E90Post
 


 
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > BMW E90/E92/E93 3-series General Forums > Regional Forums > UK > UK Technical Forum > 325i (06) pulling slightly to the left?



Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      10-16-2008, 06:51 AM   #1
ngchol
New Member
2
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 325i, 06, Sparkling Graphite
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

Question 325i (06) pulling slightly to the left?

Hi everyone, this is my first post so please be nice...

I've had a used 325i '06 (16,000 miles) for about 3 weeks. I'm delighted with it so far - my previous car was a Volvo S60 2.5T and the E90 is a much more entertaining drive - but I've noticed a slight problem - the car seems very sensitive to road camber. So if I'm in the left-hand lane on the motorway, I need to keep a bit more pressure on the steering wheel than I'd like in order to stop the car veering off to the left.

From searching the forums I'm guessing that this could be due to the age of the tyres? They are Continental Sportcontact 2s (225/45 R17 91W) and are the same age as the car.

Or could it be something else?
Appreciate 0
      10-16-2008, 07:28 AM   #2
hmi1750
Major
hmi1750's Avatar
25
Rep
1,130
Posts

Drives: M135i
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: London, UK

iTrader: (0)

Might need a good alignment check... I need to get mine done at sometime.

Also if those are the original run flat tyres, they are of the older design (almost 3yrs old) so probably not so good as the newer designs and do tend to follow cambers more.

Check for uneven wear on the tyres and get alignment checked at a reliable independant tyre place. If it needs doing get a proper KDS done.

I don't know the details of this but it is the best alignment. I am sure others on this forum can give more details.
Appreciate 0
      10-16-2008, 07:59 AM   #3
clark192
Second Lieutenant
clark192's Avatar
Bahrain
16
Rep
230
Posts

Drives: 2006 325i (EU)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Bahrain

iTrader: (0)

Hi there ngchol!

I agree with what hmi said. Altho, when my car was in the shop for service I got a 2007 320i with the Conti's on them.. I found they were much 'softer' than my Pirelli Euphoria's. First think I would think is the alignment needs to be checked. Then try taking the car out for a spin and see if there's anything different. If its still the same, consider getting new tires, maybe Vredestein or Michlens?
Appreciate 0
      10-16-2008, 09:17 AM   #4
ngchol
New Member
2
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 325i, 06, Sparkling Graphite
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

Thank you both!

As I've got a year's guarantee on the car would the dealer check the alignment for me for free, or would it be a waste of time? Should I just get them checked by an independent?
Appreciate 0
      10-16-2008, 10:12 AM   #5
Richardlkay
Private First Class
United Kingdom
4
Rep
118
Posts

Drives: E90 320d M Sport
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Chorley, Lancashire

iTrader: (0)

Have you simply checked the tyre pressures?
__________________
Rick - E90 320d M Sport|Sparkling Graphite|Grey Dakota Leather|Bluetooth|iPod/USB Connectivity|18" M Sport Alloys|Sun Protection glass

Appreciate 0
      10-18-2008, 06:40 AM   #6
SiKkBaSs
GTR'in it
United Kingdom
168
Rep
4,434
Posts

Drives: Nissan GTR Black Edition
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Kensington, London

iTrader: (2)

Garage List
2006 325i  [0.00]
Mine did this when I bought it same years as yours. Recently changed the front two tyres and had a alignment check...no more slight veering. Go figure.
Appreciate 0
      10-18-2008, 07:43 AM   #7
mjh93sa
Major General
mjh93sa's Avatar
145
Rep
5,080
Posts

Drives: 530d
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Gloucestershire

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Have you tried finding a quiet stretch of road to have a drive on the other side to see if it is just tramlining or a more serious alignment issue?
__________________

Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i
Now: 530d
Appreciate 0
      10-18-2008, 11:25 AM   #8
ngchol
New Member
2
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 325i, 06, Sparkling Graphite
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

I've just checked the tyre pressures.
FL - 27.0, FR - 27.5, RL - 34.0, RR - 34.5. Definitely on the low side, but sufficiently low to explain the problem I'm having?

edit: mjh93sa, it pulls to the right about the same as it does on the left when I drive on the right-hand side of the road.
Appreciate 0
      10-20-2008, 02:35 AM   #9
ngchol
New Member
2
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 325i, 06, Sparkling Graphite
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by ngchol View Post
I've just checked the tyre pressures.
FL - 27.0, FR - 27.5, RL - 34.0, RR - 34.5. Definitely on the low side, but sufficiently low to explain the problem I'm having?

edit: mjh93sa, it pulls to the right about the same as it does on the left when I drive on the right-hand side of the road.
I put the tyre pressures up to the recommended levels (31 PSI/2.2 bar for front, 37 PSI/2.6 bar for rear) and took it for a drive yesterday. The pulling is less obvious now, but the steering wheel feels very twitchy in my hands over imperfect road surfaces. Does that sound like an alignment problem?
Appreciate 0
      10-20-2008, 08:30 AM   #10
1 AKY
Major
1 AKY's Avatar
No_Country
459
Rep
1,408
Posts

Drives: F11 530d
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: UK

iTrader: (1)

that'll be the runflats
Appreciate 0
      10-22-2008, 09:07 AM   #11
ngchol
New Member
2
Rep
15
Posts

Drives: 325i, 06, Sparkling Graphite
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Brighton

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by 1 AKY View Post
that'll be the runflats
That's not really ideal is it? Is there a consensus on the best runflats you can get for an E90?
Appreciate 0
      10-22-2008, 09:14 AM   #12
mjh93sa
Major General
mjh93sa's Avatar
145
Rep
5,080
Posts

Drives: 530d
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Gloucestershire

iTrader: (0)

Garage List
Sounds rather like it's just the tramlining nature of the car if it pulls in both directions equally.

My E46 320d SE was actaully a lot worse than the E91 has proven to be (so far). There's a deeply rutted bit of motorway that I used to have to avoid like the plague as the car would be trying to wander all over the place on the varying cambers. Especially fun at night. But a full alignment, and monitoring of tyre wear over 47000 miles showed nothing to be amiss, it was just like that.
__________________

Gone: Fiesta - Focus - E46 320dSE - E91 330dMSport - E82 135iMSport - R55 JCW Clubman - M135i
Now: 530d
Appreciate 0
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:59 AM.




e90post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST