Scary/Twitchy feel over 65mph!

Already changed all bushes and suspension along with 3 alignments at different places which made no difference.
 
Having the same steering issues to the extent that thinking of selling car as recently tried an mx5 which felt so much better and similar to my old z3.
With so many similar posts,it must be something to do with the electric steering as that is the only common factor.
Did read on another(e46 I think)forum that steering coupler replacement cured it but not sure where or what that is or if anyone has already tried that one.
Using the sport button seems to merely increase the effort to turn the wheel but still has that wandering vague feeling and there is the constant small shaking type movement in the wheel as if something is worn, but what?
Actually built up enough courage this morning to try a blast way over the speed limit to see if any improvement but no although did not get any worse.
Hopefully someone can resolve this issue as the mx5 is so slow!!
Gareth
 
Before my enlightenment I had a 123d - it was very sensitive to worn-out inside lanes!

Low tyre pressures made it worse, and worn RFTs made it worse still!

But my current Z4C doesn't seem to be affected by this - but then I haven't done 65mph with it! :laugh:

"70ish" is a much better speed your honour! (And if you go abroad 100ish works pretty well too)! :driving:
 
For what its worth,my zed was wayward and quite hairy in very fast curves,and would Dodge about under hard braking,tramlining too.As I had already checked my ball joints,steering joints,tyre pressures etc and found no play or problems and the same checks had just been carried out by the m.o.t.tester,with a new pass certificate issued,I was scratching my head abit!When under the car one day s he was up on the drive up ramps I noticed the lower front wishbone inner rear rubber bushes were both eccentric.I.e.the hexagonal barends at the end of the wishbones were not concentric in the housings and when I grabbed the rear end of the wishbones I could move them around by hand!After the shock/horror subsided,I forgave myself and the m.o.t.tester for not finding this as the normal wheel waggling at 7/1 o'clock,9/3 oclock does not show up the wear.When upgrading to the powerflex bushes,a handy tip:grab a cheapo draper 4"puller from halfords for A tenner.This draws off the old bushes easily without the risk of burning your pride and joy.Car now drives accurately (even faster) :evil: Go check your bushes men!
 
jack07 said:
For what its worth,my zed was wayward and quite hairy in very fast curves,and would Dodge about under hard braking,tramlining too.As I had already checked my ball joints,steering joints,tyre pressures etc and found no play or problems and the same checks had just been carried out by the m.o.t.tester,with a new pass certificate issued,I was scratching my head abit!When under the car one day s he was up on the drive up ramps I noticed the lower front wishbone inner rear rubber bushes were both eccentric.I.e.the hexagonal barends at the end of the wishbones were not concentric in the housings and when I grabbed the rear end of the wishbones I could move them around by hand!After the shock/horror subsided,I forgave myself and the m.o.t.tester for not finding this as the normal wheel waggling at 7/1 o'clock,9/3 oclock does not show up the wear.When upgrading to the powerflex bushes,a handy tip:grab a cheapo draper 4"puller from halfords for A tenner.This draws off the old bushes easily without the risk of burning your pride and joy.Car now drives accurately (even faster) :evil: Go check your bushes men!
Click to expand...

Already changed mine to powerflex, this was the first thing I did when I noticed the steering issues but it made no difference. :thumbsdown:
 
Thanks for that as I was about to look into changing them.
Have you done anything else which has resolved the issue or just living with it?
Still might have a look at the steering coupler as on the e46 forum the reports back seem to suggest a vast improvement.
Unless someone has already tried that without success!!!
Gareth
 
Not found a resolution yet but still looking :thumbsup: will report back if I find anything that makes improvement
 
Same prob on my old coupe - S700 GJB

Couldn't fix it, did new tyres, new bushes and arms and nothing worked

Ended up part ex ing it as I'd lost confidence in the car, motorway driving was ridiculous, the car literally jumped from right to left all the time

Hope you get a solution as it seems a common problem, that no one knows how to fix as yet

Just out of interest mine was part exchanged in Newcastle and was carbon like yours.... It's not the same car is it ?? Carbon, 108s, sat nav and auto
 
Have you guys have any update, anyone managed to solve their problem? Im experiencing the same issue, b road 65 mph is scary. Also noticed the steering is over sensitive. changed rtab and wishbone bushes to powerflex but no luck. Any news is apreciated.
 
