ED winter tires

[Jaymax85]

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Hi all,

I am picking up my M4 via ED on 2/28/15 and will be returning it to the welt on 3/2/15. I contacted ED winter tires and They said that they are not open on Saturdays and the only way I could get winter tires on Saturday would be to do the welt option which is 90 EU extra... Im just having trouble rationalizing 400 USD for 48 hours..... Is this worth it? Any insight would be appreciated?

jawwad

[X2Board]

For that money, just leave you car safely at the Welt for delivery, rent an M3, or M5 from Sixt, which will come with snow tires, and go have fun with that. I know it's not the same as driving your own car, but it's an option.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

Hi all,

I am picking up my M4 via ED on 2/28/15 and will be returning it to the welt on 3/2/15. I contacted ED winter tires and they are stating that in addition to the 225euro fee I will also need to pay 90 euro for the welt delivery option... That makes it like 400 USD for 2 days..... Is this worth it? Any insight would be appreciated?

jawwad

Yes, they charge more to pre-mount tires at the Welt so that you don't have to drive to their facility (not far).

I did my ED in mid-December.
Temps were in mid 50s, and I elected to stay on PSS's. It worked out really well for me, but I did have to keep an eye out on the weather forecast, and was prepared to dive in and grab winter tires if a sudden snow storm was going to blow in.
http://www.weather.com/weather/tenday/l/GMXX0087:1:GM

That is perfectly within German laws, as they dictate equipping the car with appropriate tires for the weather conditions. If it's well above freeing outside, driving on winter tires is a waste of money and performance.

If the temps drop below 40F, I would definitely get the winter tires, or avoid driving.

a

[DslDwg]

Certainly your call - your car.

We got into Munich Sat 1/31 and while cold the weather was gorgeous. I felt more than comfortable driving the car over to the ED Tire location.

We woke up Monday morning and it was gray, cold and snowing like crazy. We got to the Welt got our paperwork done and gave Annette a quick call. A couple rounds of passing the phone back and forth and all was taken car of. While we were taking our Factory tour they were changing our wheels and tires. By the time we came out to grab the car it was ready to go.

It's been cold this week. Some snow some areas with none. While not cheap I like the peace of mind of having the winter tires on the car.

I would personally do what we did and arrange to bring the car to them. If it's snowing the day of your delivery give them a call to bring the wheels/tires to the Welt.

[Jaymax85]

Sorry I should have been more specific... They said that they are not open on Saturdays and the only way I could get winter tires on Saturday would be to do the welt option. Im just having trouble rationalizing 400 USD for 48 hours

[adc]

1. Extend the time with car to maximize your $400 investment.
2. If that is not possible, rent an M3 like someone else suggested. Except rent it from BMW Welt which has this cool rental program.
3. if not possible, just eat up the cost and don't think back.

I still think your time with the car is way too short, you need a few more days for a proper bonding.

[edwinm3]

BMWNA was really stressing the need of winter tires during my ED which is next week on the 12th. They emailed my CA and he forwarded the email to me to show and the other day they emailed me directly about this. I wouldn't risk it for $400, if they really stress this is for a reason, something happens they'll blame it on you due to negligence. Not worth it.

[Jaymax85]

Originally Posted by adc

1. Extend the time with car to maximize your $400 investment.
2. If that is not possible, rent an M3 like someone else suggested. Except rent it from BMW Welt which has this cool rental program.
3. if not possible, just eat up the cost and don't think back.

I still think your time with the car is way too short, you need a few more days for a proper bonding.

the welt rental program seems cool, any links to info?

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

Sorry I should have been more specific... They said that they are not open on Saturdays and the only way I could get winter tires on Saturday would be to do the welt option. Im just having trouble rationalizing 400 USD for 48 hours

~$400 winter tire rental is just the extra cost of doing ED in the winter months, s.t. weather conditions.

Originally Posted by edwinm3

BMWNA was really stressing the need of winter tires during my ED which is next week on the 12th. They emailed my CA and he forwarded the email to me to show and the other day they emailed me directly about this. I wouldn't risk it for $400, if they really stress this is for a reason, something happens they'll blame it on you due to negligence. Not worth it.

BMWNA is just CYA-ing, which they very well should be doing.
Per BMW NA's reference to German winter tire regulations:
" ... It is the responsibility of the carowner and driver to equip their vehicle appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions. If you do not appropriately equip your vehicle for the weather conditions that exist during your drive, obstruct traffic or get involved in an accident as a result thereof, it is possible you may be cited for a violation of the law by the local authorities or be found to be grossly negligent according to the law. ... If the Police find that you are not equipped with the appropriate items when the weather conditions deem them necessary, and if the officer feels that other traffic participants have been endangered, they have the authority to fine a driver 20 Euros or in some cases significantly higher. ..."

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...nfoWinter.aspx

I would not dare drive on PSS's in the snow or ice, in the US or in Germany.
However, if neither snow nor ice are present, the temps are significantly above freezing, and the weather forecasts calls for more of the same (where you are or intend to drive), than there is no absolute legal obligation in Germany to ride on winter tires.

