omszz

I just purchased a used 2007 550i Sport.

The car is fantastic in every way, except for one issue. When I recieved the car it exhibted noticeable steering wheel vibration and overall vibration between 50-70 mph.

Having searched this forum and read previous threads, I went ahead and got a Hunter Road Force balance done at Firestone shop near me. Only cost me $50 which was good. The results of the machine indicated two wheels being out of balance by a little bit, and one wheel being significantly out of balance. The report also indicated a lbs rating for each wheel. One wheel was 4lbs. The other 3 wheels where between 15-18lbs which all are supposed to be within limits.

After the balancing the car now doesn't have the constant vibration between 50-70mph. However now I notice a very obvious wheel vibration which comes and goes and seems to be related to bumps in road or when going around bends at lower speed.

I have read threads that this might be related to RFTs, but i'm very surprised that RFTs have this much vibration through the suspension. It almost feels like that after there is a small bump in the road countour, rather than getting one feedback on the car to feel that change, i get a bump with continued vibration after that (almost like the car juddering after every little bump).

I increased the tire pressure on the runflats to be 3-4 PSI higher than recommendation and that made no change.

So my question - what is the next step on isolating the issue. Should I get a 4 wheel alignment done from an external shop like Firestone, or should I take it to the BMW dealer indicate to them I had a road force balance done and the car still doesn't feel right?

I can understand having a rough ride due to RFTs, but this kind of prolonged vibration with each bump seems like something else.

Thoughts?

NOTE - I also have an E46 M3 so i know what a stiff suspension feels like, and this is definately a different feeling. Best I can describe it is like a judder, but not constant.

omszz

bump. any thoughts?

Anzafin

I personally don't have any experience about runflats, but what I've understood by reading the forum, they are very hard and harsh to ride. What is your tire size? Have you checked your shocks? Any leakage? Also check every strut, bar and bushing in your suspension. Any slack anywhere?

Ricracing

What wheels / tires do you have?

Some wheels (a bit bended) / tires (low quality) are such shit,
they can't never be balanced

It's not the hubs nor the suspension.

Get a new set!

gatemaster

have you considered out-of-round rims ? as in egg-shaped (xtreme).

My 04/545 (124's?) are bent, 3 out of 4, but in my case, measureable but not noticeable (at least for me).

Good Luck, mike

omszz

I'm taking it to BMW dealer next week for another service item, and i'll have them check out the suspension as well. If that doesn't yield anything, I'll have a good tire/wheel shop look at it. I don't think the wheel is out of round, wouldn't the Hunter RoadForce have caught that?

ek5abi

I recently had this issue when the BMW delearship changed all the brake pads and sensors on my car ( 05/545i), due to a squeak coming while breaking, after the change in bake pades and senesors I started to feel a vibration from my right front tire when mostly taking a left turn at speeds over 35 miles, like gettting on an ramp or so, it felt like i am going over a bump or like the road reflectors on a 2 way lane, took it back, the delearship saw a problem with the rotor , a o.o4 mm alignment issue, and changed it, much better now.

sixcard

Long Shot ... Lane departure warning?

Rudy

Was that available in 2007?

sixcard

Don't know ... perhaps not. If not, it's even a longer shot.