[beemerbird]

Originally Posted by zedman

i personally didn't understand why AR didn't ask the SMMT guy the question as to his opinion as to why there are no such problems with any other manufacturers 19'' rims on ANY other cars and why it is confined to BMW, surely his response would have had to have been that they are possibly not 'fit for purpose',

My thoughts exactly! My assumption, correctly or otherwise was that run flat tyres are the difference between 19" rims fitted to other marques.

Is there any data as to the alloys which have cracked and not fit for purpose, whether they were fitted with run flats, and if any that have cracked were fitted with non run flats.

[Carrera RSR]

Try sending an email to BMW customer service. If you ask how many cars of a certain model, engine, colour etc. they have sold they will tell you a figure (i know how many cars were built/sold with my configuration). So why doesn't someone ask how many replacement 225 wheels they have sold both front and rear numbers versus say the 18'' 193's. Also ask how many cars have been sold in the UK with 225's fitted. They may not answer but who knows. From there you will start to see a picture of potential numbers affected.

[SoYank]

Did anyone else think the segment ended abruptly? The gentleman from SMMT was cut off in mid sentence and couldn't get a word in edgewise with Ms. Robinson. But it was apparent he was not comfortable in the "hot seat".

[Carrera RSR]

Originally Posted by SoYank

Did anyone else think the segment ended abruptly? The gentleman from SMMT was cut off in mid sentence and couldn't get a word in edgewise with Ms. Robinson. But it was apparent he was not comfortable in the "hot seat".

Sacrificial Lamb ?!

[SiKkBaSs]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

Sacrificial Lamb ?!

Definitely a scapegoat. Poor bloke wasn't even directly involved in it. BMW officials didn't even show up!! He was speaking on behalf of the whole car industry, not just BMW. I felt she was a bit harsh on him but that's her job. Many people would of just crumbled under the pressure. He was telling everyone what the options available to them was from the organisation he represented, not BMW. Everything he said was justified tbh, and AR didn't even let him get that point accross!

[pjs]

Havent worked out how to quote multiple poster comments in this post, but the bloke from the SMMT was a poor substitute for a BMW exec. There was quite a bit of chopping from what was filmed, for example I answered a specific question from her Highness AR which wasn't shown. [also happened in other topics on the show].

Here is the Smmt blokes twitter comment,

PauleverittSMMT: An interview for watchdog on bbc1, not an enjoyable experience
20 October 2009, 18:44:45
PauleverittSMMT: An interview for watchdog on bbc1, not an enjoyable experience


Whilst it is good the BBC got hold of it, they showed no interest in getting anyones money back like the old format - they are more interested in making entertaining tv in this new format and BMW make a good headline.

Interestingly, the Watchdog blog has already filled up with loads of comments - will it be featured again next week perhaps? [as happened with the recent Renault Scenic dodgy dashboards]. the fact that a certain police force are allegedly suffering cracked wheels is notable

Other basic points they missed - 1) mine were 18" wheels that cracked, 2)they didnt focus on the fact they should do a formal recall, 3) why test wheels that are already cracked - of course they wont be round. 4) the number of cracked wheels having suspect welds 5) someone will one day have a bad accident when a wheel gives up big time

Ultimately, thie cracked wheels issue will be around for years, it WILL cost BMW sales for sure, no one will know how much. Didnt put me off bizarely.

No more on wheels from me now, going to get some JOY from the new motor. Over and out.

And Paul - glad you like the t-shirt

Carlos - Her highness should never get them out!

Sikkbass - thank you, i was cacking it!

Crackerjack is rarely on here, but well done Sir for your persistance. Not many of us would risk £6k in legal fees, but no one should have to.

Richard, Daniel (+janine) and Julie who were also on the show, great to meet you.

BMW? Buy More Wheels.

[crackerjack]

1) Dear All ,well done for taking this story to the national media,repeated pressure has paid off as there is clealry lots of us involved here and the sustained pressure and clear problem with these alloys has made this a real agenda and problem for BMW (WHO ARE NOTORIOUS FOR NOT GIVING IN ).The main catalyst for me to take this further was the clear fact that these wheels are defective and unsafe and BMW UK THOUGH BMW in Leeds ( Scothall) and Bradford ( Lister Park) were clealry not willing to take this concern seriously .I think the demeaning manner of the service managers was the final push ....why they cant smile and also admit occasional warranty claims is beyond me.....

