[vegnomeat]

BMW 335i SE Coupe

Well I took the plunge, ditched the RFT's and invested in a full set of Bridgestone RE040.

I had grown tired of the harsh ride, limited wet grip, awful tramlining and premature shoulder wear of the RFT.

Now the new tyres are scrubbed in I can fairly review them, this is my opinion only

They have completely transformed the car. You remember when you first got your new BMW and you used every excuse to get in and drive anywhere. Well it's like that again for me.

The ride is comfortable but not soft and squishy, it turns in well and settles very quickly in the turn. The tramlining has disappeared completely, no more fighting the steering wheel and being permanently on stand by for the inevitable tug to one side.

The levels of grip in the wet are simply outstanding and inspire complete confidence. Where previously the traction light would be flashing as the car struggled to put down the power, now it's fuss free and the car simply accelerates.

Dry grip is probably greater than many of us on here would need, if it loses grip then you were going to crash anyway. Where previously on a bumpy section of B road the traction light would flash as power was delivered, now on the same stretch of road its just a seamless delivery.

I can't think of a negative so far and am totally blown away at the difference.

As for having no spare wheel and facing the prospect of being stranded, I just don't care.

Regards

Veggie

[kaishang]

Do you have the SE or M-sport suspension in your car? And what wheel size?

[Em135eye]

Originally Posted by vegnomeat

BMW 335i SE Coupe

Well I took the plunge, ditched the RFT's and invested in a full set of Bridgestone RE040.

I had grown tired of the harsh ride, limited wet grip, awful tramlining and premature shoulder wear of the RFT.

Now the new tyres are scrubbed in I can fairly review them, this is my opinion only

They have completely transformed the car. You remember when you first got your new BMW and you used every excuse to get in and drive anywhere. Well it's like that again for me.

The ride is comfortable but not soft and squishy, it turns in well and settles very quickly in the turn. The tramlining has disappeared completely, no more fighting the steering wheel and being permanently on stand by for the inevitable tug to one side.

The levels of grip in the wet are simply outstanding and inspire complete confidence. Where previously the traction light would be flashing as the car struggled to put down the power, now it's fuss free and the car simply accelerates.

Dry grip is probably greater than many of us on here would need, if it loses grip then you were going to crash anyway. Where previously on a bumpy section of B road the traction light would flash as power was delivered, now on the same stretch of road its just a seamless delivery.

I can't think of a negative so far and am totally blown away at the difference.

As for having no spare wheel and facing the prospect of being stranded, I just don't care.

Regards

Veggie

Another convert to the non RFT cause!

[vegnomeat]

It has the SE suspension and the tyre sizes are

225 40 18 front
255 35 18 rear

Regards

[cbcb]

Originally Posted by vegnomeat

It has the SE suspension and the tyre sizes are

225 40 18 front
255 35 18 rear

Regards

What pressures are you running? Same as on the RFTs or ?

[parapaul]

Originally Posted by kaishang

Do you have the SE or M-sport suspension in your car? And what wheel size?

I thought all the 335s had sports suspension as standard?

[doughboy]

Me too, 335i/d coupes anyhow, which is what the op has.

And the wheel sizes mentioned are staggered m sport sizes, which would indicate sports suspension, but maybe this is a coupe quirk?

Anyway - good stuff OP, glad you like the new found car lurking underneath the ghastly RFTs!

[vegnomeat]

I have to be honest, I assumed it was the SE Suspension as the car doesn't have any "M" kit fitted and I am not terribly knowledgeable when it comes to the finer details.

I am running 32 front and 36 rear.

Regards

Veggie

[creepy coupe]

Good move ditching the run flats.

Get yourself a BMW mobility kit and or a space saver for longer trips.

[Em135eye]

Quick Coupe reminder...

Coupes ALL come with staggered tyres, M Sports suspension and Sports seat as standard - even in SE form.

A standard SE saloon or Touring has non staggered tyres (225/45 17" usually), standard seats and SE suspension.

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by 335diesel

Quick Coupe reminder...

Coupes ALL come with staggered tyres, M Sports suspension and Sports seat as standard - even in SE form.

A standard SE saloon or Touring has non staggered tyres (225/45 17" usually), standard seats and SE suspension.

And you can also spec SE suspension in anything, including an M-sport or spec M-sport suspension in an SE.....

OP I think a lot of the initial unsatisfactory ride was more due to M-sport suspension and wide low profile tyres on 18" wheels than RFTs.

[Em135eye]

Kaishang - I've got M Sport suspension on mine. And little non RFT tyres. They don't win any beauty contests but they are a superb ride/handling compromise.

I didn't realise you could "de-spec" an M Sport though!

And now it seems I also have an M Sport ARB (we have the panoramic sunroof) - thanks to Pete for that info!

[HighlandPete]

Here's one for identifying the E92 suspension spec'.

I had a loan E92 330d SE, 2006 build with 18" Bridgestone Potenza RFTs, it was a far better ride quality than my E91 330d 2006 on 17" Bridgestone Potenza RFTs.

What suspension would that have been running? It wasn't hard or crashy, even in cold weather, steering was good without the weird nonsense of my car at the same temperatures. Doesn't look like a sport setup to me?




HighlandPete

[kaishang]

> I didn't realise you could "de-spec" an M Sport though!

Yup, BMW charge you to add M-sport suspension to an SE but the deletion of M-sport suspension from an M-sport is a no cost option......

I'd be interested to see how M-sport plus non-RFTs compares to SE with RFTs. Actually I'd be interested to drive anything without RFTs to see how that goes.

[Hotcoupe]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Here's one for identifying the E92 suspension spec'.

I had a loan E92 330d SE, 2006 build with 18" Bridgestone Potenza RFTs, it was a far better ride quality than my E91 330d 2006 on 17" Bridgestone Potenza RFTs.

What suspension would that have been running? It wasn't hard or crashy, even in cold weather, steering was good without the weird nonsense of my car at the same temperatures. Doesn't look like a sport setup to me?




HighlandPete

No engine?
Or is it jacked up?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Hotcoupe

No engine?
Or is it jacked up?

Yes we'd just done a transplant, now a 320d and I've a spare engine.

Seriously that was it, just as we got out.

BTW, anyone know where that is in Scotland...?

HighlandPete

[Em135eye]

Pete - that looks REALLY high! Was it on a secret slope?

Glasgow airport?

Kaishang - should you ever happen to be down here, you're welcome to give mine a try!

[wayne71]

Is that the Cairngorms in the background?

[YvesD]

Strange that BMW dont have a 'star' approval for the non run flat RE050A but they do for the older RE040 tyre.

Wonder why that is?

Yves

[CarAbuser]

I was considering non-RFTs, currently I have an E92 M-Sport with 18" bridgestone RFTs.

The tram-lining is really terrible on the roads in the Midlands, after my current tyres are worn i think i'll make the jump.

The idea of being stranded with something as trivial as a puncture sucks though. What have others done about this issue?

[Em135eye]

I could handle the crashiness (just about) of RFTs but the tramlining REALLY annoyed me - it was the main reason for ditching RFTs. Non RFTs completely cured it. Amazing transformation.

I have a Ring 12v compressor, a can of Tyre Weld and the number/membership for a recovery service!

My R32 Golf also had non RFTs and no spare - never had any problems.

[HighlandPete]

Not really intended to keep you guessing... it's the carpark at the Falkirk Wheel, a fantastic bit of modern engineering.



But does anyone know what suspension that 330d has... must be SE musn't it?

HighlandPete