Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Tramlining!!!

Discuss problems you have had or are having with your Z4
dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by dans6490 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:49 am

I know this has been done to death but any help would be appreciated.

Six months in to ownership and winter will give me the opportunity to sort out a few niggles and upgrade/update a few bits.

At speed the car tramlines really badly, so much so that the traction control? Light came on when changing lanes at approx 70mph. In the 12 months before me it had the following done:
D2E60C0E-B5F7-4D8C-A1DF-89356B2746CD.jpeg
D2E60C0E-B5F7-4D8C-A1DF-89356B2746CD.jpeg (96.72 KiB) Viewed 1134 times
This was all done as the front tyres (non run flat) were/are still worn badly on the inside. I will be changing tyres over winter but do you think new tyres will cure this or is there anything else that it could be?

brillomaster
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1423
Joined: Thu Aug 24, 2017 12:57 pm
Location: Leamington Spa

Tramlining!!!

Post by brillomaster » Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:55 am

new tyres will help. and you might want to check the alignment again.

though that said, 18" wheels do seem to tramline a lot - especially on lane 1 of motorways where lorries have made a groove.

User avatar
Buckz
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1112
Joined: Mon Dec 05, 2016 11:00 am
Location: West sussex

Tramlining!!!

Post by Buckz » Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:58 am

what wheels ? my csl reps with falken fk453's tramlined like hell. My 18's with eagle f1s and other set with advan 105s feels spot on
Image

User avatar
chrisgreen
Member
Member
Posts: 225
Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2017 1:30 pm
Location: Bristol

Tramlining!!!

Post by chrisgreen » Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:52 pm

Tyres and alignment will be my guess.

Was the alignment done after all those other suspension parts were changed? Also any good alignment place will be able to fiddle around with the settings to help combat tramlining.
'04 E85 Z4 3.0 silver/black - daily driver :driving: - Sold
'02 E46 M3 PY/Kiwi
'05 E46 330d Touring - Silver Grey/Black

User avatar
MACK
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3600
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 11:38 am
Location: Manchester

Tramlining!!!

Post by MACK » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:17 pm

chrisgreen wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 12:52 pm Tyres and alignment will be my guess.

Was the alignment done after all those other suspension parts were changed? Also any good alignment place will be able to fiddle around with the settings to help combat tramlining.
+1
Good quality non runflat tyres
Decent alignment to Z4M specs should help.
I would also check all the new bits are as they should be. If something like a ball joint had a bit of play in it thats been missed then one of the new bushes could have been killed prematurely.
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
Mods inc- B12 kit, M3 Arms, 18" Zito 935's with PS4's, Decat & Remap, Switchable Exhaust Flap (SOLD)

dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by dans6490 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:39 pm

Thanks guys, the wheels are 19s (below). Tyres are Bridgestones but not run flats. 235/35 and 265/30 IIRC.
IMG_2462.JPG
IMG_2462.JPG (262.43 KiB) Viewed 1084 times
I like the look of 19s but have toyed with the idea of going to 18s with thicker tyres for a better ride. Also looked at black 17'' Apex arcs but a bit pricey!!

dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by dans6490 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:42 pm

I did also wonder about if the correct springs were fitted as looking at the above picture, it looks like a 4X4. Springs/coilovers on the ''to-do'' list.

Zoomer
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1115
Joined: Tue Jul 08, 2014 10:14 pm
Location: Staffordshire Moorlands

Tramlining!!!

Post by Zoomer » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:46 pm

I had Z4m tyre size on my last z4 and it rode slightly better than my current one on standard 18 tyres so would think that the 19s are having an effect plus being colder there's less flex in the tyres
Sterling Grey 3.0i E85 Black Heated Leather M sports seats , 224's ,Sat Nav, Bluetooth, Xenons, PDC, Gaptech ,Cruise and a nice warm garage. NOW GONE
Silver 3.0i Z4 NOW GONE

Chris1981
Member
Member
Posts: 281
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:39 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by Chris1981 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:49 pm

I think all suspension suggestions have been covered above and it seems you replaced everything you could! Mine tramlined like a good-un when i first got it, to the point it felt dangerous on roads that weren't perfectly smooth and the inside lane on motorways was a white knuckle experience, ditching the run flats was all i needed to do.

