| If anyone is thinking about buying a | | | | from the lighter plug, the only way home |
| late used BMW car then pay attention to | | | | was to use the back roads with regular |
| the following information as it may save | | | | stops to re-inflate the tyre each time |
| you a serious amount of money. | | | | the low pressure warning came on, the |
| A close friend purchased an 18 month old | | | | warning had to be re-set each time the |
| BMW 325i M Sport recently from a private | | | | tyre was re-inflated. |
| seller and did not pay close attention | | | | Some 11 hours later with many stops and |
| to the tyres which were quite worn. | | | | diversions the car was on the drive back |
| After a couple of months further wear he | | | | at his house and the next morning a call |
| realised they were looking a little low | | | | to the local BMW dealership was made to |
| although still quite legal so he took | | | | arrange the replacement. It still took a |
| the car into a leading tyre companies | | | | day to get the tyres in and the stop and |
| garage over Christmas to get a new set | | | | pump procedure was used to get the car |
| put on. | | | | to the dealership. Another 350 pounds |
| After half an hour he was told that the | | | | later and the car was back on the road |
| company could not get the tyre's, this | | | | again. |
| was because only one manufacturer made | | | | I guess there are a number of lessons to |
| the approved tyres which were a certain | | | | learn here, one of course is the issue |
| type of run flat sports tyre. Though run | | | | and sensibility of run flat tyres which |
| flat tyres are common in many other BMW | | | | are being rolled out across many types |
| models these tyre's were extremely hard | | | | of car now, secondly of course is |
| to source without going to the nearest | | | | whether it is wise for the everyday |
| BMW dealership. | | | | person to purchase cars privately |
| Now the second problem was the cost, a | | | | anymore. |
| complete set of tyres fitted was going | | | | Of course the puncture could not be |
| to cost 1,300 pounds inclusive and so | | | | foreseen but then being stranded at a |
| what seemed like a bargain at the time | | | | motorway service station and then |
| of purchase very quickly turned out to | | | | stopping to re-inflate a tyre for 11 |
| be no bargain at all. With the new | | | | hours is not a very sensible and |
| tyre's fitted the car was merrily on its | | | | fulfilling experience either. |
| way back from Bristol when the low air | | | | But what if the car had been purchased |
| pressure warning light flashed. | | | | from an approved BMW dealer, first of |
| After pulling off the motorway, a quick | | | | all the tyres would have been in top |
| check revealed that the new rear | | | | condition, the downside is that the |
| nearside tyre indeed had a puncture, the | | | | price would be more to start with but |
| fact that the car had run flat tyre's | | | | then this can be offset by the potential |
| means of course that there is no spare. | | | | for reduced depreciation due to the cars |
| After ringing a number of emergency | | | | approved dealer status. |
| callout tyre companies and using the | | | | Furthermore, at the service station the |
| very limited run flat ability to reach a | | | | owner could invoke the BMW emergency |
| tyre fitting company after leaving the | | | | recovery service and driven home in a |
| next junction a certain reality dawned. | | | | replacement car, safer and far more |
| Not only could the companies not get a | | | | convenient. Looking further, what about |
| replacement tyre (soonest was 5 days) it | | | | the complexity of electronics and |
| became apparent that a run flat tyre | | | | components, most people would not have a |
| cannot be repaired, in fact one national | | | | clue as to whether these are in good |
| distributer said it was against the law | | | | order or about to malfunction |
| to repair a run flat tyre. | | | | (frighteningly expensive). |
| At this point what are the options, the | | | | Therefore as cars become ever more |
| car is still 4 hours from home, it has a | | | | complex can everyday motorists put |
| puncture that cannot be fixed and a tyre | | | | themselves at risk like this, is it not |
| that cannot be replaced. A trip to a | | | | a false economy and a flawed outlook on |
| nearby Halfords and 25 pounds later an | | | | personal safety to purchase privately |
| electric pump was deployed that worked | | | | rather than through a dealership. |