dealer visit help...wheel bend the issue?

[colt9987]

So I took the car to the dealer with a wheel shake issue. They told me my wheels were way off balance and that was causing the shake. They did the balance and had me pick up the car and of course, the wheel was still shaking. I took my car back to the dealer, this time they told me they did a check to make sure there were no bends in my wheels and they found that all four of my wheels were at least a little bent, the front two being the worst. They said it would be $250 to fix the front two wheels and that the back wheels shouldn't be what is causing the shake so to just do the front. I picked my car up yesterday and of course, the wheel is still shaking. Should I take it back and spend another $250 to do the back two wheels? It seems that even though I am under warranty they still find ways for me to spend money! Haha.

2011 135i DCT

[foghat]

While it would probably be a good idea to fix the back wheels, I'd be surprised if they are cause the shaking. When you say wheel shake issue, i assume you mean your steering wheel?

I'd probably trust a wheel specialist more than the dealer to fix a bent wheel...

[JTB]

Describe what you mean by "wheel shake". Is it at a set speed? i.e. at 65 mph? Does it happen while you go around corners, hit bumps, etc. ?

Assuming it is speed related, go to a quality tire shop and have them correctly balance the wheels. My brother, on his M3, had an annoying shake at 85mph. When he complained to the dealer, he was told that he shouldn't be doing that speed anyway... A subsequent balance at a good shop resolved the issue.

[alexmtl_135i]

So you brought them the car twice to fix an issue, paid twice, and the issue was not resolved? I'd ask my money back and go to another shop.

[Qbrozen]

i'm surprised they even offered a fix. My dealership just wanted to replace mine.

By the way, I took the car back home and rebalanced the wheels myself using my bubble balancer. They've been fine since.

[colt9987]

Its weird. I notice it certain times more than others. It can happen anywhere from 40 mph and up. And yes, I mean the steering wheel. I just hate feeling like I wasted $250 and don't want to go waste another $250 if it's not going to fix my problem. The dealer also did the balance for me and waived the fee. So unless they balanced them wrong.....

[Zombie1]

Originally Posted by colt9987

Its weird. I notice it certain times more than others. It can happen anywhere from 40 mph and up. And yes, I mean the steering wheel. I just hate feeling like I wasted $250 and don't want to go waste another $250 if it's not going to fix my problem. The dealer also did the balance for me and waived the fee. So unless they balanced them wrong.....

I've had this issue with a couple of my cars and the times I had them balance the wheels it was never fixed,but when I brought it to my local tire guy it took him less then 10mins to correct what the dealer did...I'd try that for now I wouldn't fix the back rims they wouldn't cause that IMO

[cheshirecat79]

You don't have spacers, do you? Also, any suspension work? Have you hit any curbs during your ownership? When did the problem start? Was it gradual or did it just happen one day?

[colt9987]

Originally Posted by cheshirecat79

You don't have spacers, do you? Also, any suspension work? Have you hit any curbs during your ownership? When did the problem start? Was it gradual or did it just happen one day?

I do not have spacers. I have not hit any curbs. And i believe it was gradual. I honestly was so pumped when I got the car I might have just not noticed it. I am thinking I will see if the dealer will road force balance it before they tell me I need to get the back two wheels fixed too.

[tracer bullet]

Make sure it's not only on certain roads, I thought for a while with my last car I had a problem similar to this, and it was the roads - driving the same ones every day to work made me figure it was the car (not all the roads of course but the little stretch of highway where I could get it up to speed). Found a good patch of concrete highway elsewhere in town and then it went away - meaning it was the car all along. Silly and straightforward but I'd convinced myself otherwise for a little while.

Just a thought (to make sure you make this determination in more than one location).

[cheshirecat79]

Originally Posted by colt9987

I do not have spacers. I have not hit any curbs. And i believe it was gradual. I honestly was so pumped when I got the car I might have just not noticed it. I am thinking I will see if the dealer will road force balance it before they tell me I need to get the back two wheels fixed too.

If I were you, I'd take that car to a different dealer. They obviously have no idea what's going on between your original complaint and their supposed "fixes".

Get your money back and go to another shop. Get in the car with the tech or service advisor and show them the problem. Explain that you want to pick the vehicle up when the problem is no longer apparent.

There's no reason for you to pay for "repairs" that aren't repaired.

[colt9987]

It is a very reputable dealer. The tech is going to do a ride along with me on Wednesday. Hopefully they can get it figured out and not make me shell out more meaningless money! Although it probably didn't hurt to have my front wheels fixed, assuming they were actually damaged.

[T1T2GRE]

Weird...my 128i cabrio does this. Dealer just re-balanced all 4 and then replaced a bent rear wheel under warranty (car is a CPO). But there is still some minor shake. Do I ....go back to dealer again or find someone who knows what they're doing?