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Why is my F40 M135ix tramlining and wearing its tyres out?

76K views 364 replies 75 participants last post by  Kierond 
#1 ·
BMW have suggested ridiculously high tyre pressures for the M135ix in order to reduce it's emissions. However, this massive over-inflation can lead to central tyre wear (particularly on Bridgestones), poor grip, poor ride quality, tramlining, etc. All bad, basically. The only upside to over-inflation is MPG.

For a lightly loaded F40 M135ix, people have found dropping to roughly 2.5 Bar/36psi front and 2.3 Bar/33psi rear a noticeable improvement (or even slightly lower). Well worth an experiment as air is basically free at your local petrol station.

Tyre pressures should be set cold, using a decent pressure gauge like a RaceX. Don't forget to reset the TPMS to the new pressures afterwards.
 
#152 ·
#153 ·
I've had a bit of an update on my warranty case that is open with BMW, there has not been a resolution as yet but there is some interesting info in the latest email sent to BMW from Cotswold, and in the response, I feel I should point out that I have not been 'jumping up and down' as stated in the email!
But the info that the 8 series has had similar issues and BMW have a PuMA measure in place could be a good sign, also that Bridgestone say the compound is too soft for the cars setup firmly puts the ball in BMW's court!

First, the latest email sent to BMW from Cotswold,

Good Afternoon,

i had a customer back in march come in with uneven wear on the tyres we noticed that after completing less than 5,000 miles his tyres on his car was completely wore out, beyond the legal limit.

We submitted a SZARA case for the complaint and a customer services complaint on the day.

since then we have had many requests and responses things like, driving profile report mpg wheel alignment 4 new tyres before alignment at customers cost, had Bridgestone involved and they have confirmed the compound is to soft for the car setup it then been sent to Germany for assessment about 4 weeks ago, chased last week got told they will get back to us when they get back to us. customer is jumping up and down for a resolution and get 4 tyres costed by BMW, i'm not sure how to proceed i feel i have done everything in my power to help but nothing is happening.

Please help.


And the response from BMW,

Hi Andrew

Thanks for the email.

I can read from the tone of your email that you are in a very difficult situation and this is because there is a thorough investigation taking place by technical/AG yet the customer wants answers now in addition to not bearing the cost of new tyres.

Having dealt with a similar type of case with the 8 series (for which there is now a PuMA measure) alongside technical about 6 months ago, I think have to be honest with you and advise there is little I can do at this stage. The investigation is ongoing and will be resolved when it is resolved. In the meantime, the customer will have to cover the cost of replacement tyres but I would be happy for you to say that should we find an issue we need to rectify then we would re-imburse him. If not, then he has correctly covered the cost. I'm sure you know from experience we are a responsible company like this.

Sadly, we don't do this the other way around as funds recovery would probably be unsuccessful. Further,

I will contact the product engineer to let them know the customer is becoming frustrated and to advise what I have said.

Thanks

Kind regards

Sarah

BMW Group
United Kingdom
Sarah Fisher
Customer Service Manager
Technical and Customer Service, Aftersales (C2-UK-A-65)
Summit ONE
 
#154 ·
Was the representative from Cotswold who wrote the email a child? Shocking grammar and terribly written!

Though glad to hear they are listening and potentially will be acting on it in the near future!
 
#155 ·
S_Len13 said:
Was the representative from Cotswold who wrote the email a child? Shocking grammar and terribly written!

Though glad to hear they are listening and potentially will be acting on it in the near future!
As he's essentially my representative while contacting BMW UK, It did bother me a touch that it was written that way, but he's a decent guy and is trying to get it resolved, so it could be worse I guess! Interesting that Bridgestone have essentially said that the tyres are not compatible with the car though don't you think.
 
