[e39] lack of directional stability

I posted about this issue before, but still haven't been able to resolve
this. The car in question is an '02 530i with sport pkg, 36k miles. Since
I got it at 30k miles, it has not been very solid/surefooted at speeds of
85mph and above. It feels floaty, like I'm getting hit by crosswinds on a
calm day and the whole car slightly sways to either side. I have to keep
correcting with the steering wheel to remain in my lane.

I had the alignment done/rechecked twice. All the suspension and steering
components were visually inspected by 2 different shops - they all claim
everything is intact. I have a new set of tires, but the issue existed on
the old tires as well, so I don't think it's a tire issue.

I don't want to take it to a bmw dealer as they'll probably tell me to
replace all suspension components and charge me an arm and a leg for it. I
don't want to blindly begin replacing component after component either.
Isn't there some way out there to properly diagnose what is responsible for
such stability issues? While it isn't totally awefull, it still takes away
from the "ultimate driving machine" experience. I feel like I'm driving a
buick.

Where should I start?

Thanks,
Pete

On Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:55:01 -0400, "Pete" > wrote:

>I posted about this issue before, but still haven't been able to resolve
>this. The car in question is an '02 530i with sport pkg, 36k miles. Since
>I got it at 30k miles, it has not been very solid/surefooted at speeds of
>85mph and above. It feels floaty, like I'm getting hit by crosswinds on a
>calm day and the whole car slightly sways to either side. I have to keep
>correcting with the steering wheel to remain in my lane.
>
>I had the alignment done/rechecked twice. All the suspension and steering
>components were visually inspected by 2 different shops - they all claim
>everything is intact. I have a new set of tires, but the issue existed on
>the old tires as well, so I don't think it's a tire issue.
>
>I don't want to take it to a bmw dealer as they'll probably tell me to
>replace all suspension components and charge me an arm and a leg for it. I
>don't want to blindly begin replacing component after component either.
>Isn't there some way out there to properly diagnose what is responsible for
>such stability issues? While it isn't totally awefull, it still takes away
>from the "ultimate driving machine" experience. I feel like I'm driving a
>buick.
>
>Where should I start?
>
>Thanks,
>Pete
>

Sounds a bit like the 730d Sport package I drove the other week. Didn't really
know where it wanted to go.

Reason......... 20" wheels and rock solid suspension. total crap ride and
directional stability and this was a dealer NEW demo vehicle. Wouldn't buy one
ever..................

The same vehicle in standard trim with adj suspension + 20" wheels felt like a
boat on soft and still wandered and on "sport" mode (stock springs) bumpy and
wander. Not a good package. The 19" wheels are about as big as you want to go
if derivability is not to be forfeited.

Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!

> wrote
> Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!

I have the factory 17s with 235/45 tires. I don't hear any other sport
pkg. owners with the same size rims/tires complaining about such issues
as I'm experiencing.

Pete

On Apr 24, 2:32 am, "Pete" > wrote:
> > wrote
>
> > Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!
>
> I have the factory 17s with 235/45 tires. I don't hear any other sport
> pkg. owners with the same size rims/tires complaining about such issues
> as I'm experiencing.
>
> Pete

The suspension is usually under considerable forces and it is
sometimes difficult to see if anything is actually worn. You need big
crowbars and/or remove everything and inspect them. ....or it's
just your shocks :-)

In article .com>,
adder1969 > wrote:
> On Apr 24, 2:32 am, "Pete" > wrote:
> > > wrote
> >
> > > Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!
> >
> > I have the factory 17s with 235/45 tires. I don't hear any other sport
> > pkg. owners with the same size rims/tires complaining about such issues
> > as I'm experiencing.
> >
> > Pete

> The suspension is usually under considerable forces and it is
> sometimes difficult to see if anything is actually worn. You need big
> crowbars and/or remove everything and inspect them. ....or it's
> just your shocks :-)

It's very difficult to tell by the old way of levering as there is so much
compliance built in as standard. The common wheel shimmy caused by worn
control arm bushes may not show up on a UK MOT where they lever everything
looking for play.

