Sponsored by The Tire Rack

[BMW0]

M Mobility Kit seems to be the best choice. Its probably the most expensive.

[MichaelATL]

Originally Posted by ICALL

Quote from the article linked above. Back in the day... I think with the fix a flat, the instructions were to drive a certain distance at a certain rate of speed to "spread" the product in the wheel. Also why didn't the guy just use the compressor on the M mobility kit to pump up the tire? Aren't there instructions on those things?

thanks for the review but it doesnt detail the specs or replacement costs

Conti's got my money so far.

[kevE90]

Originally Posted by poiney

Do you guys also buy the kits to plug tire from the outside? For anyone that does this, any comments on whether this makes patching at the tire shop any issue?

I prefer to patch too, but what can you do when you are on your own =). You can purchase tire plug kits (rasp, plug inserter, plugs) for under $10. Slime makes alot of nice kits. For me it's a last resort but want to make sure I still have a functional compressor if the sealant is unsuccessful.

I read a patch and a plug together is the best way to fix a tire. I can't imagine a plug would make it difficult for a shop to patch the tire afterwards. The sealant is far more of a hastle for the shop to deal with I bet.

[JIMD1709]

I use the Slime Smartspair. There are a couple of reasons. One is getting replacement sealant is easy. Pepboys, even Walmart carries it. Two, I have used Slime before...it works. Also, it is put in through the valve stem, not the hose, so no impact on the compressor.

Bear in my I also carry a plug kit, and would use that with the compressor first. Any solution here is temporary, I hope you know that. It will get you home or to a shop. That is all.

It's up to you, really. But the Slime Smartspair will work as good as anything when you need it. My .02

[MichaelATL]

...

[Hornet]

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5496

No idea if it works and hopefully never have to find that out. The dealer threw it in for free.

[poiney]

Originally Posted by dazzab

I bought one of these kits and the quality is excellent. The gauge seems to be very accurate too.

www.stopngo.com/auto.asp#5000

As back-up I also bought a can of sealant.

Thanks for information. IIUC, this is designed for no sealant, but rather the rubber plugs. Can you comment whether you've plugged a hole and how easy/effective that was? Also, do you/anyone know how this compares with any other plugging approach?

The consensus seems to be that tire shop is more willing to repair a plug rather than messy sealant. So I'm now thinking I should try this first insead of sealant in the event that air compressor alone is not effective. thanks.

[dazzab]

Fortunately I've never had to use it so I can't comment on how effective the plugs are.

I did watch a tyre dealer plug a hole in my previous RFTs (which I then replaced as I didn't like the ride RFT's give) with almost identical equipment to the kit that I bought. This tyre is still in my garage and holding 34psi pressure after 5 months

[MichaelATL]

Just ordered the Conti Kit... M kit can't be that much better. It's cheaper and easy to get...

just an FYI... also my new wheels should be on this saturday!!!

[obLu]

I ordered Conti kit too. Still debating on a plug kit or not. Not sure I want to mess with trying to remove a nail, and plug the tire on the side of the road.

[khafner]

plugs are not that easy to use. Your tires most likely have steel belts and the plug kits that you have for home use don't go thru those well. As a result you still have leaks. If you just have a nail hole it is almost impossible to get the plug in. For plugs you'll never get them to work with air in the tire. We always took the tire off the vehicle and stood directly over it to insert the plug and then it was difficult.

[poiney]

is there a specific type of "plug" that is easier to install, or is your comment meant to be that all plug-like repairs are difficult?

[e90fanatic]

my only complaint for the conti kit was the tip of the hose...u have to screw it onto the wheel -> leaks air when u take it out.

[Driver72]

Just curious since nobody has answered this:

Why can't one just use a cheap air compressor and a can or two of Fix-a-Flat if necessary??

If your tire is a slow leak, adding air will do the trick to get you to a shop...as long as one is close.
If it's a faster leak or a shop is miles away, use the Fix-a-Flat.

Does this solution not work?

