Drifting left and right on highway

megaladon · 10-23-2010, 07:32 PM

Hi Everyone,

I am a new owner of a 2011 328i Sedan MT non-sport. Love the car but have some concerns about rumbling noise at highway speeds on asphalt freeways. Took back to dealer to have the balance checked. They road force balanced all four tires and replaced the front left which they said was out of spec. Went back after the balance since the problem was still there and they said it was the run flat tires and that is how the cars are.

Today while driving at around 70, I noticed that while holding the steering wheel perfectly still, the car would drift to the left, then to the right, and back. Is this tramlining that I am experiencing or could it be related to the rumbling noise I can hear and feel thru the steering wheel and accelerator pedal.

Any input feedback would be greatly appreciated.

redline2 · 10-23-2010, 08:39 PM

I have only experienced that once and it was due to severely over inflated front tires. Defective gauge at the tire pump. Switched to electronic hand held gauges ever since. Suggest you double check your tire pressure against spec in manual. Good luck.

e90pilot · 10-23-2010, 10:14 PM

The bridgestone RFTs do tend to tramline a little. The sport cars are much worse. Non-RFTs are better. Check your ware pattern. If you're getting uneven ware, you're gonna get vibration and tramlining issues. Proper alignment and tire pressure will fix that.

taranonline · 10-24-2010, 12:13 AM

happens to my e90 on bad roads.. here in India... I have to hold steering very very tight...

megaladon · 10-24-2010, 07:47 AM

I have the Continental Run Flats. Only 800 miles on the car. Tire pressure is set to the pressure recommended on the door: 32F 39R.

GaryS · 10-24-2010, 08:21 AM

I've heard that too much toe-out can cause that. I have also heard that new BMWs usually need an alignment, but I don't really know if that's true.

spdy330 · 10-24-2010, 08:33 AM

Though it was only me, Run Flats here!

megaladon · 11-04-2010, 10:18 PM

Took the car in to the dealer today to fix a body panel (bumper) that was loose.

Mentioned the issues I was having at highway speed. They checked the alignment and said it was out quite a bit. They did front and rear camber and toe adjustment. Haven't had much of a chance to see if that has resolved the drifting issue.

I hope this bad alignment from the factory did not permanently damage the tires by uneven wear, they only have 1200 miles on them.

gdnyc · 11-05-2010, 09:33 AM

I've had the same issue on my car. Brought to the dealer multiple times and they say everything is in spec, yet my car still pulls to the left.

subieworx · 11-05-2010, 01:01 PM

The run flat tires are horrible for causing this. It annoyed the hell out of me until replacing the wheels and tires. Now the car goes straight down the road.

mid-corner fun · 11-05-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subieworx

The run flat tires are horrible for causing this. It annoyed the hell out of me until replacing the wheels and tires. Now the car goes straight down the road.

+1

tramlining

mycoupe · 11-05-2010, 09:08 PM

"IN SPEC" really doesn't mean much...you could have the toe on each wheel at max out for each wheel while still being in spec and still get pulled all over by the small imperfections in the road. I prefer 0 toe front and rear, and these cars most definitely do not come that way from the factory...eventhough they should.

Professor///M · 11-05-2010, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redline2

I have only experienced that once and it was due to severely over inflated front tires. Defective gauge at the tire pump. Switched to electronic hand held gauges ever since. Suggest you double check your tire pressure against spec in manual. Good luck.

AMEN to this one. I had a truck that I got back from the dealer after new tires and it was all over the road...

Looked at the tire pressure - 70PSI!!

Regardless, if you just had it re-balanced either it's overinflation versus the road itself. Does it do it on all streets?