--
*Young at heart -- slightly older in other places

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

"Pete" > wrote in message
...
>
> > wrote
>> Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!
>
> I have the factory 17s with 235/45 tires. I don't hear any other sport
> pkg. owners with the same size rims/tires complaining about such issues as
> I'm experiencing.
>
> Pete
>

I have a 3 Series with the Sports Package and factory M3 17" rims carrying
225/45s, and my car goes straight as an arrow. It is "twitchy" on concrete
freeways -- it likes to move around a bit -- but it is following the grooves
on the cement when that happens. It is rock steady on smooth asphalt
pavement.

My car was delivered with 225/55x15s, and I traded them out for the
equivalent tires on 17" rims. The tires made absolutely no difference in the
personality of my car. Well, the sidewalls are obviously stiffer, and there
is some effect there, but it is negligible. At least it does not bother me.

"Dave Plowman (News)" > wrote in message
...
> In article .com>,
> adder1969 > wrote:
>> On Apr 24, 2:32 am, "Pete" > wrote:
>> > > wrote
>> >
>> > > Now the 530 isn't that much different so the same could apply!
>> >
>> > I have the factory 17s with 235/45 tires. I don't hear any other sport
>> > pkg. owners with the same size rims/tires complaining about such issues
>> > as I'm experiencing.
>> >
>> > Pete
>
>> The suspension is usually under considerable forces and it is
>> sometimes difficult to see if anything is actually worn. You need big
>> crowbars and/or remove everything and inspect them. ....or it's
>> just your shocks :-)
>
> It's very difficult to tell by the old way of levering as there is so much
> compliance built in as standard. The common wheel shimmy caused by worn
> control arm bushes may not show up on a UK MOT where they lever everything
> looking for play.
>


Before we start blaming parts, I think we need to determine what the
conditions are that the car moves around while driving it. If it is merely
following the rain grooves sliced into the freeway lanes, then I don't think
anything needs to be done at all. If it is drifting all about the road where
there are no rain grooves cut, then we can start looking for worn parts.

Having said that, if the car lives in a moderate climate -- like where I
live -- then I doubt the suspension parts are worn out yet, unless the car
has jumped a curb or two.

"Jeff Strickland" wrote
> Before we start blaming parts, I think we need to determine what the
> conditions are that the car moves around while driving it. If it is merely
> following the rain grooves sliced into the freeway lanes, then I don't
> think anything needs to be done at all. If it is drifting all about the
> road where there are no rain grooves cut, then we can start looking for
> worn parts.

It's doing it on all surfaces, even very smooth asphalt ones.


> Having said that, if the car lives in a moderate climate -- like where I
> live -- then I doubt the suspension parts are worn out yet, unless the car
> has jumped a curb or two.

I'm in south Florida. Since I'm the second owner, I have no way of knowing
if the previous owner enjoyed jumping curbs over the 30k miles that he owned
it. One thing I do know is that the front driver-side fender was repainted
at some point. Again, I don't know the extent of the damage that it
incured - whether it was just a scrape or the whole left front wheel took a
hit. There are no visible scrapes/gushes on any of the wheels. The
previous owner could have gotten a replacement wheel though and I wouldn't
know about it.

Pete

"Jeff Strickland" wrote
> I have a 3 Series with the Sports Package and factory M3 17" rims carrying
> 225/45s, and my car goes straight as an arrow. It is "twitchy" on concrete
> freeways -- it likes to move around a bit -- but it is following the
> grooves on the cement when that happens. It is rock steady on smooth
> asphalt pavement.

Yeah, that is how my previous A4 (B5) with 225/45/17 tires behaved, too. I
could go upwards of 100 mph and it was rock solid. In this e39 I don't feel
nearly as confident at high speeds.

Pete

"Pete" > wrote in message
...
>
>
> I'm in south Florida. Since I'm the second owner, I have no way of
> knowing if the previous owner enjoyed jumping curbs over the 30k miles
> that he owned it. One thing I do know is that the front driver-side
> fender was repainted at some point. Again, I don't know the extent of the
> damage that it incured - whether it was just a scrape or the whole left
> front wheel took a hit. There are no visible scrapes/gushes on any of the
> wheels. The previous owner could have gotten a replacement wheel though
> and I wouldn't know about it.
>

The only time I experience what you are describing (328i E46 sport package)
is when my winter tires are mounted - not an issue for you. But have you
tried increasing the pressure differential between the front & rear tires?

Tom K.