Is this the "Shimmy" problem?

Suntan · 09-30-2005, 11:37 PM

Hi, everyone! I'm new to the forum! I've been reading about this "shimmy" or "steering wheel" problem with the E90, and I'm not sure if this is actually what I'm experiencing. So, I own a brand new 330i with currently only around 200 miles on it. What's surprising me though is that the steering is a little...I'm not sure, either too precise or too imprecise. As some of you may know, the roads here in Boston aren't exactly great and they do undulate up and down and side to side a lot even on the highways. My problem is that my car seems to really be "following the undulations in the road", so to speak. I mean, a lot of times, I actually have to do a lot of minute adjustments just to track the line - I frequently get the feeling especially at highway speeds that the car is just going to "jump" out of control onto the next lane! I mean, it feels almost "wobbly" which I would expect to be very uncharacteristic of a BMW. It's really kind of frightening. I also get the feeling that the steering wheel (which is very stiff to begin with) is "forcing" me to the left or sometimes to the right. It's just really odd. Maybe it's because I'm just not used to a sports sedan (our other car is an E60 and does not suffer from any of these "problems"), maybe the car just needs to be broken in, maybe the tire pressure or wheel alignment is off (but the dealer did do a state inspection before delivering the vehicle so this should be ok, right?)...I just don't know. So, I guess my question is: does everyone else have the same experiences with a 330i? Is all this normal?

Cheers,
Suntan

David328M-Sport · 10-01-2005, 12:02 AM

Hi welcome and congrats on your new car.
I don't have any issues with my car, however the first thing you should check are the tyre pressures. The are filled with additional air at the factory to help minimise the flat spot effect the tyres may develop staying in one spot on the long haul during shipping. You may have un evenly filled tyres as well.

Mine were filled to about 38psi and I dropped them back to the 30 front, 33 back recommendation as displayed on the bottom of my drivers side B pillar.

Try that as a starting point and see how you fare.

All the best and you will enjoy this forum and your car will give you drive after drive of superb enjoyment.

MTMnet · 10-01-2005, 12:16 AM

I had the same problem years ago with the 1993 325i sport package and it turned out to be the tires "tramming" with the groves on certain road surfaces.

It felt unsafe at freeway speeds, so I had a lower performance / narrower "touring" type of tire installed and it solved the problem, however they did not look as nice as the orginial tire.

LEDZEP · 10-01-2005, 05:49 AM

Hi and welcome. First take David325Australia's advice. After that try to find a smooth level road without much crown to it and see how it behaves at various speeds. If you still have the issue, talk to your service dept. I had it a bit and had my wheels rebalanced which really took care of it.

However, last week I had my tires rotated and now I have the shimmey back again - on certain types of roads. This really convinces me that it has a lot to do with the tires, since the rears wear in differenlty than the fronts. I'm hoping it will dissapate as the tires 'wear in' to their new roles on the front.

soj · 10-01-2005, 08:56 AM

it's called "tramlining" or "wandering". Most people believe it is due to the tires. "Shimmying" refers to car vibration that occurs around the 40-50mph range.

My car tramlines. I have a 330i non-sport. Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires which really suck major ass.

shuzmaker · 10-01-2005, 02:47 PM

Same issues here.
I think it's the run-flats.
I'm thinking about swapping regular Pilots.
U can check out my other posts.

Suntan · 10-01-2005, 06:44 PM

Hi! Thank you so much for all your great advice, everyone!

I'll be sure to have the tires looked at first thing Monday. I really hope I can solve this problem soon. Everything else about the car is simply fantastic. I'm so glad to have found this forum!

Cheers,
Suntan

djpremier · 10-01-2005, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suntan

Hi! Thank you so much for all your great advice, everyone!

I'll be sure to have the tires looked at first thing Monday. I really hope I can solve this problem soon. Everything else about the car is simply fantastic. I'm so glad to have found this forum!

Cheers,
Suntan

The only problem is that if you want different tires, you'll probably have to go regular rather than run-flat.

Depending on your tire / rim size, the Bridgestone Turanza EL42 is the only RF 225/24/17 tire available on the market (that I was able to find).

