dealer service dept lied and told me I needed new tires. still had 7/32 to 8/32 depth

[DavyNM]

I know dealers service departments are not non-profit and need to make money.

However, it's been a long time since I encountered a blatant lie. When my car was at the dealership for the free BMW oil change, the service guy texted me and told me I needed new tires.

Quote: "everything looked excellent on your car and the oil service will be done this afternoon. the tech advised that your tires were down to 4/32 which is borderline unsafe. We can install a new set of identical tires for $1892, which includes 4-wheel alignment, let me know"

My tires were the original tires that came from BMW factory almost 3 years ago. I have a tire tread depth gauge and I check it once in a while. The last time I checked it was last Thanksgiving after I had the tires rotated and balanced at a local tire shop.

I thought maybe I drove more than I expected during the holidays.(a few long road trips)

I almost wanted to tell them to replace the tires and save me the trouble. I even looked up the price online. Excluding the alignment, the tire prices were actually quite reasonable, just $52 more per tire than the Tire Rack online price. Somehow I got busy and forgot about calling the service advisor back. When he called back later, he didn't mention it, so nothing was done to the tires.

After I picked up the car, I did see a line where the service tech wrote about the tires being at 4/32 and recommended replacement.

Well... after washing my car this afternoon, I ran my hand over the tires and they seemed okay to me. I checked all four tires and they were all slightly over 7/32, which was more than acceptable. Just for fun, I walked over to my neighbor's and borrowed his tire depth gauge of a different brand and got the same readings. When the car was delivered at less than 10 miles, the brand-new tires were at 9/32, which I wrote down.

I hope the service dept simply made a mistake and measure the tire depth incorrectly... but if that's the case, I'm not sure I want to have the car service by them again if they can't even measure tire depth correctly?

[TriumphTim]

Maybe the dealer tech was measuring to the "wear nub" instead of full depth?

Kinda sounds like a dealer "trick", you have 4/32" until the tires won't pass inspection but the tires still have 3/72" of actual tread depth even at that point, technically safe for operation.

You measured the full 7/32" depth.

[DocL]

Forget the depth gauge all together. When you start seeing the cords, that's when you need new tires. Works for me all the time.

[DavyNM]

Originally Posted by DocL

Forget the depth gauge all together. When you start seeing the cords, that's when you need new tires. Works for me all the time.

just to put my mind at ease, I stopped by the Discount Tire near me. The manager walked with me to my car and measured the tread depth. His gauge showed 7/32 for 3 of the 4 tires. The rear right was almost 8/32. He also checked them for dry rot, bubbles and uneven wear.. .finding none.

He said "you will need a new set of tires in about a year and half, come back then, or I can just rob $1000 from your today? your choice"

[slilley]

Originally Posted by TriumphTim

Maybe the dealer tech was measuring to the "wear nub" instead of full depth?

Yes, it's apparently common practice for BMW dealers to measure the tread depth from the Tread Wear Indicator bars and report that value to customers. The wear indicators are federally mandated at 2/32".

I agree this practice is total BS and very misleading. Especially when the dealership tries to sell you new tires when your existing tires are only about 25% worn.

Personally, I don't let the tires on my wife's or daughters' cars get anywhere near 2/32" before replacing them. Generally, I get them replaced when they are about 4/32" - especially if we are heading into the winter months. Once a tire gets to 2/32" tread, it's ability to resist hydroplaning goes down dramatically, and you can forget about traction in snow.

[Westside Guy]

DavyNM, I have a funny feeling that this was intentional and they do this often. Why didn't you drive over to your dealer and call them out on this BS? I would have asked for the service manager and really pushed his buttons.

[DavyNM]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

DavyNM, I have a funny feeling that this was intentional and they do this often. Why didn't you drive over to your dealer and call them out on this BS? I would have asked for the service manager and really pushed his buttons.

my guess is that they do this dozens of times per day and are fully prepared if someone like me ever goes back...

service manager: "oh, I'm sorry, must be the new tech who was doing the oil change, he's new so he must have measured the tires wrong... here's a $25 coupon for your next service visit... have a great day!"

actually, 2 days after I declined to have them replace the "worn out" tires, the service dept sent me an automated email with a $75-off alignment offer(if I go buy and buy those tires). In the email, they have a canned response like "our customer's safety is our number one priority. we see that you declined to have your tires replace during your last visit. we recommend that you come back and have them replaced at your earliest convenience, before the rainy season starts"

I wouldn't have minded if they simply told the truth.. like how they needed to make money or meet the service dept's monthly quota. I respect and understand that dealers need to make money. If it's something that my car needs and I can live with the price, I'll let them do it. Trying to cheat or outright lie to me? One more time and I'm going to another dealer.(although all others will probalby do the same thing?)

[Altamate]

Many shops and dealers do this all the time, some places give the techs a commission for finding work to do on a vehicle (if the work gets authorized) I have a mechanic friend who quit a place that had that practice.

[bimmermookie]

Originally Posted by DocL

Forget the depth gauge all together. When you start seeing the cords, that's when you need new tires. Works for me all the time.

Posts like this are why this forum needs a "Laughing" response instead of just "Appreciate." Well done.

In seriousness, it's really all about weather. Tires below wear bars are fine --- so long as it's warm and dry and you're driving in a responsible manner.

