Balancing winter tires?

[Dutch]

Hey guys,

I just received the bill from the dealership for mounting my set of winter tires/rims.
Thing is: I have 2 sets of rims, one with summer tires and one set with winter tires. My dealer keeps the set I don't use and when the time comes to change them I just turn in the car for half an hour and they change the rims. So the tires never come off the rims. So they just changed my summer set for the winter. Now on the bill they ask 40 euros (equals approx 45-50 dollars) for changing the rims (ok no problem, it's a BMW dealer not a Hyundai) and ANOTHER 40 EUROS FOR BALANCING MY 4 WHEELS!!!

So I'm wondering: why would they need to balance an existing tire on a rim that has only been driven for (in this case) 3000 miles??? Is it because BMW balances the tires on the axles of the car because BMW's are high speed cars? Just wondering before I start complaining. Wouldn't be fun to pay 2 times 80 euros a year just for changing a set of wheels.

Thanks for your help guys

Peter

 

[Big Daddy]

They should not have to rebalance the wheels every year. I too have a set of winter wheels and tires that I take to Les Schwab Tire, they change them and charge me nothing! If I feel a vibration that I had not felt before I have them re-balanced. Than again I do not buy tires and wheels at the dealership.

 

[Dutch]

Thanks for your reply big D.

 

[PhatBimmer]

Maybe they checked the wheels and saw they needed to be balanced but that kind of things have to be asked before being done. I'd have a little talk to them about that kind of stuff their prob. pulling a fast one on you. Its always asked before its done unless its free but even then I ask.