[SmoothSteeringHopeful]

Greetings. I know there are many other threads on the steering wheel vibrations, but I'd like to see what wheels your running on and which do and do not have a vibration.

Please participate!

[RobUK]

I have OEM Style 398 (available in Europe but possibly not a US option?) and don't appear to have any vibration issues. Other possible factors:
- UK spec 328i on 'standard' (non-adaptive) suspension, Brodgestone RFTs, servotronic steering, don't have Lane Departure Warning.

[755MSL]

Is 397 the Sportline wheels? If yes, then I voted correctly at NO vibration so far. My car is an april build. Also, have we seen any videos of the phenomenon posted on the forums yet?

[SmoothSteeringHopeful]

I tried to have a video taken the other day, didn't work. For me its worst at 50 mph, if you let go of the steering wheel you can see it oscillate back and forth rapidly. I believe your wheels are the sport wheels.

[SomeRandomer123]

398's, Bridgestone Potenza's, standard steering, standard springs - no vibration.

[SmoothSteeringHopeful]

If I knew how to edit the poll I would. Anymore people with the 393's??

[BTT 335i]

401 style wheels, mixed tires, 335 no vibration.

[CasZy NL]

Originally Posted by BTT 335i

401 style wheels, mixed tires, 335 no vibration.

Same here. No issues.

[stampchez]

Originally Posted by BTT 335i

401 style wheels, mixed tires, 335 no vibration.

same

[krla1978]

sport line 17" 392
factory Pirelli run flat tires
std steering
std suspension

with vibration

[enriquejose]

393, 17, pirelli

328i, servotronic, active suspension.

delivery july 2012

no vibration thank god.

[SmoothSteeringHopeful]

Hmmm July builds maybe not having problems?

[justinnum1]

they all do

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

they all do

I don't know if this is the same, but I drove a 328i base model loaner and wondered about the vibration others have noted.

What I noticed on that car is that if you're going straight down the road and take your hand/s off the steering wheel, there is some left/right motion from the steering wheel, a sort of light vibe.
But, once you hand/s is back on there isn't any feeling of vibration.

The vibe it does have is also dependent on the road surface, so less smooth road equals more vibe.

Back in my 135i I tried the same thing and there is just a very light hint of this, but it's more the road and the affect on the wheels and then the steering wheel. In both cars it's nothing like an unbalanced wheel, not even close.

Is the vibration you guys have a strong vibration that you can feel even when your hand are on the wheel, like when a wheel is out of balance?

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I don't know if this is the same, but I drove a 328i base model loaner and wondered about the vibration others have noted.

What I noticed on that car is that if you're going straight down the road and take your hand/s off the steering wheel, there is some left/right motion from the steering wheel, a sort of light vibe.
But, once you hand/s is back on there isn't any feeling of vibration.

The vibe it does have is also dependent on the road surface, so less smooth road equals more vibe.

Back in my 135i I tried the same thing and there is just a very light hint of this, but it's more the road and the affect on the wheels and then the steering wheel. In both cars it's nothing like an unbalanced wheel, not even close.

Is the vibration you guys have a strong vibration that you can feel even when your hand are on the wheel, like when a wheel is out of balance?

It's more of a visual vibration from the wheel than a feel, but it's there and it shouldn't be. And i am not taking the "well its normal" answer from the dealer.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

It's more of a visual vibration from the wheel than a feel, but it's there and it shouldn't be. And i am not taking the "well its normal" answer from the dealer.

Now I'm really confused with this issue. Begs the question, how do you know it is there, if you can't feel it? Are some of you guys on the hunt for a visual shake, do you let go of the steering wheel, just to see if it shakes? If so, declare it a faulty one? How to you determine what is acceptable and what is a fault? What is the benchmark on which a judgement is made?

I do wonder if some of the debate on here isn't really about the same thing at all. Are we sure everyone is on about the same thing? Is there any vibration to the hands, if the wheel is gripped to a reasonable degree?

I thought we have a serious vibration issue that comes through the hands and is really annoying, on some examples, (not a vibration you look to see if it is there) but you can't really feel.

I can be highly critical of my car and get the same sort of vibration and that is in an E91. If I really look for it, lighten my grip on the steering wheel and get the right surface it will show up. Mine is traditional hydraulic PAS and definitely without wheel balance issues. It is generated by the road/pavement surface finish in the E91.

HighlandPete

[SmoothSteeringHopeful]

Originally Posted by RPM90

I don't know if this is the same, but I drove a 328i base model loaner and wondered about the vibration others have noted.

What I noticed on that car is that if you're going straight down the road and take your hand/s off the steering wheel, there is some left/right motion from the steering wheel, a sort of light vibe.
But, once you hand/s is back on there isn't any feeling of vibration.

