Ditching runflats - few questions

dale1uk

dale1uk

dale1uk

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I've managed to persuade my dad to ditch the runflats on his E92 for a full set of Vredestein Sessantas, but he has a few quick questions about doing so.

Obviously there is no spare wheel in the E92s, so he'll be getting some tyre weld to put in the boot incase he does get a flat. What is the best tyre weld to get? Dont want to get one that will be a **** to clean off the inside of the alloy if it does need to be used.

Also, what happens to the pressure sensor if tyre weld is used? Can it be cleaned off or is it new sensor time? If a new sensor is required does anyone know roughly how much a new one costs?

Cheers
 
Best bet would be the purchase of the official BMW mobility kit, part number will be from the E90/92 M3. This comes with the can of goo and a compressor which will fit in the boot tidy.

If your father is changing from RFT to non run flats its worth considering that apart from the ride quality improvement and reduced cost, should he wish to trade it back to a BMW dealer they will knock the price of a full set of RFT's off the price offered. Also may need to notify your insurance company although it shouldnt affect premiums.

Hope this link works, its the part you need from Realoem.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=WD92&mospid=50361&btnr=71_0448&hg=71&fg=07
 
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Adam_D200 said:
Best bet would be the purchase of the official BMW mobility kit, part number will be from the E90/92 M3. This comes with the can of goo and a compressor which will fit in the boot tidy.
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Have looked into the BMW Mobility kits, however £70 seems quite excessive. Are they really worth the price compared to a standard can of tyre weld?

If your father is changing from RFT to non run flats its worth considering that apart from the ride quality improvement and reduced cost, should he wish to trade it back to a BMW dealer they will knock the price of a full set of RFT's off the price offered
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Thanks for the heads up, will let him know :)
 
notify the insurers huh ?

why on earth should you have to notify the insurers that you've changed brands of tyre ?
 
yeah but since when have you had to notify the insurers when you fit linglongs ? crap korean tyres are actually downright dangerous, but you dont have to notify them.

Its no skin off their nose what provision you make for puncture repair at the roadside. You could just carry nothing at all and use the AA if you wanted to, thats nothing to do with the insurers.
 
dale1uk said:
Also, what happens to the pressure sensor if tyre weld is used? Can it be cleaned off or is it new sensor time? If a new sensor is required does anyone know roughly how much a new one costs?

Cheers
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May be wrong but I'm sure I read on tinternet somewhere that the sensor isn't actually a pressure sensor but one that measures the rotation of the wheel and any abnormal change flags up that there may be a puncture.
 
MrLOL said:
yeah but since when have you had to notify the insurers when you fit linglongs ? crap korean tyres are actually downright dangerous, but you dont have to notify them.

Its no skin off their nose what provision you make for puncture repair at the roadside. You could just carry nothing at all and use the AA if you wanted to, thats nothing to do with the insurers.
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Run-flats are a safety feature that you are removing by putting normal tyres on.
 
Finglonga said:
May be wrong but I'm sure I read on tinternet somewhere that the sensor isn't actually a pressure sensor but one that measures the rotation of the wheel and any abnormal change flags up that there may be a puncture.
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I'm fairly certain the sensors in the E92 are pressure sensors. It flags up on the dash if any of the tyres drop below a set pressure.

Simon said:
Run-flats are a safety feature that you are removing by putting normal tyres on.
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Good point, never looked at it from that angle.
 
Simon said:
Run-flats are a safety feature that you are removing by putting normal tyres on.
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I disagree, on the basis they aren't as much as a safety feature as they are a 'get me home feature' like the 'limp mode' most high spec cars feature.

But I guess the chance of a full on blow out is reduced.
 
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Why not try the Michelin PS2 ZP on it? I have them on my E90 and they are very good. There have been reports of non runflats getting uneven and premature wear as the suspension is configured for the harder side wall on the RFT compared to the none RFT.

The sensor is not a pressure sensor its a vibration sensor which is why it can't detect a gradual loss of pressure.
 
The insurance point is probably a bit OTT but should push come to shove you really dont want to give the insurance company an excuse to leave your policy void with a modification.

I second considering the Michelin PS2 ZP's (will these be replaced by a PS3 version soon?), I want to get these for the Z4 (if I keep it) as the bridgestones ride hard and tramline like its on rails. Other owners who have made the switch say the ride is much more compliant and the tramlining greatly improved. Very pricey mind as with most RFT's.
 
Simon said:
Run-flats are a safety feature that you are removing by putting normal tyres on.
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By the same token, half-decent factory fitted tyres are a safety feature that you are removing by sticking Chinese ditch-finder specials on....yet folks do that and insurance companies don't seem to bat an eyelid ;)
 
JRS said:
By the same token, half-decent factory fitted tyres are a safety feature that you are removing by sticking Chinese ditch-finder specials on....yet folks do that and insurance companies don't seem to bat an eyelid ;)
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A Run flat is considerably safer than any normal tyre in the event of a blow-out. Bridgestone or Linglong
 
Not disputing that Simon. But I'm sure you'd agree with me that no insurance company seems to care when, say, a '99 Jaguar XJ8 is fitted with cheap ditchfinders rather than replacing the half-decent rubber it left the factory with like-for-like.
 
daveydave said:
I disagree, on the basis they aren't as much as a safety feature as they are a 'get me home feature' like the 'limp mode' most high spec cars feature.
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Did your insurance company agree with your 'basis'. Its an interesting point, would like to hear what would happen if it was suggested.

Get you home rather than into the crash barrier? Sounds safety orientated to me.
 
Theres was a thread going on the e90post a while back about the insurance company getting funny when asked about changing to none RFT.
 
J1nxy said:
Theres was a thread going on the e90post a while back about the insurance company getting funny when asked about changing to none RFT.
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that all depends on the numpty you get on the phone.

Try declaring factor fit options to the insurer and see how much confusion it can cause in the wrong hands.

me "its got the optional 19 inch alloy wheels"

them "did you fit locking wheel nuts"

me "no you mis understand me, it came like that from the factory"

them "but we need to know if its got locking wheel nuts or not"

me "well you tell me, i havent touched them, its as it came out of the factory. WHat does your blurb say it came out of the factory with"

them "it doesnt tell us im afraid"

me "so how would you know if i had the factory fit 18s on ?"

them "oh but thats different"

in the end i just gave up and went with chris knott whom i listed off my list of mods to and didnt bat an eyelid at the factory fit 19s.

The definition of "the insurance company" being funny can come down to some female twerp on the end of the phone who knows jack about cars. I personally dont buy its a safety measure, otherwise surely runflats would be EU policy by now. Same way DRLs have now become because some survery said it was safer. And if runflats are safer, what about all those thousands of cars running around without runflats ? are they all that risk ? It will just be some twerp without a brain cell like i had when i tried to declare it had the optional 19 inch alloys fitted.
 
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