[onesixeight]

Originally Posted by PhilS

I had a similar problem with an E60, re-balancing made no difference. It was eventually fixed by replacing the tyres, my Dunlops were replaced with Bridgestones if I remember correctly.

These symptoms were common in the E60 forum, see the following threads:

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?showtopic=3992&hl=

http://forums.e60.net/index.php?show...0&hl=vibration

Even after rebalancing the wheel, you can kind of still feel like something wants to shake in the steering rack. Someone mentioned a little play in the on-center feel in another thread. It's a lot better after the wheel balance, but you can still feel it's not rock solid.

[bzzbenz]

I am also feeling this shimmy.... I only have 210 miles on my car... Tire balance maybe?

[PhilS]

Have you noticed that it is particularly bad when driving the first thing in the morning when the tyres are cold and then gets less pronounced as the tyres warm? This was the case with my car.

I wonder if those people experiencing the problem all have the same tyres/wheels?

[Execution]

I also had a "slight" shimmy in my steering wheel. This happened on my vehicle from day one (3 miles) and occured at all speeds. Some days it would not occur and that is probably happening now when you take it to the dealer and they say that they can't duplicate the problem.

In addition, sometimes the car would pull hard to the left, giving me the indication that I needed an alignment. Once again, this would occur on occasion. I knew that I would be changing the kicks on my ride so it was a brief nuisance.

Ever since I changed the shoes (at 3,000 miles) to non run flats, I have not had any more problems! The tires were perfectly balanced at Tire Rack and my vehicle feels 10x better than ever and I can't stop driving it. I now have the happiest 1,400 miles and counting I have ever put on a vehicle, by far!

So it could be a combination of the hard and heavy run flat tires and poor balancing. I don't know, but I feel for you all ... Parting with my vehicle for one day at the dealer was never an option for me.



Execution

[scottz5]

I also had it leaving the dealers lot 3 miles. ?????

[onesixeight]

Can we correlate anything about the model and cars? 325/330, ZSP/non-ZSP cars, cars with active steering/ w/o AFS, 16/17/18" wheels?

It seems like E90s across the line are having this problem and with the three major tyre suppliers for the E90s...Bridgestone, Michelin, and Pirelli...

Mine is better with the wheel balance, but something still feels strange in the rack...

[bzzbenz]

325/non sport/ 16"

[scottz5]

I maybe wrong but it feels almost like it the road imperfections are being transfered to the wheel. Mine happens at all speeds and seem to get worse and then almost nothing on the same road?

[LEDZEP]

325i - non sport - 16" - Bridgestones

[spydrz]

This will be the annoyance that causes me to get rid of this car. It's something I feel almost every time I get behind the wheel...let's hope that the next time I take it in for this, it'll be fixed. Thankfully I've only got this for 23 more months...

[PhilS]

Originally Posted by Execution

I also had a "slight" shimmy in my steering wheel. This happened on my vehicle from day one (3 miles) and occured at all speeds. Some days it would not occur and that is probably happening now when you take it to the dealer and they say that they can't duplicate the problem.

In addition, sometimes the car would pull hard to the left, giving me the indication that I needed an alignment. Once again, this would occur on occasion. I knew that I would be changing the kicks on my ride so it was a brief nuisance.

Ever since I changed the shoes (at 3,000 miles) to non run flats, I have not had any more problems! The tires were perfectly balanced at Tire Rack and my vehicle feels 10x better than ever and I can't stop driving it. I now have the happiest 1,400 miles and counting I have ever put on a vehicle, by far!

So it could be a combination of the hard and heavy run flat tires and poor balancing. I don't know, but I feel for you all ... Parting with my vehicle for one day at the dealer was never an option for me.



Execution

Is there a tyre (tire) well in the boot (trunk) of the E90 for a spare?

[jubol]

Just got home with my car, they balanced all 4 wheels, no more shimmey!! Drove it 14 miles, mostly highway.
Fred

[onesixeight]

Originally Posted by spydrz

This will be the annoyance that causes me to get rid of this car. It's something I feel almost every time I get behind the wheel...let's hope that the next time I take it in for this, it'll be fixed. Thankfully I've only got this for 23 more months...

spydrz...

I hear you!!! What other problems do you have?

I have 2 BMWs plus my sisters one, and between the 3 cars, I'm at the dealer at least 1-2x a week!!! Drives me crazy!

-Chris

[spydrz]

It's mainly this driveability issue...
But also it wasn't a wise decision to switch from my X. I'd finally gotten everything squared away on it. Now when I take the 3 in for the third service, it's still sitting out on the lot. Wonder if they'd let me switch back?

