Z4 - non-runflats in France

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

John Stolz - 03 Nov 2006 14:54 GMT

I have a Z4 3.0 registered in France, although I live 50:50 in France
and the UK.
I'm ready to fit new tyres but my (French) dealer not only won't fit
non-runflats, but tells be it is illegal to do so in France. I risk a
fine from the police, invlaidation of the insurance and failure at the
controle technique (MOT).
Oddly, my dealer in the UK is happy to fit runflats and does so 'for
most Z4s'
I'm used to nonsensical bureaucracy in France, but this seems a bit extreme.
Can someone tell me if non-runflats are, in fact, illegal in France?

Reply to this Message

Jeff Strickland - 04 Nov 2006 18:42 GMT

I suspect that you are in a better position to check this out because you
are there.

I suggest that if the car can not carry a spare, then France is in a good
position to demand that the car be fitted with run-flat tires. The logic
being, if one can not put the spare on, then one must have tires that can
run on empty.

I also suggest that you put the tires on that are required by the Country of
Registry. If the car is registered in France and run-flats are required
there, then you should fit a new set of run-flats. If the car is registered
in Britian and run-flats are not required, then fit whatever you want.

Personally, if I had a car that could not carry a spare, I'd not consider
anything but run-flat tires. If the car can carry a spare but hasn't got
one, then buy one and fit whatever tires you want.

>I have a Z4 3.0 registered in France, although I live 50:50 in France and
>the UK.
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> extreme.
> Can someone tell me if non-runflats are, in fact, illegal in France?

Reply to this Message

E Brown - 04 Nov 2006 21:35 GMT

>I'm ready to fit new tyres but my (French) dealer not only won't fit
>non-runflats, but tells be it is illegal to do so in France. I risk a
>fine from the police, invlaidation of the insurance and failure at the
>controle technique (MOT).

    So you follow-up question to the dealer should be "And with regard
to the E46 M3, M Roadster, and M Coupe your government's policy is
what?" Because those cars have regular tires and no spare, and if the
French gov't has no problem with them having Mobility Kits, the
standard Z4 shouldn't be an issue.
    The real answer is that, like most dealership staffers, this person
is full of crap, but you can ask on www.z4um.com, which has some
native French posters as well as some that spend a lot of time there.
    epbrown
--
"Everybody wants a normal life and a cool car;
most people will settle for the car." Chris Titus
2003 BMW 325i Black/Black, 2003 BMW Z4 Black/Black

Reply to this Message