#156 ·
It's great you've had a response, just makes me wonder how the Bridgestones acquired a star marking for BMW use 🤔 you would think that they would have to be tested in some way to be approved for use. If they're too soft they're almost classed as unfit for purpose maybe
 
#157 ·
Good news that they seem to be taking it seriously. Suspect it will take quite a while as it could involve replacing a lot of worn out tyres. As Cotswold stated, the tyres were actually illegal/ dangerously worn so probably lucky that the outcome to this point isn't worse. Can see the point about trying to recover funds if the investigation concludes no issue, particularly if Carlos has already sold the car. 😉
 
#158 ·
DrBobtheBlob said:
Good news that they seem to be taking it seriously. Suspect it will take quite a while as it could involve replacing a lot of worn out tyres. As Cotswold stated, the tyres were actually illegal/ dangerously worn so probably lucky that the outcome to this point isn't worse. Can see the point about trying to recover funds if the investigation concludes no issue, particularly if Carlos has already sold the car. 😉
Yes, the outcome could be far worse had I not been the sort of owner that checks and maintains their car regularly, with the outer shoulders not looking as worn as the tyres actually were, many people could easily have missed the extreme wear that was occurring, As for selling the car, I have given my head a wobble and have regained a bit of sense, the car is very good in nearly all respects, I'd be daft to get rid of a car that I specced to my liking just to get into something that will cost potentially more monthly and be (arguably) of lesser quality, a new GTI with the required spec was around £50 more per month and has a 7 month minimum wait and also have many software problems at present, I'm going to carry on and enjoy the car, potentially mod a couple of things, and probably see most of the finance term out.
 
#159 ·
Carlosfandang0 said:
DrBobtheBlob said:
Good news that they seem to be taking it seriously. Suspect it will take quite a while as it could involve replacing a lot of worn out tyres. As Cotswold stated, the tyres were actually illegal/ dangerously worn so probably lucky that the outcome to this point isn't worse. Can see the point about trying to recover funds if the investigation concludes no issue, particularly if Carlos has already sold the car. 😉
Yes, the outcome could be far worse had I not been the sort of owner that checks and maintains their car regularly, with the outer shoulders not looking as worn as the tyres actually were, many people could easily have missed the extreme wear that was occurring, As for selling the car, I have given my head a wobble and have regained a bit of sense, the car is very good in nearly all respects, I'd be daft to get rid of a car that I specced to my liking just to get into something that will cost potentially more monthly and be (arguably) of lesser quality, a new GTI with the required spec was around £50 more per month and has a 7 month minimum wait and also have many software problems at present, I'm going to carry on and enjoy the car, potentially mod a couple of things, and probably see most of the finance term out.
Great decision 👍
 
#160 ·
Hey guys, had my wheels ceramic coated the other day but when I got in the car the TPMS kicked off because I think they got mixed up with front and rear tyres when putting them back on. Is this an issue? Or should I just rest the pressures and be ok?
I was worried about the wheel weights and pressure etc not being on the right corners…
 
#161 ·
The wheels will have been balanced off the car so shouldn't be a problem, tyre pressures you can adjust. Check that there are no direction arrows on your tyres that they may have mixed up, if they're wrong, they would need swapping to get them rotating correctly
 
#164 ·
Stevejrich said:
Go for the setting I have on my screen
Tyre settings
Tyre selection manual
Tyre type winter/all season
Then it should remove the recommended tyre pressure & you can now set what you like without setting the low tyre pressure warning off
I tried 36 front & found slight wear on the front centres, reduced to 32 but found it too soft, now at 34 & feel happy with that 32 on the rear. I'm on 19" bridgestones, each to their own
Thanks for the guidance - this has resolved the low tyre pressure warnings I kept getting also having dropped the pressures :)
 
#167 ·
markm240i said:
Of course the fronts will wear faster - it's FWD for the majority of driving.
The 235/35/19 bridgestones are wearing silly fast though (4500 miles) and extremely unevenly, I have a case open with BMW In which BS have told the dealership that they are too soft for the M135i set up, BMW AG and Bridgestone are currently investigating this issue and have already conceded they had a very similar issue on the new 8 series.
 
#168 ·
Carlosfandang0 said:
markm240i said:
Of course the fronts will wear faster - it's FWD for the majority of driving.
The 235/35/19 bridgestones are wearing silly fast though (4500 miles) and extremely unevenly, I have a case open with BMW In which BS have told the dealership that they are too soft for the M135i set up, BMW AG and Bridgestone are currently investigating this issue and have already conceded they had a very similar issue on the new 8 series.
My comment was made about the fronts wearing faster than the rears. It would be strange if they didn't on the F40 M135i.

The front Continental Sport Contact 6 tyres on my FK8 Type R were shot at 5k!

Good luck with your case - it does seem the BS isn't well suited to the 135.
 
