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BMW 3-Series Ride Quality

13 messages,  Last post on Nov 12, 2008 at 9:47 AM

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#1 of 13 BMW 3-Series Ride Quality by sven335 Oct 29, 2008 (10:59 am)
I have a 2008 335i with sports package. The highways I commute on are poorly maintained. The car will throw me an inch or two into the air if I hit a small bump 65MPH. It also follows groves in the road if I don't hold the wheel tightly. Lastly, undulations in the road (to help water runoff) cause the car to vibrate.   I assume I am not the only one to experience this. Has anyone found a fix (e.g., new tires, suspension upgrade, etc.)?   Thanks! Replies to this message: cdnpinhead (Oct 29, 2008 12:04 pm) nkeen (Nov 01, 2008 8:54 pm) manybmws (Nov 04, 2008 4:50 pm) sven335 (Nov 05, 2008 4:33 pm)
#2 of 13 Re: BMW 3-Series Ride Quality [sven335] by cdnpinhead Oct 29, 2008 (12:04 pm)
Replying to: sven335 (Oct 29, 2008 10:59 am) Welcome to the land of run-flat tires.   Also, check your inflation pressures. They may be way high (which the clever little sensors don't care about).   There is a whole discussion of run-flats on here, and tramlining (following grooves in the road) is one of several bad traits. The consensus is that real (get-flat) tires fix the majority of this.   Good luck.
#3 of 13 by jms13 Oct 30, 2008 (5:19 am)
The issue of following grooves in the road is called "tramlining" and it's a function of many low profile/wide tread high performance tires; run flat or not. Run flats have plenty of problems, but it's unfair to blame them as the cause for tramlining. Ask anyone who's ever driven on a set of the old Bridgestone S-03 Pole Positions or original Michelin Pilot Sports and you'll know what I mean. As for jumping over small bumps, I'd first check the inflation and make sure it's in spec. I've got the same car and "small bumps" don't do what you say. But larger bumps do, and this is a function of the run flat tires and their very stiff sidewalls. Something you will have to live with until they wear out--which will be soon. Replace them with non run flats and get a Conti comfort kit for temporary flat repair. Replies to this message: shipo (Oct 31, 2008 11:16 am)
#4 of 13 Re: [jms13] by shipo Oct 31, 2008 (11:16 am)
Replying to: jms13 (Oct 30, 2008 5:19 am) While it may well be true that many performance tires "tram-line", it is also true that RFTs greatly exacerbate the problem.   Best regards, Shipo
#5 of 13 Re: BMW 3-Series Ride Quality [sven335] by nkeen Nov 01, 2008 (8:54 pm)
Replying to: sven335 (Oct 29, 2008 10:59 am) I have an 06 325i with sport package. The RE050 RFT summer tires on the car do tram-line and demand an active approach while driving, and will deliver a good jolt over poorly maintained expansion joints, etc. They give a very lively feel to the drive, give very sharp turn in, are accurate, and grip well. The LM22 winter RFTs I bought do not tram-line significantly; nor do the EL42 all season Bridgestones I have driven on cars with base suspension. The Continental RFTs available on the base car (325/328 - 16") give a slightly softer ride, but to me feel a little vague and less responsive than the comparable EL42s. The LM22s perform well on snow and freezing rain, but with RWD you don't have the ability to pull yourself out of trouble that you have with FWD -- i.e., watch the front end on icy roads with a tall crown and sharp drop off.
#6 of 13 Re: BMW 3-Series Ride Quality [sven335] by manybmws Nov 04, 2008 (4:50 pm)
Replying to: sven335 (Oct 29, 2008 10:59 am) Hi Sven,   Think I have seen you on e90post or another BMW forum   Anyways I have a 2008 335xi Coupe with Sports Package and 18" wheel upgrade that had the Bridgestone Potenzas mounted from the factory.   Just recently I mounted 17" BMW alloy wheels with Michelin Primacy Alpin PA3 winter RFTs.   The MIchelins are definitely an improvement over the Potenzas in terns of ride characteristics over rough surfaces even though they are high performance winters. Its not like the Potenzas produce a bad ride on all road surfaces but they can produce a "thump" when hitting a road bump the "wrong" way.   That said it seems like Michelin just does a MUCH better job of engineering an RFT with much better ride compliance than the competition. In fact BMW thinks so as well since it is shipping Michelin PS/2 RFTs on some 2009 3-series.   So if I was going to replace the Potenzas for Summer+ use I would buy the Michelin PS/2s in a second.
#7 of 13 Filtering through tire recommendations by sven335 Nov 05, 2008 (4:33 pm)
Replying to: sven335 (Oct 29, 2008 10:59 am) Thank you for your feedback. It's good to know I am not alone in this. I checked my tire pressure and it was up to spec. I revisited the 'small bumps' and determined they were rather large. However, they don't feel that way in my 2004 325i.   Now I am looking for new tires. I want to stay in my seat, reduce vibration, and minimize tramlining without significantlly compromising performance. After reading the recommendations above and in other threads, I am still not sure what to do. I am reluctant to fork over more than a grand for another set of tires unless it is reasonably sure to fix the problem.   The most recommended tire appears to be the Michelin Sport PS2 (I am not sure if this is the same as the PS/2 referred to above. I thought the PS2 was a GFT). Has anyone tried this tire on a 2008 335i Sport, and how did this impact the ride? Are there other tires multiple people have used to good effect (i.e., Yokohama AVANT S4)?   If I replace the RFT's will it impact the oil cooler in the wheel well? What about the tire pressure sensors?   Thanks!
#8 of 13 by manybmws Nov 05, 2008 (5:20 pm)
Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 ZP   They are available for the 18" staggered Style 189 wheels that come with 335xi Sports Package + the 18" wheel upgrade. Looks like this would set you back at least $1,500 installed on your current wheels. Now that is the real price of owning one of these cars.
#9 of 13 I love the ride quality in my car by rob34 Nov 08, 2008 (12:37 am)
I have a 2009 335i X Drive. I have the all-seasons, run flats of course. The Contis. Maybe I am saying this because of my last car, a 2005 X3 sports package. This car is so much more compliant. I am still in the honeymoon stage but I just love the ride. This car handles so well yet is not rough at all. It's not soft and I wouldn't want it that way. I really think the all seasons help. I have heard bad things about the Bridgestones, even from my sales person. I love my car and that includes the ride quality. Replies to this message: nkeen (Nov 09, 2008 7:28 pm)
#10 of 13 Re: I love the ride quality in my car [rob34] by nkeen Nov 09, 2008 (7:28 pm)
Replying to: rob34 (Nov 08, 2008 12:37 am) On the 328i, the Contis give a slightly more compliant ride, but trade a little precision and responsiveness to the Bridgestone EL42s. I like the summer Bridgestone RE050As that come sport suspension but they don't make for an easy drive.

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