2005 BMW e90 - Ditch the car or ditch the runflats?

blun

blun

blun

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Hi

I've owned a 2005 BMW 330i for approximately 18 months. It has m-sport suspension with 18" wheels and bridgestone runflat tyres.

Having just had a baby, my missus and I are finding the ride quality quite tiresome, especially with the ridiculous state of the roads around Yorkshire. I spend more time trying to navigate my way around potholes than actually looking where I'm going.

The car is so crashy over uneven surfaces / potholes - it feels and sounds terrible. I can't imagine it's doing the suspension much good either. My wife's 2004 clio actually rides better on most of the urban roads around where we live.

I'm trying to decide whether to ditch the car and go for something that can transport us around in comfort, or whether to try getting rid of the runflats. Has anyone done this on a similar car and been happy with the results?

I've read that the early e90's weren't set up well with the runflats, and do benefit from regular tyres, but most of this seems to be quite subjective.

I'd be really grateful for any real world expeirences anyone can give me.

Cheers :)
 
try to borrow a set of 17" (will they fit?) rims with tyres and try them on?

Heck even buying a set on ebay and selling it after a week for a 50 quid loss can't be that much trouble and will definately answer your question with the best possible hands-on experience.
 
The naff engined M Sport's do have 17's - and these wheels are worthless - so 17" 318d M Sport wheels with non RFT's might help.
 
I changed from RFTs, which lasted all on 8k miles to Falkens, and 15k miles later, there is still plenty of meat on them. It totally transformed the handling for me. Much better grip, quieter and although its still crashy over pot holes, feels so much better.

I have a 530 though with SE suspension. YMMV.
 
Thanks for the comments. Not sure whether to try some 17's with falkens or get some new tyres for the existing 18s.

If it could just sort out the crashing over uneven surfaces that would make a huge difference.

Are there insurance implications of changing from RFTs?
 
daveydave said:
Tyres will help but no where near as much as having standard suspension...
Click to expand...

I didn't think the SE suspension was much, if at all, better than the M-sport suspension.

Having said that, on my mum's E90 with run flats and M-sport suspension, the ride really isn't that bad? Are there different generations of runflats?
 
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I called Aviva and they have no problems with switchin from runflats. I'm going to stick with the 18's and get a set of Falken FK 452's and see how I go. If I like them then I'll eBay the runflats as they still have a lot of life left in them.

Will report back in a month or two and let you know how it goes.
 
Yes - sorry forgot to update the thread!

I went for a set of Vredestein Ultrac Sessanta's on my existing 18” wheels in the end and they've made a difference. Not the night-and-day difference some people suggest when switching from RFTs, but enough to make the car easier to live with.

My car is an SE but with the sport suspension option (same as the fitted to M Sport models). The ride is still very much on the firm side, but I’d say it is now tolerable on poor roads rather than bone-shattering as it was before.

The Vred’s cost £450 for the 4, and I managed to sell my old part-worn RFTs for £350. Also picked up a Conti Comfort Kit from ebay for £20 to keep in case of a puncture.
 
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