Car felt real unsettled on highway
06-12-2011, 06:59 PM
#1
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
2008 535xiAt about 80mph, the car felt real loose and unsettled today, especially in the curves of the highway. Straight line felt OK but still would get a strong "swaying" feeling at times.
I have multiple things going on to explain it away but not happy with the feeling at all.
1) Had a car full of 4 adults and trunk full of luggage loaded to the max.
2) I had to put my wife's 17" wheels with brand new all-season tires on the front and newish ones on the rear. (I had a couple bad wheels and tires that I couldn't replace in time)
3) Been upgrading my chassis and handling. Right now I have a larger M5 sway bar and pull-rods on the rear and nothing new on the front. Stock suspension.
any thoughts on something more specific than others that probably caused such a loose front end? I didn't like it all
This is the first time I have had such a full trunk of luggage so I am assuming that was my problem for now. This is an xi so no dynamic suspension of any kind.
I have multiple things going on to explain it away but not happy with the feeling at all.
1) Had a car full of 4 adults and trunk full of luggage loaded to the max.
2) I had to put my wife's 17" wheels with brand new all-season tires on the front and newish ones on the rear. (I had a couple bad wheels and tires that I couldn't replace in time)
3) Been upgrading my chassis and handling. Right now I have a larger M5 sway bar and pull-rods on the rear and nothing new on the front. Stock suspension.
any thoughts on something more specific than others that probably caused such a loose front end? I didn't like it all
This is the first time I have had such a full trunk of luggage so I am assuming that was my problem for now. This is an xi so no dynamic suspension of any kind.
06-12-2011, 09:45 PM
#3
Senior Members
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Toronto, Canada
Posts: 521
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2012 535i X-driveSpace Grey/Black Dakota, Fineline Anthracite Trim; Executive Package (Rear View, Lumbar, Nav, Voice, SIRIUS, HiFi Pro) Technology Package (Hi Beam Assist, Lane Departure, Blind Spot Detection, Surround View) BMW Apps (Apps, Smart Pho
Model Year: 2012
Are the front and rear tires the same brand and model with just mileage difference?
Did you compensate for the full load by increasing the psi? I have had my 2008 535i with four adults and a full trunk and have expereinced none of your problems; but, I significantly increased the psi for the trip.
I have experienced your problems when one or more tires has a lot less air than the others. I can't comment on the other changes you have made.
Did you compensate for the full load by increasing the psi? I have had my 2008 535i with four adults and a full trunk and have expereinced none of your problems; but, I significantly increased the psi for the trip.
I have experienced your problems when one or more tires has a lot less air than the others. I can't comment on the other changes you have made.
06-13-2011, 03:45 AM
#4
Members
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Xi's have no sports suspension. So with load it will sway. Upgrade the shocks or buy coils to fix. I have an Xi with sports package and whenever I drive spirited I have to really counteract the bodyroll with just myself in the car.
06-13-2011, 03:45 AM
#5
Members
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Xi's have no sports suspension. So with load it will sway. Upgrade the shocks or buy coils to fix. I have an Xi with sports package and whenever I drive spirited I have to really counteract the bodyroll with just myself in the car.
06-13-2011, 04:18 AM
#6
Contributors
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: London, UK
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: BMW E60 520d SE Saloon M47 2.0dTitanium Grey II, Grey−Dakota Leather, Visibility Package, Media Package, Through Load System, Lumbar support − fr seats, Automatic Air Conditioning−Advanced, High beam assistant, Hi−Fi Loudspeak
Model Year: 2006
what was the cross winds like. You do know that our cars handle like yatchs in the wind.
06-13-2011, 08:21 AM
#7
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
Are the front and rear tires the same brand and model with just mileage difference?
Did you compensate for the full load by increasing the psi? I have had my 2008 535i with four adults and a full trunk and have expereinced none of your problems; but, I significantly increased the psi for the trip.
I have experienced your problems when one or more tires has a lot less air than the others. I can't comment on the other changes you have made.
Did you compensate for the full load by increasing the psi? I have had my 2008 535i with four adults and a full trunk and have expereinced none of your problems; but, I significantly increased the psi for the trip.
I have experienced your problems when one or more tires has a lot less air than the others. I can't comment on the other changes you have made.
Good thought on the tire pressure - i'll check that out and raise it a bit before I hit the road again.
06-13-2011, 08:25 AM
#8
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
These kinds of road trips and luggage for me has always been in the mini van so maybe the affect on the handling is just a little more un-expected to me in a car.
06-13-2011, 08:31 AM
#9
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Indiana, USA
Posts: 1,380
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2007 530xi: Sport, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, HD Radio, SAT, Custom NCS coded options 2008 535xi: Sport, Night Vision, NAV, PDC, HUD, Cold Wthr, CA, Logic 7, SAT, Custom NCS coded options, Rear Seat Heat Retrofit, Passport 9500ci
Model Year: 2008
Engine: N54
06-13-2011, 11:59 AM
#10
Senior Members
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: New York
Posts: 497
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
went on a 1300 mile round trip and after a few times getting nudged over by the big rigs wind id just steer slightly against it....but I can tell you the car should never feel unsettled under normal conditions, maybe its the combination of to many changes , ex. different tires/sway bar in the back only/lots of weight in the car, full load max will do it. How did the car feel on the way back?? or since??