2) The MIRA report did clealry state that there is a manufacturing defect

3) according to my reading on this BMW have a poor legal team as they should have with the payout had a confidentiality clause ( I wonder how much BMW paid them for this poor advise) asa result of not doing this I could take it to the press

4) please note the payout covered:
cost of the report
cost for transporting wheels around the country
tyres
balancing
storage and transport
taxi fares
all legal expenses
in a nut shell covered every penny of my costs

5) I can email the MIRA report for other members of the forum (if it is of help )and if any of you want to pursue it further I can recommend the Solicitor who won the payout .......


all the best.....

[scooba0010]

Originally Posted by carrerarsr

Try sending an email to BMW customer service. If you ask how many cars of a certain model, engine, colour etc. they have sold they will tell you a figure (i know how many cars were built/sold with my configuration). So why doesn't someone ask how many replacement 225 wheels they have sold both front and rear numbers versus say the 18'' 193's. Also ask how many cars have been sold in the UK with 225's fitted. They may not answer but who knows. From there you will start to see a picture of potential numbers affected.

Very true ,I asked after a part and they searched for it and told me how many had been sold and even the last dealer to have called one off from the BMW warehouse

[rogerxp]

Just watched the show myself.

It was good to raise the publicity of the problem but the programme really didn't hammer home the 'evidence' and cast enough doubt over BMWs responses.

They should have really focused on the MIRA report instead of some chap in a field at the back of a van; I could've said what he said. The scientific evidence, from a professional, saying that it's a "manufacturing fault" would have pissed on BMWs pothole theory. That evidence is dynamite and would stop BMW making any excuses full stop.

They could have focused on the RFTs too (and risk getting too complicated) as surely these emphasise any impacts. BMW should stop using them as standard on their cars (I know this is happening with lower models).

AR shouldn't have put that poor chap under such pressure. It's nowt to do with him until we've all complained to him and then got nowhere. He should have been able to tell consumers the correct route once the dealers/BMW block you. Yeah, you can ask him the odd probing question but he wasn't the one to harrass. Even if AR had pressured him into accidentally saying something to put pressure on BMW it wouldn't have made any difference; he's just a bloke, like the BMW owners with complaints. Obviously once this has failed get him on the show again for a right good kicking.

[zedman]

i just phoned the 'motor industry codes of practice' on 08006920825 to voice my concerns about the potential dangers of cracking wheels, they said they look at cases on an individual basis and because I didn't have any cracked wheels there would be no case for them to look at. If you're one of the affected people get on the blower and start a claim!

They also advised me to ring BMW and voice my concerns to them about the wheels. Please note I do not have cracked rims (yet) and as a BM driver I would like BM to actually investigate this themselves and make a conclusive statement about it, this is a safety and a financial issue - thats my angle.

If we all get on BMW's case they might eventually fold, don't wait till you own rims are cracked.

Bear in mind when Audi TT dashpods were breaking and costing owners £500 upwards to get fixed (out of warranty), the huge push from watchdog and the TT forum etc made them relent and they actually started fixing dashpods for free and refunding those that had paid! Just one week prior to them agreeing to do this they were still saying in Audi CS that dashpod cases were 'rarely heard of' and 'isolated cases'.

AZ

[Wezzy]

This issues needs maximum publicity. Do you think it would be worth setting up groups on Facebook, Twitter, the motoring press, etc., to highlight the potential issues associated with purchasing a new or used BMW with alloy wheels/runflats. Nothing inflammatory, simply the truth that a lot of people are experiencing problems (as evidenced by this forum/Watchdog and no doubt BMW service records); the huge potential costs and safety issues involved and the fact that BMW with this combination of wheels may not be suitable for British roads with our many potholes (as alluded to by BMW). This would help others in deciding whether despite the fact that BMW's are generally brilliant cars, whether the hassle/huge additional costs associated with this problem is worth the benefits of ownership. This would not dilute this forum, simply highlight the issue to others and hopefully help bring out the true extent of the problem.

[toxicnerve]

This is a great first step but the pressure needs to be kept on.

I suggest all those experiencing cracked alloy should start filing formal complaints etc and letting Watchdog know of their experiences.

Unless this happens BMW will get clean away with it.

Originally Posted by Wezzy

This issues needs maximum publicity...

