E36 handling issues
Discussion
We bought a 328 Saloon SE for my wife back in September & the handling was horrendous (verging on being dangerous).
I gave the car a quick once over (it had just passed an MOT, so I hoped it was nothing too serious) & noticed the rear springs were different, so replaced the rear springs.
Although better, it was still a handful over bumpy roads, so got the tracking checked at my local garage & sure enough it was out.
This cured the dangerous twitchyness going round corners, but the car still wasn't right.
All 4 wheels came off for a re-balance & the fronts were buckled, so I replaced all 4 wheels (courtsy of ebay) with straight ones wearing Michelin Pilots.
We've now driven it for a few months, but the car still doesn't feel right - it's fun to drive, but only because you get a huge buzz from the way it doesn't handle !
The car has done 130000 miles & as far as I know everything is still stock, so could it just be the shocks have had it? I've also seen mention of RTAB (rear trailing arm bushes) causing handling issues ?
I gave the car a quick once over (it had just passed an MOT, so I hoped it was nothing too serious) & noticed the rear springs were different, so replaced the rear springs.
Although better, it was still a handful over bumpy roads, so got the tracking checked at my local garage & sure enough it was out.
This cured the dangerous twitchyness going round corners, but the car still wasn't right.
All 4 wheels came off for a re-balance & the fronts were buckled, so I replaced all 4 wheels (courtsy of ebay) with straight ones wearing Michelin Pilots.
We've now driven it for a few months, but the car still doesn't feel right - it's fun to drive, but only because you get a huge buzz from the way it doesn't handle !
The car has done 130000 miles & as far as I know everything is still stock, so could it just be the shocks have had it? I've also seen mention of RTAB (rear trailing arm bushes) causing handling issues ?
I hate to say the first thing I'd be looking at is the wheels, again..
If you bought them from ebay, can you guarantee they are perfectly straight? I had this on an E46, once replaced with brand new wheels and tyres, it made a huge difference. I could be completely wrong and the wheels you bought are brand new, I'm just assuming they're used.
If you bought them from ebay, can you guarantee they are perfectly straight? I had this on an E46, once replaced with brand new wheels and tyres, it made a huge difference. I could be completely wrong and the wheels you bought are brand new, I'm just assuming they're used.
How old is the car?
Can you post up your current geo settings, front and rear to look at?
What size wheels and tyres have you got?
If your RTAB have gone they will introduce a rear steer effect and the car will want to take its own course. It's amazing how much the rear end steer will affect the front. Are your front wishbones bushes and ball joints worn much?
It should be possible to get the car handling ( and feeling ) pretty well. What springs did you get for the back? Replacement ones for your car from BMW? Or something else?
What particularly "feels" bad about the car? Can you specify?
Can you post up your current geo settings, front and rear to look at?
What size wheels and tyres have you got?
If your RTAB have gone they will introduce a rear steer effect and the car will want to take its own course. It's amazing how much the rear end steer will affect the front. Are your front wishbones bushes and ball joints worn much?
It should be possible to get the car handling ( and feeling ) pretty well. What springs did you get for the back? Replacement ones for your car from BMW? Or something else?
What particularly "feels" bad about the car? Can you specify?
Edited by Shropshiremike on Saturday 17th January 18:20
It's a 1996 (N registration) 328i SE, so 12/13 years old.....
I haven't got the geo settings, but can get it re-measured on Wednesday.....
It's running on the later E36 convertible 16" wheels (Link to picture of car), and from memory 225/50/16's all round.
The inner ball-joint on the off-side has just started getting some play in it (only the last few weeks), although both arms look reasonably new, and the car has always felt off (arm will be being replaced next week anyway with new ball-joints).
The rear springs were replaced with genuine OE rear springs.
I wouldn't have said it's steering from the back, but I know suspension can be a difficult problem to diagnose, especially via forums ! It basically feels like the dampers can't keep up with what the springs/road are doing. It feels like it's skipping along bumpy roads, although passes a "bump" test with no problems & feels nothing like an A4 I'd driven with failed rear shocks, which tried to throw you off the road at any sign of a bump.
Does anyone know if they are they oil or gas filled shocks ? (obviously, oil far easier to spot of leaking !)
I haven't got the geo settings, but can get it re-measured on Wednesday.....
It's running on the later E36 convertible 16" wheels (Link to picture of car), and from memory 225/50/16's all round.
The inner ball-joint on the off-side has just started getting some play in it (only the last few weeks), although both arms look reasonably new, and the car has always felt off (arm will be being replaced next week anyway with new ball-joints).
