CageyH Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 This is not on my 7, but on my E46 320D Touring. I seem to have an intermittent vibration at motorway speeds in France, that seems related to the road surface, although it may not be.The vibration can be felt through the steering wheel, and the drivers seat. My initial thoughts are that this is unlikely to be a wheel balance issue, and is most likely a worn track rod, ball joint or even a shock absorber. Other options to me would seem to be a sticky brake caliper. Am I looking in the right areas, or am I way off the mark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Normally steering wheel vibration is front wheel balance or wheel bearing, and seat/dashboard is rear wheel balance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aerobod - near CYYC Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Typically on the E46, the front lower control arm bushes need replacing every 50K miles or so. If you also have suspension "mushiness" and vague steering under hard braking, they are likely the problem. Look for cracks or distortion of the rubber bush on the inboard end of the front lower control arms. They can be replaced fairly easily and are not too expensive, consider them to be a standard maintenance item. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 Thanks. I have fitted Powerflex polyurethane bushes on the lower control arms a few years ago.The vibration through the steering wheel is quite light, so I suspect it is coming from the rear end. Would a faulty prop shaft centre bearing have this effect? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 Try a different country :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Vine Posted November 13, 2019 Share Posted November 13, 2019 It could be that one (or more) of your tyres are out of round (even though the wheel is ok balance-wise).What happens if you move the front wheels to the rear and v v?JV Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 13, 2019 Author Share Posted November 13, 2019 I hope not. They are all relatively new Michelin Cross Climate+. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 16, 2019 Author Share Posted November 16, 2019 It turns out it was nothing more than the wheel balancing.I took the first wheel off, and the balance weights were pretty much hanging off. Glued back in place and everything seems ok up to autoroute speed limits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Member Jonathan Kay Posted November 16, 2019 Member Share Posted November 16, 2019 Thanks for the answer. Glad it's fixed.I didn't comment because I'm painfully aware of my historic inability to tell which wheel is out.Jonathan (Wish I had a 3 Series Touring) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 16, 2019 Author Share Posted November 16, 2019 The thing is it was fine just after the new tyres were fitted six months ago. The last trip was odd, as sometimes I had a vibration, sometimes I didn't. Usually a wheel will vibrate all of the time, which is what was puzzling me, and make me start thinking about a ball joint etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7 wonders of the world Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Quite often the lazy bu99ers dont clean the rims correctly and expect stick on weights to adhere to grime....I usually thoroughly clean mine prior to taking the wheels in and watch them like a hawk to ensure they protect the rims and align the tyres to the rime correctly too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 16, 2019 Author Share Posted November 16, 2019 I think that was the issue. I cleaned the rim, and all should be ok for a while now.I also checked over the ball joints, prop shaft bearing, guido joint and brake calipers. Everything seems fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SM25T Posted November 16, 2019 Share Posted November 16, 2019 Modern fitters have no ideas about red and yellow dots. Many tyres still have them. Yellow next to valve. If no yellow, then red opposite valve. Reduces amount of weights needed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CageyH Posted November 16, 2019 Author Share Posted November 16, 2019 Agreed. I have positioned my tyres correctly, when the dots are on the tyres, prior to them being inflated and balanced. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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