BMW M3 High speed handling problem

[caterpillar]

Hi folks, I have recently bought an e46 02 plate M3, 77k, the back of the car is moving around alot at higher speeds, now the guy who sold me it gave me a good selling point of its got 2 new rear tyres, THEY ARE ACCELERAS tho!! Reckon this is the trouble or could it be Rear Trailing arm bushes?? anyone got a good method of checking the bushes?? I think its possiby the tyres does anyone know any special requirements the M3 has as far as tyres are concerned? Its got contis on the front with M3 on the side wall I think as long as these bushes are ok ill put conti M3s on the back too

[pjv997]

Even if bushes sort out the problem, I would still change the tyres. The tyres are what keep you and your P&J connected to the planet.

[Slurms]

get the rear springs checked.. that can cause instability..

[jon-]

How much tread and what pressure is in the rears?

[gareth h]

Prob worth geting the geometry checked at the same time.

[caterpillar]

The front tracking was out and ive reset it, helped, rear tyres are in almost new condition, with 30psi start pressure so they are there or thereabouts

[jon-]

You sometimes find with cheap tyres that aren't constructed quite as well as the premium brands a few extra psi will help with stability.

30 PSI sounds low for an M3 anyway?

[bennyboysvuk]

Try around 32psi front and 34psi rear if they're 18 inchers.

If the rear still feels like it's drifting, but not losing traction in 60mph turns when going off throttle to on throttle then it sounds like the RTABs.

The tyres on the car sound awful though. I bet it makes for a particularly tail happy car in the recent weather.

[Great Pretender]

caterpillar said:

Hi folks, I have recently bought an e46 02 plate M3, 77k, the back of the car is moving around alot at higher speeds, now the guy who sold me it gave me a good selling point of its got 2 new rear tyres, THEY ARE ACCELERAS tho!! Reckon this is the trouble or could it be Rear Trailing arm bushes?? anyone got a good method of checking the bushes?? I think its possiby the tyres does anyone know any special requirements the M3 has as far as tyres are concerned? Its got contis on the front with M3 on the side wall I think as long as these bushes are ok ill put conti M3s on the back too

Sounds like the sort of mileage where if the RTABs are original, they'll be well past their best. Tyres won't help but the movement you're experiencing sounds like a classic case of worn RTABs.

[Onetrackmind]

Mine came with crappy Acceleras on the rear. I have n't found them too bad but I tend to leave traction control on just in case. Will be changing them soon. In the dry they are OK but struggle to find grip in the wet. I like a bit of oversteer though!

I'm pretty sure it's your rear trailing arm bushes. Get them done and then an alignment.

[caterpillar]

Found a broken LR spring today which is covered in the aftermarket warranty the RTAB look in fairly decent nick and there is no play when the wheel is in the air so gonna put it down to that thanks guys!!

[I-Mac]

Many BMWs (Even non-M X5's) have fully adjustable geometery......Deffo worth getting it looked at.....