E46 330d, tramlining and veering all over the place!
E46 330d, tramlining and veering all over the place!
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Discussion

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
Bonjour,
The title says it all really, car was fine, then I changed all four tyres, and had the geometry done, and have tried soft and hard tyre pressures but at sub 30mph speeds the car sems to be hunting the kerb or centreline with annoying regularity, and it's nearly had me in the hedge under braking a couple of times.

Any thoughts?

Also who would be the best person to look at it? Main Dealer (Car's on 69k so warranty won't cover suspension), Specialist (Don't know of a BMW place near Colchester) or ATS type monkies?

Regards
Dave

Chilli

17,320 posts

265 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
I fear this is "normal". I'm on my second and its the same. IIRC there was a thread along these lines only recently...obviously, I didn't look for it.

RLK500

917 posts

281 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
Yup, mine's the same. I know the the offside front is a bit low tread wise, but on poor roads or Mways with the inside lane grooves it's a 'mare.

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
Have got some new tyres on order so hopefully that should sort it.

phelix

4,680 posts

278 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
What tyres and who did the geo?

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Wednesday 19th December 2007
quotequote all
Started out with Eagle F1 GSD3 all round, all felt fine.

Problems started when I fitted new Eagle F1 GSD3 on the front.

Was then told that the F1 GSD3 for the rears had been discontinued so went for Dunlop sp9000 on the rear.

Elite in Rainham did the rears and the geo.

Have just found some F1 GSD3s for the rears on mytyres so will bung them on and see what that does.


ceriw

1,117 posts

234 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Yep, with the Goodyears on the front of my 330 pulled to the left - have just replaced them both (lasted 77k miles, still with 3mm tread but hit a pot hole and split the tyre)- only tyres available here in med island were cooper avon 2xs... now the car is skitty and drifts to the right. Not worn in yet tho'.

Edited by ceriw on Thursday 20th December 07:53

KenD

144 posts

291 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
I have had a geo check done by PMW of Chelmsford. I was very impressed with them and they sorted a very nervous car.
Ken

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
I used to use Leda in Braintree but they've moved 'oop North, I'll definately give PMW a look.
Thanks for the tipthumbup

Methane Bloke

264 posts

231 months

Thursday 20th December 2007
quotequote all
Had a bit of tramlining on both e46 Sports that we had. Put new PS2s on which cured it. The Bridgestones RE 040s where the worst IMO.

Regards

Chris

SteveSlowboy

46 posts

227 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
Mine's the same - I assume it's a sport with 18" wheels. When I first got mine, I got he dealer to do the full geometry check (over £200) and it wasn't really any better.

This was on the OE fit REO40 Bridgestones. The current set of tyres RE050's are just the same.

I'm pretty sure it's the wide wheels, and I just put up with it but you really need to concetrate when on the inside lane with the deep lorry tyre grooves!

Steve

F355GTS

3,870 posts

284 months

Friday 21st December 2007
quotequote all
DJFish said:
Started out with Eagle F1 GSD3 all round, all felt fine.

Problems started when I fitted new Eagle F1 GSD3 on the front.

Was then told that the F1 GSD3 for the rears had been discontinued so went for Dunlop sp9000 on the rear.

Elite in Rainham did the rears and the geo.

Have just found some F1 GSD3s for the rears on mytyres so will bung them on and see what that does.
I'd be pretty convinced it's the SP9000's and will be resolved when you fit the Eagles. I have had exactly the same on my E46 and now the same on the E91, they get better once they've lost a couple of mm of tread but initially the car feels like at any time it wanted to Oversteer in to the ditch. It's all very odd because SP9000's were original fitment on the E46. Look forward to how you get on with the F1's

MattOz

4,020 posts

293 months

Friday 21st December 2007
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Mine is fine. 82k miles and a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 2's. Not a problem. It was worse on the 040's, and certainly considerably worse on Toyo T1S's. I find the Michelins to be excellent.

Matt

anonymous-user

83 months

Saturday 22nd December 2007
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I know you said that it troubles started after fitting a new pair of front tyres, but at 69K miles i'd put money on worn front wishbone bushes (specifically the rear bush on the lower arm). They arent too expensive to buy (seem to remember about £50 each??) and arent too expensive to change (if you avoid the main dealer) but a new pair will transform the handling.

to check, park car on flat surface, put on handbrake, then get out and grab one of the front tyres, and try to roll/rock it forwards and backwards (a dirty job this time of year unfortunately). If it moves too much (more than about 1" approx after a decent bloke sized shove) or just oscillates around and feels horribly soft, get em changed!

(my 330d is on it's 3rd set (2 sets under warranty) after approx 90k miles - mental note to self: stop ditch hooking so much!!!)

RLK500

917 posts

281 months

Sunday 23rd December 2007
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That's interesting. I am pretty sure mine does that, I put my foot on one of the wheels the other day as it looked a bit low on pressure and gave it a shove and it rocked back and forth (handbrake was on). Defo going to get that checked. Also, don't think it is the SP9000's, mines getting worse irrespective of tyre wear, and generally I like the Dunlop's, they have good wet/dry grip and wear very reasonably.

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Monday 24th December 2007
quotequote all
Tyres have already arrived! That's five days since I ordered them! That's pretty good so a big thumbup to MyTyres and they'll save me having to get the spare chairs in from the shed in Christmas day!

DJFish

Original Poster:

6,017 posts

292 months

Wednesday 2nd January 2008
quotequote all
Well it's taken me a few days to get the Goodyears on the car what with the holidays and all, but I'm pleased to be able to say that the car is instantly back to normal, no tramlining (well no more than usual) stable braking and a nice planted feel.
Lesson learned.
Cheers
Dave