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passenger side of car is lower than driver

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Old 08-10-2006, 06:18 AM
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Originally Posted by ImSort0fABigDeal' post='320326' date='Aug 8 2006, 09:57 PM
Everytime I get in my car it feels as if the passenger side of the car hangs lower than the driver side. Even when I step outside and look at the car from the back it appears to hang lower on the passenger side. Others said the same, so I took my car to the dealership and asked them to measure the right and left side of my car up near the front wheel wells and they said it the same side on both. Just wondering if anyone else has felt that their car hung a little lower on the passenger side as well.

I assume it is a left hand drive? If so, this is because the fuel tank is on the passenger side, which makes the car lean over..... especially when full!

Paul
Old 08-10-2006, 12:27 PM
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Originally Posted by axuklpsyk' post='320997' date='Aug 10 2006, 07:18 AM
I assume it is a left hand drive? If so, this is because the fuel tank is on the passenger side, which makes the car lean over..... especially when full!

Paul
thanks for ur input
Old 08-10-2006, 12:35 PM
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Originally Posted by axuklpsyk' post='320997' date='Aug 10 2006, 04:18 PM
I assume it is a left hand drive? If so, this is because the fuel tank is on the passenger side, which makes the car lean over..... especially when full!

Paul
No. The tank has two parts and is under the rear seats. One half on each side.
Old 08-10-2006, 12:35 PM
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hey jiio , im curious how did the shop "adjust" the springs to level out the car ?
Old 08-12-2006, 06:36 AM
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Originally Posted by tsilveracs' post='321246' date='Aug 10 2006, 04:35 PM
hey jiio , im curious how did the shop "adjust" the springs to level out the car ?
I too would like to know more about how the springs can be adjusted.

I also heard that BMW's are designed so the car will naturally angle/steer to the right (in the US) so if a driver falls asleep at the wheel, he/she will steer to the side of the road rather than to traffic coming the other way. Is this true? Are the two issues related?
Old 08-12-2006, 06:05 PM
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Ya I noticed that too. I actually measured it and its like almost an inch off the two sides... but I've never done anything about it too...
Old 08-12-2006, 07:56 PM
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Originally Posted by monacobmw' post='321836' date='Aug 12 2006, 09:36 AM
I too would like to know more about how the springs can be adjusted.

I also heard that BMW's are designed so the car will naturally angle/steer to the right (in the US) so if a driver falls asleep at the wheel, he/she will steer to the side of the road rather than to traffic coming the other way. Is this true? Are the two issues related?
I'm not sure this would be true since as soon as an alignment is done, it will be set back to straight. Mine is just a bit lower on the right side, but does not pull to the right at all.
Old 08-12-2006, 09:04 PM
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Originally Posted by alpineweiss' post='320467' date='Aug 9 2006, 02:59 AM
It is to compensate for driver's weight! Once you're inside it'll more or less be even on both sides. Both my E60 and previous E46 are like this.

That doesn't make sense. What if you got a front passenger with the same body weight as the driver? Then the cars heigh will be unven again.
Old 08-12-2006, 09:58 PM
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Originally Posted by VTec' post='322011' date='Aug 13 2006, 05:56 AM
I'm not sure this would be true since as soon as an alignment is done, it will be set back to straight. Mine is just a bit lower on the right side, but does not pull to the right at all.
A proper alignment should be done with the car weighted the way you normally drive it - either with just the driver on board or two passengers. On the E60 it probably makes little difference but on a Miata the driver can be 10% of the car's weight - and the right thing to do is to compensate for it. Most alignment places will stare at you as if you're an idiot if you ask for this but the ones that set up cars for competition will know what to do.

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Old 08-13-2006, 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by PoleApart' post='322031' date='Aug 13 2006, 12:58 AM
A proper alignment should be done with the car weighted the way you normally drive it - either with just the driver on board or two passengers. On the E60 it probably makes little difference but on a Miata the driver can be 10% of the car's weight - and the right thing to do is to compensate for it. Most alignment places will stare at you as if you're an idiot if you ask for this but the ones that set up cars for competition will know what to do.

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I hate when they stare when you just try to do things right. Or even worse, when a car shop acts like it's an imposition when you explain the right way to do things. I think they feel that they should already know these things, so their defense is to act like you're crazy!


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