My car just scared the carp out of me

[RegMolehusband]

Have you done the bounce test to check the rear dampers? I've had them completely wear out on two cars in my time and they can make the car do very strange things including a back end wiggle over bumps.

[Alfanatic]

Check for play on the front hubs too, it can feel a lot like wild oversteer if it's bad

[OhnnyBv8]

I would suggest getting a proper geometry set up (not Kwik Fit - find a local specialist). I use a place that charges £40 but does 4 wheel alignment, adjusting camber, caster, toe in/out etc. I've found that it cures the unsettled feeling on numerous real wheel drive cars I've had. Also likely that they will be able to point you in the right direction ref any other issues such as worn suspension bushes.

[godskitchen]

Sounds like rear ball joints to me. Same symptoms as an e39.

[SVX]

A close mate of mine had very similar issues (albeit without the ditch finder tyres) on his E36 318is, turned out that he had damaged spring carriers on the rear, so my advice would be to get it on a ramp PDQ and inspect for the culprit.

As posted by others if it turns out to be suspension damage, and you are planning on keeping said steed, then an upgrade is never a bad idea.

[anonymous-user]

SVX said:

A close mate of mine had very similar issues (albeit without the ditch finder tyres) on his E36 318is, turned out that he had damaged spring carriers on the rear, so my advice would be to get it on a ramp PDQ and inspect for the culprit.

As posted by others if it turns out to be suspension damage, and you are planning on keeping said steed, then an upgrade is never a bad idea.

Not just to you SVX but thanks to everyone who has replied.

I havelurked for ages on here and only recently opened my account and didn't anticipate such a helpful and fast moving (no pun intended) forum.

Spring carriers, are they the cups located on the shock absorbers or the bit of the body shell that receives the shock tip? I hope it si the shock "cups" you refer to as a buckled shell is no fun.

To comment on your suggestion of an upgrade - I would love to do an entire suspension refresh... Just cost and not being able to have car off road for long.

[MarkRSi]

Is this a common problem with BMWs? I remember test driving a 330Ci a while a ago which seem to exhibit a strong "hip wiggle" characteristic under acceleration despite being nowhere near to breaking traction.

[wormburner]

Rear springs are prone to snapping on E46 without making a huge telltale difference in normal driving.

[crispian22]

not just simply loose wheelnuts?

[anonymous-user]

Did wonder about whelnuts and checked all when changing tyre.

If anything they have been done up by the hulk!

[Baron Greenback]

Love the thread keeps updated what the outcome!

Yep the p6000 isnt a great tyre but i doubt in the dry and front non drive tyre is the cause the problems! But 2 penny worth is bushes/suspension problems, i presume you checked the wheel nuts! Spare tyre size comparable with other front tyre?

It scares me when I see drivers going fast with the space saver tyres on! Loved the 5th gear(or top gear) drove with all 4 space saver tyres on and how bad it was braking etc!

[WeirdNeville]

coombsfh said:

Spring carriers, are they the cups located on the shock absorbers or the bit of the body shell that receives the shock tip? I hope it si the shock "cups" you refer to as a buckled shell is no fun.

They're separate from the dampers and sit between the upper surface of a transverse arm and the spring platform on the underside of the chassis itself. Certainly worth checking that the springs are in tact and also that your ride height is correct, as it's posisble the "wrong" springs have been fitted in the past. Coupe, Cab and estate springs are all different from the saloon ones as far as I know, and the saloon ones are cheapest so guess which most cars get if they need a replacement?
Have a look under the car - the rear suspension is pretty self explanatory.
Dampers are located with just 3 bolts for example. If you can safely lift one corner of the car and own a socket set I wouldn't dream of paying someone to replace them. It took me 40 mins on my drive to do both.

[crosseyedlion]

coombsfh said:

I have no experience in P6000's why is it that people hate them so?

I've got 4x p6000's on a 328i. Enthusiastic cross country driver in all conditions. Its a self perpetuating PH exaggeration. Theyre not bad at all - not the best tyres in the world, and need a little tweaking with pressures - but i've found them to give ample grip for all conditions (on my setup, even though im running 50psi on the rear atm) and nicely progressive.

basically P6000's could be better, but could be worse.

[Stu R]

crosseyedlion said:

coombsfh said:

I have no experience in P6000's why is it that people hate them so?

I've got 4x p6000's on a 328i. Enthusiastic cross country driver in all conditions. Its a self perpetuating PH exaggeration.

Glad they're working OK for you, but it's no exaggeration, just varies from car to car. I've had them on 3 cars (not by choice) and on 2 of them they were fecking lethal in the wet.

[Major Fallout]

Stu R said:

Glad they're working OK for you, but it's no exaggeration, just varies from car to car. I've had them on 3 cars (not by choice) and on 2 of them they were fecking lethal in the wet.

In my experience, they work well on heavy cars. But the lighter the car the more skittish they get.

[crosseyedlion]

Stu R said:

Glad they're working OK for you, but it's no exaggeration, just varies from car to car. I've had them on 3 cars (not by choice) and on 2 of them they were fecking lethal in the wet.

It must be very particular to car/driving style, I agree. I have noticed a big change in what I get from them as i've grown used to them (maybe subconscious learnt how to work them properly). I also never had much problems driving karts swiftly on slicks in the wet in my youth...tbh i've never had grip issues in the wet on any of the tyres i've ever had, thinking about it (Driving style).

My point was, they can be perfectly acceptable.

[Mark34bn]

Stu R said:

Bilstein shocks, eibach springs, match made in heaven, and if you don't want it lower or more stiffly sprung than OEM you don't have to. In terms of hardware, well your choices are BMW OEM gear (£££ for the large part), aftermarket / adjustable (probably not required on a 330D unless you just want to), and probably the most palatable price wise, EuroCarParts / GSF type places.

I'd be careful with Bilstein shocks, I have B4s on my E36 (+Eibach Springs) and it's bloody hard. Compression damping is very stiff indeed. I'm going for Sachs M3 items from ECP (30% off all brakes / suspension ATM)

[crosseyedlion]

Going back to the OP. Id say rear bushes (most likely) rear shocks or springs.

You really shouldn't be getting the weave when changing lanes in an e46, shouts bushes to me. (or ball joints...play in something at the back end)

Edited by crosseyedlion on Saturday 23 June 13:15

[Bacon Is Proof]

Major Fallout said:

Stu R said:

Glad they're working OK for you, but it's no exaggeration, just varies from car to car. I've had them on 3 cars (not by choice) and on 2 of them they were fecking lethal in the wet.

In my experience, they work well on heavy cars. But the lighter the car the more skittish they get.

I have them on my S Type, which I would class as a heavy car, and they are crap.

[All that jazz]

crosseyedlion said:

I've got 4x p6000's on a 328i. Enthusiastic cross country driver in all conditions. Its a self perpetuating PH exaggeration. Theyre not bad at all - not the best tyres in the world, and need a little tweaking with pressures - but i've found them to give ample grip for all conditions (on my setup, even though im running 50psi on the rear atm) and nicely progressive.

basically P6000's could be better, but could be worse.

P6000s are terrible tyres. They are Chinese ditchfinders with a Pirelli badge stuck on.