#170 ·
markm240i said:
Carlosfandang0 said:
markm240i said:
Of course the fronts will wear faster - it's FWD for the majority of driving.
The 235/35/19 bridgestones are wearing silly fast though (4500 miles) and extremely unevenly, I have a case open with BMW In which BS have told the dealership that they are too soft for the M135i set up, BMW AG and Bridgestone are currently investigating this issue and have already conceded they had a very similar issue on the new 8 series.
My comment was made about the fronts wearing faster than the rears. It would be strange if they didn't on the F40 M135i.

The front Continental Sport Contact 6 tyres on my FK8 Type R were shot at 5k!

Good luck with your case - it does seem the BS isn't well suited to the 135.
It's not a problem that the fronts are wearing, this is normal wear and tear. The problem is that the Bridgestones seem to be wearing particularly in the middle with the shoulders being perfectly fine. This indicates that the tyres (specifically fronts) are over inflated with a side effect of compromised handling/tram lining.

I believe that is the issue and if Bridgestone have indicated over inflation (for that particular model of tyre), paired with ridiculous tyre pressures from BMW then there seems to be an issue that needs resolved.
 
#171 ·
Interestingly i had something similar with the tyre wear on my F31 335d xDrive Touring. The front tyres on the 335d were the same size & make as what was on my current F45 220i - Bridgestone Potenza run-flats 225/45 R18 - yet on the 335d they lasted no more than 10k miles compared with 21k on the 220i with the same daily journeys. Even at the time when i replaced them it seemed like i had them for such a short time for a rear-biased AWD system and the fitter said it was due to the weight of the car up-front. But perhaps the tyres aren't suited well to xDrive?

I had the Bridgestones replaced with Continental ContiSportContacts run-flats on the 220i. i noticed that the profile of the tyre seemed slightly more rounder then the squarer BS and when driving they were quieter, seemingly more pliant and less tramlining.
 
#172 ·
Just had my car through to the dealers - same issues with the Bridgestone 19" on the F40 M135i. Wearing in the centre and hardly at all on the shoulders. Service guy admitted that it looks like over-inflation but until BMW have centrally completed a full "investigation" there was nothing that they could do about it.

So, my dealer has raised the apparent fault and BMW have replied to say that they are aware of the issue but a resolution remains based on the outcome of their query with Bridgestone.

Meanwhile, back in the land of people who buy a car to daily, I have to replace my front tyres. This will not be Bridgestone, therefore I am left carrying the can for a full set of tyres that have to be * marked in order to keep the warranty on the Xdrive system.

I have exhausted the argument that the fronts and rears are so far apart in wear that they constitute the equivalent of totally different tyres on the car (my rear tyres have very little wear at all).

Like is this for real??

I can only encourage everyone who has the Bridgestone's on the 19" to report uneven tyre wear to the dealer as this should, for want of a better way of putting it, gain additional traction :lol2:
 
#173 ·
Daz4065 said:
Just had my car through to the dealers - same issues with the Bridgestone 19" on the F40 M135i. Wearing in the centre and hardly at all on the shoulders. Service guy admitted that it looks like over-inflation but until BMW have centrally completed a full "investigation" there was nothing that they could do about it.

So, my dealer has raised the apparent fault and BMW have replied to say that they are aware of the issue but a resolution remains based on the outcome of their query with Bridgestone.

Meanwhile, back in the land of people who buy a car to daily, I have to replace my front tyres. This will not be Bridgestone, therefore I am left carrying the can for a full set of tyres that have to be * marked in order to keep the warranty on the Xdrive system.

I have exhausted the argument that the fronts and rears are so far apart in wear that they constitute the equivalent of totally different tyres on the car (my rear tyres have very little wear at all).

Like is this for real??

I can only encourage everyone who has the Bridgestone's on the 19" to report uneven tyre wear to the dealer as this should, for want of a better way of putting it, gain additional traction :lol2:
Or just reduce the tyre pressures at the front & they're fine.
 
#175 ·
I reduced the pressures on mine all round, I can't remember what to but they don't seem to be wearing too badly in the middle - if anything, the shoulders on the fronts are starting to wear.

Still not too pleased about buying star marked tyres though, I've always been a Michelin man and it is frustrating that I can't get PS4 or PS4S for the 19" star marked.
 
#176 ·
I might risk it because the Continental and Pirelli options seem to wear quickly anyways. I know some have put the PS4s on but haven't heard if this has worked.

Quite frustrating, when I consider that Bridgestone/Conti/Pirelli these tyres are apparently to BMW's high specification.
 
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