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BMW 5-series Handling Problems

10 messages,  Last post on Apr 07, 2010 at 10:24 PM

You are in the BMW 5-Series Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW 5 Series, Tires, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 2 of 2

#2 of 10 Re: BMW 5-series Handling Problems [838tom] by shipo

Jun 10, 2009 (3:14 am)

Replying to: 838tom (Jun 09, 2009 7:47 pm)
I experienced something very similar with my first BMW. Turned out that when the dealership prepped my car, they forgot to take the extra air pressure (for shipping purposes to keep the cars from bouncing when on the trucks and on the boat) out of the tires. Bring the pressure down, presto-chango, the car handled like a dream.
 
Best regards,
Shipo

#3 of 10 Re: BMW 5-series Handling Problems [shipo] by roadburner

Jun 10, 2009 (7:42 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 10, 2009 3:14 am)
If the PDI missed any of the spring spacers you could also have some weird handling issues.

#4 of 10 BMW 5-series Handling Problems by 838tom

Jun 19, 2009 (1:27 am)

I encountered another new 5-series owner who brought the car back to the same dealership for the similar complaint on handling. He said his friends thought he was drunk when he could not keep the car straight on the freeway. My new car (with less than 200 miles) was at the dealership shop for 4 days, while the foreman was trouble-shooting the problems, trying different set of tires and re-aligning all 4-wheels. Unfortunately, the boat-like riding problems still persist after all these efforts. Again, the car at freeway speed feels like it is swerving alternately to the right and the left, like the wind is gusting from one direction this second and shift to the other direction the next second, enough to cause a sense of motion-sickness after 10 minutes or so of the freeway driving. I even had a couple of friends test drove the car and all had the same unpleasant ride experience. I do not think I can tolerate this unusual and unpleasant ride for the next three years, and have decided to report the situation directly to BMW customer service head office. It is important to point out that there is no problem with the tire pressure or the mounting and balancing of the tires, so the cause of the problem is kind of mysterious.

#5 of 10 Re: BMW 5-series Handling Problems [838tom] by somil

Jul 31, 2009 (11:25 pm)

Replying to: 838tom (Jun 19, 2009 1:27 am)
Did you get your car fixed? I bought a 2009, 520D in may 2009. I'm also facing the same problem, so far it appeared 3 times. The car just starts moving left right and doesn't stay straight. When ever I take it to the dealership it doesn't show up and they tell me that they have checked the car but couldn't find anything wrong. This problem is so random, in past 2 months I had to face it 3 times.
If you have got a fix for it, would you please share it with me.

#6 of 10 BMW 5-series Handling Problems by palb

Aug 04, 2009 (7:07 am)

In august 2008 I bought a new BMW 520D and was very disappointed about the stability of the car. It was very sensible to the quality of the road covering. I did complain, the dealer tried the car, but found it to be all right. I suspected their factory delivered “run on flat tires” to be the problem, and insisted on having the tires changed. I got it my way, and they put on Hakka Z. Now the car is running absolutely perfect! (Afterwards the dealer admitted they had big problems with their run on flat tires).

#7 of 10 Tire Pressure by pearl

Aug 26, 2009 (3:56 pm)

Not sure that this is the issue here, but EVERYONE buying ANY new car of any make should check their tire pressure immediately after buying (next morning when cold is best). It is a common complaint to find tires grossly over-inflated and that will always contribute to "squirrely" handling.

#8 of 10 Re: BMW 5-series Handling Problems [838tom] by jaaay

Dec 30, 2009 (2:10 pm)

Replying to: 838tom (Jun 09, 2009 7:47 pm)
I have the same problem, dealer doesn't know what to do. Did you get yours fixed?? Was it the tires?? I have 700 miles on a 2010 528i.

#9 of 10 2010 528i by jaaay

Dec 30, 2009 (2:16 pm)

At highway speed the car seems to want to go right and left. They checked alignment and added air to 39 in all tires, still have the same problem, is it the run flat tires? Tire pressure?? Anyone know of a fix?? I have 700 miles. At low speeds it feels ok. I have sport pkg and run flats. I also have active steering which is supposed to make it drive better at high speed.

#10 of 10 Tramlining by dkgsx

Apr 07, 2010 (10:24 pm)

This is due to longitudinal grooves on the highway surface. Hwy85 in SJ as of a couple of years ago (and may others) have those as a noise reduction feature. (Tire noise on highways is due to air in the contact patch not being able to escape and "pop". Grooves help avoid "popping"). This is tire-specific--softer sidewalls/less aggressive tread seems to alleviate some of the effects. See http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=47 for more info.

Messages Page 2 of 2

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