330ci Sport High Speed Stability
Discussion
Hi
My girlfriend just bought a 2 yr old/23k miles 330Ci Sport and whilst on the whole we're delighted with it there is one thing bugging me.
At motorway speeds the car becomes very light and seems particularly susceptible to side winds and bumps in the road surface. The steering seems to lose directness and it all becomes very vague.
Its not what we were expecting at all considering the number of flat out BMWs that pi$$ past our Griff 500 on German autobahns when the road gets rough!
The car has perfect stock tyres, no accident damage, FBMWSH and is in mega condition. (It does tramline a great deal too but I kind of expected some of that due to the wide tyres on the Sport.)
I assume its not meant to be like this at high speed and I hope that perhaps a simple geometry check should sort it (I know the difference it makes to the TVR but have no experience on "normal" cars). We're going to put a call in to the dealer but in the meantime does anybody have any experience they can share?
Thanks
Marco
My girlfriend just bought a 2 yr old/23k miles 330Ci Sport and whilst on the whole we're delighted with it there is one thing bugging me.
At motorway speeds the car becomes very light and seems particularly susceptible to side winds and bumps in the road surface. The steering seems to lose directness and it all becomes very vague.
Its not what we were expecting at all considering the number of flat out BMWs that pi$$ past our Griff 500 on German autobahns when the road gets rough!
The car has perfect stock tyres, no accident damage, FBMWSH and is in mega condition. (It does tramline a great deal too but I kind of expected some of that due to the wide tyres on the Sport.)
I assume its not meant to be like this at high speed and I hope that perhaps a simple geometry check should sort it (I know the difference it makes to the TVR but have no experience on "normal" cars). We're going to put a call in to the dealer but in the meantime does anybody have any experience they can share?
Thanks
Marco
Sounds unusual, nothing much to suggest other than the conclusions you have already reached. I had a e46 328 saloon auto, then a 330ci cab sport manual.
If anything the 330 cab sport was more stable, I had the car up showing an indicated 150mph, very stable, car was on 18inch MVsport wheels on 225/40 255/35
I always found the sports steering quite meaty and direct at speed, although it was quite comfortable to cruise with one hand on the wheel at high speeds.
The 328 suffered from a vibration through the steering and was in for balancing and alignment checks 3 or 4 times then it was tracked down to the discs, had 3 sets in 45000 miles
I would go get the suspension settings checked at the dealers and ask to drive another similar car, just to check.
Great car hope it all works out.
Good luck.
If anything the 330 cab sport was more stable, I had the car up showing an indicated 150mph, very stable, car was on 18inch MVsport wheels on 225/40 255/35
I always found the sports steering quite meaty and direct at speed, although it was quite comfortable to cruise with one hand on the wheel at high speeds.
The 328 suffered from a vibration through the steering and was in for balancing and alignment checks 3 or 4 times then it was tracked down to the discs, had 3 sets in 45000 miles
I would go get the suspension settings checked at the dealers and ask to drive another similar car, just to check.
Great car hope it all works out.
Good luck.
Get it checked. I had a 330Ci in Germany and it was fine cruising at 140 mph. Above that speed, it did not induce confiudence and I didn't dare even scratch my nose when driving. My M3 feels much more solid at higher speeds, all the way to above where the limiter is supposed to kick in.
I understand that tyre choice can influence this problem on the 330Ci Sport. Obviously tyre pressures are also critical, irrespective of the make of tyres fitted. Could you please advise the make of tyres currently fitted to your car, as my son has this problem with the identical spec car running on Michelins.
Can now update this thread, as my son has just fitted Dunlop SP 9000`s, which has transformed the handling and completely eliminated tram-lining on his 330Ci Sport. It concerns me that some BeeM main dealers(thankfully not all) are not aware of the profound impact that the choice of rubber can have on the vehicles handling, especially those on 18" wheels and low profile tyres. I would like to add that I have no connection with Dunlop whatsoever, merely concern for my son`s safety
Hi Dude
Your response is very interesting as the tyres we have are also Dunlops!
The car had a full KDS geometry check which turned up no real problems but they did not the extreme wear to the inside of the front tyres. This could well account for the lack of stability although it "feels" for all the world like a problem at the rear!
The other problem is the DSC activating way to early and way to aggressively, going straight into full ABS mode at very average speeds if the ground is bumpy enough! I took the BMW Tech guy out on saturday morning and for the first 40 minutes (!!) the car behaved perfectly. It drifted around my empty test island like McRae was at the wheel with the electronics performing superbly - the guy thought I was wasting his time until 2 miles from base with him at the wheel a 30mph bumpy island have the ABS cutting in and out and drained the colour from his face!
