Pulling to the left???

Z

zippster

Member
hey all , had my z4m a few months now and loving it, i has a strange issue with the car pulling to the left slightly? i also had this issue with the standard wheels so its not my CSL's. ive had 2x 4 wheel laser tracking setups done and its defiantly driving straight and brakes in a straight line??

so unless all the roads on my way to work have a slight camber it feels like it pulls to the left.

anyone else find this?


Thanks in advance


Andy..
 
I have this issue as well. Although i could change lane very easily if i was to let my grip go on the wheel. On long journeys it can get quite tiring. Told the dealer about it during oil service and the tech felt it on the test drive but said it was wheel alignment (pot holes etc) and would cost me £200+ for the special BMW wheel alignment (i created an earlier post about this). Too excessive for me so im taking it to a specialised tyre place who have admitted that they can do some adjustments but need to see it before saying they can sort also confirmed the BMW specific alignment process. If you look at your wheels this is what the small hole are for around the nuts! Who knew!

Seems a reasonable explanation but i havent hit any pot holes or kerbed her so it just another expense.

Very had to get a claim from warranty im my opinion.
 
hmmm thanks for your response, seem strange and i dont see how bmw could align any different to anyone else really.

think i may phone the service department and have a chat



Cheers
 
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5148&p=74332&hilit=wheel+alignment#p74332


Here is my post regarding alignment. KDS was the name and i was a little over excited about the price i quoted above. Have a look at your wheels for the small holes. The normal laser alignment uses the rims to clamp onto.

Im sure a standard reputable tyre centre could sort the issue in my case anyway. However i dont have the CSL's so can comment on that one. Check for scrubbing across the tyres.
 
Awesome, never noticed the holes in the wheels before, just been looking on the 'net, they all have them.
 
Thats what i was like - i still need to see the equipment that does it all though. Links on the web much appreciated!
 
http://www.pro-align.co.uk/products/pdfs/5208TE%20-%20KDS%20Wheel%20Alignment%20Systems%20-%20Rev%2009-04.pdf
 
I also have had this issue since day of purchase. I took it to a company who offer wheel alignment but they said everything was fine. £200 from BMW seems pretty excessive to fix it!!
 
Have a slight pull to the left on mine also. Seems a common problem :cry: Only really notice it on a long journey. No sign of uneven wear on tyres after 12,000 miles. Did swap them over from left to right when I first noticed the problem and it improved considerably but was still there.

I remember a thread on this about a year ago somewhere and a fault was finally traced by BMW to a tie bar adjustment or similar on the steering set up. Alignment check didn't show up the problem. I have the article somewhere as hard copy .I'll see if I can dig it out.
 
scottie1979 said:
I second that - would be great if you could find it.

Would that make it a viable warranty claim?
Click to expand...

No is the simple answer. This has been a significant factor in ruining my current car and I've had the factory technician and various other bods from BMW who've all said this is normal for the car and that there's nothing wrong with it. The only thing I can suggest is that you find a decent four wheel alignment specialist like Power Station and see if they can improve it as BMW/Vines are stuck in their usual 'head up their own r's' and don't want to rectify the problem.
 
I remember a thread on this about a year ago somewhere and a fault was finally traced by BMW to a tie bar adjustment or similar on the steering set up. Alignment check didn't show up the problem. I have the article somewhere as hard copy .I'll see if I can dig it out.
Click to expand...

Sammyz any luck finding the details you mentioned?
 
Its interesting to find out that others have noticed this...
I pointed it out to the stealer when I was on test drive before I bought my M. He put it down to the camber of the road which judging by the road we were on... I could believe. Although having had the car for a few months now I was starting to wonder since it's not gone away.
It's not that bad TBH though, I just tend to notice things. Guess I'll live with it!
 
sorry for the delay! Been in the South of France for a week. Wish I'd had the Z with me as the roads were fantastic. Had to make do with a Toyota Yaris :cry: but still managed to chuck it about on the twisties.


anyway, according to the article I copied from (old Z4um) the guy eventually had a BMW engineer to trace the problem to ajustment of the stabiliser bar. No more details I'm afraid. Not sure if this is a recognisable component on the Z4s steering set up?? The guy was from South Africa so not sure if we would call it something else.
 
update....

well im sat in service reception...

brought the car in this morning and explained again to the woman in the desk and also brought my 2x 4 wheel alignment reports from mitcheldever. she explained that this is not covered under warrenty and will be chargable..i asked to speak to someone about this as i have only had the car 3 months (bought it 1 week before my first baby was born) and hadnt really had the time until now to book it in. i also explained that i assumed that if it pulls slightly to the left i assumed that it would be tracking and rather book it in with the dealer it was easier to take it to a specialist down the road from me. this instantly caused friction as apparently i should have reported it straight away and booked it in for a check.

anyways i sure you can get the jist of how the rest of the conversation went especially when i said rather then booking it in with the dealer i went and spent £2000+ on a new set of wheels thinking that it was a problem with the wheel or tyre...

so ieft the car with them and walked over the road to see my friendly sales guy who i have bought my last 4 cars from (wifes and mine) who swiftly called the service team to tell them to get on with the work..

so.... im sat here and a few minutes ago the service manager came over to me with a smug look on his face to say that "unfortunatly sir we cannot perform a KDS alignment on your car with them wheels installed as its not in spec!!" as this point my friendly sales guys phones and explains that he will be sending another car over to service with the corect wheels to allow the alignment to be performed.....

so currently my csls are off and a new set of standards are back on ; )


stay tuned...
 
Kudos to the sales rep! Too bad the service dept. is like all the rest and do not want to perform any service without charging :x
 
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