My car just scared the carp out of me
Discussion
If you have hit anything hard enough to puncture a tyre, you really want to get the suspension checked! (if you don't believe me, go ask you local tyre fitter for a knackered tyre, then hit it with a hammer until you tear a hole in it........ (my monies on your being knackered before you even leave a noticable mark!)
The 330d is a torquey car, although most of the time the rear suspension deals with the loads exceptionally well, with good traction, it can bite you if you take liberties! (like any car). Add in worn out suspension and well, you have a recipe for non linear response! My 330d tourer had new bushes (all of them!), dampers, top mounts, springs at 100k miles and it made a massive difference to the way the car drove, particularly on the intial turn in response from the rear.
Also the early E46s had nothing like as good a DSC system as the facelift later cars
The 330d is a torquey car, although most of the time the rear suspension deals with the loads exceptionally well, with good traction, it can bite you if you take liberties! (like any car). Add in worn out suspension and well, you have a recipe for non linear response! My 330d tourer had new bushes (all of them!), dampers, top mounts, springs at 100k miles and it made a massive difference to the way the car drove, particularly on the intial turn in response from the rear.
Also the early E46s had nothing like as good a DSC system as the facelift later cars
crosseyedlion said:
Because everything Is very black and white in this world...
As has been mentioned before, dependent on car and driving style.
Well they are on my Puma, they were on my old Astravan when I got it and also had them on my old Mondeo ST TDCI and they were/are utter garbage on all of them. You also seem to be in a very small minority of people that actually like them if this thread and past threads are anything to go off. When you have actually experienced driving with some decent rubber I'm sure you'll then appreciate just how sAs has been mentioned before, dependent on car and driving style.
te they are.The E46 is quite sensitive to geometry and tyres. Chances are at least one of your rear springs is broken and its also worthwhile changing your RTAB (Rear trailing arm bushes) if you have not changed them before (and even if they look OK).
After this, get some good tyres on it (certainly on the back) and ideally make sure all 4 match. Then take it for a full KDS alignment (not at BMW, try and find an independent who knows what a KDS is) and make sure everything is in check.
There is no need to change shocks or go overboard unless you want to but spending the money on the above would be a wise investment.
After this, get some good tyres on it (certainly on the back) and ideally make sure all 4 match. Then take it for a full KDS alignment (not at BMW, try and find an independent who knows what a KDS is) and make sure everything is in check.
There is no need to change shocks or go overboard unless you want to but spending the money on the above would be a wise investment.
The best thing to do is have the suspension, wheel bearings, wheels, tyres and brakes THOROUGHLY checked by somebody competent. For example, a BMW dealer, or a BMW specialist with a good reputation, or somebody who has a stellar reputation for what they are doing. It's a case of spend it now or spend it as the excess on the insurance claim when the inevitable next accident happens. Don't assume stuff needs replacing, but fix what needs fixing properly.
If the spare is old I'd have that changed at the same time as the punctured tyre.
If the spare is old I'd have that changed at the same time as the punctured tyre.
All that jazz said:
Well they are on my Puma, they were on my old Astravan when I got it and also had them on my old Mondeo ST TDCI and they were/are utter garbage on all of them. You also seem to be in a very small minority of people that actually like them if this thread and past threads are anything to go off. When you have actually experienced driving with some decent rubber I'm sure you'll then appreciate just how ste they are.
Pretty patronizing. Don't be so quick to assume I haven't got experience on decent rubber. I can guarantee you that I have. te they are.I didn't say they where the greatest things ever. I wouldn't choose them, but they can be more than acceptable on various cars. And take forum opinions with a pinch of salt - there's always a herd mentality.
If I was to take the same aggressive, patronizing tone - I'd pass some snide comment about driving low powered front wheel drive cars and assuming it makes you an authority on every type of vehicle. I'd also pass some scathing remark about uninvolving front wheel drive diesels and suggest you get some experience with decent cars. But, I don't know you, I don't know your driving history as you definitely don't know mine and lifes too short. I was merely trying to add balance to the discussion. You sir are the problem with internet forums.
Driving ability makes far more difference to enjoyment and pace than tyres anyway imo.
I still visidly remember the first time my first car decided to misbehave - and it was a lowly and rusty Mk5 Cortina and it felt like the steering had been disconnected...
It was a corner I'd done 100s of times - it was dry and there was nothing on the road - tyres hasn't changed and weren't soft - nothing amiss in the suspension either - it just decided, on this occasion, to let go. I'd perhaps gone in a BIT faster or a BIT tighter or - ah, who knows...
Worth checking the car over, of course, but it's also possible that you just had one of those moments which RWD cars are quite willing to offer (in fairness, FWD cars do it too, it's just you don't notice a bit of understeer as much as a bit of oversteer!).
