E46 M3 tracking / steering problem

[just1e]

I've owned this car for almost 4 years now and I can say that I currently have a problem with the steering in that it's not very positive at all.
If I drive on a straight flat road at 40 mph I can wiggle the steering wheel left and right without any movement from the car at all. To give you more of an idea how bad it is, imagine a clock face and I can get it almost to 11 o'clock and then almost to 1 o'clock without the car moving.
Now if this was a 10 year old fiesta 1.1 I can imagine this to be normal, but not on this car.

The other problem is that it pulls to the left quite badly, and if I take my hand off the wheel when coming to a complete stop, the wheel will spin to the left by sometime 1 complete turn.

Now, I have had at least 6 different mechanics look at the steering and had Elite (rainham) do the tracking and also check for play in the steering. Also had Kwik Fit in Billericay do a wheel alignment and also check for play in steering as well as my Mot garage check the steering. Total cost over £200 and now it's worse than before the tracking was done.

Also, I need to say that the front camber on n/s is in at the top by a lot, apparently it's not possible for it to be adjusted according to kwik fit with the £120 I paid. And apparently it wouldn't make it drive any different.

All tell me there is nothing loose and nothing worn.

I'm not going mad, the car handles terribly and I hate driving it pulling to the left. The play is so bad and I know it wasn't like this 6 months ago.

Where can I take it to get it checked and fixed without getting a bill with 4 zeros at the end of it?

Really need this sorted as I have spent so much time in garages telling crap, can't listen to it any more. Need someone that knows what they are talking about. Please help!!!!

[Bennnn]

Shot in the dark but thought I'd share

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=4701...

Seems to have a lot of successful feedback in that thread, just from one coupling and it's not expensive either.

[MOTK]

Find a BMW specialist near you, where are you based? Do not take an M3 to Kwik Fit for suspension work or any other work for that matter.

[e36er]

Pop down to Bubble & Kick Racing in Basildon, I'm sure they'll find the problem.

Probably a daft question, but did you get a printout of the geo at Kwik Fit?

[just1e]

I did get the printout, not sure how it helps though.
Just shows that its all now straight apart from the camber on front n/s that is way out.

[just1e]

I think the link to the e46fanatics page is very interesting. Makes sense what it says, just need to try and order and get that part fitted i guess.

That could have saved me a lot of time and money, well lets hope so anyway.

Will reply once i have got somewhere.

Thanks for your replies.

[E30M3SE]

Could well be, take your car to someone that know them, leave quick fit to what they do best.....

and the camber is adjustable on the front, if you know how to.

[thecrow]

Definitely don't trust just anyone with the appropriate equipment. You need someone who knows their stuff and ideally knows their M3s. I had mine done here:

http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/

The guy who did it took me through each measurement, what it meant and what they would do to correct it. Took an hour or so as it needed a lot of adjusting. Pretty much everything on the M3 suspension is adjustable and in my case needed adjusting - once everything was back in the green it really felt like a different car.