Too much toe out on the front will make it dart about if I remember my Gran Turismo settings correctly! Has anyone tried increasing toe in to rectify this?
 
Morning Guys!

I'm having the same issue on my Z. 48500m, 57 plate 3.0si.

I've had the wishbones and bushes replaced for Meyle HD, and also the rollbar drop links. Rollbar bushes are in great condition and no knocking from the rear, so I'd guess the RTABs don't need replacing.

I'm also on none-run flat (Goodyear Eagle F1). Tyre pressures are as per the PSI ratings inside the driver door panel.

When I had the bushes and wishbones replaced, everything is a lot tighter. Steering is incredibly precise now

...but...

I still get the steering pulling left/right a few degrees. Mostly left but I'd guess this is the camber on the road.

Tracking next, but I had the tracking checked before having my wishbones done and it was spot on.

Any other suggestions of what to check? I've had most mechanical things changed, could it be a sensor?
 
I think the general consensus is that it's a "feature" of the eps.
Was BMWs first stab at electronic power steering I believe and far from perfected.

Seems to be more prevalent with larger wheels/wider tyres. More threads from people with 3ltrs (so most often larger wheels/wider tyre setups) than smaller engine (usually smaller wheeled) owners. Have read more than one thread where people have changed to 17s from larger wheels and its reduced or gone away.

I'd rather put up with it and keep my 108s :D
 
Rich8 said:
I think the general consensus is that it's a "feature" of the eps.
Was BMWs first stab at electronic power steering I believe and far from perfected.

Seems to be more prevalent with larger wheels/wider tyres. More threads from people with 3ltrs (so most often larger wheels/wider tyre setups) than smaller engine (usually smaller wheeled) owners. Have read more than one thread where people have changed to 17s from larger wheels and its reduced or gone away.

I'd rather put up with it and keep my 108s :D
Click to expand...

I changed to non run flats on my 17", that made a difference, then I changed to 18" and NRF and increased the tyre pressures, which made an even bigger difference to the handling.
 
Bigger difference to the handling in general?
Or specifically an improvement in the odd nudging that appears at 60 ish that is believed to be the eps being a bit glitchy?

Granted, there's always one or two exceptions - just commenting on how it appears from the many posts describing this (which my coupe also suffers with, albeit not all that badly compared to some accounts).
 
More the twitchy handling really, my car was terrible/dangerous on the run flats, it would dance about on a white line or imperfection in the road. This got better when I removed the RF's from my 17's, but was much improved when I fitted the 18's with NRF's. :)
 
Afternoon,

So I tried another way to diagnose the twitchy steering, pull fuse 22 on the power steering!

Down the same road with the fuse in or out, I can still feel the steering wheel tug left and right. With no power steering, it is slightly more damped, I assume this is because the motor isn't also acting upon the steering column.

So it probably isn't anything to do with the EPS system itself (good...as that would be expensive :thumbsdown: ), I'm thinking now it could be the tie rod ends? (Wishbones & lollipop bushes already replaced). Going to also try adjusting the tyre pressures but it feels more mechanical than that. I don't want to get a full 4 wheel alignment done until I've found the source of the problem and fixed it, before I had the wishbones replaced, the tracking was spot on and still had this issue.

http://www.bmwclub.lv/files/06_E85_Chassis_Dynamics.001.pdf

Page 10 here shows there is a thrust member which damps any the steering rack. Could this have any part in causing the steering twitch?
 
esp doesn't really do much until you start sliding . you can drive at any speed with esp off and you not gonna notice the difference .Check rear arm bushes and get alignment done .
 
I mean the electronic power steering, not electronic stability control :thumbsup: :rofl: lots of acronyms!
 
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