328i Sport steering issues
Discussion
I drive the above from time to time and the steering seems to be getting worse.
When driving on smooth roads, it pulls from left to right. It feels like I’m always applying a slight correction to the steering wheel to keep it driving straight.
When the car drives over rough road services or roads that are in need of a re-surfacing, the steering wheel shakes / vibrates and you can hear what sounds like metal on metal clattering together. The car really does not handle how a 328i sport should. It feels unsafe!
I know that the front dampers need replacing, but could there be more to it than that? Like top mounts or any steering components or even bushes?
The car is sitting on 18 inch Alpina style wheels. Tyres are 225/40/18 all round. I did wonder if it was this size wheels and tyres that were causing some of the problem? But then if you look at all the other cars out there with non OEM wheels and tyres, then surely this is not the norm?
A couple more points. The car has Eibach lowering springs and also the tyres tend to where rather quickly on the inside of all 4 tyres. The first 2 inches of the inside of each tyre goes bald while the rest stay at about 5mm?
Any help would be gratefully received.
Thanks
When driving on smooth roads, it pulls from left to right. It feels like I’m always applying a slight correction to the steering wheel to keep it driving straight.
When the car drives over rough road services or roads that are in need of a re-surfacing, the steering wheel shakes / vibrates and you can hear what sounds like metal on metal clattering together. The car really does not handle how a 328i sport should. It feels unsafe!
I know that the front dampers need replacing, but could there be more to it than that? Like top mounts or any steering components or even bushes?
The car is sitting on 18 inch Alpina style wheels. Tyres are 225/40/18 all round. I did wonder if it was this size wheels and tyres that were causing some of the problem? But then if you look at all the other cars out there with non OEM wheels and tyres, then surely this is not the norm?
A couple more points. The car has Eibach lowering springs and also the tyres tend to where rather quickly on the inside of all 4 tyres. The first 2 inches of the inside of each tyre goes bald while the rest stay at about 5mm?
Any help would be gratefully received.
Thanks
Tired dampers and stiffer springs won't be doing it any favours so I'd go to balancemotorsport.co.uk for some quality replacements if I were you.
The vibration back through the wheel sounds like worn lower wishbone bushes so I'd then pay a visit to this bloke who is doing complete front end poly bush kits for fifty quid.
Whilst you've got the dampers off you may aswell change the top mounts too, they'll probably need it. When buying replacements for the rears bear in mind that e46 M3 vert mounts fit with no problems, cost about the same as e36 standard mounts and will be far more durable. You also might want to spend an extra twelve quid or so and get yourself a set of strut mount reinforcement plates from a Z3 as it isn't unknown that the mounts can fracture, it's rare for that to happen but why risk it? Again, they fit with no hassle.
After all that you'll need a decent 4WA doing which will stop the inner edges of your tyres getting chewed up.
I've just done all of the above on my two-eight and trust me it's most defintely been worth it
The vibration back through the wheel sounds like worn lower wishbone bushes so I'd then pay a visit to this bloke who is doing complete front end poly bush kits for fifty quid.
Whilst you've got the dampers off you may aswell change the top mounts too, they'll probably need it. When buying replacements for the rears bear in mind that e46 M3 vert mounts fit with no problems, cost about the same as e36 standard mounts and will be far more durable. You also might want to spend an extra twelve quid or so and get yourself a set of strut mount reinforcement plates from a Z3 as it isn't unknown that the mounts can fracture, it's rare for that to happen but why risk it? Again, they fit with no hassle.
After all that you'll need a decent 4WA doing which will stop the inner edges of your tyres getting chewed up.
I've just done all of the above on my two-eight and trust me it's most defintely been worth it
alright mate, my 328 sport had 18 inch csl alloys when i bought it, and i felt the handling was off, and overall it felt unresponsive,
i have now replaced the wheels with the original 17 inch bbs alloys, new tyres and had front suspension arms fixed, the car now feels brand new,
i also had the exact same problem with wear on the inside of tyres,
i suggest getting 17 inch wheels back on the car, thats the size bmw intended
cheers
i have now replaced the wheels with the original 17 inch bbs alloys, new tyres and had front suspension arms fixed, the car now feels brand new,
i also had the exact same problem with wear on the inside of tyres,
i suggest getting 17 inch wheels back on the car, thats the size bmw intended
cheers
I agree. The Aplina wheels do look nice though. The car when baught in 2004 had 18 E46 MV's on it. Did not look that good though. I dont like BMW's that have wheels that are from a different generation. I really want a set of BBS originals as BMW intended. They are so hard to find though!
Great advice from Clammy there.
As for getting BBS wheels they do come up frequently on Ebay or on forums like http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/index.php . You may even get someone to swap theirs for the Alpina's. The lacquer on a lot of the BBS wheels will be peeling now so might be worth buying a cheap set and getting them reconditioned.
As for getting BBS wheels they do come up frequently on Ebay or on forums like http://www.bmwowner.com/forum/index.php . You may even get someone to swap theirs for the Alpina's. The lacquer on a lot of the BBS wheels will be peeling now so might be worth buying a cheap set and getting them reconditioned.
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