Right Side dropping more

[Leean]

Hi Bros,

Is it true that the right side of the E46, driver's side drop slightly more than the left side, due to the fact that the fuel tank is located there, causing it to be heavier? Anyone knows? Thanks.

 

[Whisky_Tango]

Re: Right Side dropping more

Hi Bros,

Is it true that the right side of the E46, driver's side drop slightly more than the left side, due to the fact that the fuel tank is located there, causing it to be heavier? Anyone knows? Thanks.

Its not the fuel tank bro... liquid always find its own level and the fuel tank spread across the width of the back seat.

Its the engine tat causes the right side to be heavier. The engine is mounted at a slight inclination and also more towards the right side with the additional weight from the headers, cat, pipes, etc...

 

[E46]

Re: Right Side dropping more

Hi Bros,

Is it true that the right side of the E46, driver's side drop slightly more than the left side, due to the fact that the fuel tank is located there, causing it to be heavier? Anyone knows? Thanks.

Its not the fuel tank bro... liquid always find its own level and the fuel tank spread across the width of the back seat.

Its the engine tat causes the right side to be heavier. The engine is mounted at a slight inclination and also more towards the right side with the additional weight from the headers, cat, pipes, etc...

For a moment I thought you were talking about me .. 8)

By the way is it noticeable ? I've been driving it for about 1.5 years and I haven't notice it. Gonna go check it out tomorrow. :thinking:

 

[Leean]

actually, I did not notice it until today, when I lowered my car, and I put my fingers into the gap of my rear wheel..Its 2 fingers for my left side, but for my right side, its less than 2 fingers...

 

[jaskin]

Did you use the H&R Springs? Read on e46fanatics that quite a number of people have this problem.

 

[Whisky_Tango]

Re: Right Side dropping more

For a moment I thought you were talking about me .. 8)

By the way is it noticeable ? I've been driving it for about 1.5 years and I haven't notice it. Gonna go check it out tomorrow. :thinking:

Hahaha... make sure u check ur car and not urself. Juz kidding...:wavey:

It will be more obvious on the 6 pots.

 

[Whisky_Tango]

actually, I did not notice it until today, when I lowered my car, and I put my fingers into the gap of my rear wheel..Its 2 fingers for my left side, but for my right side, its less than 2 fingers...

Strange tat the rear is affected. Usually its the front right tat is noticeable.

BTW... how heavy is the battery?? becos the batt is just there behind the right rear wheel in the boot.

 

[Leean]

I did not check the front, so I do not know if the front is affected..As for how heavy the battery is, I have no idea at all...

 

[E46]

actually, I did not notice it until today, when I lowered my car, and I put my fingers into the gap of my rear wheel..Its 2 fingers for my left side, but for my right side, its less than 2 fingers...

hmmm maybe some errors with the adjustments ?

 

[E46]

Re: Right Side dropping more

For a moment I thought you were talking about me .. 8)

By the way is it noticeable ? I've been driving it for about 1.5 years and I haven't notice it. Gonna go check it out tomorrow. :thinking:

Hahaha... make sure u check ur car and not urself. Juz kidding...:wavey:

It will be more obvious on the 6 pots.

I've long suspected I was thinking sideways though

Gonna go check it out tomorrow and give an excuse to lower it :laughlik:

 

[gabey]

In case you think it is because ours are RHD, it is also the same thing on the LHD.

 

[Trigger]

I have this problem with my Z4! Mine is lower on the driver side! Any other Z owner have this problem?

 

[Puny]

Same on the 318i valvetronics and it can be quite obvious on level ground. It's not a huge cause for concern though.

 

[eggz]

Actually this right side weight bias in BMWs I think means that us folks with RHD versions of the cars loose out compared with the LHD peeps.

BMW have such an obsession with building well balanced cars (epecially the 50/50 weight distrubution) they even try and balance the car out between left and right. The reason I believe the cars lean to the right is coz BMW originally designed the car to be well balanced when there is just the driver sitting on the left (LHD) and no passengers. Hence the right weight bias in the engine portion and in the rear with the battery to compensate for the driver's weight on the left? What do you think?

 

[yuin]

My e38 also has this "problem" of leaning more towards the driver side. From what I've heard, a few e38 owners face the same thing.

I think Eggz's argument makes sense.

 

[piggyboyz]

Re: Right Side dropping more

Its not the fuel tank bro... liquid always find its own level and the fuel tank spread across the width of the back seat.

Its the engine tat causes the right side to be heavier. The engine is mounted at a slight inclination and also more towards the right side with the additional weight from the headers, cat, pipes, etc...

Bro, actually the fuel tank do play a part also.. Although liquid will find equilibrum but the left and right tank different size so it will still be unequal weight. The tilt will be most significant when the car is running less than half tank i was told..

I think BMW spec allows up to 10mm difference between left and right side.

I think the tilt is definitely not a problem since all road falls from right to left for water flow at 2.7%. The road in Singapore is usually 3.7m wide per lane, which means that there is a height difference of approx 80 to 100mm diff. Having a right side lower than the left allows the car to sit flatter, esp if there is only driver in the car....

Andrew and Mark's car will always have their front right shock failing earlier and we all know why !!! :laughing: :laughing:

 

[Azrielsc]

Hmm... that's why my right side rear has no wheel gap and my left side is slightly 1 finger gap!

 

[piggyboyz]

Wa lau !!!!!!

U got adjustable spring... Don come and show off here !

 

[TripleM]

Just to share,
In the situation of coilover set up, u will also notice that the the ride height adjustment will oso be tuned differently for the front to induce overall balanced height for the car.