[Wise340i]

Hi

Has anyone got issues with the steering ?

It always feels like it wants to drift off left or right and if there’s different cambers in the road it’s all over the place.

I nearly 💩myself in the rain the other day one a country road as it was all over the place under heavy breaking.

2 garages have said there’s play so I took it to Sytner and they gave it there “5 star” seal of approval....

This is my 4th bmw in 8 years and never had steering like it. I’ve only done 33k miles

[vinzcast21]

tires?

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by vinzcast21

tires?

+1 for looking at the tires. Mileage, wear patterns, can cause a loose feel and steering wander.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Wise340i

2 garages have said there’s play so I took it to Sytner and they gave it there “5 star” seal of approval....

Did the garages specify where there is play?

Tires can cause the feeling of play as they wear. As can bushes that soften, even if there is no physical play.

[rjd_F30]

To echo what others have said, depending on your tire setup and alignment, it can cause serious tramlining, which can feel like the car is pulling weird or is all over the place. My 245/30 setup on the stock alignment specs tramlines like crazy on bad roads. You can add some toe in your next alignment if it is just tram lining that is causing the issues.

[Wise340i]

Brand new tyres all round, only done away with the run flats on the front

[Wise340i]

Had the wheel alignment done too..

The wear was even on the old ones, I’ll keep an eye on the wear of these and see how it goes.

One of the garages is a bmw approved as well

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Wise340i

Brand new tyres all round, only done away with the run flats on the front

Are you saying you have changed tyres, and now fitted new run-flats on the rear and new non run-flats on the front? If so, that could be the issue. Can you explain it a bit more?

Mixing tyres doesn't always work. BMW users have years of experience with some tyre mixes just not working, goes back to pre run-flats as well.

[Wise340i]

Hi,

Yes non RF on the front and RF on the rears. The fronts are 6 weeks old. I’m hanging my head in shame as I say this but I didn’t spend as much as I should of on the fronts, still £140 each but I drive on new building sites a lot and prone to punchers.

I’m not mechanically minded, but I can build a dam fine house, so any advice would be great. 😊😎

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Wise340i

Hi,

Yes non RF on the front and RF on the rears. The fronts are 6 weeks old. I’m hanging my head in shame as I say this but I didn’t spend as much as I should of on the fronts, still £140 each but I drive on new building sites a lot and prone to punchers.

I’m not mechanically minded, but I can build a dam fine house, so any advice would be great. ����

If the steering became loose with the new tyres, you pretty much have the answer.

I recall some pretty unusual problems with tyre mixes. One user of an E46 (330Ci) only used Michelin tyres, but mixed PS1 and PS2 on the car. Both BMW and Michelin got involved, as the handling went to pieces, including DSC intervention. Conclusion was the two tyres simply didn't work on the car. Other users have found mixing different brands verge on being dangerous, as there is no predictability, particularly on the limits. Strange steering behaviour is quite common when mixing tyres.

To illustrate how critical tyre selection can be, Bridgestone issued a technical statement not to mix Potenza S001 RFTs with versions of the Potenza RE050 RFTs. Yes, both RFTs, but different characteristics.

Part of the statement...

Install Bridgestone Potenza S001 RFT tires in sets of four only.

Due to the traction and handling capabilities of the Potenza S001 RFT, Bridgestone recommends they be used in sets of four to provide the best handling characteristics and tire performance. Potenza S001 RFT tires may NOT be mixed with other tire models, such as the Potenza RE050 RFT, Potenza RE050A RFT, Potenza RE050A I RFT or Potenza RE050A II RFT.

When we mix RFTs and standard tyres, all bets are off for how compatible they may be on a particular chassis. Hence why mixing is not recommended.

[kingmonkey8]

Check your tyre pressures.
When I got my car the steering felt a bit loose and I was finding I was having to make tiny corrections to the steering.
I pumped up the tyres both front and back 35F 39R and the steering feels much better.

[Wise340i]

The steering has always been a bit funky but I’m starting to think the front tyres being different might not be helping... really didn’t think it would make that much of a difference

Not overly keen on spending £500 to prove it though 🤨

I’ll check the tyre pressure too.

Thanks for your help 👍

[Jbrock22]

I had a similar problem with the Goodyear tires that came with my X3. Replaced them in the first few thousand miles, put on Michelins. Problem solved.