10-23-2010, 07:32 PM	#1
megaladon New Member 1 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2022 G20 330i Sport Line Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 328i [0.00]	Drifting left and right on highway Hi Everyone, I am a new owner of a 2011 328i Sedan MT non-sport. Love the car but have some concerns about rumbling noise at highway speeds on asphalt freeways. Took back to dealer to have the balance checked. They road force balanced all four tires and replaced the front left which they said was out of spec. Went back after the balance since the problem was still there and they said it was the run flat tires and that is how the cars are. Today while driving at around 70, I noticed that while holding the steering wheel perfectly still, the car would drift to the left, then to the right, and back. Is this tramlining that I am experiencing or could it be related to the rumbling noise I can hear and feel thru the steering wheel and accelerator pedal. Any input feedback would be greatly appreciated. Last edited by megaladon; 10-23-2010 at 07:43 PM.. Reason: remove name
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-23-2010, 08:39 PM	#2
redline2 Private 1 Rep 81 Posts Drives: 335is Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	I have only experienced that once and it was due to severely over inflated front tires. Defective gauge at the tire pump. Switched to electronic hand held gauges ever since. Suggest you double check your tire pressure against spec in manual. Good luck.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-23-2010, 10:14 PM	#3
e90pilot Freight Dawg 104 Rep 2,103 Posts Drives: E90 325i Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Oakland, CA iTrader: (3)	The bridgestone RFTs do tend to tramline a little. The sport cars are much worse. Non-RFTs are better. Check your ware pattern. If you're getting uneven ware, you're gonna get vibration and tramlining issues. Proper alignment and tire pressure will fix that. __________________ --Marcelo '06 Arctic Metallic 325i \| Sport Package \| 6MT \| Dinan Stage III suspension \| Dinan exhaust \| 330i manifold swap! Click here! \| Active Autowerke tune \| 135i Brake Calipers \| Deiselboost caliper brackets \| E46 M3 front rotors
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2010, 12:13 AM	#4
taranonline Banned 28 Rep 494 Posts Drives: Man Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Usa iTrader: (0)	happens to my e90 on bad roads.. here in India... I have to hold steering very very tight...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2010, 07:47 AM	#5
megaladon New Member 1 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2022 G20 330i Sport Line Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 328i [0.00]	I have the Continental Run Flats. Only 800 miles on the car. Tire pressure is set to the pressure recommended on the door: 32F 39R.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2010, 08:21 AM	#6
GaryS Colonel 37 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	I've heard that too much toe-out can cause that. I have also heard that new BMWs usually need an alignment, but I don't really know if that's true.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

10-24-2010, 08:33 AM	#7
spdy330 Major General 530 Rep 6,149 Posts Drives: 05 Tundra, 15 FIT, 17 CRV Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chino Hills, CA iTrader: (163)	Though it was only me, Run Flats here! __________________ If you will be purchasing ANY AT&T services online or in store could you mention that you were referred by me? My Employee Referral ID is eo4489. This would be a great help and it costs you nothing, thank you!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-04-2010, 10:18 PM	#8
megaladon New Member 1 Rep 17 Posts Drives: 2022 G20 330i Sport Line Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 328i [0.00]	Took the car in to the dealer today to fix a body panel (bumper) that was loose. Mentioned the issues I was having at highway speed. They checked the alignment and said it was out quite a bit. They did front and rear camber and toe adjustment. Haven't had much of a chance to see if that has resolved the drifting issue. I hope this bad alignment from the factory did not permanently damage the tires by uneven wear, they only have 1200 miles on them.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2010, 09:33 AM	#9
gdnyc Lieutenant 24 Rep 472 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Jet Black Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	I've had the same issue on my car. Brought to the dealer multiple times and they say everything is in spec, yet my car still pulls to the left. __________________ 2006 330xi BMW, please get rid of the RFT's and give us a spare tire!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2010, 01:01 PM	#10
subieworx Lieutenant 30 Rep 468 Posts Drives: 07 335 Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Ohio iTrader: (1)	The run flat tires are horrible for causing this. It annoyed the hell out of me until replacing the wheels and tires. Now the car goes straight down the road.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-05-2010, 09:08 PM	#12
mycoupe Banned 55 Rep 1,495 Posts Drives: 07 335i coupe 6spd Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cincinnati, Ohio iTrader: (5)	"IN SPEC" really doesn't mean much...you could have the toe on each wheel at max out for each wheel while still being in spec and still get pulled all over by the small imperfections in the road. I prefer 0 toe front and rear, and these cars most definitely do not come that way from the factory...eventhough they should.
	Appreciate 0 Quote