[Equilibrandt]

^ The one time I save money by living in California: you can technically drive on worn tires a bit longer.

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by DavyNM

my car was at the dealership for the free BMW oil change, the service guy texted me and told me I needed new tires.

Quote: "everything looked excellent on your car and the oil service will be done this afternoon. the tech advised that your tires were down to 4/32 which is borderline unsafe. We can install a new set of identical tires for $1892, which includes 4-wheel alignment, let me know"

Lots of problems with that statement above.
For one thing, no BMW tire is priced at $473/per. They are marking up tire prices by a LOT. Also, you do NOT need a wheel alignment after new tire install.

Which is one of many reasons I never EVER allow dealers to do tire/wheel work on any of my cars. They don't do it often enough to be good at it, an they always massively over-charge for that basic service.

Originally Posted by DavyNM

I checked all four tires and they were all slightly over 7/32, which was more than acceptable.
[...]I hope the service dept simply made a mistake and measure the tire depth incorrectly... but if that's the case, I'm not sure I want to have the car service by them again if they can't even measure tire depth correctly?

Yep, this is not good at all.

Originally Posted by TriumphTim

Maybe the dealer tech was measuring to the "wear nub" instead of full depth?

My local dealers installed tire-scanning cameras at the service bay entry, and add "estimated tire depth" to all service reports. I once had a fun call from them when I took my car in for service on track tires.

Those cameras are not very prices, so it is possible that they simply never bothered to validate the camera estimates.
I am been generous here. It is also possibly that they tried to sell you on an unnecessary tire swap.

One way to find out is to call the service manager and confront them. If you are comfortable doing that - please do - and tell us what you hear back!

a

[starlights]

Trust but verify . be glad you verified.

[rak299]

Originally Posted by afadeev

Lots of problems with that statement above.
For one thing, no BMW tire is priced at $473/per. They are marking up tire prices by a LOT. Also, you do NOT need a wheel alignment after new tire install.

Which is one of many reasons I never EVER allow dealers to do tire/wheel work on any of my cars. They don't do it often enough to be good at it, an they always massively over-charge for that basic service.



Yep, this is not good at all.



My local dealers installed tire-scanning cameras at the service bay entry, and add "estimated tire depth" to all service reports. I once had a fun call from them when I took my car in for service on track tires.

Those cameras are not very prices, so it is possible that they simply never bothered to validate the camera estimates.
I am been generous here. It is also possibly that they tried to sell you on an unnecessary tire swap.

One way to find out is to call the service manager and confront them. If you are comfortable doing that - please do - and tell us what you hear back!

a

Costco charges 465 and 540 (front and rear) for Michelin tires for M3

[bimmermookie]

Originally Posted by rak299

Costco charges 465 and 540 (front and rear) for Michelin tires for M3

Sadly, my local Costco told me they have no tire options at all for the G87 M2. I'd hoped they could put some UHP all seasons on there, which I'll need this fall to be able to continue to daily this car, but they said they have no options of any kind.

Guess I'm going to a local shop via Tire Rack....

[UPSROD]

Is anyone surprised that a car dealer would lie to them!

[Leucosticte]

Sounds like a typical dealer experience

[jkoral]

My dealer (who I mostly like), told me my tires were 4/32" and wouldn't pass state inspection.

While I was waiting I replied with the state motor vehicle law and the specifications for annual inspections which have a minimum depth of 2/32". They replied their inspection tech wouldn't pass it.

I was annoyed, even though I had a set of new tires from TireRack in the garage waiting to be installed.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by rak299

Costco charges 465 and 540 (front and rear) for Michelin tires for M3

Tire Rack is approximately $450 including shipping and installation on Michelin Pilot SS (BMW*) for the rears for my Z4.

[T.R.S.]

Originally Posted by starlights

Trust but verify . be glad you verified.

I always verify as much as possible. Guess I'm just not the trusting type. "Fool me once..."

[tracer bullet]

Indy shops do tricks as well. One local to me with a good reputation said my X3 pads were worn out and needed to be replaced, along with the rotors. Why? Because the computer said so. I checked them at all 4 corners at home afterwards and they were 6mm or so. Not new but not in need of replacing for a really long time yet.

It's kind of like - whatever they have to say, unless you already know there's a problem, ask to be shown the problem. Maybe still go home and research before agreeing to any work you can't DIY.

[Grease23]

Instant red flag for me is any shop telling me something is "almost ready to go" or "nearly worn out," or anything along those lines. I had the local Volvo dealer recommend a new timing belt on a C70 about 20K before it was normally due. I declined and was told it "was deeply cracked and ready to go." I still said no.

Got it home and decided to change the belt and the water pump, which was a big PITA on that engine. During disassembly, it occurred to me that just getting to the point where you can get a good look at the belt was a lot of work. And I wondered if they'd really gone to all that trouble.

Ultimately, the belt looked essentially unworn. No cracks or wear that I could see. It was just a well-practiced lie that had sold a lot of timing belts.

A famous 1880s American cynic defined "conscience" as "that little voice in your head that tells you somebody may be watching."

[afadeev]

Originally Posted by rak299

Costco charges 465 and 540 (front and rear) for Michelin tires for M3

Costo matches TireRack prices, though I would NEVER allow Costco clowns to touch my cars (multiple long stories).
FWIW, TireRack PSS tires for my M3 are $308.99 and $369.99 (front and rear).

a