E90 -- Steering Control

V

vintantc

Well-Known Member
Dear Bros who are driving E90,

I just got my 323 and have changed the original 17' rims with run flat to 18" rims with Eagle F1 formerly on my E46.

I felt some mild vibration on he steering wheel even at normal speed (60km/hr) and slightly more so at higher speed (100km/hr).

I suspected either the difference in offset for the rims may have caused the vibration (original 17" from PML has offset of 34mm and my 18" from previous E46 has offset of 42mm) initially but my mechanic said is unlikely. I sent to PML for check, they told me is the rims, i.e. the offset.

Questions:
1) Anyone with E90 (especially 323i) has such experience to share?
2) Not sure is this an inherent problem with E90 steering system?
3) Or E90 steering system is designed for runflat which is much heavier?

Looking forward to your sharing pls...
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

it used to happen to my 320i before too..
i felt mild vibration from the steering only when i stopped at traffic light idling..

i din do anythin to it, it just heal itself after awhile, and no more vibration feels from the steering so far.. :)
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

vintantc;158916 said:
Dear Bros who are driving E90,

I just got my 323 and have changed the original 17' rims with run flat to 18" rims with Eagle F1 formerly on my E46.

I felt some mild vibration on he steering wheel even at normal speed (60km/hr) and slightly more so at higher speed (100km/hr).

I suspected either the difference in offset for the rims may have caused the vibration (original 17" from PML has offset of 34mm and my 18" from previous E46 has offset of 42mm) initially but my mechanic said is unlikely. I sent to PML for check, they told me is the rims, i.e. the offset.

Questions:
1) Anyone with E90 (especially 323i) has such experience to share?
2) Not sure is this an inherent problem with E90 steering system?
3) Or E90 steering system is designed for runflat which is much heavier?

Looking forward to your sharing pls...
Click to expand...

Did you do high speed balancing?
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

I do not have the problem with my car which is a E90 323. I changed to 18" as well. Maybe rim no balanced or uneven wear?
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

vintantc;158916 said:
Dear Bros who are driving E90,

I just got my 323 and have changed the original 17' rims with run flat to 18" rims with Eagle F1 formerly on my E46.

I felt some mild vibration on he steering wheel even at normal speed (60km/hr) and slightly more so at higher speed (100km/hr).

I suspected either the difference in offset for the rims may have caused the vibration (original 17" from PML has offset of 34mm and my 18" from previous E46 has offset of 42mm) initially but my mechanic said is unlikely. I sent to PML for check, they told me is the rims, i.e. the offset.

Questions:
1) Anyone with E90 (especially 323i) has such experience to share?
2) Not sure is this an inherent problem with E90 steering system?
3) Or E90 steering system is designed for runflat which is much heavier?

Looking forward to your sharing pls...
Click to expand...

I have this problem too. Went back to shop many times and they balance and balance but still can't cure. Maybe its inherent problem. So i just live with it.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

Hi guys,

I've felt some minor vibrations occassionally too. This happens (for me) when I: (1) come to a complete stop, (2) early morning and (3) with my air-con off.

I've noticed that the RPM is rather low during these times, at approximately 550-600. After I turn on the air-con, the RPM goes up and the vibration ceases.

I've attributed this to the ECU setting too low an idle RPM, and this can be rectified either by PML or Juzz4Cars. I have done this once by J4C, but the problem came back again after a couple of weeks. Now I just ignore it or turn on the air-con.

[Edited from here] Btw, I'm driving an E90 320i, with 18" wheels, Eagle F1 and about 4 months old, 6000k and one oil change. [End of editing]

Cheers.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

hi! regarding the steering vibration on the move, you can try adding spacers to see if it eliminates the problem.. also 18" will transmit more road feedback to ur steering wheel.. if it still vibrates badly, then probably a warped rim..

regarding vibration at traffic lights, if it vibrates at the steering wheel, then probably the mountings, if it vibrates under ur seat, then probably the ignition coils..

hope this helps. cheers.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

vintantc;158916 said:
Dear Bros who are driving E90,

I just got my 323 and have changed the original 17' rims with run flat to 18" rims with Eagle F1 formerly on my E46.

I felt some mild vibration on he steering wheel even at normal speed (60km/hr) and slightly more so at higher speed (100km/hr).

I suspected either the difference in offset for the rims may have caused the vibration (original 17" from PML has offset of 34mm and my 18" from previous E46 has offset of 42mm) initially but my mechanic said is unlikely. I sent to PML for check, they told me is the rims, i.e. the offset.

Questions:
1) Anyone with E90 (especially 323i) has such experience to share?
2) Not sure is this an inherent problem with E90 steering system?
3) Or E90 steering system is designed for runflat which is much heavier?

Looking forward to your sharing pls...
Click to expand...

