BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 15:07
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - John Dempster

Having used MYTYRES previously for tyres only, I had no issue using them again this time to buy a set of winter wheels and tyres for an E60 BMW.

After deciding which rim and tyre combo I wanted and the website showing my vehicle with the chosen set, I placed my order.

Goods arrived, all appeared fine.

After fitting I noticed a bad vibration at about 45mph upward.

Thinking that the wheels were not properly balanced (or perhaps some weights had come off) I took the car to my local garage who re-balanced them. The issue remained and they were unsure of the cause. The Proline Wheels or the Michelin tyres could be faulty they said. I checked my invoice, contacted mytyres to get a generic email back….you can return but only the faulty item (not set or even tyre and wheel) this would then go back to supplier and if deemed faulty they would replace.

I still felt it hard to believe that they were faulty so I did some research and found a roadforce balancing machine at a specialist wheel place, took them there and after checking car (which was perfect on originals and no suspension issues) they were perplexed after re-balancing that the vibration still existed.

It was on closer inspection of the wheels that they found a miniscule amount of play at the hub. Mytyres should have supplied a fixing kit (spigot) small plastic clips. The difference was so slight I nor two garages did not realise straight off that something was wrong.

I contacted mytyres and about a week later I received four plastic clips, I re-fitted and guess what I have the smoothest best balanced wheels ever. Great!

When I complained to mytyres about the fact that I had not been supplied with the adapters in the first place or that they were not mentioned on the invoice or website and after explaining that THEIR OMMISSION had cost me (my time) two of my days off, over £200 in garage/specialist bills to try and resolve - rather than get some kind of apology or a ‘fair’ settlement they offered me £35!

I complained that this was not ‘fair’ and was offered £40……I have refused…..as to me they have neither addressed the issue (how many others have had this problem) nor was the compensation offered proportional. Had they behaved professionally and offered a suitable settlement, I was not expecting anywhere near what I spent (as I know it was my choice to have vehicle/wheels assessed but what option did I have) – I had a car that was undriveable and a wheel set I could not return.

Perhaps I was naïve, not knowing that a fitting kit may be required but I am sure I won’t be the last so please don’t get caught out like I did.

Overall – I will not use MYTYRES again and would advise anyone buying wheel sets to be very very wary.

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 16:53
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - gordonbennet

A good mechanic should have spotted the wheel was not a snug fit on the hub immediately, before even considering rebalancing, this is a regular problem with aftermarket wheels so the garage should have known what to look for.

As for Mytyres, the only problem i ever encountered was the fitter i used from their website charged far more than the charge listed, i emailed Mytyres to let them know the website was wrong not really expecting anything to follow, but they asked for a copy of the receipt which i duly forwarded and received a full refund, they also altered the website to correct the mistake.

Edited by gordonbennet on 14/10/2018 at 16:54

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 17:10
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - skidpan

Had a set of winter tyres on steel wheels from MyTyres. Arrived within days, fitted perfectly, balance perfect and the optional TPMS valves (£20 each instead of the dealer ones at over £70 each) registered just as promised as soon as I drove the car.

Would use them again without hesitation.

I bought a set of 4 alloys form Openeo. On arrival one was damaged. Sent them a photo and they agreed to replace it, problem was none in stock and no lead time could be given. They sent a courier to collect all 4 the next day and I received a full refund for all monies.

Would also use them again.

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 21:15
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - Brit_in_Germany

Perhaps they assumed you would use the plastic clips from your other set of wheels? I must say though that the thought of plastic clips being used to hold wheels in place makes me shudder.

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 22:20
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - badbusdriver

The wheels the OP bought are not OE but aftermarket ones. To cut costs, they are made in such a way that they fit multiple cars using clips or spacers where necessary. The OE wheels wouldn't have them.

It does sound a bit dodgy but must be safe enough otherwise, presumably, they wouldn't be used. Even so, I think I'd be inclined to buy a set of used OE alloys and have the winter tyres fitted to them.

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Sun 14 Oct 2018 23:34
BMW 530i - Wheel and Tyre Sets - Be wary if buying online - Manatee

I can't imagine what the plastic clips could look like but the usual requirement for aftermarket wheels is usually referred to as spigot rings. These adjust the centre bore of the wheel to the smaller diameter of the hub spigot, which centres the wheel on the hub. The 'experts' you consulted should really have known this

Nearly all car wheels are spigot mounted. IIRC the wheels on my series Land Rover weren't, they were effectively centred by the wheel studs and nuts (which were also a lot meatier than is usual on cars).

I've bought two wheel and tyre sets from MyTyres, one steel (winter wheels for a Mitsubishi Outlander) and one a set of replacement alloy wheels for a Mk2 MX-5. The steel wheels had the correct centre bore for the car. The MX-5 wheels came with a set of spigot rings appropriate to the hub diameter.

Because aftermarket wheels are usually sold to fit multiple makes/models (with the same stud count and PCD and approximately the same offset) they nearly always need spigot rings to adapt to a range of spigot diameters.

Incidentally, one reason I bought a new set of wheels for the MX-5 was that one of the old set had a dented rim. But it also had a shake at about 40mph. Turned out that one of the wheels, which were also aftermarket ones, was missing its spigot ring...

Edited by Manatee on 14/10/2018 at 23:40

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