[SE3P_to_E90]

I need to vent... I was on I-395 Southbound on the onramp to I-95, and I was checking the interstate to see how bad traffic actually was. Then, all of a sudden, I hear a HUGE thump and thereafter quickly realized that I went over a huge pothole... Then, my fog-light warning indicator comes on and I believed that, that was the extent of my damages only to realize that my car started "wobbling." Soon, the red Flat-tire warning indicator comes on and the wobbling gets significantly worse [sh!t]... I quickly pull over to find my RFT sidewall TORN apart. I observed the rim and, visually, it does not appear to be bent/cracked.

I called BMW Roadside Assistance, and they quickly dispatched a tow-truck to tow my truck to BMW of Towson (who have always been great). They said the tire will cost $350, and that I will most definitely need a wheel alignment [at another $180-200]. I was wondering what others have gone through when they experienced blowing out their tire on a pot hole... What did you end up paying at the dealer, etc? As a motorist, the most expensive wheel alignment I've ever paid for was approx. $120... and now, the $180-200 seems unreasonable. Any thoughts? [for the record, i do NOT have active steering--which they said costs less than a wheel alignment for those withe active steering]

[vladinecko]

i'm so glad i got tire&wheel insurance on mine...

[dhan]

Originally Posted by vladinecko

i'm so glad i got tire&wheel insurance on mine...

way to stick it to the OP

/sarcasm

[vladinecko]

heh, sorry. i was just thinking out loud

[GMWNashville]

well..id def suggest getting an alignment if you hit a pot hole that bad. however, if you blew the tire out like that id bet you bent the rim also..did they say they checked it?

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by volkswackin

well..id def suggest getting an alignment if you hit a pot hole that bad. however, if you blew the tire out like that id bet you bent the rim also..did they say they checked it?

I got there as they were getting ready to close... visually, everything still looked straight. I have style 197 rims [made by bbs], and those rims are solid The crap part of this situation is, as RFT, i couldn't even run those POS flat... ugh. Apparently, there still has to be "air inside the tire" to be able to actually utilize the RFT.

[ironjw]

same thing happened to me! ran over a pot hole and bam tire is flat

[Josh49]

Some advice -

Don't buy the tire from the dealer. They are significantly cheaper on tirerack in my experience, for the same exact tire.. I think last time it was 230 vs 280.. Dealership will also charge an arm and a leg to re-mount, try getting it remounted somewhere else (like a local wheel shop)

Re: alignment. Driving around Boston has been brutal. After two years of this I decided I should get an alignment. Had it done at the dealership, it was $150. I thought like other cars I have had that all of the angles would need tuning. Every single one was still in spec. After two years of Boston. I couldn't believe it.. I guess its built pretty damn solid, eh?? So yeah, one big pothole, I don't know if I'd worry about it too much.

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by Josh49

Some advice -

Don't buy the tire from the dealer. They are significantly cheaper on tirerack in my experience, for the same exact tire.. I think last time it was 230 vs 280.. Dealership will also charge an arm and a leg to re-mount, try getting it remounted somewhere else (like a local wheel shop)

Re: alignment. Driving around Boston has been brutal. After two years of this I decided I should get an alignment. Had it done at the dealership, it was $150. I thought like other cars I have had that all of the angles would need tuning. Every single one was still in spec. After two years of Boston. I couldn't believe it.. I guess its built pretty damn solid, eh?? So yeah, one big pothole, I don't know if I'd worry about it too much.

UPDATE:

Yea, I need to get the tire from the dealer b/c I got it towed there... as for no other damages, I was wrong.

The wheels is F'd up. Excuse my language, but I'm looking at $1200 minimum for the repairs. They tried mounting a tire on the rim, and it wouldn't hold air OR mount the tire correctly -- hence, I need a new rim. F'ing SUCKS. Also, wheel alignment is $180 there... F'ing sucks again. Then, there's potential for even more repairs. They said that after the alignment is done, if they can't align the wheels, steering properly, I'm most likely going to have to replace my steering gear? ugh... one pot hole, BIG F'ing MESS!

Lastly, is there any way I can get reimbursement from the F'ing SH!T city of Baltimore? There's potholes EVERYWHERE, but this one was just ridiculous.

p.s. The tire at the dealer is $450. F'ing RIDICULOUS.

[MWcoupe]

hit a big pot hole on the bqe yesterday. my driver front tire has a huge hole on the sidewall. and my passenger front has two big bubbles. LUCKY! i got tire insurance! =) but after i get my tires changed i need to go back to dealer and get a new headlight because my driver headlight is aiming down and towards the left also.....

