I would love someone to.....

T

TikoV

Member
 Glasgow
drive my car and tell me if I'm imagining the terrible handling.

Looked at ball joints, steering rack etc and nothing apparent is showing up. However, put the foot down and get to half decent speeds the car just sways all over the place. On the motorway, hitting a bend causes the traction light to flash and it feels like the car is like trying to brake for you.

I know it is a big ask but this is my last try at keeping it...the fun of the car has been taken away completely.

Thanks in advance.

Tiko
 
sounds like a tracking issue.

I've had traction kick in on motorway bends and a four wheels alignment (hunter) resolved this
 
TikoV said:
drive my car and tell me if I'm imagining the terrible handling.

Looked at ball joints, steering rack etc and nothing apparent is showing up. However, put the foot down and get to half decent speeds the car just sways all over the place. On the motorway, hitting a bend causes the traction light to flash and it feels like the car is like trying to brake for you.

I know it is a big ask but this is my last try at keeping it...the fun of the car has been taken away completely.

Thanks in advance.

Tiko
Click to expand...


Hi Tiko,

From experience tracking helps a lot. I got my dealer to do a full KDS alignment. Although this is a great tool, it needs a good person using it!
Mine has been aligned twice now and is now much better. Had similar symptonms to you. The technician was also an enthisiast and had also owned E46 M3s so gave the suspension parts a good looking at he said they were fine on mine.

Ive also experimented with lower PSI (which others have also done on here). Currently running 28 on the fronts and 30 at the rears. As opposed to 30/32 as specified by the book and technician manual! This to me 'feels' better at speed (understandably with more drag on the tyre)!

Check your PSI to begin with, then tracking I would say :thumbsup:
 
If this problem has recently developed, rather than always been a characteristic of your car since you've had it, from what you say, it sounds to me like a tie rod has been bent or the ball joint is damaged which is causing toe changes under loading which will make the steering unpredictable. Have you knocked one of the front wheels on anything? It doesn't take much to damage these parts. If visual/manual inspection doesn't reveal anything obvious, I'd start by getting the geometry checked.
 
Thank you for your reply lads.

Yes it seems under load the car does skitter slightly and makes the steering extremely unpredictable. I did ask for any suspension faults but got told everything is in check. However I'm not convinced. Will also check tyre pressures.

The geometry was done last year but as suggested I will book it to be done again.

Any M owners based around Glasgow?

Thanks
 
I'm not an M owner but did use a good experienced guy for some geometry checking recently - recommended to me by Deutschtek Glasgow.

Contact Gordon McKellar of Caledonia Wheel Alignment (Shawfield). He's a dealer/ trainer etc. of Supertracker equipment though does customer alignments at his modest place near Shawfield often on Saturday mornings. He should remember Jack's grey Z4 with red roof !

Good luck.
 
Pro-Grip in Larbert are pretty good. http://www.pro-grip.org.uk

I'm a bit far away in Glen Coe but if you fancy a road trip :D
 
Beedub said:
not having much luck with this one are you :-( just hasn't seemed to work out for you.
Click to expand...

Definitely not....

However I noticed something strange whilst driving the car last night. Thought I'd have a little play with the tc off so fully pressed till light off. But hitting a bend hoping the car would come out, the light flashed on. So it has got me thinking that there is a faulty module possibly. Therefore from recent experience, the traction control is causing the imbalance in my opinion.

Took the car to Caledonia wheel alignment who told me settings were spot on...He suggested it may be the tyres causing this, but I have a feeling that it has something to do with the electronics.
 
The traction light should be illuminated if its turned off..

With the light flashing it means the traction is cutting in
 
No I understand...

But if you want to fully disable traction control, you keep the button pressed which then switches off completely (no light on) and can only be reset/restarted if car is switched off and started. This is my point that even after trying this, my traction control light still flicks when it really shouldn't.
 
Pressing it once only reduces the amount of traction, however keeping it pressed fully switches it off. Little trick I remember from my e46 and e92 m's.
 
TikoV said:
Pressing it once only reduces the amount of traction, however keeping it pressed fully switches it off. Little trick I remember from my e46 and e92 m's.
Click to expand...


no so on the e85/6 platform...

its either fully on... ( no light displayed on panel, but will flash if traction is lost.)

of grim reaper mode fully off, one press which you will be notified by the permanent illumination on the dash.

their is no in between mode.
 
The Z4 M Owner's Manual states:

Dynamic Stability Control DSC
DSC prevents slip at the drive wheels while starting off and accelerating the vehicle. DSC also recognizes unstable vehicle conditions, such as fishtailing or nose-diving. In these cases, and subject to physical limits, DSC helps to keep the vehicle on a steady course by reducing engine speed and by applying brakes at individual wheels.
The laws of physics cannot be repealed even with DSC. It will always be the driver's responsibility to drive in a manner that matches road conditions. Therefore, do not limit the additional safety margin by practicing risky driving.
Deactivating DSC
Press the button; the DSC indicator lamp in theinstrument cluster lights up. No more interventions to increase stability and forward momentum are carried out.
To enhance vehicle stability, reactivate DSC as soon as possible.
Activating DSC
Press the button briefly; the indicator lamp goes out in the instrument cluster.
Checking The indicator lamp flashes:
DSC controls the drive forces and brake forces.
The indicator lamp is lit:
DSC is deactivated.

Therefore only ON or OFF available.
 
Thanks so far for the input guys...

I got a diagnostic check and it turns out there are speed
sensor issues...3 times fail it said on the screen. Therefore am I right in assuming I need a speed sensor module (part no 34526769174) as this controls turn and braking on abs.

I would change the tyres if it were them but surely the previous owners never had this issue, so why should I.

Thanks
 
Hi Tiko,

A little confused over here.... :dizzy:

At speed were the brakes cutting in or something? How come this module has such a detriment to the handling? :)
 
Fast3000 said:
Hi Tiko,

A little confused over here.... :dizzy:

At speed were the brakes cutting in or something? How come this module has such a detriment to the handling? :)
Click to expand...

I swear the whole thing is starting to confuse me..

When I got the car on diagnostics...speed sensor faults, possible 3. From this the chap suggested that 3 faults suggest a module.

As far as I know this module controls yaw/dsc and abs when wheel spin is apparent. Mine tends to flash constantly, even at speeds where it really shouldn't happen. When a certain load is placed on the car, I get as the car wants to apply brakes. Like its about to lose control. However this isn't the case and I had to make lots of minor adjustments to keep correct.

Like I said hard to explain...really needs to be driven to understand.

Cheers
 
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