Opinion on Wheel/Springs/Tires Deal

[redline122]

I am looking at changing up the springs, wheels, and tires on my M45s.

I just got a quote from a shop out here for the following:

Vertini Hennessey20 x 8.5 with Toyo T1R 245x35x2020 x 10 with Toyo T1R 275x30x20

Eibach Springs

Installation (including TPMS placement) and Alignment

For $3300

Is this a good deal or am I getting overcharged?

[New2Import]

Looks good to me. Right around $400 for the labor. BTW what is a TPMS ?

[M4T5]

Looks good to me. Right around $400 for the labor. BTW what is a TPMS ?

TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) The valve stems on your rims are the actual sensors. They have to be carried over to the new wheels by the way.So don't sell your tires and wheels with your sensors installed!!! These are not cheap to replace!!

J

[tytamto]

The exact wheel and tire package can be ordered online and shipped for free with insurance for $2,475. Meaning that you are paying $825 for springs plus install and alignment.

Eibach springs can be had for $250 shipped. So install and alignment is costing you $575. Sounds like alot. I would not pay more than $300 for it.

Also, is tax included in the $3300? If not, you need to buy online. If it is with tax, than the price is fair... but not great. See if you can get them to lower it by $250.

Keep in mind, all these parts can probably be found for less somewhere online; I just did a quick search... so do your homework!

[redline122]

The exact wheel and tire package can be ordered online and shipped for free with insurance for $2,475. Meaning that you are paying $825 for springs plus install and alignment.

Eibach springs can be had for $250 shipped. So install and alignment is costing you $575. Sounds like alot. I would not pay more than $300 for it.

Also, is tax included in the $3300? If not, you need to buy online. If it is with tax, than the price is fair... but not great. See if you can get them to lower it by $250.

Keep in mind, all these parts can probably be found for less somewhere online; I just did a quick search... so do your homework!

Thanks for the information - I was going to do some searches online when I get back to my home office (at the client site right now... ) Would you mind providing links (via private message or as a reply to this thread) to the prices you are quoting above?

[tytamto]

elementwheels.com for rims/tires

tirerack.com for springs

you can find cheaper. look around, grasshopper!

[redline122]

Did some web searches and came up with a total of $2917 (assuming $300 labor/installation).

Another shop in the area quoted me $2800 out-the-door for the same (tax included). Hmm... these places must be hurting for some business.

[tytamto]

$2800 sounds a lot better. still a lot of dough. post pics pre and post when you get it all done.

[m-licious]

hey redline, where are you installing your stuff? i'm thinking about getting some eibachs put in.

[redline122]

m-licious,I am going to ask my friend who runs the Big O Tires near the Irvine Spectrum. He's a fair and honest guy - just ask for Ron.

I probably won't get around to doing much to the car until I get back from my trip abroad.

[ATSELLAB]

Hey guys, just because we own an expensive ride (when NEW) doesnt mean you have to be paying for it when you decide to modify it. It doesnt cost as much as everyone thinks to do the basic things to your vehicle.

Like I stated in another thread, I spent under 2K ($1800 to be exact) for an exhaust, 22" rims/tires and a rear wing. And ALL NEW! I did the math, If I paid market value going into a local shop and asking them what they got for me, I would have been raped and paid OVER 5k !!!!!!

BE SMART, SHOP on ebay. Look on CL. A good deal is always around the corner. Especially in these times.

Not to mention, I bought all grade A items. The compliments Ive received is insane.

Also make note, what ive done to the vehicle is 10x better in performance than stock and looks wise.

ANd for everyone else out there that assumes and doesnt really know because they have never riden in one or driven one.... 22" rims on the M45 feels like the ride of STOCK.

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[ATSELLAB]

Also, when I added the 22" rims (I sold my stock for $900 to someone on CL locally) i gave up my TPMS because I was sick of them always having a bad reading, no reading or whatever. I sold them with the stock also because the tires shop wanted an additional $125 to remount/rebuild/recalibrate them. Which is a joke for something that is pointless in my mind. I also checked around and all shops were charging that amount. PLUS, I went on ebay and can rebuy the same dam things for 75 bucks, so cheaper to rebuy than mess with the old ones.

Im still confused however about the TPMS system. I have read so many bad things about it. Why do you need it anyways? I have eyes that can see if my pressure is low. You know, the old fashioned way.

[rgb129]

Im still confused however about the TPMS system. I have read so many bad things about it. Why do you need it anyways? I have eyes that can see if my pressure is low. You know, the old fashioned way.

Us X owners need it due to the sensitive nature of the AWD system. By the time you "eyeball" your low pressure, it is way under where it should be...i.e. by sight is not a good way to judge your tire pressure.

[lawman12]

Also, when I added the 22" rims (I sold my stock for $900 to someone on CL locally) i gave up my TPMS because I was sick of them always having a bad reading, no reading or whatever. I sold them with the stock also because the tires shop wanted an additional $125 to remount/rebuild/recalibrate them. Which is a joke for something that is pointless in my mind. I also checked around and all shops were charging that amount. PLUS, I went on ebay and can rebuy the same dam things for 75 bucks, so cheaper to rebuy than mess with the old ones.

