Lopsided rear end?
Discussion
I've a 2004, 318Ci coupe which has done 74k. It could just be me or the way the car sits when parking on un-even surfaces, but the rear off-side of he car seems to sit lower than the near-side. For what it's worth it's an M-Sport with the 18" MV's fitted.
Anyone else come across this or am I being paranoid?
Anyone else come across this or am I being paranoid?
Hi there,
Could be a snapped/broken spring. I think I read recently that the E46 are susceptible to this kind of issue. Get the car looked at and checked over, it should be quite obvious if it is a snapped spring or collapsed shock absorber or something.
cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
Could be a snapped/broken spring. I think I read recently that the E46 are susceptible to this kind of issue. Get the car looked at and checked over, it should be quite obvious if it is a snapped spring or collapsed shock absorber or something.
cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
This "issue" comes up regular as clockwork. BMW E46's (and the E36 before it), are renowned for sitting lower on the offside (drivers side in the UK), than the nearside (passengers side in the UK).
I suspect you've found that your car is sitting around 12~15mm lower on the offside.
By all means get your springs checked out for safety reasons but be aware that these cars (both E46 & E36), were designed as Left Hand Drive and the designers set the chassis up to compensate for a driver sitting in the left hand seat, so the left side sits slightly higher. This means that in a left hand drive car, when the driver is sat inside, the car sits level.
The problem with Right Hand Drive cars is that the chassis' were not re-designed to compensate for a driver sitting in the right hand seat, so when a driver is sat in the right hand seat, the car sits lower still.
As I say, get your car checked for safety reasons but be aware that if you start replacing suspension components left,right and central, you could end up paying a fortune trying to fix a problem that can't be fixed!. Hope this helps!
(BTW, My '97 328i Sport has just had the rear suspension replaced and it's still 12mm lower on the offside, pretty much the same as when I bought it 5 years ago).
I suspect you've found that your car is sitting around 12~15mm lower on the offside.
By all means get your springs checked out for safety reasons but be aware that these cars (both E46 & E36), were designed as Left Hand Drive and the designers set the chassis up to compensate for a driver sitting in the left hand seat, so the left side sits slightly higher. This means that in a left hand drive car, when the driver is sat inside, the car sits level.
The problem with Right Hand Drive cars is that the chassis' were not re-designed to compensate for a driver sitting in the right hand seat, so when a driver is sat in the right hand seat, the car sits lower still.
As I say, get your car checked for safety reasons but be aware that if you start replacing suspension components left,right and central, you could end up paying a fortune trying to fix a problem that can't be fixed!. Hope this helps!
(BTW, My '97 328i Sport has just had the rear suspension replaced and it's still 12mm lower on the offside, pretty much the same as when I bought it 5 years ago).
4rephill said:
This "issue" comes up regular as clockwork. BMW E46's (and the E36 before it), are renowned for sitting lower on the offside (drivers side in the UK), than the nearside (passengers side in the UK).
I suspect you've found that your car is sitting around 12~15mm lower on the offside.
By all means get your springs checked out for safety reasons but be aware that these cars (both E46 & E36), were designed as Left Hand Drive and the designers set the chassis up to compensate for a driver sitting in the left hand seat, so the left side sits slightly higher. This means that in a left hand drive car, when the driver is sat inside, the car sits level.
The problem with Right Hand Drive cars is that the chassis' were not re-designed to compensate for a driver sitting in the right hand seat, so when a driver is sat in the right hand seat, the car sits lower still.
As I say, get your car checked for safety reasons but be aware that if you start replacing suspension components left,right and central, you could end up paying a fortune trying to fix a problem that can't be fixed!. Hope this helps!
(BTW, My '97 328i Sport has just had the rear suspension replaced and it's still 12mm lower on the offside, pretty much the same as when I bought it 5 years ago).
As above, if it is of real concern to you they do different thickness spring pads that you can play about with to get the ride height/corner weights more equal. There's at least 3 different thickness for the 328 from BMW alone I suspect you've found that your car is sitting around 12~15mm lower on the offside.
By all means get your springs checked out for safety reasons but be aware that these cars (both E46 & E36), were designed as Left Hand Drive and the designers set the chassis up to compensate for a driver sitting in the left hand seat, so the left side sits slightly higher. This means that in a left hand drive car, when the driver is sat inside, the car sits level.
The problem with Right Hand Drive cars is that the chassis' were not re-designed to compensate for a driver sitting in the right hand seat, so when a driver is sat in the right hand seat, the car sits lower still.
As I say, get your car checked for safety reasons but be aware that if you start replacing suspension components left,right and central, you could end up paying a fortune trying to fix a problem that can't be fixed!. Hope this helps!
(BTW, My '97 328i Sport has just had the rear suspension replaced and it's still 12mm lower on the offside, pretty much the same as when I bought it 5 years ago).
My E36 328 used to lean, I bought a 10mm spring pad from BMW (less than a fiver)and fitted it above the OSR spring. Car now sits level, and has remained level for two years.
Hear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
Hear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
Mark34bn said:
My E36 328 used to lean, I bought a 10mm spring pad from BMW (less than a fiver)and fitted it above the OSR spring. Car now sits level, and has remained level for two years.
Hear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
As per post above Mark, I've mentioned it on there as well but everyone seems to take no note. You can even get an aftermarket 15mm pad as well as the 5, 7.5mm and 10mm pads from the dealerHear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
Shropshiremike said:
Mark34bn said:
My E36 328 used to lean, I bought a 10mm spring pad from BMW (less than a fiver)and fitted it above the OSR spring. Car now sits level, and has remained level for two years.
Hear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
As per post above Mark, I've mentioned it on there as well but everyone seems to take no note. You can even get an aftermarket 15mm pad as well as the 5, 7.5mm and 10mm pads from the dealerHear this all the time on Bmwowner.com and am dismayed at the amount of people who say 'coilovers are the only way to sort it'.
It doesn't take £500 of suspension to fix a simple fault.
Thanks for all the replies. I went to see the specialist who looks after my car and he confirmed both rear springs have gone - a known weak point I understand so was pleased when he also said he would'nt be fitting genuine BMW replacements.
When they're done though I'll know why it may still look lopsided!
When they're done though I'll know why it may still look lopsided!
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