As the hunt for a new car intensifies we went to look at a X1 recently at a large BMW dealership with numerous branches. Registered this year and less than 10000 miles and whilst the car looked well prepped on the surface a few alarm bells started to ring Three matching star marked (BMW approved tyres) and one non star marked tyre (same make as the others but completely different tread pattern) One of the front brake discs had very noticeable scoring and that front tyre looked to have done considerably more miles than indicated. I was assured that the car had passed the BMW AUC checks and they were "not allowed" to change a non star marked tyre for a star marked tyre. A BMW technician claimed " as long as the tread depth is within 2mm it doesn't matter" My understanding on X drive models is star marked tyres, same tread pattern and less than 2 mm tread difference all round - so basically it should have failed the AUC checks. They did offer to replace the tyre with a matching tyre in order "not to lose the deal" but offered no assurances re potential future problems with the transfer case. Spider senses still tingling and some direct questions asked - turns out the car was an ex Thrifty hire car ! Er no thanks
I think, unfortunately, this is par for the course with BMW these days. But don't think it's much more different behaviour than you get at most manufacturer approved second hard schemes now either, sadly. Rather than the cars being prepped to a high standard before they go on the forecourt, over the last 10-15yrs, it appears to have become the customer's job to point out issues. If they can then avoid spending too much money on initial prep, they just increase their margins. The tyre is a shoddy example of this cynical approach to prep & PDI. They know as well as you do that they would decline a warranty claim with a non-star marked tyre but they are happy to wave it through on the basis that 99% of folk won't spot it. Then it's an issue for you and the warranty later down the line. If it weren't a Thrifty hire car, then I'd say to get them to swap out the tyre and so long as if something happens to the transfer box, you've got the right tyres on, it's difficult for BMW to claim at any point that any other tyre were on there. Good luck with the search. There's always an element of the unknown with used car purchases, all you can do is be as diligent as possible in your examinations and questions and hope you get a good one.
I agree that this X1 sounds a one to pass on and I also agree that unfortunately this is not only BMW it seems to be ever marque sadly. On the star marking thing however I have obviously just bought my first AUC xdrive equipped BMW. The car came with brand new matching pattern staggered Goodyear F1 tyres although I noted that they are not star marked. When questioned the supplying dealer (Lloyds) said that there is no rule that the tyres need to be star marked on xdrive or any other BMW but it is more important to make sure that the tread depths are matched across axles on xdrive and tread patterns are not mixed. Hopefully I never have a warranty issue where I need to test this out but I do have some correspondence from the dealer about the star marking.
Interesting thread this, I was under the impression that the * rating was an expectation from BMW, any warranty claim in respect of drive train etc would be kicked into the dust if the customer didn’t follow this. Maybe that was “old” guidance? However, the cars come with these tyres from the factory don’t they? As to the incorrect tyres from the AUC…that is just poor prep. What else have they missed would be a nagging question in my mind. Any used car I’ve had from a BMW dealer has always come with * rated tyres, even on the RWD E92 and F32.
Looking at the staggered sizes on my 3 year old G26 with 19”wheels I cannot see a new matching set of star marked tyres to suit the car. Pretty sure i shouldn’t get Michelin fronts and Pirelli rears The ones fitted are Goodyear eagle F1 asymmetric 6 so the latest matching pattern, hopefully not an issue. If it ever was I have proof that the dealer supplied the car as such and said it was an urban myth of refused warranty claims based on having non star marked tyres..
Yes BMW AUC is not what is was. When I bought mine 2 years ago, unseen as was 370 miles away. I obtained a video of the car. To be fair they replaced one of the tyres as it had an issue and they put a star marked replacement on. However once I got the car home there was one issue that I would have insisted was rectified had I inspected the car thoroughly before agreeing the deal. These modern dealerships have such massive overheads in comparison to years ago (premises, staff numbers etc) that margins must be tight so they are not as thorough as they should be. All to the customers detriment. For me AUC is worth it for a 3+ year old car where you get the warranty. Otherwise the search could be widened.
I wont buy any car unseen, but dont wont to be trekking the length and breadth of the country looking at possibles and ending up being disappointed. I limiting myself to dealers within 90 mins drive. Its made harder by the fact that many local dealers are Stratstone and ive vowed never to give them a penny of my money again
Ordinarily I would agree with you. However my G31 was a bit a unicorn spec car that came up at a very favourable price so was worth the risk on this occasion and one I don't regret. The sales lady told me the car was pre facelift. The video came through and it was definitely a facelift car. Not many G30/31's came with Driving Assistant Professional which I now would not be without for the driving which we do. On top of that the previous owner ticked many other optional boxes. I had been looking for 2 months and had the luxury of waiting for the right car to come up. Good luck with the search.
I bought a X3 (G01) from a big dealer a year ago, near London. The car looked very good, a recent ceramic treatment on silver paint, but there were several unsatisfactory elements to the preparation: 1. The headlights were way out of alignment, an MOT fail; but the dealer had provided me with a fresh MOT. 2. The bonnet pyros were 10 months out of date. 3. The front damper covers were ripped and deteriorated. The last one was covered by the AUC warranty, but I had to pay for the new bonnet pyros and struts. The head of used car sales was new in the job and was both disappointed with the preparation standard and generous with his goodwill payment. And all the tyres were new, a major plus. I have a feeling that margins have been squeezed and that the cost of covering a sale with AUC means that standards are threatened. I'll be very cautions with any AUC purchase after this experience. Chris