[BellasBmw]

Wow i was JUST telling my boyfriend about the shaking on the steering wheel. I have the sport pkg as well and i have 350 miles on my E90. Ive had the car for 3 weeks (dont drive much) and it started shaking around 200 or so.. Wonder why??

[BellasBmw]

Im going to visit my dealer today to ask them about the alignment, jerky brakes, and shaking steering wheel. I hope i'm not being a pain in the ass to them.. you know, one of those customers....

Anyway- lets see what he says.. i have a feeling their going to tell me that is just me.

[itznin]

Originally Posted by scottz5

I maybe wrong but it feels almost like it the road imperfections are being transfered to the wheel. Mine happens at all speeds and seem to get worse and then almost nothing on the same road?

I might be siding with this as well...

With the combination of the road conditions and the flat spots in the tires (hence all the problems of it happening when you are first driving).

I drove yesterday about 50 miles after I got home from work, first thing I did was go on the highway to test and it drove fine.

For the duration of the drive it performed normal.

I currently have 900 miles now.

[redthree]

My electric red 330i has less than 200 miles on it and I have noticed a very slight shimmy in the steering wheel at about 35 - 45 mph and then it goes away. I am going to wait a little while before I take it to the dealer.

redthree

[skimo]

Definately no shimmering on mine. And there is no free play at the center either. This is my first bimmer, must admit steering feels like a rock. it just wants to lock on dead straight ! Sorry to hear you guys have problems, if this might help its a 325 i no sports...700 miles, bridgestone luftanza, manufactured in munich. No info figures on tire pressure.

[BellasBmw]

I went to the dealer today. He said my alignment is def off, I tried showing him the shimmy, BUT OF COURSE, i didnt happen with him in the car haha. But either way, its going to be taken in tomorrow for alignment and balance..etc. They're giving me a loaner.. Either a camry or X3. Theres no way in hell i want a camry, but he said they're really picky about getting whatever car they have. No switching.. :mad:

[scottz5]

Originally Posted by BellasBmw

I went to the dealer today. He said my alignment is def off, I tried showing him the shimmy, BUT OF COURSE, i didnt happen with him in the car haha. But either way, its going to be taken in tomorrow for alignment and balance..etc. They're giving me a loaner.. Either a camry or X3. Theres no way in hell i want a camry, but he said they're really picky about getting whatever car they have. No switching.. :mad:

let us know if it works!

[jrct9454]

Most of this sounds like tires that are out of round - these days, that is the most common problem, much more so than balance, especially fresh from the factory. Yeah, you can throw a weight now and then, but that is a lot rarer than people think.

The extra stiffness in the run-flats is a special risk for the tires developing flat spots when parked. Depending on how long the car sits, ambient temps, how long the next trip is, etc, the next thing you know the tire isn't round any more, and depending on your average trip length, might not get round again for weeks.

This was a big problem for Mercedes when they first introduced the S-Class sedans with the body that started in 1992 - lots of complaints about wheel shakes that wouldn't go away. OEM tires were Z-rated, and most people were never getting them warm enough for typical overnight flat-spots to get worked out, and next thing you know, you have lumps, not circles. Eventually solved by switching to H-rated Michelins [softer and more forgiving] in conjunction with a speed-limiter to 130 mph and new front suspension bushings.

I've driven a ZSP 325 with Pirellis, and a std 330 with Bridgestones, and both were fine right off the lot for the short distance we covered at freeway speeds....for whatever that's worth.

We're retired, don't commute, and the car can sit for a week at a time between outings. For at least the past 15 years, I've been jacking up the car in the garage using 4 cheap floorjacks so all four wheels are off the ground. No flat-spots. When we are on the road away from home, and the car sits for more than 24 hours, I can feel the flat-spotting right away for the first few miles at freeway speeds - our current car is an MB C240 with Conti CH95s, 205/55-HR16s, same size as the E90 base [but not run-flats, of course]. They are butter-smooth at all speeds once the flat-spots are gone. Pirellis used to be particularly vulnerable to flat-spotting - they like to use a lot of nylon in their casings, and this is especially prone to getting lumpy.

The standard solution for lumpy tires is to pump them up to the max pressure they can handle [typically 40+ PSI] and run them for at least 20-30 miles at high freeway speeds. However, if all you do is park it again and don't drive it at higher speeds for awhile, the lumpy spots will be back. It's the price to pay for these tires that are designed to be both run-flats and stay together at 130-160 mph, depending on the car.

Ultimately, I think BMW is going to get a lot of negative feedback about making run-flats the only tire you can use, eliminating even the option of a donut spare. It is the only thing that is making me hesitant about going for the Touring when it is released...I expect I will not be happy with the standard tires, and going to conventional alternatives with no place to carry any kind of spare is a real risk. Still thinking about it....