Help with tyres and steering wheel please

[Steve H]

I have a bit of a problem which I cannot get my head round. I have a 2002 e39 530DM sport and 2 weeks ago I had two new front tyres fitted (235x40wr18 Dunlop SP3000 and was charged £100 each fitted. Dont really know much about tyres, just said I do not want to go with a budget but wanted a decent tyre. Are these any good (too late now I know).

The trouble is that my steering wheel is now offcentre (right hand down!). Not much but enough to really wind me up. I took it back after 7 days (was advised on another forum to let the suspension settle) and the tyre place checked the tracking etc and said all is in order and they cannot explain why this has happened.

Does anyone have any ideas what could be wrong.

I really would appreciate any help as I am really frustrated.

Sorry about the lenght of the post.

Cheers
Steve

[Fox-]

They've cocked the tracking/allignment up - its as simple as that luckily.

[Steve H]

Fox

I went back to the garage and they checked the tracking and said it was spot on, are you sure?
Steve

[SJobson]

I was told by Kwik Fit that they wouldn't even check the tracking on an E39 - everything is adjustable so they said a full alignment was the only thing you should do, and they couldn't do that. I guess they must have been honest because they were doing themselves out of some work.

However, I fail to see how changing tyres over can knock the alignment out - when did you last have a full alignment done? It might be a good idea to do it anyway. About £100 inc VAT if done properly.

[Steve H]

Thanks for your advice all, does a full alignment have to be done at a dealer or Indy? Or can a good tyre fitting place do it?
Steve

[bazking69]

I can't fathom how they have done such a thing by just removing two front wheels and putting them back on with new tyres...

[Steve H]

bazking69 said:

I can't fathom how they have done such a thing by just removing two front wheels and putting them back on with new tyres...

Thats exactly what I think, they put the right size tyres on and so it cant be that.....I am really confused.....

[SJobson]

Don't go to a main dealer - it'd be more expensive and they probably won't have the best equipment anyway.

Find somewhere near you here: http://www.alignmycar.co.uk/

[neiljohnson]

I have seen this before, its a bit of a strange one but try swapping the 2 new tyres side to side then drive the car if it cures or reverses the fault then one of the tyres is faulty, if it does not cure problen then i would be looking at what could have got bent when they lifted the car. This is all assuming they didnt adjust the tracking when they changed tyre of course.

[E30M3SE]

neiljohnson said:

I have seen this before, its a bit of a strange one but try swapping the 2 new tyres side to side then drive the car if it cures or reverses the fault then one of the tyres is faulty, if it does not cure problen then i would be looking at what could have got bent when they lifted the car. This is all assuming they didnt adjust the tracking when they changed tyre of course.

Make sure the tyres are not directional before doing this.

[neiljohnson]

sport 3000 not rotational so will be fine

[Steve H]

Thanks guys, I will look into this and report back

steve

[gizlaroc]

Also the mounting points on an E39 are very wide, do you know if they put he car on a ramp and what sort of jack they used??

I have seen someone jack up the front end on the front wishbones and bent one slightly, he only realised when he got the same results as you, steering wheel off centre.