[VVlasy]

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1544879

Check out this thread, I will be bringing this up on my next service appointment since my car is also feeling looser than when I get a loaner.

[natesi]

Could be your control arm bushings. I guess they are somewhat common on the F30 -- check out my thread here: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1566260

I have an appointment next week.

I've had 4 alignments since the car is new, got new tires, tried all kinds of tire pressures, etc..... and the car feels like it is all over the place on the freeway -- as if the wind is always pushing it around or I'm in tire ruts -- BUT THERE'S NO WIND OR TIRE RUTS. I know it's not the tires because I now have the same winter tires on as last year and it is way worse.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Wise340i

The steering has always been a bit funky but I’m starting to think the front tyres being different might not be helping... really didn’t think it would make that much of a difference

Not overly keen on spending £500 to prove it though 🤨

I’ll check the tyre pressure too.

Thanks for your help 👍

When you say "always been a bit funky", is that from new? If so, that would indicate tyres/pressures and/or alignment.

What size wheels and tyres are you running? Lower the tyre profiles, the more likely to have road interference through the steering and in braking.

[Wires]

Which driving mode are you using? I find the comfort steering is a lot better than sport for this. Sport has a nasty dead stop at steering center (feels like a really old mechanical rack vehicle). I like the stiffness of the sport (more like my E90 was), but driving in sport feels like you're a bowling ball bouncing between lanes.

Keep in mind you have a electric steering rack. Your previous BMW's would have been hydraulic/mechanical which has a100% different feel (not so numb).

[Wise340i]

Originally Posted by natesi

Could be your control arm bushings. I guess they are somewhat common on the F30 -- check out my thread here: https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1566260

I have an appointment next week.

I've had 4 alignments since the car is new, got new tires, tried all kinds of tire pressures, etc..... and the car feels like it is all over the place on the freeway -- as if the wind is always pushing it around or I'm in tire ruts -- BUT THERE'S NO WIND OR TIRE RUTS. I know it's not the tires because I now have the same winter tires on as last year and it is way worse.

Hi,

That’s exactly how mine drives.

I’m working in a new area that takes me down country lanes and I’m worried I’ll drift over and hit another car as the lanes are narrow and bumpy.

I have my 1st M.O.T next week with bmw so I’m going to take a mechanic out on a road test with me, as I’m sure they never road test them properly.

[Wise340i]

Originally Posted by Wires

Which driving mode are you using? I find the comfort steering is a lot better than sport for this. Sport has a nasty dead stop at steering center (feels like a really old mechanical rack vehicle). I like the stiffness of the sport (more like my E90 was), but driving in sport feels like you're a bowling ball bouncing between lanes.

Keep in mind you have a electric steering rack. Your previous BMW's would have been hydraulic/mechanical which has a100% different feel (not so numb).

Pretty much always in comfort mode. I drove the same roads in a 5 year old 120d loan car and it drove nicer than mine. I undersatand the electronic steering but this is to the point I dosen’t feel safe.

[Wise340i]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

When you say "always been a bit funky", is that from new? If so, that would indicate tyres/pressures and/or alignment.

What size wheels and tyres are you running? Lower the tyre profiles, the more likely to have road interference through the steering and in braking.

It was a year and a half old when I got it, and remember a few times on certain roads it was all over the place.

For the last 6 months my work has relocated so driving down a lot of tight, bumpy roads so really noticing the affects of it.

225/40/19 on the front

[cfm56d7b]

Originally Posted by Wise340i

Hi,

Yes non RF on the front and RF on the rears. The fronts are 6 weeks old. I’m hanging my head in shame as I say this but I didn’t spend as much as I should of on the fronts, still £140 each but I drive on new building sites a lot and prone to punchers.

I’m not mechanically minded, but I can build a dam fine house, so any advice would be great. 😊😎

Non RFT tires in the front and RFT tires in the rear will noticeably change handling.

The front tires have a softer sidewall. The rear tires have a stiffer sidewall. Almost every element of proper suspension behavior enters an unfamiliar territory. Torsional body flex increases. During cornering, the oversteer may be more pronounced which is more dangerous. Most production mass market vehicles are designed with slight understeer to increase safety margin.

Unfortunately, this is one area where marginal savings aren't worth it.

[tuco44]

I second the post above. I would not mix RF tires with NRFs.