able to handle wheel / tire replacement in-house. They sell high end cars, the delicate BMW wheels and tire work is handled by joe blow across the street.

I changed my mind on my own TIR check since unless I exactly duplicate what they do at BMW my checks would be useless. From what I've read the wheel is mounted in the center bore and has to be concentric to the OD etc. I've made my points to BMW in writing and am awaiting there reply on the wheel that was NOT warranted.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by siscobmw

checked my tires and alloys when I removed them this last august weekend, before a wash/clay/seal session....no problems here....I touch wood...
Francesco



1) MY WHEELS ARE 17 INCH

2) MY WHEELS ARE 18 INCH(siscobmw style 293)

3) MY WHEELS ARE 19 INCH (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

4) I HAVE RFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw)

5) I CHANGED TO NRFT (Rolf-Dieter, marcw) Plan is to change soon

Francesco

Thank you for your input!

[siscobmw]

a little input for you:looked at your pics....let me explain my opinion:a pothole cracks usually an alloy in the same way in two different point and there should be some bent/distortion signs....your cracked alloy has a very tidy crack,only one and not two similar ones,and it's 90 degrees perpendicular respect to the wheel axial rotation....I don't think this alloy was not 100% good yet, before bmw put it on your car.....
also:an alloy in that conditions means also the tire was badly damaged....I don 't think that alloy was balanced using weights over the limit (bmw should uses not more than 120 grams for each alloy....)
Francesco

[mcbeee]

Hi Rolf, just got back from my 8000 km roadtrip with no adverse wheel issues. I drove all over California, Arizona etc and hit every lousy road surface they had (not by choice). The roads in LA are atrocious !!!
Drove Highway 41 (where James Dean lost it), tore up a buch of nasty canyons near Malibu, did the PCH and 6 days of hi speed interstates. I did go into "safe" mode towards the end, I think the HPFP packed it in for a bit but it cleared after about 5 miles.??? I'd been doing 80mph for 10 hours and who knows what the fault was, the car is going in for its service on Thursday. Oil change etc but they are going to check the fault code AND check the rims for me. We'll see what they find....

PS: I do have inner tire wear, not too bad yet but definitely there. (24000kms)

Cheers, Mike B

[mcbeee]

Rolf, I just had the car serviced and while they were doing it they checked my rims....at 24,600kms I have no evidence of hairline or other cracks, this after a 5000 mile road trip on most of the same roads you were on. I wonder if there are different lot numbers of these rims and I got lucky? (or I'm just lucky so far)

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

Rolf, I just had the car serviced and while they were doing it they checked my rims....at 24,600kms I have no evidence of hairline or other cracks, this after a 5000 mile road trip on most of the same roads you were on. I wonder if there are different lot numbers of these rims and I got lucky? (or I'm just lucky so far)

My rim was manufactured in 08 October (stamped on one of the spokes on the inside - 08 represents the year and each dot one month there are 10 dots so October 2008 ) See picture on Photo Page 6 in my garage

**(Link removed - photos can be seen on page 6 of the link below)** Click here to see the picture, wait a second or two for picture to load[/URL]

I am glad you have no cracks. I don't think you drove thru the Mohave Desert at 49 C (120F ) from Vegas to Bishop California or did you?

Still keep an eye on your wheels and that air pressure, I seam to lose a few pounds every week (4 to 5 PSI) I check and adjust air pressure every Monday. Don't thrust them RFT

PS. We almost have the same KM on the clock, mine stands now at 24, 675 KM

[mcbeee]

nope on Bishop.

I drove around for two weeks in +100 and did LA to Phoenix on I-10. I only hit 47 C on the external temp, once for a short while.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by mcbeee

nope on Bishop.

I drove around for two weeks in +100 and did LA to Phoenix on I-10. I only hit 47 C on the external temp, once for a short while.

I guess you are just lucky then do avoid the bumps in the road. Did you check the date of manufacture on your 296 wheels?

I changed the link to the picture I mentioned above (in Post 13) click the link below, photos with the date of manufacture are on Page 6 of my "Cracked Wheel Story"