E85 vibration through steering wheel

[louie12]

Hi

I'm experiencing fairly major vibration through the steering wheel when I reach 65 / 70 MPH, so much so it feels live I'm driving over a cobbled road.

The car was recently serviced & MOT'd, before which it seemed OK. The garage has checked the wheel balancing twice now and they assure me it's not that, but don't have much of a clue where to look next. Whilst I don't have a lot of confidence in them, I don't want to take it elsewhere yet as I believe the problem has been caused by them somehow.

Any pointers I could pass on to them would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Mike6]

I think garages only charge if tyre is out of balance so take it elsewhere reputable (not Kwik Fit) and get them rechecked

 

[louie12]

Thanks for that. It is actually ATS who I am using as they did the service and MOT :tumbleweed:

 

[philbo909]

Thanks for that. It is actually ATS who I am using as they did the service and MOT :tumbleweed:

ATS are as useless as kwik fit imo, better off going to a decent indie

 

[Z4 Gaz]

Does it do it all the time and with the same intensity at those speeds?

I had a vibration recently which was caused by a sticking caliper and overheating front disk.

 

[Scooba_Steve]

I've been able to feel vibration with a wheel only 5g out. For a sticking caliper one wheel will be noticeably hotter after a drive.

 

[louie12]

Does it do it all the time and with the same intensity at those speeds?

I had a vibration recently which was caused by a sticking caliper and overheating front disk.

There's no evidence of it at any other speed or rev range so I'm assuming it's something resonantal. The front discs and pads were replaced 6 months ago and I had no issues then. The alloys were changed at the same time (couldn't find / afford originals so bought some Momo ones) but again no issues till now.

 

[louie12]

I've been able to feel vibration with a wheel only 5g out. For a sticking caliper one wheel will be noticeably hotter after a drive.

Thanks Steve. This is a serious arm vibro-massge when it starts to the point it feels unstable and difficult to keep straight.

 

[patriot66]

I have had high speed steering vibration twice in the past on different BMWs. One was an alloy bent diametrically (pothole damage/flat - spotted ?) and second time a bulge in the tread of a tyre caused by damaged belting in the carcass. A couple of things worth checking.

 

[Marlon]

Does it do it all the time and with the same intensity at those speeds?

I had a vibration recently which was caused by a sticking caliper and overheating front disk.

There's no evidence of it at any other speed or rev range so I'm assuming it's something resonantal. The front discs and pads were replaced 6 months ago and I had no issues then. The alloys were changed at the same time (couldn't find / afford originals so bought some Momo ones) but again no issues till now.

I had the exact same and it was cleared by a wheel balance (at an Indy)

'resonantal' eh, new word for the day - thanks (although Google has trouble defining it)

 

[Z4 Gaz]

Does it do it all the time and with the same intensity at those speeds?

I had a vibration recently which was caused by a sticking caliper and overheating front disk.

There's no evidence of it at any other speed or rev range so I'm assuming it's something resonantal. The front discs and pads were replaced 6 months ago and I had no issues then. The alloys were changed at the same time (couldn't find / afford originals so bought some Momo ones) but again no issues till now.

Having new discs and pads will make no difference if the caliper is sticking. Check the brakes after a drive to see if 1 is hotter than the rest.
We have had 3 separate instances of vibrations. 2 on our E91 and 1 on the Z4. 2 were sticking calipers and 1 a knackered flexi hose.
Dead easy to check to rule it out as it will be significantly hotter than the others.

 

[MACK]

The 65mph region is classic bad wheel balancing teritory. I would do as others have suggested and take it elsewhere for a second opinion as it's still probably the most likely culprit.

 

[louie12]

Ok. Thanks all. I'll see what ATS come up with this time and if no better will try Walkers Autotech (nearest indie). And Marlon I'm pretty sure I made up resonantal!

 

[louie12]

**Update** 3rd time lucky. ATS finally got the wheels properly balanced. Vibration-free driving at last...