Hi all,
I know this will be OT, but from previous experience I rather deal with the flamers here than with the best the BMW forums have to offer.

I friend of mine has a 2005 325i and it is still under warranty. A blown tire somehow took a chunk of wheel's lip, about the size of the lead weights that are used to align them. The piece of metal blew out when the tire exploded. The wheel did not touch the road since these bimmers come with run flat tires. Obviously the integrity of the wheel has been compromised and don't think she should be driving her car like that. The dealer (Vista BMW on Coconut Creek) replaced the tire, but left the wheel as is. She asked if it was safe to drive, and off course they said it was OK. I differ.

Does anyone have any ideas on how to handle this issue? Please help.

 

they should replace the wheel. I can't believe that a tire blowout would blow a chunk of the wheel off.

 

I would make them replace it since it has full maintenance and a warranty.

 

Please post a pic if you can.

 

We carpooled today, so the bimmer is at my place. I will take a pic later on today to post.

BTW, our carpool of 4 has 2 Infiniti's. One 2007 Sedan and one 2006 Coupe (mine). We represent!

 

have em contact the regional bmw mgr or national call center. if it looks like it occurred by a blow out a little leg work will prob get it replaced w/o cost. if it looks like road dmg or suspect over pressure, may be tough... but still could be covered.

ppp

 

thats rediculous if it really went from the blow out they sho replacing should be replacing it unless when it blew he hit somthing

 

It did not hit anything, the run flat tires prevented the wheel from touching the road!

 

Any part of the lip missing is not good/safe imo. There will be stress on the new tire bead where there's no bead lip. He needs a new wheel.

 

Pic

 

I can't imagine how a tire blowout would cause that, unless the rim hit the road. It's on the INSIDE of the lip. He might have hit something in the road that popped the tire and simultaneously chipped the rim. But rubber doesn't do that to a metallic alloy - it's just not possible.

 

I agree with AthensBlueG. Looks like it is from road debris which damaged the rim and the tire at the same time.

 

Just because the tires are run flats doesn't mean she didn't hit something that blew out the tire and took a chunk of the wheel also.

 

Wow...the tire sidewall did that?!?!
Ok, the lip where the tire bead seats is intact, so I guess I can see where the Dealer would say the wheel is okay to drive on, but Dang, it looks like something else torn into that wheel. It's a weak spot now for sure.

Here's a side wall blowout I had and you can see where the tire bead flared the bead lip. I didn't hit anything on that one either. It was a sidewall failure with only 12 miles on the rubber. It blew going about 75mph on the freeway.
Those marks to the right are from a rock(s) I hit when pulling on the shoulder still going rather fast. They look at my tire and nothing pierced it, so they replaced the tire and wheel n/c.



Tell your lady friend g/l. Doesn't hurt to try to get the Dealer to replace her wheel if they can prove nothing hit the wheel/tire sidewall and make it blow out.