Handling issue.

RMB

RMB

Active member
 Bournemouth
I took my zed on a long run for a work stay yesterday, returning this morning. It was a great drive on the way up with the roof down all the way.
Coming back wasn’t so nice and I drove the car for the first time with the roof up!
The engine didn’t miss a beat and was lovely, I averaged near 40mpg for the journey too!
One thing was that the car seems to be wanting to follow cambers quite badly at times and can pull a bit. On a couple of sections of badly rutted motorway the car wanted to move alarmingly.
I even had to countersteer slightly going over lines after a lane change once in the wet.
I have newish 2022 MPS4 ZP (run flats) with loads of tread on the rear. Bridgestone RE050 RFTs on the front. These look in excellent condition with good tread and no cracking at all but are dated 2013! The car is on 17” 201 turbines, factory square set up.
I’m thinking I should get the tracking checked first, maybe then change the fronts. Or both? If no joy I need to look into suspension.
My mechanic had a Quick Look over it last week and mentioned shocks may be needed, springs look quite new, he also mentioned a drop link.
Ideally I’d change all four tyres to MPS5 but seems a waste of a good set of rears and the ride is absolutely fine being an SE on 17s with relatively high profile tyres.
Does anyone know likely cause or have any pointers as to what this could be?
 
Many companies make very good RFTs. Sadly, the Bridgestones aren't amongst them!
There could could be many reasons: tracking, worn dampers, worn bushes. But until you lose those Bridgestones you won't know.
Luckily, as you have a square set up, you could start by swapping front to rear and see what difference that makes.
 
[ref]enuff_zed[/ref], thanks for the reply.
Yes I had RE050s on my E82 and going to MPS4 absolutely transformed the car.
I may try the front to rear swap then first. Slightly scary prospect but at least I don’t have masses of power to unsettle the rear too much!
I’ll report back.
 
Also forgot to mention front bump stops are completely rotten away!
 
Not had any problems with Bridgestone RFTs on both our E89s (except they make the ride as hard as nails).
If you hit the depressions on motorways, made by millions of lorries trundling along them, I don't think any tyres or tracking adjustment are going to help TBH.

Just do what every other BMW driver does; sit in the outside lane continuously (no lorries to destroy the surface there, only 3 tonne EVs). :D
 
😆
I pride myself on keeping left unless overtaking, whilst moaning to myself or any unlucky passenger about everyone else who isn’t.
We don’t need more lanes, just for them all to be used properly.
 
RMB said:
Also forgot to mention front bump stops are completely rotten away!
Click to expand...
Not ideal, but shouldn't affect handling unless you're scrubbing the door handles.
 
Check front lower arm rear bushes and ball joints.
Check inner rack joints and track rod ends.
Check rear trailing arm bushes.
 
RMB said:
😆
I pride myself on keeping left unless overtaking, whilst moaning to myself or any unlucky passenger about everyone else who isn’t.
We don’t need more lanes, just for them all to be used properly.
Click to expand...
Hear, hear (spelt it right time)
 
I've had a few BMWs on run-flats that were prone to tramlining like you describe, but my Z4s were by far the worst!

The two E46 Compacts didn't suffer from it and my MC doesn't, but they all had non-runflats so I'd start there.

But those items listed by j3nks79 are worth checking, then maybe a 4 wheel alignment.
 
Mr Tidy said:
I've had a few BMWs on run-flats that were prone to tramlining like you describe, but my Z4s were by far the worst!

The two E46 Compacts didn't suffer from it and my MC doesn't, but they all had non-runflats so I'd start there.

But those items listed by j3nks79 are worth checking, then maybe a 4 wheel alignment.
Click to expand...
I agree entirely. My point though was that with the RFTs on the front you would never quite be sure if changing suspension parts hadn’t improved anything or whether it was still the tyres masking it,
 
Thanks for everyone’s input so far.
My plan was going to be replace the front Bridgestones with MPS4 ZP runflats to match the rears.
I wouldn’t normally spec RFTs, especially after past experience, but the rears have done hardly any miles and it’ll cost twice as much of course to replace all 4. Hopefully these are better than RE050s.
I’ll swap front and rear wheels around this morning before a new forest drive and see what that feels like. 😬
PS not sure it’s a good idea to have one axle with RFTs and one normal either.
 
RMB said:
I’ll swap front and rear wheels around this morning before a new forest drive and see what that feels like. 😬
Click to expand...
Don't expect perfection, and be aware you have the worst tyres on the back, but you should be able to quickly determine if the current handling issue is still there.
 
Ok so my weekend drive was ok but I didn’t get onto the same roads or motorway speeds at all.
I’ve ordered a pair of MPS4 ZP to match the others plus 4 wheel alignment. The 10 year old Bridgestones need to go.
I’ll get all four wheels checked for balance etc too.
Hopefully that will be a big improvement.
Going in on Monday and then a good drive on Wednesday to feel the transformation!
 
This sounds exactly how mine was when I got it. I put on 4 Kumho PS71s and it transformed the car, went in for tracking and ended up doing the rear bushes on the fornt wishbones and it’s so much more confidence inspiring when driving.
 
Good to hear, my new tyres were fitted on Monday as planned. Although they couldn’t adjust the tracking as it was all ceased and they didn’t have any heat. So I need to get my mechanic to loosen and then return for tracking adjustment. ATS did say tracking was out and all toed in too much. May still need suspension parts…
Found some lovely roads on my drive yesterday and no major dramas at all, but must get the tracking adjusted.
 
It sounds like the new tyres have solved the handling issue then. Hopefully it will be even better once the tracking has been done. :thumbsup:

I hope some hear helps - I ended up having both track-rods replaced on mine when I got an alignment done as they were seized solid. :(
 
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