NYC ROAD SUCKS ASS!

[txusa03]

if city will not reimburse, have you talked to your insurance since the cost of fixing is very high and that could be over your deductible. Talk to the insurance as a last effort if all else fail to see if they can help you out and not raise your rate (it is not like you hit another car).

gl

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by txusa03

if city will not reimburse, have you talked to your insurance since the cost of fixing is very high and that could be over your deductible. Talk to the insurance as a last effort if all else fail to see if they can help you out and not raise your rate (it is not like you hit another car).

gl

Here's the thing, Im in school in MD, and the policy is from NY. Also, we just switched to Allstate [from Geico]. So, i don't want to even go through it -- although it definitely IS over my deductible. Furthermore, when someone hit my dad's car [while it was parked], he called Geico to ask what he should do, and he just ended up paying for it out of his own pocket -- and GEICO still f'ing recorded it down in the records... so, I'm just going to pay for it outright. Goddamn, shit sucks.

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by alpine330

hit a big pot hole on the bqe yesterday. my driver front tire has a huge hole on the sidewall. and my passenger front has two big bubbles. LUCKY! i got tire insurance! =) but after i get my tires changed i need to go back to dealer and get a new headlight because my driver headlight is aiming down and towards the left also.....

NYC ROAD SUCKS ASS!

Do you get tire insurance when you first buy the car? or can you purchase it anytime? And how much is tire insurance?

I have to admit, the BQE has pretty terrible roads, but i have not seen any pot holes there. I'll make sure to be cautious when I take it next time. Were you taking the BQE into manhattan to avoid tolls from midtown tunnel?

[achenator]

that is why I put reps and uhp's on my car. I can buy a tire and wheel for the price of one rft at a dealer

[gregarious]

I feel your pain. I bulged two RFT's in one month and bent an OEM rim...and who knows what else.

[Chunga]

Originally Posted by vladinecko

i'm so glad i got tire&wheel insurance on mine...

I am so glad that in this country you can make the state pay. Its their Responsebility that the roads are fine and smooth.
You pay your tax - you can demand something.

[E90330iS]

sucks man.. hope everything turns out better than what you are expecting

[Josh49]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

sucks man.. hope everything turns out better than what you are expecting

+1.. I just read your update..

[vase330]

If the impact was big enough to tear your sidewall even though it was head on into a pot hole and not a curb, you most definitely bent a few other things. Your control arm pretty much shot too I am sure. As for the OP in NY damn man, how did your body feel? You hit hard enough to shock the headlights out of their mountings? Wow, check your strut mount it might be bent or worse torn. Sorry guys, I know how bad it feels with the stupid man sized pot holes. Its a real shame there is enough money to fight an elective war, but not enough for schools or roads. Damn politicians

[nmcampbell]

I feel your pain too. Washing my car last week, I noticed a bulge in my left rear RFT. I called BMW and said there was something wrong with the tire and they swear it must be damage from a pothole or hitting something. I've gone over a couple potholes but nothing that should cause that level of damage...these RFT's suck. These tires have less than 8,000 miles on them. Luckily, I have a full set of spares when I bought a set of 189 rims off another member on here. I picked up his rims and the tires (with only 3500 miles on them) for less than the price of a new set of RFTs.

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by Chunga

I am so glad that in this country you can make the state pay. Its their Responsebility that the roads are fine and smooth.
You pay your tax - you can demand something.

Really? I am not a Maryland 'citizen'
I'm a New Yorker, and only come to school in MD. Also, I drove by the same spot today, and they obviously patched it up. Can you provide more details regarding reimbursement etc?

[SE3P_to_E90]

Originally Posted by vase330

If the impact was big enough to tear your sidewall even though it was head on into a pot hole and not a curb, you most definitely bent a few other things. Your control arm pretty much shot too I am sure. As for the OP in NY damn man, how did your body feel? You hit hard enough to shock the headlights out of their mountings? Wow, check your strut mount it might be bent or worse torn. Sorry guys, I know how bad it feels with the stupid man sized pot holes. Its a real shame there is enough money to fight an elective war, but not enough for schools or roads. Damn politicians

As for now, the best case scenario would've been that my car was done by 3pm this afternoon. I haven't received a phone call. They said that everything looks ok, except that the rim was so warped it wouldn't hold air nor mount the tire correctly. They said that after the alignment was done, if they can't get it perfectly aligned, they'll have to replace the steering gear -- which, quite frankly, I don't have any idea about. They said that I could've bent the sways, etc., but have yet to update me on it.