Have you thought about the EPAS system... there's a thread somewhere on here about an adjuster ring on the steering column, potentially worth investigating next?
E86 Coupe 3.0si Sport - Montego Blue, Pearl Grey with Piano Black dash
BC BR series Coilovers, powerflex bushes, 15mm spacers, Custom SS exhaust, CDV delete

User avatar
step_change
Member
Member
Posts: 737
Joined: Fri Nov 25, 2016 4:21 pm
Location: Planet Earth
Contact:

Tramlining!!!

Post by step_change » Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:07 pm

brillomaster wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 11:55 am
though that said, 18" wheels do seem to tramline a lot - especially on lane 1 of motorways where lorries have made a groove.
^^^This.
A1 Northbound near Stamford is so bad I nearly lost control on one occasion...
Gone :( : 2013 35is, Melbourne Red, DCT, Nav, Comfort pack
Gone: 2007 2.5is, Montego Blue, Auto, Nav

dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by dans6490 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 2:10 pm

Chris1981 wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:49 pm I think all suspension suggestions have been covered above and it seems you replaced everything you could! Mine tramlined like a good-un when i first got it, to the point it felt dangerous on roads that weren't perfectly smooth and the inside lane on motorways was a white knuckle experience, ditching the run flats was all i needed to do.

Have you thought about the EPAS system... there's a thread somewhere on here about an adjuster ring on the steering column, potentially worth investigating next?
I had seen about the steering column but thought i'd change tyres first and go from there. Im hoping tyres and alignment will sort but i guess EPAS is the only other thing to try?

Chris1981
Member
Member
Posts: 281
Joined: Wed Apr 05, 2017 11:39 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by Chris1981 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 5:06 pm

Yeah, I think you've tried everything suspension related... unless like Mack has suggested any of the new parts aren't that great!

If the EPAS is assisting too much it'll naturally pull itself towards deviations in the road surface... I think this is similar logic in ditching run-flats! The heavy tyres naturally gravitate to the uneven surface and the EPAS 'assists' with that movement so pulls you into the ditches!?
E86 Coupe 3.0si Sport - Montego Blue, Pearl Grey with Piano Black dash
BC BR series Coilovers, powerflex bushes, 15mm spacers, Custom SS exhaust, CDV delete

User avatar
MACK
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 3600
Joined: Mon Jun 15, 2015 11:38 am
Location: Manchester

Tramlining!!!

Post by MACK » Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:45 pm

dans6490 wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 1:39 pm Thanks guys, the wheels are 19s (below). Tyres are Bridgestones but not run flats. 235/35 and 265/30 IIRC.

IMG_2462.JPG

I like the look of 19s but have toyed with the idea of going to 18s with thicker tyres for a better ride. Also looked at black 17'' Apex arcs but a bit pricey!!
The arch gap looks huge, is the car jacked up at all.
In addition to what I and others have said, the wheels are potentially amplifing any issues your having if theyre significantly heavier than the original ones. The extra width in your tyres probably isn't help either. However all that said, do you have a print out etc from your alignment. The reason I ask is I've been genuinely surprised at some of the bad jobs folks have had on here and if yours was similar I suspect that would be the route cause of your issues. Everything else (heavier wheels, wider tyres etc) would just be magnifying it
Silver 05 3.0i SE
Mods inc - F/L Xenons Clear Ind Rear Lights M Sport Seats & Wheel Eibach/B4 3.64 DIFF (SOLD)

White E89 20i M Sport
Mods inc- B12 kit, M3 Arms, 18" Zito 935's with PS4's, Decat & Remap, Switchable Exhaust Flap (SOLD)

dans6490
Member
Member
Posts: 977
Joined: Mon Apr 14, 2014 10:28 am

Tramlining!!!

Post by dans6490 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 6:59 pm

The arch gap does look huge! No not jacked up but my drive is on a slight slope.

All of the work was carried out before I bought the car and the previous owner didn’t have the print out unfortunately.

I definitely think your right about the wheels being heavier which makes me think 18s might be better. 19s look better but I don’t want to buy tires and an alignment to find the problem still there.

Might be worth seeing if I can borrow some 18s from someone before spending money and finding it’s no better.

Would love a set of these:

User avatar
philbo909
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1072
Joined: Fri Apr 28, 2017 4:46 pm
Location: SN8

Tramlining!!!

Post by philbo909 » Tue Nov 14, 2017 7:01 pm

dans6490 wrote: Tue Nov 14, 2017 10:49 am
This was all done as the front tyres (non run flat) were/are still worn badly on the inside.
if the tyres are still worn badly on the inside you need to get an alignment and a new set of rubber
Sapphire black z4 coupe 135,000miles young

Post Reply