Another good video. I have removed the spare tire and its hanger cradle from the car due not being able to find a new spare tire anymore. This also reduces the weight of the car, which is a nice plus. Since the cradle was also removed, I created a temporary seal plug for each of the two holes left in the floor of the rear of the trunk area. The original spare with the car was too old for safe use, and if left pressured up to 60 pounds, it could eventually rupture from the high pressure, and I would never drive on it. So, I now have a tire repair kit to try to temporarily fix a flat. Or, call a tow truck. Those are the breaks of no longer being able to purchase a new spare tire. Of course, some folks have gone as far as mounting a 5th full size "spare" tire on top of the trunk, which I have not considered doing.
I've considered doing a delete for my spare tire compartment. I have no use for it and it just gets in the way when I'm doing general maintenance. If I ever get a flat I would have just called the tow truck since it's included in my insurance.
@@CoolcatsAlley If you don't plan to keep the cradle or need it for the future, do like I did --- I cut the two bolt connections off, ground down the cut areas to be nice and smooth, put some paint on the ground areas and used those as the semi-permanent plugs to go back in their usual locations to plug the holes. Eazzy peezy since they already had rubber gaskets.
Live your exlanation just got a Z3 and could not undersand the clip and cabeld handel this wold be a grate place to keep a battery if it was a electric car
Hi Coolcat, I have a 98 Z3. I had to replace the valve stem on the spare tire, actually Discount Tire did at no charge. You are correct no one makes a replacement tire for the spare, I even checked with Continental. Clean the tire inspect it, It almost never sees sunlight which would degrade the rubber. My spare looks amazing for a 25 year old tire and if I ever need a spare I will be fine using it until I repair or replace the flat tire. How often have you needed a spare tire. I know the previous owner of 18 years used it only once. I am 69 and haven't need a spare in over 20 years.
Thanks for watching my video and I would have to say in my entire life. I've only ever needed a spare tire twice.The first time was during college. I hit some sharp debris on the freeway on my way to work and punctured my tire and put the spare on in the parking lot at work. This was before car insurance was required so I couldn't afford to get towed back then. The second time was many years later. I was traveling from California to Wisconsin and my tire on my SUV blew while in Colorado. Because I was so far away from the nearest town, roadside service simply put the spare tire of my SUV on so that I wouldn't need to get a tow. This allowed me to drive to the next town and then go to a shop to get a new tire put on. Outside of those times I've never needed a spare. I simply call my insurance provider and get a free tow to discount tire to get it repaired or replaced. Times have changed enough that you can usually get a tow truck within an hour if weather isn't bad to no longer need spares anymore. I would say spared would only benefit people in rural areas that may have to drive 50 miles to get to a tire shop.
The old spare is fine to temporarily get where you have to go. Better than being stranded. However, access to the spare is a major pain, especially if your stranded on the side of a major freeway.
@@shortroundChris No the stock wheel does not fit in the spare wheel tray. I don't think it fits in the trunk either. BMW used to sell bags to put the wheels in so if you had to use the spare the original tire wouldn't get your interior dirty since you'd most likely have to place it in the passenger seat.
