E46 330D sport Steering and suspension settings

[Zead]

Hi, I'm sure this has been done to death on here and other sites (search just gave me the be patient wheel),
but I have an issue.

I have had the four wheel align and camber done, to my cars spec, at Merit in Kingston.
Although it improved the overall feel of the car it still isn't right. The good old tram lining
and the impression that someone else is steering the car is still present, and it still
veers off slightly under braking. (not just road cambers)

I have had a new rack, tie rods, lemfoerder tca's with road poly bush,
new tyres PS2s, 225x18 and 255x18 filled with nitrogen, pressures lower than the door card says,
as this seems to have been superceded. I think it's the same pressure as an M3 on 18's
The rear end has been checked and certified as 'not too bad'

Now my issue is I have never found an answer as to why when the car is tracked and aligned to spec it
still misbehaves. ie what else could be wrong to make it drive like this.

I know the rear end can effect how the front behaves but it really does feel like it's simply the front tracking!

Now before I take it back and have it checked again can anyone tell me if I have the wrong spec or arm me with any more information.
Sorry to be so detailed but just wanted to give you the full picture

Below is what my car is set to and recommended for 330D touring sport auto 2002

Left Front toe 0°08'           mid spec 0°07'       Right Rear toe 0°07' (marked as toe in on graphic)
Left Front camber -0°40'   mid spec -0°43'      Right Front camber -0°39'

Left Rear toe 0°07'            mid spec 0°08'       Right Rear toe 0°08' (marked as toe out on graphic)
Left Rear camber -2°11'    mid spec -2°04'      Right Rear camber -2°16'

net toe in on front 0°14'
net toe out on rear 0°14'

Any advice greatly appreciated
Z

[Jobbo]

Has it ever been right during your ownership? I find that BMWs tend to tramline on the wider tyres; it was the case with my E39, E61 and E46 and there's very little you can do to remove it. Changing tyres to a different type may lessen it but AFAIK PS2s are reputed to be one of the better tyres for that. And you say they are new; my rear Bridgestone RE040s are getting worn and the tramlining is exacerbated.

I've bought a set of 17" Style 68s which I was going to use as winter wheels but I'm tempted to stick a set of Goodyear F1 Assymetrics on them to see if it's better.

Oh, I concur about slightly lower pressures than the door card says; they wear perfectly normally and the ride is less brittle and the car feels more planted.

[Zead]

Yes it has tramlined but predictably, ie over white lines etc. I am used to it, I had an M coupe and ride motorbikes and are devils for it. However the E46 never used to veer on braking albeit slight and the brake balance and tyre pressures are spot on. But until I had the tracking etc done it was all over the place.

Now it is better but still a bit unpredictable. That's why I was wondering whether I have missed something or whether it has been set up wrong for a Sport, as Merit's system was a bit vague ie it didn't give an SE or a Sport setting only a 'low ride Sports' which we assumed was the one.

cheers Z

[E30M3SE]

You make no mention of the condition of the front wisbone ball joints and their lowers bushes..........

[jcas]

Jobbo said:

I've bought a set of 17" Style 68s which I was going to use as winter wheels but I'm tempted to stick a set of Goodyear F1 Assymetrics on them to see if it's better.

My 330d tramlined all over the place, then I fitted Goodyear F1A's, now its fine (18" wheels).

[Zead]

E30M3SE said:

You make no mention of the condition of the front wisbone ball joints and their lowers bushes..........

erm... I did.

I have had a new rack, tie rods, lemfoerder tca's with road poly bush,

To me tca = track control arm which is the lower wishbone and poly bush = lower bushes

any thoughts?

[E30M3SE]

OK, apologies, it's not them then.

How old are the shocks and top mounts?

[Zead]

Not replaced in my life time and no bills to say ever but by all accounts they are sound tho I see your point. How much would this effect tramlining do you think?

[Jobbo]

I'm getting vague recollection that my Alpina had different alignment settings to normal E46s - might be worth trying, though it did sit a bit lower.