[gatoman39]

Does anyone know...Is there space under the trunk mat to place a spare tire?

[ibimmer954]

No there is not space. The only part of the floor mat that opens is all the way to the rear next to the rear bumper. And what opens up is a compartment 14 inches by 5 inches. 8 inches deep. I just measured it. There are clips in the trunk where you could attach one of those bags that holds a donut tire. But you're losing trunk space, of course.

[gatoman39]

OK, so swapping out the runflats, for normal tires is going to force you to lose some trunk space?

[Rudegar]

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

No there is not space. The only part of the floor mat that opens is all the way to the rear next to the rear bumper. And what opens up is a compartment 14 inches by 5 inches. 8 inches deep. I just measured it. There are clips in the trunk where you could attach one of those bags that holds a donut tire. But you're losing trunk space, of course.

So what is under the floor covering (that is bolted down) where the well would normally be?

And for that matter, what is under the shallow center console where other cars have deep consoles? I always wondered how BMW uses these spaces where other manufacturers have storage.

[ibimmer954]

Dunno. Maybe the gas tank?

[enigma01]

Originally Posted by gatoman39

OK, so swapping out the runflats, for normal tires is going to force you to lose some trunk space?

Or get an M-Mobility Kit... Not as assuring, but it's better than nothing having anything at all.

[ibimmer954]

Originally Posted by Rudegar

So what is under the floor covering (that is bolted down) where the well would normally be?

You got me curious what's going on in my trunk, so I checked this evening. The good news is I found the car's battery! The bad news is that there's definitely no room for a spare on U.S. spec cars unless you roll it up.

The gray floor covering is held down by two plastic nuts that fit a #10 socket wrench. Yep, *plastic* nuts. What's under the floor is wiring and the battery. You can see the small storage area behind the battery is not much larger than the battery itself.

[x6er]

Thanks for the posting...I think you have answered a question on the minds of all...what remains to uncover is, how come the F10 catalog shows some models with RFTs optional...??? is it a mistake or the European spec.ed car is that much different?
BMW...not everyone like RFTs, please make them optional and give us the choice to pick the tires we want, not the ones you want. My wife will get the Audi because of this, too bad.

[karmakal]

Here in Belgium, RFTs are an option worth 300 EUR extra.
Normal tires are default and I understand a spare wheel is provided.

If it's the case, I don't know the reason why the space devoted to the spare wheel was lost in the RFT version.

[x6er]

Karmakal....could you verify the location of the spare tire. Pictures would be awsome.
As I said this is what is seperating me from getting a 5er, only if I can get rid off the RFTs...any help is greatly appreciated.

[ibimmer954]

How would that be the deal-breaker? All BMWs come with RFTs now. Except maybe the M's. Either way, with no RFTs, you will need some kind of mobility kit or space in your trunk to keep a tire.

[karmakal]

Originally Posted by x6er

Karmakal....could you verify the location of the spare tire. Pictures would be awsome.

All the cars I've seen so far at dealership were equipped with RFTs.
I suppose we'll see more regular tires when 520d starts arriving in the showrooms.

[Grizzles]

looks like they relocate the battery for a spare

[HighlandPete]

The cars coming to the UK have no space for a spare.

I'm sure the 5-series is like the 3-series, no space for a spare whatever tyres fitted. Some 3-series models now come to the UK without RFTs, but no spare wheel, just the mobility kit. You can buy the spare, but it has to go in the trunk, (boot in the UK ).

HighlandPete

[raleedy]

They used to have room for both a battery and a spare. I guess they forgot.

[flyguy708_2000]

And you do not get a jack.......

[karmakal]

I called a dealership in Belgium today to check about the spare wheel.
They told me no spare wheel was provided on new 5 series, only the repair kit.
So it seems the spare wheel compartment is gone for good.

[x6er]

Thanks again.
I still say, moving to RFTs as a standard is not a wise move...the RFTs market is very limited plus all the -ve's of RFTs. It is also not correct that all BMWs come with no option for a spare...the X series in US offer optional spares and people are taking advantage of that to go non RFTs.