So, looks like 2 problems for us. New fronts may cure the stability - if not then more geometry checks - and a suspected dicky wheel speed sensor for the ropey DSC.
I'll keep you informed and thanks for all the feedback.
Marco
Your response is very interesting as the tyres we have are also Dunlops!
The car had a full KDS geometry check which turned up no real problems but they did not the extreme wear to the inside of the front tyres. This could well account for the lack of stability although it "feels" for all the world like a problem at the rear!
The other problem is the DSC activating way to early and way to aggressively, going straight into full ABS mode at very average speeds if the ground is bumpy enough! I took the BMW Tech guy out on saturday morning and for the first 40 minutes (!!) the car behaved perfectly. It drifted around my empty test island like McRae was at the wheel with the electronics performing superbly - the guy thought I was wasting his time until 2 miles from base with him at the wheel a 30mph bumpy island have the ABS cutting in and out and drained the colour from his face!
So, looks like 2 problems for us. New fronts may cure the stability - if not then more geometry checks - and a suspected dicky wheel speed sensor for the ropey DSC.
I'll keep you informed and thanks for all the feedback.
Marco
Hi
Anyone still following this?
Anyhoo, car went back to the supplying dealer in the North West who double check the KDS laser alignment as done 2 days earlier by my local BMW main dealer. Result is that the geometry is a million miles out! The rear in particular has the wheels pointing in different directions.
I'll get the full report tomorrow but if its correct then I am a little disturbed that all BMW dealers are clearly not of the same competence! How many other people have my local lads charged £200 and sent on their way with dangerously unstable vehicles?
I'll report back when I've driven it myself at the weekend but I think an abusive letter needs sending!
Marco
Anyone still following this?
Anyhoo, car went back to the supplying dealer in the North West who double check the KDS laser alignment as done 2 days earlier by my local BMW main dealer. Result is that the geometry is a million miles out! The rear in particular has the wheels pointing in different directions.
I'll get the full report tomorrow but if its correct then I am a little disturbed that all BMW dealers are clearly not of the same competence! How many other people have my local lads charged £200 and sent on their way with dangerously unstable vehicles?
I'll report back when I've driven it myself at the weekend but I think an abusive letter needs sending!
Marco
Hi Marco
Have been following your thread with interest and was wondering when you can give an update to your handling problems. To me it seems appalling that the first main dealer was unable to recognise that your vehicles tracking was miles adrift. I would certainly contact BMW UK Office at Bracknell and let them know (in writing) about this dealer and question their competence to diagnose, what could be a potentially life threatening problem.!!!
Have been following your thread with interest and was wondering when you can give an update to your handling problems. To me it seems appalling that the first main dealer was unable to recognise that your vehicles tracking was miles adrift. I would certainly contact BMW UK Office at Bracknell and let them know (in writing) about this dealer and question their competence to diagnose, what could be a potentially life threatening problem.!!!
Hi Dude
Well we got the car back with geometry redone plus a pair of new tyres on the front and after a week I can honestly say that the handling is transformed! It really is a different car.
The dealer told me that the new fronts probably contributed very little to the transformation such was the misalignment of the rear wheels. I'm inclined to believe him as I thought it was rear geometry right at the beginning (I know the feeling from my Griff). I am however more than a little dissappointed that the quality of BMW dealers doesn't seem to be consistant across the country so maybe a letter would be in order although I'm not sure what good it will do. Certainly we will be voting with our feet.
Anybody know any decent BMW dealers in the midlands? (Preferably NOT opposite a certain high profile Chinese restaurant!)
Marco
Well we got the car back with geometry redone plus a pair of new tyres on the front and after a week I can honestly say that the handling is transformed! It really is a different car.
The dealer told me that the new fronts probably contributed very little to the transformation such was the misalignment of the rear wheels. I'm inclined to believe him as I thought it was rear geometry right at the beginning (I know the feeling from my Griff). I am however more than a little dissappointed that the quality of BMW dealers doesn't seem to be consistant across the country so maybe a letter would be in order although I'm not sure what good it will do. Certainly we will be voting with our feet.
Anybody know any decent BMW dealers in the midlands? (Preferably NOT opposite a certain high profile Chinese restaurant!)
Marco
Marco
Pleased to hear you`ve finally got that handling sorted, and that you can now enjoy all that performance in safety. As far as contacting BMW UK Head Office is concerned, I can assure you that BMW take all complaints against their main dealer network very seriously, and a strongly worded letter detailing your problems will result in the appropriate action against this crap dealership.
Pleased to hear you`ve finally got that handling sorted, and that you can now enjoy all that performance in safety. As far as contacting BMW UK Head Office is concerned, I can assure you that BMW take all complaints against their main dealer network very seriously, and a strongly worded letter detailing your problems will result in the appropriate action against this crap dealership.
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