Hi, why don't you change back to your stock rims and you will know whether it is the rims problem or not. The 320 N42 engine tends to have this little vibration once in a while when idling but not the N52 engine on the 323 and 325.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

Hi Guys,

Thank you all for the valuable sharing! : )

Just to share further:
1) I have done on-wheel high speed balancing but vibration still there
2) Like some bros had shared, it also happen at idling speed
3) PML said that they have put on the stock wheels and tested OK on my car. Also, my wheels are ok on my E46 previously and I didnt warp them. That was why I suspected maybe because of the weight of the of the wheels (runflat is really much heavier). I drove a 320 replacement car when I sent my 323i for touch up work, the steering wheel control and road handling was much better than my 323i : (
4) I have put on customised spacer for rear wheels but not the front as the offset correction I wanted was too small to make (mill) (my 18" rims offset of 42- E90 Stock Wheel offset of 34 = 8mm). J4C could only do at 12mm and more. Any bros got any lobang to get 8mm spacer? But I love my rear wheels because the 15mm spacer makes the wheels protruding a little, more sporty looking!
5) Anyone selling the 330i 18" stock wheels?
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

I changed the rims to M star spoke 193 ( 18" ) from PML for my 323i with 225 tyres infront and 255 tyres at rear. It was perfectly ok except FC slightly heavier aroung 5.8km/litre.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

The centre bore dimension may be wrong.

That's what happened to me when I bought brand new track rims for my car. Correct PCD, correct offset, wheel bolts on with no problems and doesn't even shake when you try to shake it while the car's hoisted.

Took a a lot of time to troubleshoot and had to use calipers to measure. The centre bore was out by less than 0.5mm. Took the wheels back to the tyre shop together with another set of identical rims with the correct cerntre bore to show the shop owner. Shop owner realises that it is indeed different and swapped a new set for me. Apparently, my rims were a new batch.

Now it's perfect.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

hi,

from what i can see there are 2 separate vibrations? one while on the move and one at idle?

the vibration on the move is likely due to the e46 rims..

for the 'taxi panting' vibration at idle, what i did was go to the reset menu.. after abit of driving it goes away..

hope this helps. cheers.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

vintantc;159513 said:
Thank you guys!

It seems that I have to sell my Breyton Rims liao..... : (
Click to expand...

May i know what breyton rims and what size u have for ur ride? Mine is also 18' breyton rims and i'm having the problem too. Cheers
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

It's a long shot and I don't know if this'll help but here's what happened to my 320i (E46)... Similar symptoms, i.e. steering wheel vibrations at low speed that gets worse with higher speeds. Steering wheel tended to pull in a particular direction.

The problem was finally (after multiple checks at PML) diagnosed as being caused by a faulty brake clamp. Evidently, the brake clamp was locking on a front wheel after some work was done on the rims.

Hope this helps. Otherwise, apologies for the post.
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

Thank you Razor for sharing.

To answer TanSiong: I am running on Breyton Vision 18".

Also, to update those may have same problem:
1) I called Stamford Tyre (ST) after learning from someone that the do center bore hole correction for Bimmer.
2) ST said that center bore hole for all 3 series are the same and said likely not the problem. Nevertheless, I said I have this vibration problem and need help which many could not tell me why.
3) I asked for the nearest ST branch that has proper tyre balancing equipment and was directed to the branch at Macpherson (opp. Mazda Showroom).
4) Initially they told me the same thing, center bore the same.......I said I had done all the balancing including high-speed on-wheel balancing.
5) Then one of the many mechanic, Edward, came forward and said if may be due to tyre and decided to jack up the car to check.
6) True enough, when he spinned the wheel, I could see the unevenness when it spin.
7) He then take off the tyre, rotate it and re-install onto the wheel and making sure it sits nicely on the wheel.
8) We went to test the ride. Guess what?... I was smiling : ). The vibration is gone!!

So, bros! Lesson Learned: check your tyre installation if you have same problem. Avoid rushing tyre shop when installing tyre onto wheels... or go to v. busy tyre shop where they themselves want to do it asap! For info, I installed the tyres onto the wheels at Poh Heng then. It was OK initially but dont know why then....AW, that is History! Now I am enjoying my car liao!! Thank you all for the valueable sharing..
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

hi Vintantc,

Thanks a million for your sharing. I just got my E60 last month & upgraded to 19'' M6 mags. I had the same problem as you.... aka the vibrations at 80km/h. went back to the tire shop numerous times & also to other shops to do the high speed balancing. But to no avail. The vibes are always there!
Then i read your post & had them just rotate my 2 front tyres - although they didn't understand why .... but guess what .... it worked !!
You just took a huge rock off my chest !! Just wanted to say thanks for sharing your learnings as you have just made my day!! Wohooo!!
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

inherent problem bros. tried both e90s 325 & 320 cruising @ 100km/h steering vibrates slightly as if tyres unbalance. no choice gotta live w it
 
Re: E90 -- Steering Control

satines;167573 said:
Wow, bro 323i with M193 can only get 5.8km/l in fuel consumption ?? Seriously so bad?
Click to expand...


5.8km/l is pretty steep..:whatthe:
 
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