325i Sport Touring Wandering?

[Mark B]

Hi folks, I'm new to this forum so please go easy

I have just bought a low mileage 2002 325i Sport Touring and it seems to wander a lot more than expected. I appreciate the tyres are wide and low profile so can accept tramiling and a choppy feel, but wasn't expecting it to wander.

Normally, I would put this down to a steering geometry issue, maybe mis-matched camber side to side or the toe being a little off but I'm wondering if it is tell tale of bushes needing to be replaced?

the car has done 45k miles so not done a lot of miles, could the bushes have degraded?

Any advise welcomed.

[Patrick1964]

Get the car booked in to a good garage with laser alignment gear. They should be able to check the bushes first and then do a proper set-up if the bushes are ok.

[Mark B]

Thanks Patrick, I will certainly be getting that done. My Dad runs a BMW independant so he would get the work. Having just got the car, I just wondered if the signs were akin to the bushes being warn, or is it a case of getting used to the wheels/tyres?

[530dTPhil]

If the car is on run flats and they are down to the last 2 or 3mm, then this is fairly typical. I had this on my 530d and posted a similar message on a BMW forum. Once the tyres were changed, the tramlining and wandering disappeared.

[Mark B]

I have no idea if they're run flats, I'll have a check.. I wouldn't have thought so though on a 2002 car..

[rm163603]

The e46 sport is pretty prone to tramlining quite badly but you might find the control arm bushes are worn also making the problem worse.

These are the large rubber bushes at the inboard end of the front wishbones. It wouldn't be unusual at all for them to fail after that sort of mileage.

The good news is they are easy and reasonably cheap to replace.

[sniff diesel]

rm163603 said:

The good news is they are easy and reasonably cheap to replace.

Have you ever done one? PITA.

[jonny996]

rm163603 said:

The e46 sport is pretty prone to tramlining quite badly but you might find the control arm bushes are worn also making the problem worse.

These are the large rubber bushes at the inboard end of the front wishbones. It wouldn't be unusual at all for them to fail after that sort of mileage.

The good news is they are easy and reasonably cheap to replace.

Mine went at 26000 miles. Edinburgh speed bumps to blame

[tom g]

my 2003 330ci tramlined horribly.
I had the TCA bushes replaced - it made no difference.

I replaced the bridgestone tyres with michelin pilots: problem solved

[Mark B]

Thanks everyone.

I was expecting it to a degree but was a little surprised at certain times.

I'll check the TCA bushes when I get it in the air, there's no knocking or untoward noises, but needs checking.

I have Bridgestone tyres all round, will wait until they're warn before replacing.

Once again thanks, I plan to be lurking here now, normally hover in the Lotus and le Mans forums.

Cheers,
Mark

[tom g]

Mark B said:

I have Bridgestone tyres all round

There's your problem

[rm163603]

sniff diesel said:

rm163603 said:

The good news is they are easy and reasonably cheap to replace.

Have you ever done one? PITA.

I have but maybe I was lucky. I used a 3 legged puller to pull the bush off the wishbone. I think it tore the outer part off leaving the rubber which I cut off using a craft knife. The new one just pushed on with the help of some washing up liquid.

[rm163603]

Mark B said:

Thanks everyone.

I was expecting it to a degree but was a little surprised at certain times.

I'll check the TCA bushes when I get it in the air, there's no knocking or untoward noises, but needs checking.

I have Bridgestone tyres all round, will wait until they're warn before replacing.

Once again thanks, I plan to be lurking here now, normally hover in the Lotus and le Mans forums.

Cheers,
Mark

One way to tell is to look in shop windows as you pass and then brake. If you can see the wheel moving in the arch you have a problem.