[BEMR]

Overall I am a proponent of Lease vs Buy for assorted reasons, but wow this could be a good reason against. Received a bill today for "non factory" original equipment on my lease end, seems I had new tires with just a couple thousand miles use, but they were NOT Run Flats. They calculated the new tires based on retail and now I owe bill.

I hate RFT Technology and once they wear out as on the past 3 BMW's I had, I change them out ASAP. Of course the fine print makes numerous statements as to tire size and wear, but they have been overlooking the RFT aspects of the requirement, at least for me on 2 other occasions.

Has anybody else been hit with this in such a way before?

[nbennettksu]

Yes, it is in the lease contract; you have to return the vehicle with RFT's if it came with them (I'm assuming you're referring to a non-M car, because M3/4 comes with non-RFT). They will hit you every time with that bill. However, you do not have to return it with the same RFT's... it just has to be ANY brand RFT. Hope this helps

[solstice]

If you changed the RFTs ASAP why did you not keep them? Seems to be the obvious thing to do so you can put them back on at lease return?

[AWE46M3]

I believe they should've pointed it out to you when you had the prior lease-return inspection done, unless you just returned it the last day. they are usually pretty good to let you know what they observed and needed to be fixed/changed.

[BEMR]

Originally Posted by solstice

If you changed the RFTs ASAP why did you not keep them? Seems to be the obvious thing to do so you can put them back on at lease return?

No ran them down as far as possible THEN replaced them with non Rft's. The run flats really suck since when there about 50% down the ride becomes really hard, and if you ever do get a flat there good for exactly 50 miles at 50 miles per hour, right to the mile. Happened twice 100 miles from a tire store.

[BEMR]

Originally Posted by AWE46M3

I believe they should've pointed it out to you when you had the prior lease-return inspection done, unless you just returned it the last day. they are usually pretty good to let you know what they observed and needed to be fixed/changed.

Good point, feel that wasn't mentioned like it should have been. Could have found some partial used ones if anything.

[BEMR]

Yes just realized that is on the NON M vehicles since on my M5 it was the canister thing, No RFT's.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by nbennettksu

Yes, it is in the lease contract; you have to return the vehicle with RFT's if it came with them (I'm assuming you're referring to a non-M car, because M3/4 comes with non-RFT). They will hit you every time with that bill. However, you do not have to return it with the same RFT's... it just has to be ANY brand RFT. Hope this helps

+1.

This is yet another downside to leasing - you have to return the car to OEM spec before it goes back to the dealer. Even if you think you improved the car, they will charge you to bring it back to OEM setup.

Unfortunately, performance tires wear out at about 20-30K - the same mileage when you have to return the leased car. So you are either stuck riding on sucky RFT tires for the duration of the lease, and then get to buy another set of over-priced RFT tires to return it or ...

.. get a set of dedicated 3-series wheels and performance tires, and put them on the car as soon as you get it. Store OEM wheels with RFTs, and put them back when it's time to lease return. I did this on my last car, but I have a bunch of spare 3-series wheel sets in the garage to throw at this problem.

a

[Meeni]

$1700 for 4 tires. Yeah right.

But it is in your lease terms, you should have kept the OEM rft in storage and put them back at lease end.

[sev1]

Sorry to hear that. I just leased a 435 and think I'm going to order some non-RFT's now to use for most of the lease and put back the factories when I'm ready to return.

[BeEmVe]

In another thread it was pointed out that on the lease return the tires have to have at least 5/32 of tread left. We are about that with our OEM RF tires (6/32-7/32) and that is only ~9k miles. RF tires suck. I plan to sell them and specifically pimp them as being perfect for lease return vehicles.

For the OP - too bad the dealer did not give you a chance to correct the problem before sending you the bill.

[MalibuBimmer]

The run flats on my 2013 650i Gran Coupe were gone in 10,000 miles. Same was true with my 2010 550i Gran Turismo. And the replacement tires are running well over $500 a copy.

I will say, though, that the current run flats combined with suspension changes, make them a lot easier on the spine. The ride on my 2006 650i convertible was horrendous. After I got rid of it and into an M6 convertible, with its supple suspension, the ride quality was so much better even though the M6 was more of a sport car.

Here in Southern California I've also destroyed 3 right front wheels in hidden pot holes. The first was with the 2006 650i and for that I had purchased wheel and tire insurance (for something like $400 -- I negotiated it with the dealer and got close to the dealer's price). I lost and wheel and tire to a pothole on the Gran Turismo and my current 6er convertible. But I'm still "ahead" because the cost of the wheel and tire protection package has gone sky high. And I think BMW wanted $2500+ for it for my i8. I passed again.

