shuddering E36

[SlowMo]

rear trailing arm bushes won't cause vibrations, if they need to be replaced, you will notice the car pulls to one side under hard acceleration, and the rear is very loose over uneven surfaces.

replace the lower control arm bushes and take it from there. its 99% the cause.

 

[Doomsdaya]

@ SlowMo - the bushes, ball joints and tie rod ends were replaced

At the moment, the car only shudder when braking which is caused by warped disks which im goin to have replaced.

My problem is the loose/crazy steering wheel theres abit of freeplay on the wheel and it goes in all sorts of directions out on the road.

The so called experts at BMW says its the brakes & trailing arms thats causing this.

 

[SlowMo]

what mileage?

 

[iifunky]

thats sounds like my car. I was told its the steering rack. Theres a bit of play on it.

My control arm bushes were also replaced twice; first time with some chinese make and the second with genuine bmw, that made a huge diff; for the wandering for the car.

Check the steering rack out. Hope you find the problem, if you cant come right take the car to tune tech or if in pretoria a guy called Jacques. they very good. I'm yet to take my car there; have the shudder as well.

 

[Doomsdaya]

@ SlowMo - Mileage is currently at 245K... so these problems are bound to come up :nonono:

@ iifunky - Im convinced the steering rack is the problem because on my way to bmw for the 2nd time, on the road i could feel the steering wasnt stable and while i was turning at a bend, the steering became hard and didnt turn until i forced it then it turned sharply :thumbdo:

When i explained this to Bmw Mech, he told me the trailing arms is causing the steering to be loose which is bullsh!t to say the least.

Anyway im having it checked out at another garage tomorrow and if i dont come right, im gona PM you iifunky for those guys details, thanks bud :thumbs:

 

[SlowMo]

yeah at the mileage the rear trailing arm bushes are probably gone, if they weren't replaced before. and rtab will def cause a floating sensation especially on bends, very scary.

silly question, u checked power steering leaks/fluid level? condition of the pump?

 

[Doomsdaya]

About two months ago i could feel the rear end spinning out towards the left when exceeding 100km/h on wet road and thought it was the tyres, but its actually the RTAB thats causing that which im also gonna have replaced.

As for the power steering, its making a moaning sound which is a sign, also having that checked out. The guy im taking my car to said he's had several e46 bmws coming to him for that problem, he mentioned something like bleeding the pumps.

 

[iifunky]

who you taking it too? is he good? is he in JHB? Private?

 

[Doomsdaya]

Im in Secunda, taking it to a garage called auto-mate. A friend of mine took his 330d there was more satisfied with the service he got there compared to BMW.

I see they got branches in Johannesburg too http://www.a-mate.co.za/branches.html

 

[iifunky]

don't do it with the agents?

see this link buddy; hope you find some help. I know the feeling.

http://edgemotorworks.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=24&Itemid=55


call Jacques in Pretoria; hes very good; ask coisman 012 3466450

 

[Doomsdaya]

Thanks iiFunky :thumbsup: i see those problems is exactly the ones im having and was told about before i bought the car :nono:

Booked my car yesterday and on my way to the garage, the shudderness came back to haunt me

Diagnosis - Rtab and Steering Rack is still fine, but its the power steering pump that failed as pointed out by SlowMo, getting a new pump fitted :clap:

As for what caused the shudderness to come back is the shoddy work done by BMW Technicians on the ball joints & bushes :cursin: getting another set of ball joints and fitting the bushes right this time

Most probably getting my car tomorrow, will see how it goes and take it from there

 

[Doomsdaya]

Got my car and this is what was replaced.....

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[iifunky]

whats is that?


where did you take it? how does it feel now?

 

[Doomsdaya]

The 1st 4 pics is the control arm bushes, check the damage on the surface area.... looks as if it was pressed in.

The last pic is the power steering pump, ball joints and bushes.

It feels much more stable on the road then before but that loose steering wheel still irritates me ~) and they dont know what is causing it :dunno:

Going to Jhb this weekend, taking it to a specialist to have it checked out.

 

[iifunky]

where you taking it?

i got quoted 20k for all my bushes and control arms to be replaced; i cant believe it coz i had my control arms replaced 4 months back.
warranty is covering f0K0L
checking around for quotes.

did they check the rack ends; and flexi disc? if you feeling it on the steering; could be that?

 

[pain68]

BMW = Bankrot Maar Windgat - lol Im glad I know a BMW mechanic so get all ma things done there :thumbs:

 

[Doomsdaya]

Woah thats alot buddy :drink: Did BMW quote you 20K and out of that how much is for labour ?

The rack ends were replaced, not the flexi disc :thinking: what does the flexi disc affect ?

---

BMW = Bankrot Maar Windgat - lol Im glad I know a BMW mechanic so get all ma things done there :thumbs:

LoL now thats the specialist im taking it to

 

[iifunky]

Pain68; whos your mech? Help a brother out man.

@doomsdaya: I read some where that its common on the E36; controls the steering, google it.
No not bmw; a place in randburg. Labour was like R4ooo

 

[Doomsdaya]

@iifunky - When I meet this guy on the weekend i'll ask him if he wants another customer because he is always busy.... if he does then i'll PM you his number.

He is a private mech, so parts and that sort of stuff you have to buy, he only charges you labour for fitting it.

By the way what car you have that needs to be looked at ?

I spoke to a guy with an e46 323i yesterday, he also got the same problem with the loose steering wheel and nobody seems to know what the problem is.

 

[iifunky]

I have 323ci with a M3 kit.