Slow puncture - help please! - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

Gripster · 12-01-2007, 11:02 AM

TPM keeps telling me I've got a flat. First time a month ago, second time a week ago, and again last night.

1) Is it advisable to repair RFTs?

2) Best to get dealer or any tire shop to do this?

I don't have Wheel and Tire warranty, so I have to do this out of pocket and I'd like to be cheap. Car is my wife's and we still get along, so safety first please!

Grumpa72 · 12-01-2007, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gripster

TPM keeps telling me I've got a flat. First time a month ago, second time a week ago, and again last night.

1) Is it advisable to repair RFTs?

Yes! No! Yes according to some folks and dealers provided the sidewall is not the issue (obviously not a problem in your case) or you haven't compromised the sidewall by driving on a flat tire. No, according the owner's manual. My vote is for the first repsonse, provided that the shop pulls the tire off of the rim, does a visual inspection of the interior and patches the leak with an internal patch and a plug

2) Best to get dealer or any tire shop to do this?
I have read some posts here where dealers AND tire shops won't touch a RFT with a leak. Others will.

I don't have Wheel and Tire warranty, so I have to do this out of pocket and I'd like to be cheap. Car is my wife's and we still get along, so safety first please!

If you check the archives, one of the first responses will be that folks will ask if you have checked your tire pressure yet. Have you? What is it telling you? Have you pulled the tire and visually inspected it? You have been driving with a tire pressure warning for more than a month and haven't done anything about it?

Gripster · 12-01-2007, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grumpa72

If you check the archives, one of the first responses will be that folks will ask if you have checked your tire pressure yet. Have you? What is it telling you? Have you pulled the tire and visually inspected it? You have been driving with a tire pressure warning for more than a month and haven't done anything about it?

Sorry if my message was unclear, but also don't assume that I am a total idiot and ride around ignoring FTM alerts. Of course I checked the pressures. Isn't that what FTM is for? I didn't think I'd have to spell that out in a technical forum, but I guess there are a lot of idiots out there who would happily ignore FTM alerts...

Anyway.... first time the FTM alarm went off was about a month ago. I checked the pressures and they were low esp. the front left. I topped off the levels and all was fine until last week.

Last week the FTM went off again, but only the front left was low. I topped it off up to 32psi and it was fine for a week until yesterday. My diagnosis is a slow puncture in the front left tire. There are no visible signs of damage to the tire (sidewalls etc.)

My question is really whether should I attempt to the the RFT fixed or should I just replace it? Searches suggest they can be fixed, but I wonder if that's a good idea for RFT's.

juanccgg · 12-03-2007, 01:48 AM

I had three punctures on my run flats and two of them have been repaired. I had it done at Americas/Discount Tire (www.americastire.com). They seem to be familiar with run flats and had no problem repairing them. On my third puncture it was on the side of the tire and that one had to be replaced. Also the tire repair is free.

Shazmonkee · 12-03-2007, 02:23 AM

I actually have that right now. I had a nail punctured on my front right tire recently, and I thought i patched it pretty well for that.. But then after several weeks, when enough pressure is lost, the error message comes up. I just put in air again and it doesn't come on for several weeks. Slow leak for sure, so I guess i'll check that website out. Thanks Gripster for posting this thread up! B)

Gripster · 12-08-2007, 09:46 PM

Well, it turned out to be a sidewall bubble. I just didn't see it. Needed to be replaced.

Guy at the tire shop told me that they fix RFTs all the time though....

ganderson · 12-09-2007, 09:13 PM

I had a screw puncure on my run flats a couple of days ago. Dealer found the screw but wouldn't repair. I refused to shell out for a new tire on a car that's only two months old so I called around and found a place that repairs run flats. Cost $31 and took care of it no problem. I think most places just don't want to deal with any potential liability from fixing a tire where the sidewalls have been damaged so they just don't fix any.

12-01-2007, 11:02 AM	#1
Gripster Captain Drives: E90 330i / Z4 3.0si Coupe Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 897 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si C ... [4.50] 2006 BMW 330i [3.50]	Slow puncture - help please! TPM keeps telling me I've got a flat. First time a month ago, second time a week ago, and again last night. 1) Is it advisable to repair RFTs? 2) Best to get dealer or any tire shop to do this? I don't have Wheel and Tire warranty, so I have to do this out of pocket and I'd like to be cheap. Car is my wife's and we still get along, so safety first please! __________________ 2006 330i - ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/i-Drive/Steptronic
	Tweet

12-08-2007, 09:46 PM	#6
Gripster Captain Drives: E90 330i / Z4 3.0si Coupe Join Date: May 2005 Location: San Diego Posts: 897 iTrader: (5) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 3.0si C ... [4.50] 2006 BMW 330i [3.50]	Well, it turned out to be a sidewall bubble. I just didn't see it. Needed to be replaced. Guy at the tire shop told me that they fix RFTs all the time though.... __________________ 2006 330i - ZSP/ZPP/ZCW/i-Drive/Steptronic

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

12-03-2007, 01:48 AM	#4
juanccgg Private Drives: 325i Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 61 iTrader: (0)	I had three punctures on my run flats and two of them have been repaired. I had it done at Americas/Discount Tire (www.americastire.com). They seem to be familiar with run flats and had no problem repairing them. On my third puncture it was on the side of the tire and that one had to be replaced. Also the tire repair is free.

12-03-2007, 02:23 AM	#5
Shazmonkee Drives: BMW E92 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: United States Posts: 2,424 iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW 328i E92 C ... [0.00]	I actually have that right now. I had a nail punctured on my front right tire recently, and I thought i patched it pretty well for that.. But then after several weeks, when enough pressure is lost, the error message comes up. I just put in air again and it doesn't come on for several weeks. Slow leak for sure, so I guess i'll check that website out. Thanks Gripster for posting this thread up! B)

12-09-2007, 09:13 PM	#7
ganderson Registered Drives: 2008 328i SG Sedan Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Clifton, Virginia Posts: 4 iTrader: (0)	I had a screw puncure on my run flats a couple of days ago. Dealer found the screw but wouldn't repair. I refused to shell out for a new tire on a car that's only two months old so I called around and found a place that repairs run flats. Cost $31 and took care of it no problem. I think most places just don't want to deal with any potential liability from fixing a tire where the sidewalls have been damaged so they just don't fix any.