Winter Wheels/Tires

[cowtowncor]

Hi,

We purchased an AWD 2013 328i yesterday and are very happy and excited. I intentionally ordered without the high speed governor so that we didn't receive a car with Z-rated summer tires to drive around in an Canadian winter.

I'm expecting the car to arrive with all-season tires and the 397-style wheels, but have every intention of ordering a winter package. The best deal I can find from BMW Canada is $3000 (not including mounting/balancing). Although I'm thinking I can do it for a lot less.

The one question I have is, where can I find the technical details for my car (bolt pattern and available range of configurations)?

Another question is, how can I tell if my car will have a tire pressure monitoring system? I was using the TireRack to get some rough quotes for wheels and tires and was told that there is additional hardware required to complete the package.

In the deep of winter Calgary can have some nasty pot-holes, so I'm also thinking non-run-flats would be the way to go so that I don't trash a new wheel. This is after-all a city driving vehicle and I'm not worried about being stranded on a highway.

Is a DIY tire swap the type of thing that could void a warranty?

[mryakan]

Canadian cars do not have TPMS, they have FTM which uses the ABS sesnors to detect a flat. I think that is still the case with the F30, so no worries about the sensors, you do not have them. Don't buy tires/wheels from the dealer, too high a markup esp. for winter sets.
With bad roads, you are better off with runflats in the winter. Last thing you want is being stuck on the side of the road in the middle of a snow day waiting for a tow.
Tire/wheels have no impact on warranty.

[cowtowncor]

Thanks. But, where do I find the bolt pattern? Do you think that TireRack is always correct with the options they present? If I order wheels on the Internet, I need to be 100% sure they will mount.

[ezbmr]

I forget what the bmw bolt pattern is, I think something like 5x120, but if you put in your car in tirerack, they will recommend something that fits. Things like offset and hub size is more important.

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=W0183120266A&wheelMake=O.Z.&wheelModel=Alleggerita+HLT&wheelFinish=Anthracite+Painted&showRear=yes&selectedRear=W0183220066A&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=W0171220761BS&wheelMake=O.Z.&wheelModel=Ultraleggera&wheelFinish=Bright+Silver+Paint&showRear=yes&selectedRear=W0173220161BS&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=50801834212103BS&wheelMake=Breyton&wheelModel=Race+GTS-R&wheelFinish=Bright+Silver+Paint&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=4678801232GM&wheelMake=Enkei+Tuning&wheelModel=Raijin&wheelFinish=Gunmetal+Painted&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=GT68804BSML&wheelMake=ASA&wheelModel=GT06&wheelFinish=Bright+Sil+w%2FMach+Lip&showRear=no&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/WheelCloseUpServlet?target=runWheelSearch&initialPartNumber=AR18R60SML&wheelMake=ASA&wheelModel=AR1&wheelFinish=Silver+w%2FMachined+Lip&showRear=yes&selectedRear=AR18R12SML&autoMake=BMW&autoModel=328i+xDrive+Sedan&autoYear=2013&autoModClar=Sport+Line&filterFinish=All&filterSize=18&filterBrand=All&filterSpecial=false&filterNew=All&filterWeight=All&sort=Weight

Not a dedicated snow tire, but should do well with awd

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Kumho&tireModel=Ecsta+4X&frontTire=245WR8E4XXL&rearTire=54WR8E4XXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&autoMake=BMW&autoYear=2013&autoModel=328i%20xDrive%20Sedan&autoModClar=Sport%20Line&wtpackage=true

I would probably pic the asa with the lip and bolts, and the Kumho's