Vibration - BMW Forum

Blackdog · 09-03-2003, 09:23 PM

I need some advise. I just bought a 1995it and it had a bad vibration at speeds between 55-60. I got a alignment done and a rotate and balance. Well the problem is still there but not as bad. I can feel it in the steering wheel. Just a slight shake. What should I do next?

Ski · 09-03-2003, 09:27 PM

You know this guy??
http://www.bmw-forums.com/forum/index.php?...?showtopic=3184

Blackdog · 09-03-2003, 09:29 PM

No. I don't know that guy.

Ski · 09-03-2003, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blackdog@Sep 3 2003, 11:03 PM
I need some advise. I just bought a 1995it and it had a bad vibration at speeds between 55-60. I got a alignment done and a rotate and balance. Well the problem is still there but not as bad. I can feel it in the steering wheel. Just a slight shake. What should I do next?

Ok..does it happen when you brake?? if so your rotors are warped..

Also have your control arms and bushngs checked along w/ ball joints..

Blackdog · 09-08-2003, 09:07 PM

I have had the wheels balanced and the front end checked out. I have had an alignment and there was still a slight shake in the wheel. You will not believe this but the only thing that reduced it almost to a stop. I took the front wheels off of the car and went into the garage and found my electric sander. I put some rough paper on it and started to sand some of the rust that is on the hub and the in side of the wheel where the rim fits against the hub. This is what took almost all of the shake out. It still shakes but you can barely feel it.

Ski · 09-08-2003, 09:21 PM

You running Conti's??

Blackdog · 09-09-2003, 03:30 PM

No. I have all season H rated Daytons.
They were on the car when I bought it.
They look like new tires.

Blackdog · 09-15-2003, 11:37 PM

Well I found out from a tire guy that BMW ‘s need a certain tread on the tires. BMW’s suspension is so fined tuned that it is only happy with expensive tires. He told me not to rotate my tires and also that my tires are out of round. Now you know the rest of the story.

ghead

alanh · 09-23-2003, 06:24 PM

um thats not right why would you not rotate the tires? my family has three and we rotate them all... i have many credable sources better than some tire guy.

lwebb12 · 09-23-2003, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blackdog@Sep 15 2003, 11:17 PM
Well I found out from a tire guy that BMW ‘s need a certain tread on the tires. BMW’s suspension is so fined tuned that it is only happy with expensive tires. He told me not to rotate my tires and also that my tires are out of round. Now you know the rest of the story. ghead

i am running Kumho's and they arent so called "expensive tires" the tires you have may be screwed though. I am not able to rotate my tires dude to my wheel configuration.

Blackdog · 09-23-2003, 08:49 PM

To the guy that said that he rotates tires on his BMW. I hate to tell you this but BMW will tell you the same thing. You can also read this in Bentleys service manual.

EXtech · 09-25-2003, 12:45 PM

As it has already been said, BMW's are extremely sensative to tires because they are so fine tuned. Some tires are not made to the same tolerances that others are and this slight out-of-roundness or imperfection will make all of the difference in the world. This is why companies like Hunter, who make most of the tire mount and balance machines and are the industry leader, they have implicated a new step to balancing tires in the last few years. It's called a Road Force variation detection. Basically what the machine does is it puts a real-life simulated "road force" load on the tire to check for out of roundness and variations while balancing it. The variations can stem from pot holes in the road, improper or less than perfect manufacturing processes etc. Not rotating your tires at the recomended intervals will cause uneven tire wear that these bmw's will object to. BMW makes service recomendations for a reason. They design these cars so they know what maintenance should be done and for what reasons. Years before any of us ever see these cars, the BMW "scientists" have tested these cars and tires and engines etc. under the same real world conditions that we subject them to. This combined with the design process determines when and what you should do to your car in order to maintain OE performance. Part recomendations, whether it be tires or brake light bulbs, are made for a reason and that is so the bmw owner can maintain the intended feel and performance of his or her car, the same as it was the day it rolled off of the assembly line.

hartzj · 10-18-2003, 02:19 PM

I may be wrong, put I thought the reason you do not rotate is because a tire develops a "footprint" at the position it is in, (i.e. front left, rear rihgt, etc.) although they may wear unevenly if not rotated, the tire will perform better and is not likely to develop odd sounds if left in one place. My service manual suggests not to rotate. 1998 528i.

By the way I'm new to this forum and enjoying it!

hartzj · 10-18-2003, 02:26 PM

I've got a problem, that my instincts tell me is the front wheel bearing. WhenI'm driving on the highway I hear medium to highpitched whine towards the front left of the car. It is not related to RPMs because if i shift to neutral it remains. It gets louder when I take a right turn and quieter when I take a left turn. I have not done anything yet, but will check the bearings today.

HELP?!!

hartzj · 10-18-2003, 06:56 PM

Well I took the tire off and it is definitely the front left wheel bearing. It's loud when I turn it and the right one is not. Looks like a pretty easy job four bolts on the back of the bearing. I was about to price them, when I realized I still have about nine months left on my Certified warranty. Hope is't covered. I'll call on Monday!