[MichaelATL]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Just curious since nobody has answered this:

Why can't one just use a cheap air compressor and a can or two of Fix-a-Flat if necessary??

If your tire is a slow leak, adding air will do the trick to get you to a shop...as long as one is close.
If it's a faster leak or a shop is miles away, use the Fix-a-Flat.

Does this solution not work?

i think that would work just fine. i was going to do that but i decided to spring for the more luxurious conti kit... it has a tire guage, LED light, and stuff already in it...

[ICALL]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Why can't one just use a cheap air compressor and a can or two of Fix-a-Flat if necessary??

Someone mentioned the fix-a-flat chemicals are NOT silicone(or whatever the conti and m-mobility kits use) and may damage the tire pressure sensor. This has yet to be confirmed by anyone in the "know"

[MichaelATL]

Originally Posted by ICALL

Someone mentioned the fix-a-flat chemicals are NOT silicone(or whatever the conti and m-mobility kits use) and may damage the tire pressure sensor. This has yet to be confirmed by anyone in the "know"

i heard they use a water soluble solution now in fix-a-flat but i cannot confirm... maybe just check their website?

[obLu]

Originally Posted by Driver72

Just curious since nobody has answered this:

Why can't one just use a cheap air compressor and a can or two of Fix-a-Flat if necessary??

If your tire is a slow leak, adding air will do the trick to get you to a shop...as long as one is close.
If it's a faster leak or a shop is miles away, use the Fix-a-Flat.

Does this solution not work?

No you can. I just wanted a nice tidy little all-in-one package ... and didn't mind spending an extra $80 for it.

I've only had one puncture in the last 10yrs that required me to actually put on a spare; by those odds the contikit's going to sit and collect dust.

[poiney]

Originally Posted by ICALL

Someone mentioned the fix-a-flat chemicals are NOT silicone(or whatever the conti and m-mobility kits use) and may damage the tire pressure sensor. This has yet to be confirmed by anyone in the "know"

I went the fixitflat + compressor approach for general simplicity. However, I just went to my car and pulled out a recently-purchased fixitflat and read the plethora of warnings, which includes may damage tire sensors.

Fixitflat puts these warnings on gratuitously knowing most consumers probably won't care, and the fact that M-mobility kit and continental kit probably don't stipulate this, makes me think that risk is low for Fixitflat. But if tire pressure sensor does fail, dang. Then again, I don't even know if one could easily tell which product has been squirt into the tire.

I still prefer having the goo and the compressor separate, whatever the choice. How much easier this all would be if I had a spare tire....

[obLu]

How much easier this all would be if I had a spare tire....

Exactly. My wife's really bent on getting a Q7 ... when looking at it, I noticed Audi got innovative fitting a space saver spare in a tiny space. Looks like a little 15", maybe 16", donut but it's deflated. Then they included a little compressor to fill it up when needed.

How easy it would've been for BMW to make the little hiddy-hole compartment just a touch bigger and include one of these.

Or maybe not since it'd have had to be a min 17" to clear the brakes?

[answerman]

The Comfort Kit description on the Tire Rack web site says it's safe for RFTs, with no caveats for TPMs. The description of the Sealant Replacement kit says it MAY damage TPMs.
Has anyone used either the Comfort Kit or the Mobility Kit with TPMs? Were the TPMs damaged?
Why does the BMW website (tire accessories page) say the Mobility Kit is NOT for TPMs? Excessive caution? Just more mother knows best? A real problem?
I'm inclined to go with the Comfort Kit because it doesn't have a warning about TPMs and I can claim ignorance if it does damage the TPM.

[answerman]

I bought the Safety Spair from Slime; it uses the compressor to force the slime into the tire. Almost $80 with expedited (not overnight air) UPS delivery. Compressor has a light and refills are supposed to be free (fine print in the box says shipping not included). Supposed to be safe for TPMs, but they may be disabled until the tire is removed and the slime is cleaned out. With any luck, I'll never have to find out if it works.