What would cause wheel alignment to go out more often than is usual

[diaan]

Hi All,

I love the forum and view it often though I don't comment or post much as I'm not technically minded.

Some background on the subject: I've got a 2010 e90 320d (facelift) which has had some suspension problems, mainly the wishbones, that were replaced a few months ago. This fixed a lot of the handling issues I was having (see below) but only up to a certain point.

Generally, the car would start to feel like it is floating and rocking and pulling to one side or another. The wishbone replacement fixed that but after a week or two of driving, the symptoms would reappear. I don't know how many of you live in GP but I drive the R511 Hennops road often and those of you who have driven on the road will know how bumpy it is.

When the symptoms reappeared after the wishbone replacement, it lead me to believe that it is mainly down to the alignment and specifically the toe setting that caused the weird handling which if I can describe it, feels like that butterfly sensation when you go over a hill but it happens constantly. On highways, it almost goes away but on a less than ideal road, it comes back.

I've now taken to redo the alignment when it starts happening but my main concern is that it happens too often. I can't afford to redo the alignment every other week.

Some specs:
- 16" factory rims with michelin hp primacy rflat tyres. 10k km's on the tyres.
- No performance enhancements or other modifications.

I don't want to keep pestering bmw with suspension issues as they sooner or later are going to start blaming my driving style even though all the previous cars (vw, toyota) I've driven before had no such qualms with a similar amount of driving on that (r511) road.

 

[boost3d]

when you change lanes, do you avoid the cats eyes? you would be surprised how large these things are and can be the culprit for knocking out your wheel alignment.

have you also checked all the bushes on the car? front control arms and rear trailing arm bushes? sounds like there is a weak link somewhere in your suspension setup

 

[diaan]

when you change lanes, do you avoid the cats eyes? you would be surprised how large these things are and can be the culprit for knocking out your wheel alignment.

have you also checked all the bushes on the car? front control arms and rear trailing arm bushes? sounds like there is a weak link somewhere in your suspension setup

Regarding the cats eyes, funnily enough, I make a game of it to avoid hitting them but it's not always successful

Don't know anything about checking bushes. I am trying to make a booking at cedar isle auto (the handbrake cable needs tightening. Only dealer I know of that have a courtesy car system) and am going to add a list of things to have checked. Bushes will go on the list.

 

[Photokid]

also check the shock mounting point, which can be seen if one opens the bonnet, has not been damaged, as this is common on 3ers that have hit potholes at high speeds.

You should feel a kink if you cannot see it. This usually interfers with alignment. I'm not sure whether it'll constantly throw it off though

 

[diaan]

also check the shock mounting point, which can be seen if one opens the bonnet, has not been damaged, as this is common on 3ers that have hit potholes at high speeds.

You should feel a kink if you cannot see it. This usually interfers with alignment. I'm not sure whether it'll constantly throw it off though

Going on the list.

Edit: Bugger, I hope it's not this. Some searching around tells me that the motorplan gets frozen if this happens and it has to be taken to a body shop. ***shudders***

 

[S1NGH 001]

Had a very similar issue and believe it or not it was the steering angle sensor :thumbs:

 

[diaan]

Had a very similar issue and believe it or not it was the steering angle sensor :thumbs:

A sensor seems like something that would throw some sort of warning if it fails? Going on the list anyways. They should have those diagnostic plugging things to check.

 

[Ralf*]

If you are ever in the "east" (Kempton Park), I would love to see in the shop, for a FREE evaluation on the alignment lift and let my suspension technicians have a closer look at it

:fencelook:

 

[diaan]

On something indirectly related, I've been reading about "rough road" packages for e46's. Strut reinforcement plates. Is this an exclusively aftermarket thing?

There are e90 options available though I can't find a lot of information about them.

---

If you are ever in the "east" (Kempton Park), I would love to see in the shop, for a FREE evaluation on the alignment lift and let my suspension technicians have a closer look at it

:fencelook:

I might take you up on that offer if the dealers can't find anything.

 

[Kish2604]

Are all the rims and tyres straight? Have them balanced and rotated and check if the symptoms still persist!

 

[diaan]

Are all the rims and tyres straight? Have them balanced and rotated and check if the symptoms still persist!

On the last alignment, last week tuesday, I had the balancing and alignment redone on all 4 tyres. The toe settings were out most. The guy said that the rims are straight. It drove well enough until today, when it started happening again.

 

[Peejay]

Go to Ralf buddy

 

[diaan]

Go to Ralf buddy

It's a distance thing. If I lived in JHB North, I'd be there in a heartbeat. The closest BMW service dealer to me that I trust to do a good job is 70km's away in fourways.