Why the heck would the dealer deliver a car with overinflated tire pressures?

[jcfay]

So I picked up my '16 X5M a couple weeks ago, and all is well. Then I'm reading through the manual, etc., and decide to check my tire pressures on my 21" since there are options (36 psi <100mph, 43/44 > 100mph). Never mind that the tire pressure #s are a little hard to interpret over here in the US where we can't routinely go >100 mph (at least legally). The pressures on all of my wheels are 47.5 psi. WTF? So I deflate them all (to 42/43 for now, probably lower later since it seems like most folks prefer the 36 range?).

Why would a dealer deliver a car with totally off tire pressures? Is this the norm or just one bogus dealer?

[Poleposition]

Did you check the pressure after driving the car while tires were warm or did you check pressure first thing in morning when tires are cold?

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by Poleposition

Did you check the pressure after driving the car while tires were warm or did you check pressure first thing in morning when tires are cold?

I should have mentioned this - totally cold...

[UrbanExtant]

Tires are overinflated during the shipping process, so as to help prevent the flat spot from forming in the tire as it sits for days on in during the shipping process. It is supposed to be part of the delivery check process that the service department deflates the tires to the proper pressure. Having not adjusted this could be a sign of you needing to keep more on top of your service department, so other things in the future don't "slip by" them.

[GladiatorOwner]

Originally Posted by jcfay

So I picked up my '16 X5M a couple weeks ago, and all is well. Then I'm reading through the manual, etc., and decide to check my tire pressures on my 21" since there are options (36 psi <100mph, 43/44 > 100mph). Never mind that the tire pressure #s are a little hard to interpret over here in the US where we can't routinely go >100 mph (at least legally). The pressures on all of my wheels are 47.5 psi. WTF? So I deflate them all (to 42/43 for now, probably lower later since it seems like most folks prefer the 36 range?).

Why would a dealer deliver a car with totally off tire pressures? Is this the norm or just one bogus dealer?

Which dealer?

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by GladiatorOwner

Which dealer?

I'll PM you since I hate to slight a dealer which may be great and this may have just been an exception. But I'm now going to get my service done elsewhere, I think. Thinking of that, is there any ratings system for service centers? I'd hate to not go to the dealer where I purchased the car (I imagine they'd really like to keep the business, as any customer who bails post-sale and does service elsewhere is probably likely to then buy at that new dealer) and lose out in the long run...

And it's funny what you mentioned about wheel shipping. I ordered a set of 20" OEM winter wheels and the service rep (at another dealership) made a point of saying to reduce the pressures before installation. This is what probably triggered me to check the pressures on the 21s.

[GladiatorOwner]

Originally Posted by jcfay

I'll PM you since I hate to slight a dealer which may be great and this may have just been an exception. But I'm now going to get my service done elsewhere, I think. Thinking of that, is there any ratings system for service centers? I'd hate to not go to the dealer where I purchased the car (I imagine they'd really like to keep the business, as any customer who bails post-sale and does service elsewhere is probably likely to then buy at that new dealer) and lose out in the long run...

And it's funny what you mentioned about wheel shipping. I ordered a set of 20" OEM winter wheels and the service rep (at another dealership) made a point of saying to reduce the pressures before installation. This is what probably triggered me to check the pressures on the 21s.

No slight intended either. I was just curious since I live near you and wanted to be aware these things. I'm sure it was just an oversight by a newbee tech kid....

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by GladiatorOwner

No slight intended either. I was just curious since I live near you and wanted to be aware these things. I'm sure it was just an oversight by a newbee tech kid....

Yup, perhaps. I'm just wondering what else may have been forgotten...

[AlexLou1222]

I think they did mine like that too, since two months into the ownership, the low tire warning come on while I was driving on the highway, scared the hell out of me since I thought I had a flat on my new car. Turned on the tire monitor only found out the pressure were all 38 (10 mins drive after cold tire ), which is totally normal. So they must be over inflated and set the tire sensors with wrong pressure.

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by AlexLou1222

I think they did mine like that too, since two months into the ownership, the low tire warning come on while I was driving on the highway, scared the hell out of me since I thought I had a flat on my new car. Turned on the tire monitor only found out the pressure were all 38 (10 mins drive after cold tire ), which is totally normal. So they must be over inflated and set the tire sensors with wrong pressure.

Huh. If yours were 38 warm, they must've been underinflated a bit when you got the car. That set of a low pressure warning? 38 is still in the normal range. My car had no reaction when I dropped the pressures in all tires (of course the car was stopped and off), and after driving it does now show the accurate pressures in the tires. So the TPMS are all working accurately.

I guess it just makes sense to watch out for stupid things the dealer might do. I know a bunch of folks who are getting their cars paint protected don't even want the dealer to prep or "detail" the car beforehand, since they can do a really poor job of it and hurt the paint. I know looking at some pictures of my brand new car, I saw paint swirling in a few spots that looked like evidence of that, and so I guess that's another thing to look out for.

[AlexLou1222]

Yep, dealer don't do good detail jobs, they run the car through machine wash and have college kids working parttime to wipe the car with dirty towels...

[enzom]

Can't speak to BMW, but Porsche has recommended tire settings for comfort, full load, partial load, etc. When they delivered both of my 911s, the tire pressure was inflated to the full load, high speed amount. Just in case I did 150 mph with 3 passengers and luggage. I was told it is a safety/lability issue. It meant my tire pressures were in the mid-40s instead of mid-30s.

[jcfay]

Originally Posted by enzom

Can't speak to BMW, but Porsche has recommended tire settings for comfort, full load, partial load, etc. When they delivered both of my 911s, the tire pressure was inflated to the full load, high speed amount. Just in case I did 150 mph with 3 passengers and luggage. I was told it is a safety/lability issue. It meant my tire pressures were in the mid-40s instead of mid-30s.

I think the top pressure for the car/wheels is 42/43. That's full load > 100mph. They were still all at 47.5 cold. That's high. I think they just spaced and forgot to drop them.

[AlexLou1222]

Btw what's everyone's fav setting on the pressure? I tried 39 cold and like it better than 36.

So if I wanna do high speed, it's better to have over 40?