Exactly.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by Wezzy

This issues needs maximum publicity. Do you think it would be worth setting up groups on Facebook, Twitter, the motoring press, etc., to highlight the potential issues associated with purchasing a new or used BMW with alloy wheels/runflats. Nothing inflammatory, simply the truth that a lot of people are experiencing problems (as evidenced by this forum/Watchdog and no doubt BMW service records); the huge potential costs and safety issues involved and the fact that BMW with this combination of wheels may not be suitable for British roads with our many potholes (as alluded to by BMW). This would help others in deciding whether despite the fact that BMW's are generally brilliant cars, whether the hassle/huge additional costs associated with this problem is worth the benefits of ownership. This would not dilute this forum, simply highlight the issue to others and hopefully help bring out the true extent of the problem.

Fantastic ideas, especially the internet side of things - the more press the better. how about www.bmwcrackedwheels.co.uk - anyone on here a budding web designer?

Originally Posted by toxicnerve

This is a great first step but the pressure needs to be kept on.

I suggest all those experiencing cracked alloy should start filing formal complaints etc and letting Watchdog know of their experiences.

Unless this happens BMW will get clean away with it.



Exactly.

Unless you get watchdog to do follow up stories (similar to the renault scenic II dashboards a few weeks ago), this will just get forgotten about.

[AlanQS]

I posted on the American side to gauge their experiences with cracked wheels and they don't appear to have the problem - aside from pothole incidents so big that the wheel buckled and suspension was damaged.

This slow build up to cracked wheels doesn't appear to happen anywhere else. I will be taking my 230s off for the winter soon and I will be looking at the backs with fear and trepidation.

[grr]

Surely if it was potholes / driver error then other makes would all be reporting cracked wheels.


do we know which wheel styles are cracking ? mine are style 216

[Dave_3]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

Fantastic ideas, especially the internet side of things - the more press the better. how about www.bmwcrackedwheels.co.uk - anyone on here a budding web designer?

I did that after getting fobbed off with my Jaguar - creating http://www.thelurch.com to highlight the gearbox fault many had and some other problems, gather feedback from others and monitor the traffic/viewers. Without sounding like a pissed ranting nutter. I learned a lot about getting it legally safe, maximum publicity, search engine optimisation and contacing manufacturers, magazines and other websites - also monitoring the visits from Jaguar/Ford/ZF. Created in the then style of the main Jaguar site ...

Search for "Jaguar Lurch" or "ZF Lurch" now and you will find it threaded through almost all of the Jaguar forums, and is now the terminilogy used to describe the fault And I still get quite a lot of traffic, and am linked to by many on the forums (Jaguar/LandRover/X5/etc) as a resource. Helps out BMW guys too

Snowed under myself until the new year so can't really offer any help directly in building a website - but there if you need any advice.

Register that domain ! It helps with search engine placing.

D.

[RichTea]

Paul, Great to meet you, Daniel, Janine and Julie on watchdog and thanks for all your work in bringing this to the public forum. It was shame so much was cut but looking at the watchdog blog hopefully enough people will come forward to get BMW to do something. Enjoy those new wheels.

[dxb335d]

Just watched it. Not read all this thread.

Anne Fruit Juice was not giving that guy a chance I dont think. Well done Paul on having your ''Noovern'' say and who the hell was everyone else?

andthe two guys with their cars on there... Pipe up I want to say hello.

[M3-FAST]

Originally Posted by dxb335d

andthe two guys with their cars on there... Pipe up I want to say hello.

....I was wondering whose cars they were?

[E902717]

Originally Posted by M3-FAST

....I was wondering whose cars they were?

I've seen the blue e90 a few times 'run boy' as the no. plate i think he works at Keltruck in West Bromwich...

[CrackedOff]

Back on Watchdog Next Week!

Hello all, first post here!

I have had the cracked wheel problem and emailed Watchdog after the programme yesterday.

The news is that this will be back on the show next week and I have been invited on. I'm not really surprised given the huge amount of comments from affected people on the BBC Watchdog website.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/watchdog/...oy_wheels.html

Please spread the word and contact the Watchdog team with your story. I went into the BMW dealership today and they have a new script. They are claiming it is now limited to cars in the London area and that it is caused by mound type speed bumps found in the city (the ones that a car with a wide enough wheel span can drive over)!

I would guess that BMW will send someone on this time around.

[feederz]

I actually think there could well be some truth in the speed bump theory. It would make sense as although British roads do have a lot of pot holes I can't believe other countries don't have them (I've driven on many roads in the US where there are potholes like craters on quite high speed sections at times).

I know plenty of other countries use speed bumps but I'm not aware of another country that has intentionally destroyed virtually all of it's side roads with built in road bumps?

That said, no other cars in the UK appear to be suffering this issue either so BMW are clearly to blame for selling cars with shoddy wheels