Wheel alignment

D

Dunkx

Member
 Manchester
Hi,

Has anyone else had problems with their Z4M pulling to the left a fair bit? I am assuming something is wrong with the alignment in some way, and will get it looked at, but was just wondering if this is a common problem with them losing alignment? I've tested it out on the opposite side of roads etc to rule out camber and it definitely seems to be creeping..

D
 
There's been quite a few posts concerning this. Seems like a lot of 'M's pull to the left slightly, usually most noticable on the motorway. Not sure I've seen a definative explanation and cure.
 
Mate this has been a battle for me

have a look here

http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=5647&p=104554&hilit=pull+to+the+left#p104554

Still ongoing im afraid.

Keep me updated with your experiences.
 
Oh dear, sounds like there are a few people with the same problem. It's really quite noticeable on mine - as one post mentions, mine would happily swap lanes instantly on the motorway without a firm hand on the tiller. Don't know why I didn't notice it when I test drove it...
 
Scottie - there's an awesome wee guy in edinburgh that can set up your suspension properly, much better than Parks or Fairbain's could ever do. Pm me and i'll get you the details. He's set up a couple of racing 911s for friends of mine and did a great job on my previous car - 993 turbo - which was tracking all over the place due to adjustable bilstein pss9s.. There's also been some talk that Mercedes found an inherant fault on zm suspension where it changes geometry under load. I think the wee guy in edinburgh can dial in a compensation for this.
 
The cars came out of the factory nowhere near factory spec. A good alignment from a good shop will put things to normal.
 
Mine pulled quite a bit to the left when I first had it - as Dunkx says it required a fairly firm grip on the steering wheel at all times. I took it in to my local Bosch-certified independent (for those near me, it was Simon Green Motors in Leeds) and for £65 it's now driving perfectly (a BMW garage quoted me over £200). It's still slightly affected by camber and a little bit by tramlining but on most (straight) roads I can quite happily take both hands off the wheel.

For those planning to get it done - make sure you take it somewhere which will do a 4-wheel alignment. Apparently many places assume the rear wheels are OK and take their measurements from there, whereas with mine it was the "thrust line" (I think he said) which needed altering.
 
Have booked mine in to the local stealer to get their view, but may well take it to somewhere that will do four wheel alignment if they start to take the p1ss. Anyone know anywhere good in the Manchester area?
 
http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/index.php?showforum=50

Ask on there.

Think these are ok though - http://www.drurylaneservices.com/index.htm
 
Update on this issue - eventually had the four wheel alignment done on the KDS machine at Dury Lane Services. Very helpful, however it doesn't appear to have made a blind bit of difference to the problem. Chap there suggested swapping the front wheels over as the next port of call...
 
Dunkx said:
Update on this issue - eventually had the four wheel alignment done on the KDS machine at Dury Lane Services. Very helpful, however it doesn't appear to have made a blind bit of difference to the problem. Chap there suggested swapping the front wheels over as the next port of call...
Click to expand...
Tires - not wheels more likely provided you trust the alignment.
 
Another thing, did you get a before and after print out of your alignment? If so could you scan it and post it on here please?
 
Couple of comments;

Mine pulls to the left, noticed it when I first got the car. Swapped the front wheels over and it was a lot better but still there slightly.
Just swapped all four wheels as way of a tyre change and yep, still pulls slightly to the left.

No evidence of unusual tyre wear after 15,000 miles except I'd say the rear left looks ever so slightly more worn than the right.?? Will get round to having this looked at eventually but seems like you need the right guy to sort this out as it's not a straight forward wheel alignment issue.
 
Isn`t this also something to do with road camber that affects some cars more than others?
My 3.0 pulls all over the place but that`s tramlining . On a perfectly flat road it drives dead straight
 
Yes the M doesn't get the tram lining as bad as the 3.0 partly due to no run flats.

What you need is a Geometry setup I would have thought rather than just an alignment.

Thanks,

Jack
 
Drury lane do the proper Geometry alignment using a Hunter alignment machine.

I noticed earlier in the thread it was mentioned about the "thrust line" being corrected....this should be part of the Geo if i'm not mistaken and i've seen this setting on pre / post Geo's people have posted up on other forums eg m-torque.

I've actually found another place at Bolton which is recommended by the Wheels in motion website to use for a 4 wheel Geo for people in the North West England, Nigel Lang garage....anyone know it?

http://www.nigellangsgarage.co.uk/wheel_alignment.htm
 
The BMW KDS does all this. I never knew this but that is what the little holes are for on your BMW alloys around the centre cap.

I have had my wheels swapped over left to right both front and back with no difference. Also had a set of donor wheels to try with no difference - so rules out the tyres.

My dealer was stumped so put forward a PUMA (no idea what it stands for but a direct request to BMW techs for help) but all they suggested were some offsets to the alignment which screwed things up further with the steering wheel off centre now.

I appreciate the comments about the road camber but it doesnt have anything to do with the problem in my case. Mine doesnt 'drift' left - the best way i can describe it is that it changes lane quicker on a motorway, if i was to release the wheel, than it would if it was under my control. After a long journey my arms ache. You cant drive it with a relaxed grip as the wheel pulls round in your hand.

I would be happy to invite anyone to have a go to experience the effect it has. Likewise i would love to try another ZM to see how it compares.
 
Crazily i'm up for that Scottie. I know you had your car in Drivers and they were getting more stumped by the second. Do you know George Morrison Motors in Rutherglen? I've dealt with George for years and he's a truly excellent mechanic, i wonder if he might have an idea on the problem.
 
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