E60 Discussion Anything and everything to do with the E60 5 Series. All are welcome!
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

530d Ride Quality

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 07-27-2009, 03:12 PM
  #1  
Members
Thread Starter
 
530d_bck's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Hi

Yesterday I completed my first long journey in the 530d I bought a few weeks back. Everything was fine especially the awesome cruising power of the car. The only thing I'm not sure about is the feedback I felt through the steering wheel. Now it may be that everything is as it should be but I would like it confirmed by one of you long term owners.

Not far into the journey I mentioned to my wife that there was quite a high frequency but low level vibration in the steering wheel. Not enough to make it visibly move when I took my hands off but there none the less. The day before the journey I had a local garage check all the brakes and tyres. Tyre pressures were set correctly, all brakes were thoroughly inspected by removing all the wheels. The alloys were recently refurbished and balanced but I guess a weight could've fallen off. While braking a few times I did take my hands off the wheel but no shake or movement to one side occurred. Also the car goes perfectly straight when the wheel is held straight.

Is this vibration normal and is this just the ride quality issue I've heard relating to the the run flat tyres. The car also has active steering fitted and I'm experiencing the slight clunk while cornering at low speed that others have mentioned. I'll be getting the garage to carry out the WD40 fix to the steering column when I get back. Could this be related? Also the car seems to have very low suspension with barely enough room to fit my hand between the tyres and wheel arches. I'm not that clued up on 5 series tweaks and options so is this suspension height normal to all models?

Please can one of you experts reply and tell me this is all normal and there is nothing to worry about.

Cheers
Peter
Old 07-27-2009, 03:50 PM
  #2  
Senior Members
 
Kzang's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 630
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by 530d_bck' post='955911' date='Jul 27 2009, 07:12 PM
Is this vibration normal and is this just the ride quality issue I've heard relating to the the run flat tyres.
Absolutely not, perhaps the people who inspected the car did something to it..
Old 07-27-2009, 11:06 PM
  #3  
Members
 
Rob Hall's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 176
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Worth checking the suspension bushes, sounds like similar symptoms :

https://5series.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=80487
Old 07-28-2009, 12:21 AM
  #4  
Senior Members
 
russdx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bristol UK
Posts: 481
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: 55 525D Sport Full Black Leather Visibility Pack Media Pack
Default

shouldnt be like that my steering is dead smooth on a 55 plate
Old 07-28-2009, 12:26 AM
  #5  
Contributors
 
v_therussian's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Zoo York
Posts: 9,986
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My Ride: Alpine White 2006 530Xi (SLD)
Default

Checklist (in this order):

1. Balancing
2. Alignment
3. Control Arms
4. Wheel bearings


If you hit any medium+ sized potholes on your trip, it could be what led to the vibration. Control arms tend to fail a lot on these cars, bc there's a rubber bushing that gets beat up by potholes and naturally, BMW designed the arms so that you cannot change just the rubber bushing - you have to replace the entire control arm.

GL fixing it, keep us posted
Old 07-28-2009, 07:11 AM
  #6  
Contributors
 
Anzafin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Kajaani, Finland
Posts: 5,851
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
My Ride: Bmw 530d 2004
Default

OR could it be just the road that you are feeling?
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
bestofthebest
Complete Car Sales
4
03-28-2016 02:47 PM
th3h1ghlander
New Member Introductions
8
10-09-2015 07:40 AM
slicknick
E60 Discussion
0
09-25-2015 01:33 PM
subieworx
E60 Discussion
1
09-13-2015 11:02 PM



Quick Reply: 530d Ride Quality



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 07:57 AM.