While it's true BMW gives you free service for 4 years or 50,000 miles, replacing the tires two or three times during that time more than makes up for it.

If you lease a current BMW with run flats and hate the ride, immediately swap them out and save the run flats. I guess that's the lesson. Maybe Bridgestones will wear better than the Pirellis, Dunlops and Michelins BMW is now using as OEM.

[Thumper333]

Originally Posted by BEMR

No ran them down as far as possible THEN replaced them with non Rft's. The run flats really suck since when there about 50% down the ride becomes really hard, and if you ever do get a flat there good for exactly 50 miles at 50 miles per hour, right to the mile. Happened twice 100 miles from a tire store.

New to BMW but, wouldn't road side service cover this issue if you couldn't get to a shop in that time? Seems like they should since they ship the car with no spare.

[MG 228i]

Would this $1700 charge be covered under lease protection?

[jwzimm]

Originally Posted by MG 228i

Would this $1700 charge be covered under lease protection?

What do you mean? He returned his car at the end of the lease with non-OEM tires. Per the lease agreement that is signed at origination you agree to return the car in OEM condition. It is similar with dents and other damage. The dealer has to restore the car to factory condition in order to sell so they have to pay to change the tires.

[Labeef]

Originally Posted by jwzimm

What do you mean? He returned his car at the end of the lease with non-OEM tires. Per the lease agreement that is signed at origination you agree to return the car in OEM condition. It is similar with dents and other damage. The dealer has to restore the car to factory condition in order to sell so they have to pay to change the tires.

What he means is, you can purchase an insurance that covers up to $5k of damage upon return. So he may not have to pay if the OP purchased insurance.

I hear you about the run flats. But not knowing or understanding about specific contractual agreements doesn't mean a leasing is a bad idea. Like any other contract, you need to understand the terms prior to commitment. Also, didn't your return rep or sales person let you know prior that the tires were not the proper ones?

Leasing is awesome if you like new cars often and don't care about paying for the rest of your life. In addition it's during the best years of the vehicles life with full warranty, and we all know BMW's are not cheap out of warranty.

[ryanSTL]

wow, glad i read this post. I have a leased 435 gran coupe with RFTs that i really hate. i was going to run them down and then go with normal tires, much like your approach.

I'll replace them sooner now, store them, and swap back at lease end. sorry about your experience that sucks.

[BEMR]

Originally Posted by AWE46M3

I believe they should've pointed it out to you when you had the prior lease-return inspection done, unless you just returned it the last day. they are usually pretty good to let you know what they observed and needed to be fixed/changed.

You would have thought although I mentioned the CA just said don't worry about it, ya right. I will be going over the top for this and will follow up to this thread when I get a better result. The tires I had on the 6er were only a month old. Interestingly enough my car sat in the back at the dealer for about a month before it got shipped off, I saw it. (lol missed it at first but after this f82, fk it.)

[BEMR]

Originally Posted by jwzimm

What do you mean? He returned his car at the end of the lease with non-OEM tires. Per the lease agreement that is signed at origination you agree to return the car in OEM condition. It is similar with dents and other damage. The dealer has to restore the car to factory condition in order to sell so they have to pay to change the tires.

The funny thing is, they always put new tires on these cars one way or another prior to someone buying. I don't think I have ever seen a used BMW on a lot with a few thousand miles on the tires have you?

[BEMR]

Originally Posted by Thumper333

New to BMW but, wouldn't road side service cover this issue if you couldn't get to a shop in that time? Seems like they should since they ship the car with no spare.

My first runflat issues was between Desert Center and Parker AZ, 60 miles to Parker, or 80 miles to Blythe, although Blythe out of the way I chose that since bigger city, at exactly 50 miles the tire disintegrated to the wheel. 3 hours later was in Blythe after being flatbed towed. Could only go to a Goodyear store, they didn't have a tire this size, one had to be UPS'd out next day.

Oddly enough for some reason I was not thinking about BMW roadside assistance for this, found out AFTER fiasco, that BMW Roadside Assist would have not only towed my car to where the tire was 120 miles away, they would have reimbursed me for a motel until tire shop opened and took me there. There would have been no need to UPS shit.

Live and learn, when your car is broke down under their program, they will have your car towed at their expense, even for tires, no matter how far they need to tow, period.

[moonsault270]

I was in a similar situation when i returned my f10 in May. Way too long to get into the details now but I received a bill for almost $1,800. Long story short I took BMWFS to arbitration and settled with them for a lower amount.

[MG 228i]

Originally Posted by Labeef

What he means is, you can purchase an insurance that covers up to $5k of damage upon return. So he may not have to pay if the OP purchased insurance.

Yes that's what I mean.
I hope it's covered. I plan to return my car with non run flats.