Im still confused however about the TPMS system. I have read so many bad things about it. Why do you need it anyways? I have eyes that can see if my pressure is low. You know, the old fashioned way.

One can reuse your stock TPMS sensors in different wheels and not need to do a thing. I have used my TPMS sensors in my stock wheels and in two different sets of 20s. No need to recalibrate or anything, just plug and play.

I totally agree not wanting to spend money to swap a sensor from one wheel to another... that is crap. But you can use your original sensors in aftermarket wheels as long as the aftermarket wheels are TPMS ready - easy to do.

I like the ease of the reading personally, just click a couple buttons and check. I still use the old school way when I fill up, but for daily - the tpms is easy.

[ATSELLAB]

Interesting.. I have a 4x4 truck that i haul the hell out of it and it doesnt have a TPMS and eye balling is just fine. I still dont get the "Need" for it.

And in terms of reusing them, I know you can do that. Its just that they have to be put on and off and there is a fee that is not worth it, in my case I would have had to pay a dismount fee of the OEM tires to get to the TPMS, then pay for them to put them back on. When all said and done, its cheaper to buy them on ebay and have them put on later if I chose to .

[szh]

Interesting.. I have a 4x4 truck that i haul the hell out of it and it doesnt have a TPMS and eye balling is just fine. I still dont get the "Need" for it.

Depending on the height of the sidewall, this may work okay. With your high truck tires, that is probably relatively easy (but see below too). However, with low aspect ratio tires, it is not that easy - you can easily get a wide variation in pressure without seeing it as being low! Check it out for yourself sometime.

With the large diameter wheels that people are going for nowadays, the aspect ratios are dropping to "XXX/35" or less. On these tires, it only takes a remarkably slight loss of air for the pressure to be too low, and you cannot eyeball them to check!

Remember the whole Ford-Firestone tires saga? That was caused by low inflated tires overheating at highway speeds and blowing out and killing people. (My opinion: cleaning of the gene pool, but that is harsh, of course.)

Anyway, hence, TPMS became the "thing to add" as a result, and is (if not already) going to be mandated by the Federal government.

If you use a good tire pressure gauge every week to other week, with a home pump - foot or electronics, and make sure that the tire pressures are correct, then TPMS is overkill, I agree. However, for the average population, it is a safety net because they are lazy about basic automobile maintenance - I hope that is not true of the folks who frequent our forum!

Z

P.S. Eyeballing tire pressure is analogous to police eyeballing your driving speed! You sure would not want a ticket based on that.

[ATSELLAB]

Whoa, my truck rides on 26"....... The tires on those things are just as slim.

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Im stickin to my guns on the whole TPMS thing... Overkill ... I guarantee the general population does not have these things and wouldnt know what they are. I had no clue there was such a think before owning the M. When I think about it, the whole rest of my family doesnt have it or any of my friends as well.

I still just dont get it, if a tires looks flat it looks flat, right?

In my opinion, its just another feature that helps add to the insane price of the M. I mean there are alot of features on the M that rack up the tag for no apparent reason. Example, "Bose" .... I ve heard nothing but bad things about it and I do agree but you pay an extra what $1500 when its cheaper to get an awesome stereo from car toys.

Its all in good discussion tho. I just like hearing different opinions as we all have different lifestyles that the M fits into.

[rgb129]

1. 4x4 != AWD and certainly not comparable to the ATTESA

2. Low profile tires have a much much stiffer sidewall and you cannot eyeball the low pressure. You need to check your tire pressure regularly. TPMS makes that easier and gives you a warning when pressures drop too low. I had this on the last 3 cars I have owned. Eyeballing it puts yourself and, more importantly, everyone else at risk.

3. If it looks flat means that the pressure was too low way before you noticed it...especially with the low profile tires.

4. I didn't have to by an M with the bose...you chose to.

At the end f the day, you are responsible for your vehicle and making sure it is maintained properly. Eyeballing it is not an adequate way of checking tires... You are just not going to win a debate over that...the percent error is way way too high.

I am with Z that TPMS should be federally mandated as it serves to keeps the roads safer and my family and friends alive.

[ATSELLAB]

Im pretty sure if you polled america and they were asked to add a 1k dollar feature for no reason, they would first not know what it was and second say no. Like I said before, no one I know has it or knows what it is.

As for the bose, DIDNT GET IT. I did my research.

[ATSELLAB]

As for the sidewall of say my truck's tire, very very easy to know if its low. It looks low.

Im just confused that everyone has done it for years witout the TPMS and now it seems like a savior and should be mandated in some opinions.

I thought it was common sense like changing your oil, check you tire pressure. But hmmm...

[ATSELLAB]

Also, my 2009 Rx350 didnt have TPMS and it was loaded. So Lexus didnt justify needing it.