I know what you're thinking, warped discs.
I have only had them changed about 1500 miles ago, so thats not likely.
I have also had my wheel balancing checked, and its ok.
Changed my ARB bushes recently.

Thinking it could be my wishbone balljoint?
Anyone got any bright ideas what it could possibly be?

The car is a 2005 E60 3.0d Sport and its only done 35k.

 

Check your wheel bearings:
- lift the car up
- take a good grip of your right/left front wheel --> shake left and right --> if you can feel/see any backlash, possible damage in wheel bearing
- if it's the wheel bearing, you should feel/see the backlash when shaking the wheel vertically too --> if there's not any backlash vertically, the problem probably locates in suspension parts
- if the problem is in the wheel bearing, the another way to be sure about it is to ask a friend to press the brake pedal while you're shaking the wheel --> again, if it is the wheel bearing, the backlash should disappear when the brake pedal is being pressed

Check the suspension:
- the car still up on a lift
- shake all suspension parts and watch the joints --> very highly you will see the backlash if it's there
- to see the the track rod better you have to remove some plastic covers

Note! When shaking the front wheel, there shouldn't be any backlash!


- Antti -

 

I had a look at all that when I replaced the ARB bushes, couldnt feel anything out of place.
Its a bit of a mystery.

 

Could the new rotors be defective or warped still? Maybe they weren't installed properly? Although it could be something else, it still sounds way to much like rotors to me...

 

I'm thinking the same thing, I cleaned the hubs up good but they could be warped.
I could only tell with a run-out gauge, but because the discs are drilled/grooved, using a run-out gauge is going to be near on impossible.

 

My money's still on the warped rotors. Not unheard of for new rotors to get warped on e60's for different mismatching issues, like pads being harder compound than the rotor should accept, not properly bedded brakes and so on. I'd start there. Antti's advice is also very solid of course and I'd delve into those things once the rotors are completely eliminated from being under suspicion.

GL bud

 

Good info. I think it was said that the wobble is worse when braking. Wouldn't a wheel bearing issue be unnoticeable when brakes are engaged? Could very well be the control arm bushings. Look to see if the "rubber" is cracked up. This is common. Although low engine use, could be age worn.

 

are the bushes replaceable seperately or is it a case of the whole arm needs changing out?

 

Ah, yes of course .

 

More than likely, its the front rotors (and also possibly rear) that are the issue. But it is also possible that there is a worn front end part as well.