Use your head.
Equip your car "appropriately for the prevailing weather conditions"!

a

[Jaymax85]

I am just gonna play it by ear. If the weather sucks I will just turn the car back in and spend the days on the train exploring munich. If its dry and above freezing I will enjoy the car!!!! I refuse to be ripped by spending 200 bucks/day to rent tires I can buy for like 900 here.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

I am just gonna play it by ear. If the weather sucks I will just turn the car back in and spend the days on the train exploring munich. If its dry and above freezing I will enjoy the car!!!! I refuse to be ripped by spending 200 bucks/day to rent tires I can buy for like 900 here.

$200 a day?

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by afadeev

That is perfectly within German laws, as they dictate equipping the car with appropriate tires for the weather conditions. If it's well above freeing outside, driving on winter tires is a waste of money and performance.

If the temps drop below 40F, I would definitely get the winter tires, or avoid driving.

^ this. France and Italy have no such laws, so no worries if you're going there, switzerland doesn't either except on the passes. Austria is really strict so stay out of there without winters. Otherwise just use your head and plan your trip to be a bit flexible.

nobody else seems to like it, but I love Hamburg and it's an 8 hour autobahn drive up. Sounds like a great way to break in your new ride.

[Jaymax85]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

$200 a day?

I'm very happy that you use 100s as toilet paper.. But although I could easily afford it, it's a ridiculous ripoff at that price. I'd rather use my money elsewhere. It is your sentiment that fuels the ridiculous pricing on accessories for the Ms.. 6000 for a turbo back? Really?

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

I'm very happy that you use 100s as toilet paper.. But although I could easily afford it, it's a ridiculous ripoff at that price. I'd rather use my money elsewhere. It is your sentiment that fuels the ridiculous pricing on accessories for the Ms.. 6000 for a turbo back? Really?

Didn't realize their prices for rentals went up. I reserved mine last year and for a total of 4 days I paid 276 euros. That's the reason why I said I was confused when you said it was $200.

No need to get hurt specially when you obviously misunderstood what I meant.

[Jaymax85]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

Didn't realize their prices for rentals went up. I reserved mine last year and for a total of 4 days I paid 276 euros. That's the reason why I said I was confused when you said it was $200.

No need to get hurt specially when you obviously misunderstood what I meant.

my apologies.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

my apologies.

We're good

[edwinm3]

And I agree $200 per day is insane.

[adc]

Originally Posted by jawwadh

the welt rental program seems cool, any links to info?

search is your friend

http://www-1.bmw-welt.com/web_rb/bmw.../overview.html

[dclowd9901]

Originally Posted by edwinm3

Didn't realize their prices for rentals went up. I reserved mine last year and for a total of 4 days I paid 276 euros. That's the reason why I said I was confused when you said it was $200.

No need to get hurt specially when you obviously misunderstood what I meant.

I'm not sure the prices went up, but there is an overhead for rental. I think my total costs were 360 Euros for 5 days, which is far less than $200 a day. But you sort of have to rent them for longer to make them more worth it per day.

[RowanBuds]

It may just be me, but when I go to the EDwintertires dot com site and look at F80 pricing I interpret the chart as:

Days 1 - 2: Total of 210 Euro (238 USD)
Each subsequent day: 33 Euro (37.5 USD)

Mileage allowed for 1st 2 days is 700mi, with each additional day giving you 350mi.

I see this as: 3 days would cost you 243 Euro (or 275 USD). That's actually less than half of your 200 per day statement.

I have a late May ED, taking me over Grossglockner and possibly Susten if it is open. I am leaning towards winter tire rentals simply in the name of safety. Some have said I shouldn't need them, but at the peak of Grossglockner it is liable to snow at any time.

This has even caused me to have to change a large deal of itinerary, as I was planning to drop the car off in Zurich, but now it will have to get taken back to Munich. This isn't a large issue, honestly, as when I read the Zurich drop-off cars would be driven back to Munich, not trucked, that turned me off of the Zurich drop idea pretty quickly.

[edwinm3]

Originally Posted by dclowd9901

I'm not sure the prices went up, but there is an overhead for rental. I think my total costs were 360 Euros for 5 days, which is far less than $200 a day. But you sort of have to rent them for longer to make them more worth it per day.

Yeah that's it, that's where I got confused I guess because I didn't remember paying $200 per day thanks

[Jaymax85]

I definitely agree that you need to be doing a more prolonged ED trip to make the snows worth your while. I am simply doing ED for the cost savings. I purchased a car near ED invoice and bought plane tickets for 750 each round trip. My hotel (Marriott) is costing me 100 euro a night x 4 nights. The issue is I am picking my car up on a saturday.. since the tire depot isnt open on sat, I am forced to pay another 90 dollar fee, so it comes out to about 375 USD for 2 days. I am staying a mile from the welt and will not be doing any extensive traveling outside of munich.. so I'd rather spend that money elsewhere! If it snows tremendously or is unsafe I will just give the keys back to them at the Welt and enjoy Munich via public trans!