Do you want to get non-run flats? I think it would result in a softer ride but could also cause complications with BMW roadside assistance. I wouldn't trust your dealer on that. Call BMW NA to get the answer about the roadside assistance for non-supported tires.

09-30-2005, 11:37 PM	#1
Suntan New Member 1 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 530i & 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Is this the "Shimmy" problem? Hi, everyone! I'm new to the forum! I've been reading about this "shimmy" or "steering wheel" problem with the E90, and I'm not sure if this is actually what I'm experiencing. So, I own a brand new 330i with currently only around 200 miles on it. What's surprising me though is that the steering is a little...I'm not sure, either too precise or too imprecise. As some of you may know, the roads here in Boston aren't exactly great and they do undulate up and down and side to side a lot even on the highways. My problem is that my car seems to really be "following the undulations in the road", so to speak. I mean, a lot of times, I actually have to do a lot of minute adjustments just to track the line - I frequently get the feeling especially at highway speeds that the car is just going to "jump" out of control onto the next lane! I mean, it feels almost "wobbly" which I would expect to be very uncharacteristic of a BMW. It's really kind of frightening. I also get the feeling that the steering wheel (which is very stiff to begin with) is "forcing" me to the left or sometimes to the right. It's just really odd. Maybe it's because I'm just not used to a sports sedan (our other car is an E60 and does not suffer from any of these "problems"), maybe the car just needs to be broken in, maybe the tire pressure or wheel alignment is off (but the dealer did do a state inspection before delivering the vehicle so this should be ok, right?)...I just don't know. So, I guess my question is: does everyone else have the same experiences with a 330i? Is all this normal? Cheers, Suntan
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-01-2005, 12:02 AM	#2
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	Hi welcome and congrats on your new car. I don't have any issues with my car, however the first thing you should check are the tyre pressures. The are filled with additional air at the factory to help minimise the flat spot effect the tyres may develop staying in one spot on the long haul during shipping. You may have un evenly filled tyres as well. Mine were filled to about 38psi and I dropped them back to the 30 front, 33 back recommendation as displayed on the bottom of my drivers side B pillar. Try that as a starting point and see how you fare. All the best and you will enjoy this forum and your car will give you drive after drive of superb enjoyment. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2005, 12:16 AM	#3
MTMnet Private First Class 23 Rep 119 Posts Drives: E90 335i Manual Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0)	I had the same problem years ago with the 1993 325i sport package and it turned out to be the tires "tramming" with the groves on certain road surfaces. It felt unsafe at freeway speeds, so I had a lower performance / narrower "touring" type of tire installed and it solved the problem, however they did not look as nice as the orginial tire. __________________ 2009 BMW 335i Sedan 6 Speed Last edited by MTMnet; 10-01-2005 at 12:52 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2005, 05:49 AM	#4
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 417 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Hi and welcome. First take David325Australia's advice. After that try to find a smooth level road without much crown to it and see how it behaves at various speeds. If you still have the issue, talk to your service dept. I had it a bit and had my wheels rebalanced which really took care of it. However, last week I had my tires rotated and now I have the shimmey back again - on certain types of roads. This really convinces me that it has a lot to do with the tires, since the rears wear in differenlty than the fronts. I'm hoping it will dissapate as the tires 'wear in' to their new roles on the front. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2005, 08:56 AM	#5
soj Private 1 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2008 328i, SP, PP, CW Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	it's called "tramlining" or "wandering". Most people believe it is due to the tires. "Shimmying" refers to car vibration that occurs around the 40-50mph range. My car tramlines. I have a 330i non-sport. Bridgestone Turanza EL42 tires which really suck major ass.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2005, 02:47 PM	#6
shuzmaker First Lieutenant 27 Rep 303 Posts Drives: e90 325iAS Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Garden State iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 325i [0.00]	Same issues here. I think it's the run-flats. I'm thinking about swapping regular Pilots. U can check out my other posts.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-01-2005, 06:44 PM	#7
Suntan New Member 1 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2006 530i & 330i Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	Hi! Thank you so much for all your great advice, everyone! I'll be sure to have the tires looked at first thing Monday. I really hope I can solve this problem soon. Everything else about the car is simply fantastic. I'm so glad to have found this forum! Cheers, Suntan
	Appreciate 0 Quote