Also worth nothing that whilst matched tyres on each axle are a good idea, they're not essential by any means - tyres are tyres are tyres UNLESS conditions are bad and/or you're pressing on.
It was a corner I'd done 100s of times - it was dry and there was nothing on the road - tyres hasn't changed and weren't soft - nothing amiss in the suspension either - it just decided, on this occasion, to let go. I'd perhaps gone in a BIT faster or a BIT tighter or - ah, who knows...
Worth checking the car over, of course, but it's also possible that you just had one of those moments which RWD cars are quite willing to offer (in fairness, FWD cars do it too, it's just you don't notice a bit of understeer as much as a bit of oversteer!).
Also worth nothing that whilst matched tyres on each axle are a good idea, they're not essential by any means - tyres are tyres are tyres UNLESS conditions are bad and/or you're pressing on.
TonyRPH said:
GOod point. I'd forgotten about this. Well worth a check!TonyRPH said:
Just read the subframe tear thread. now i am worried!!!my car is the right age and the torquiest one they do.
Will get garage to look at it. bracing myself for a big repair bill or even scrapping a £4k car with only 80k miles on...
Being an eternal pessemist, what would you guys do with a car of my spec (X-reg, FSH, 80K miles, superficially tidy, 2 owner, E46 330D) if it had a torn subframe?
Get it repaired at whatever cost, have all suspension refreshed, polyushed (futureproofed a bit), big service and run it for years OR SCRAP THE BUGGER and cut my losses?
Best,
Fred.
Get it repaired at whatever cost, have all suspension refreshed, polyushed (futureproofed a bit), big service and run it for years OR SCRAP THE BUGGER and cut my losses?
Best,
Fred.
coombsfh said:
Being an eternal pessemist, what would you guys do with a car of my spec (X-reg, FSH, 80K miles, superficially tidy, 2 owner, E46 330D) if it had a torn subframe?
Get it repaired at whatever cost, have all suspension refreshed, polyushed (futureproofed a bit), big service and run it for years OR SCRAP THE BUGGER and cut my losses?
Best,
Fred.
You'll be fine. I doubt it is anything that is very expensive to fix, I would suspect either worn rear dampers, or worn bushes somewhere in the rear suspension or rear subframe. Get a BMW specialist to fix, as main dealers cost is insane. Get it repaired at whatever cost, have all suspension refreshed, polyushed (futureproofed a bit), big service and run it for years OR SCRAP THE BUGGER and cut my losses?
Best,
Fred.
Get it repaired if the rest of the car is good. I would stay away from poly bushes. The car will be set up to steer and handle a particular way, and genuine quality bushes will maintain that standard.
Subframe usually goes on coupe not 4dr.
Rear Shocks will be gone or nasty deformed tyres ect,either way the behaviour is not normal on one of these.
The earlier cars pre 01 did tend to understeer and had a slower steering rack compare to later cars so you have to be pretty deliberate to get the back end out- they aren't the easiest to oversteer with the steering lacking consistency for the first 1/4 turn.
Rear Shocks will be gone or nasty deformed tyres ect,either way the behaviour is not normal on one of these.
The earlier cars pre 01 did tend to understeer and had a slower steering rack compare to later cars so you have to be pretty deliberate to get the back end out- they aren't the easiest to oversteer with the steering lacking consistency for the first 1/4 turn.
TotalZ4 said:
Subframe usually goes on coupe not 4dr.
Rear Shocks will be gone or nasty deformed tyres ect,either way the behaviour is not normal on one of these.
The earlier cars pre 01 did tend to understeer and had a slower steering rack compare to later cars so you have to be pretty deliberate to get the back end out- they aren't the easiest to oversteer with the steering lacking consistency for the first 1/4 turn.
It is unusual. On a big roundabout on an empty road in lashing rain with plenty of happy pedal it just understeers.Rear Shocks will be gone or nasty deformed tyres ect,either way the behaviour is not normal on one of these.
The earlier cars pre 01 did tend to understeer and had a slower steering rack compare to later cars so you have to be pretty deliberate to get the back end out- they aren't the easiest to oversteer with the steering lacking consistency for the first 1/4 turn.
However, occasionally it just does it of its own accord on seemingly non-oversteery bits of road with seemingly non-oversteery driving.
It is not that enjoyable to drive at the moment and I am hankering for something fun for the weekends like a racing puma, s2k, or mx5 with a supercharger.
However this must be addressed first as i spend 2h a day or more in it and it I don't want to be frightened of it or worried about it.
It is a 140mph+ car ffs - it needs sorting.
ON BALANCE
once it is sorted I have some places I want to visit in france with some pals and this will be the ideal cruising device... Light at the end of the tunnel and all that.
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