So at the weekend I decided to go ahead and have a maintenance session.
I've had for sometime what feels like a loose front end i.e. When going over bumps feeling excessive movement in the steering wheel and through the whole car generally. I have previously changed the control arm bushes and seemed to improve this but not eliminate the problem. Travelling on the lovely UK roads :evil: I came to the conclusion that one or more of the control arm ball joints had failed so set out to replace. Knowing I would be taking the car for wheel alignment after I decided to change the tie rod ends and inner tie rods as the cost of these were approx £30 and though it was worth it just to eliminate from the equation.
Easy job to do, only nut which was difficult to get to was the drivers side inboard connection because of the engine mount
I planned to get the alignment done on my way in to work, however having driven for approx 15 miles all of a sudden 3 warning lights came on, RFT, Hand Brake and DTC. Thinking I must have damage a wheel sensor, limped the car back home and plugged in my code reader and came up with 3 codes :thumbsdown:
Saw the 6127 Steering angle code, put 2 and 2 together and took it for wheel alignment, luckily the garage I went to have the equipment and rest calibrated the steering angle sensor. I'd never heard of this but having thought about it makes perfect sense with our DTC.
I'm guessing I wouldn't have had this agro if I hadn't have driven it so far with the alignment out?
So cost me £30 for the alignment and £30 for the calibration so if you're thinking of changing tie rod ends and want to save yourself £30 (cheap for diagnostics, what would BMW charge?) don't drive too far with your tracking out!
All in all though, chuffed to bits, the car feels x10 better, much tighter over bumps and a much nicer turn in
I've had for sometime what feels like a loose front end i.e. When going over bumps feeling excessive movement in the steering wheel and through the whole car generally. I have previously changed the control arm bushes and seemed to improve this but not eliminate the problem. Travelling on the lovely UK roads :evil: I came to the conclusion that one or more of the control arm ball joints had failed so set out to replace. Knowing I would be taking the car for wheel alignment after I decided to change the tie rod ends and inner tie rods as the cost of these were approx £30 and though it was worth it just to eliminate from the equation.
Easy job to do, only nut which was difficult to get to was the drivers side inboard connection because of the engine mount
I planned to get the alignment done on my way in to work, however having driven for approx 15 miles all of a sudden 3 warning lights came on, RFT, Hand Brake and DTC. Thinking I must have damage a wheel sensor, limped the car back home and plugged in my code reader and came up with 3 codes :thumbsdown:
Saw the 6127 Steering angle code, put 2 and 2 together and took it for wheel alignment, luckily the garage I went to have the equipment and rest calibrated the steering angle sensor. I'd never heard of this but having thought about it makes perfect sense with our DTC.
I'm guessing I wouldn't have had this agro if I hadn't have driven it so far with the alignment out?
So cost me £30 for the alignment and £30 for the calibration so if you're thinking of changing tie rod ends and want to save yourself £30 (cheap for diagnostics, what would BMW charge?) don't drive too far with your tracking out!
All in all though, chuffed to bits, the car feels x10 better, much tighter over bumps and a much nicer turn in