The rear springs were replaced with genuine OE rear springs.
I wouldn't have said it's steering from the back, but I know suspension can be a difficult problem to diagnose, especially via forums ! It basically feels like the dampers can't keep up with what the springs/road are doing. It feels like it's skipping along bumpy roads, although passes a "bump" test with no problems & feels nothing like an A4 I'd driven with failed rear shocks, which tried to throw you off the road at any sign of a bump.
Does anyone know if they are they oil or gas filled shocks ? (obviously, oil far easier to spot of leaking !)
Edited by Olly on Saturday 17th January 18:40
Olly said:
It's a 1996 (N registration) 328i SE, so 12/13 years old.....
I haven't got the geo settings, but can get it re-measured on Wednesday.....
It's running on the later E36 convertible 16" wheels (Link to picture of car), and from memory 225/50/16's all round.
The inner ball-joint on the off-side has just started getting some play in it (only the last few weeks), although both arms look reasonably new, and the car has always felt off (arm will be being replaced next week anyway with new ball-joints).
The rear springs were replaced with genuine OE rear springs.
I wouldn't have said it's steering from the back, but I know suspension can be a difficult problem to diagnose, especially via forums ! It basically feels like the dampers can't keep up with what the springs/road are doing. It feels like it's skipping along bumpy roads, although passes a "bump" test with no problems & feels nothing like an A4 I'd driven with failed rear shocks, which tried to throw you off the road at any sign of a bump.
Does anyone know if they are they oil or gas filled shocks ? (obviously, oil far easier to spot of leaking !)
They will be Sachs/Boge gas shocks - spec depending if you've got M-tech option 704. I haven't got the geo settings, but can get it re-measured on Wednesday.....
It's running on the later E36 convertible 16" wheels (Link to picture of car), and from memory 225/50/16's all round.
The inner ball-joint on the off-side has just started getting some play in it (only the last few weeks), although both arms look reasonably new, and the car has always felt off (arm will be being replaced next week anyway with new ball-joints).
The rear springs were replaced with genuine OE rear springs.
I wouldn't have said it's steering from the back, but I know suspension can be a difficult problem to diagnose, especially via forums ! It basically feels like the dampers can't keep up with what the springs/road are doing. It feels like it's skipping along bumpy roads, although passes a "bump" test with no problems & feels nothing like an A4 I'd driven with failed rear shocks, which tried to throw you off the road at any sign of a bump.
Does anyone know if they are they oil or gas filled shocks ? (obviously, oil far easier to spot of leaking !)
Edited by Olly on Saturday 17th January 18:40
If you're having suspension bits replaced probably best to wait till after that to get the 4-wheel geo set.
My 328 had done about 130k when I refreshed the suspension - shocks weren't leaking + passed an MOT but new ones made a BIG difference ( I went for AVUS spec though )
The description you give very much sounds to me like either front lower arm rear bushes or rear trailing arm bushes, both a very common fault and available as Powerflex h/duty replacements from most performance shops or eBay.
Dodgy wheels may give a shake or vibration but not the wandering you mention.
I would certainly go the Powerflex route as you WILL need them sooner or later anyway.
8Tech.
Dodgy wheels may give a shake or vibration but not the wandering you mention.
I would certainly go the Powerflex route as you WILL need them sooner or later anyway.
8Tech.
Well, I'm replacing 1 lower arm anyway in the near future, so was going to replace 1 front bush.
Rear trailing arm bushes don't look to be expensive, although reading some other forums are a PITA to replace.
I've seen powerflex bush kits on ebay, so will just buy a set & be done with it !
Many thanks !
Rear trailing arm bushes don't look to be expensive, although reading some other forums are a PITA to replace.
I've seen powerflex bush kits on ebay, so will just buy a set & be done with it !
Many thanks !
Had the same handling issues on my e36, it was unpredictable at best. Changed the front wishbone rear bushes and the rear trailing arm bushes, full geometry setup and it was all sorted. Felt like a different car.
I replaced the bushes with Powerflex ones. Front wishbone bushes are very easy, rear bushes were a pain to get out, but nothing a bit of patience, persistence and a big hammer and chisel can't sort out. Powerflex bushes are easier to install as they are split in two.
I replaced the bushes with Powerflex ones. Front wishbone bushes are very easy, rear bushes were a pain to get out, but nothing a bit of patience, persistence and a big hammer and chisel can't sort out. Powerflex bushes are easier to install as they are split in two.
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