e39 M5 front inner tyre wear

[Patrick Bateman]

Rears aren't bad (around 0.3mm difference across each tyre) but there's a little over 1mm difference between the outside edge and inner edge of both fronts.

Apart from tracking, are there any dodgy suspension components that might cause this?

Edited by Patrick Bateman on Thursday 3rd July 20:13

[Qwert1e]

Patrick Bateman said:

Apart from tracking, are there any dodgy suspension components that might cause this?

Why "apart from tracking"?????

Mind you, driving like a twonk will easily take the outer edges off the tyres, especially in a heavy car like 5-series.

[Patrick Bateman]

Qwert1e said:

Why "apart from tracking"?????

Mind you, driving like a twonk will easily take the outer edges off the tyres, especially in a heavy car like 5-series.

In case it isn't just a case of needing an alignment done.

It's the inner edges that are wearing more.

[ShaunTheSheep]

Check the bottom control arm, you shouldnt be able to waggle it with just your hand. Its the big silver bit running from the subframe to under the wheel carrier assembly.

The inboard rubber doesn't perish - at least not visibly but it becomes really weak.

Avoid the Chinese replacements these cars are heavy on them and they just don't last. If you're buying OEM lemforder, BMW will likely be the cheapest source which is weird but always cheaper than ecp in my experience, plus you can get 20% on top of that with some chat. Your local factors will do Delphi brand ones which aren't much more expensive than Chinese and aren't that far off lemforder quality.

Edit: just re read and saw M5, ignore the stuff about alternative brands in that case, and probably the 20% too knowing BMW :-)

Edited by ShaunTheSheep on Thursday 3rd July 20:31

[Patrick Bateman]

Everyone seems to have a different name for the various suspension arms, I take it this is the big bd, number 5?

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=DE92...

[E30M3SE]

Part #5 is the track/traction arm, #12 is the wishbone.

Most places will do a free track check, too much toe out or neg camber, or a combination of the two, will wear the inside edges out. Is your car standard ride height?

Edited by E30M3SE on Friday 4th July 20:00

[ShaunTheSheep]

Yeah number #5, although now i see that diagram it's jogging my memory and i think i got the colour wrong. 12 is the silver arm, 5 is black.

If 12 is dead you get sawtoothing. If 5 is dead you get a trashed inner edge.

[ShaunTheSheep]

I'm going to backtrack because t'internet says it's the other way round.

no. 5 is a contributing factor to sawtoothing, but not normally the only cause, so zero points for me there. #12 causes negative camber when tired and that gives inner wear, so another big fat zero for me.

Add that to the zero points for getting the colour wrong and i think the only bit i got close to right is that it's gonna be expensive :-)

I'm off to bed, with no supper for a poor performance.

[H100S]

I would have thought 1mm discrepancy would be within accepted tolerance. If in doubt get is properly laser aligned with read out. Do your research on who to use locally, BMW will probably have a specific recommendation for weighting of seats and fuel level for setting the geometry. Some people charge per adjustment some just a set time.

Worn bushes/bearings are most likely to be the issue.

I assume tyre pressures are correct.

[LaurasOtherHalf]

Wearing inside edges, too much toe out?

[Patrick Bateman]

The MOT is next Friday so if there's anything untoward hopefully it gets spotted, otherwise I might just get an alignment done.