The vibe it does have is also dependent on the road surface, so less smooth road equals more vibe.

Back in my 135i I tried the same thing and there is just a very light hint of this, but it's more the road and the affect on the wheels and then the steering wheel. In both cars it's nothing like an unbalanced wheel, not even close.

Is the vibration you guys have a strong vibration that you can feel even when your hand are on the wheel, like when a wheel is out of balance?

Mine is to the pint where my watch shakes slightly when I hold The wheel

[RxCritical]

Originally Posted by jrobe121

Mine is to the pint where my watch shakes slightly when I hold The wheel

What he said. It is felt through the hands. Otherwise almost no one would notice any issue.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

Now I'm really confused with this issue. Begs the question, how do you know it is there, if you can't feel it? Are some of you guys on the hunt for a visual shake, do you let go of the steering wheel, just to see if it shakes? If so, declare it a faulty one? How to you determine what is acceptable and what is a fault? What is the benchmark on which a judgement is made?

I do wonder if some of the debate on here isn't really about the same thing at all. Are we sure everyone is on about the same thing? Is there any vibration to the hands, if the wheel is gripped to a reasonable degree?

I thought we have a serious vibration issue that comes through the hands and is really annoying, on some examples, (not a vibration you look to see if it is there) but you can't really feel.

I can be highly critical of my car and get the same sort of vibration and that is in an E91. If I really look for it, lighten my grip on the steering wheel and get the right surface it will show up. Mine is traditional hydraulic PAS and definitely without wheel balance issues. It is generated by the road/pavement surface finish in the E91.

HighlandPete

Taking the hands off the steering wheel at 50 mph and the wheel shakes, not a subtle shake but a shake. Having owned numerous different BMW's, from 8+ E90's, X3, X5's, 5serie(5+). I can tell you that i have never seen a BMW steering wheel shake in the 15+ Bmw's i have had like the wheel shakes in the F30.

Can i feel it? Yes, a little, its not bad, but its also not acceptable. It would be a different issue if i could just bring it in and they fix it but since it can no be fixed(shop foreman told me so). I am unsatisfied, especially considering the amount of money i pay monthly for the car.

Like i said, 99% of people might not notice or care, but then again, us enthusiasts have higher expectations and standards than the average owner.
Normal vibration over rough surface is expected, but a noticeable shake over smoother asphalt is totally unacceptable.

As for the question if people are on the hunt for a visual shake? Of course not, but if you notice it and you know it wont go away or be fixed are you ok with that on a brand new car? I am not.

As far as can i feel it? I feel something, but since this is my first f30 and everyone i drive is the same(vibration 40-60) it's hard to tell if its the steering or the road. One thing that is certain is the visual vibration in the steering wheel. I will say my E90 sport felt a lot smoother through my hands and everyone of my E90 steering wheels never had a hint of vibration/movement.

My dealer is very friendly and aware of my high expectations, they have swapped me out of a few cars before without hesitation, mainly because i have gotten 20+ cars from them in the past 6 years.

Facts
-Visual vibration between 40-60
-Shop foreman says he notices it, and is even worse on his personal F30
-There is no fix currently

[batislav]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Like i said, 99% of people might not notice or care, but then again, us enthusiasts have higher expectations and standards than the average owner.
Normal vibration over rough surface is expected, but a noticeable shake over smoother asphalt is totally unacceptable.

I'm sure it's very frustrating, but it sounds like you think it's a more common problem and that people aren't noticing. My wheel doesn't shake. I'm happy about that given your, and others' frustrations, but I'm pretty sure that when people say no shake they are competent enough to make that assessment or they wouldn't vote in the poll.

[justinnum1]

Originally Posted by batislav

I'm sure it's very frustrating, but it sounds like you think it's a more common problem and that people aren't noticing. My wheel doesn't shake. I'm happy about that given your, and others' frustrations, but I'm pretty sure that when people say no shake they are competent enough to make that assessment or they wouldn't vote in the poll.

Maybe. I have driven 4 different F30's. 2 sport and 2 base and each one has the vibration. I am glad that you don't have it and dont have to worry about it. I love the car and even the steering feel, just not the vibration.

[batislav]

Originally Posted by justinnum1

Maybe. I have driven 4 different F30's. 2 sport and 2 base and each one has the vibration. I am glad that you don't have it and dont have to worry about it. I love the car and even the steering feel, just not the vibration.

I wonder if there was a batch with more problems resulting in a geographic concentration of the problem, because I drove 5 different models when test driving and didn't notice any shake. I was paying a ton of attention to the steering feel because I didn't like how it felt on the non-sport non-vss ones so I was primed to find problems if there were any.