[Chris335dF31]

Originally Posted by speedski

Glad to hear you sorted it and fair play to 6times7 for the suggestion!

Thanks for tagging him - how do you do that on the app please?

[speedski]

Originally Posted by Chris330dF31

Thanks for tagging him - how do you do that on the app please?

Not sure on the app - On a browser use the '@' symbol and start writing the name of the user you want to tag

[6times7]

Originally Posted by Chris330dF31

The car is fixed.

Hunter Road Force Elite balance did the trick. Every wheel analysed, tyre removed, re-oriented to optimum position relative to the rim, re-analysed and minimum balance weights positioned as required anywhere from inner rim to outer rim.

Took 1.5hrs. Total bill £144 - worth every penny. 9 months I've been chasing this problem and its now such a relief to be able to simply drive the car without analysing it. My confidence in the safety and longevity of the car has been restored.

Thank you to 6times7 and the others who contributed on this thread. Got to love this forum. Very happy.

Glad it's sorted,

I remember feeling so much happier about the car after getting mine done.

[HighlandPete]

Having read the original post....

Originally Posted by Chris330dF31

Been chasing a vibration issue on the car for a while now and recently noticed that it only occurs when easing off the accelerator and coasting. Accelerate, put the engine back under load and everything is smooth again. Most noticeable at motorway speed and the vibration is through the seat rather than the steering wheel.

Having already swapped out all 4 wheels, 4 new balanced tyres and a Hunter 4 wheel alignment I am now thinking drivetrain.….

Not typical in itself of wheel balance symptoms. Particularly as OP states wheels and tyres were changed, without curing the issue. The just on "lifting off" is the puzzle. Must be more involved than balance.

Originally Posted by Chris330dF31

... just lifting off the throttle. No noises either.

Does sound to me there is wear, or softening of suspension bushings. Most likely at the rear, as it allows the amplification and transmission of any small wheel imbalance when off load.

Originally Posted by Chris330dF31

Car is nearly 6 years old and has done 115k.

With the higher mileage, wouldn't be surprised if there is some wear, the precise wheel balance has now likely masked the underlying problem. A small amount of wheel imbalance will generate vibrations, pass them through the components. Normally damped out, if parts are in reasonable condition. If bushings/mounts are not firm enough, it transmits those excited frequencies through the body, hence feeling them through the seat. 'On load' the bushings are compressed/loaded in a different way, don't transmit the vibrations, 'off load' are relaxed and do. Speed range fits a slight wheel imbalance triggering the issue.


If anyone is familiar with the infamous 'wheel shimmy' on the E39 models, will fully understand what I'm saying. Some examples required perfect wheel balancing to run without shimmy. Didn't take a lot of wear in the bushes to allow a small amount of wheel error (balance or run-out) which was 'the generator' to trigger shimmy. Even a road force balance couldn't always solve all the shimmy issues.

Saying all this, good result when we rid ourselves of an ongoing problem. Just be aware vibrations could return as tyres wear, when you lose that 'perfect' balance.

[Chris335dF31]

Thanks Pete. Rears were the furthest out, which I think explains why I was feeling through the seat rather than the steering wheel. I agree that a car shouldn't normally require more than a standard balance - will monitor things going forward.

The workshop manager said that the road force balance had 'cured' quite a few cars, but particularly BMW's.

[JCardoso]

Hey @Chris330dF31
How did you find a garage with the Hunter Road Force wheel alignment tool?
I have recently noticed a problem similar to yours and was just wondering whether I should give it a try.
Ta

[Chris335dF31]

Originally Posted by JCardoso

Hey @Chris330dF31
How did you find a garage with the Hunter Road Force wheel alignment tool?
I have recently noticed a problem similar to yours and was just wondering whether I should give it a try.
Ta

Hi J. The Hunter Elite Road Force was super accurate wheel 'balancing' rather than 'alignment'. The garage I used was Queens Park Garage in Bournemouth. Found them on a website called www.balancemycar.co.uk.

Be sure to ring the garages it suggests, based on your location, first as not all of those on the website have a road force balancer. A road force balancer has a roller that applies load to the wheel.

[JCardoso]

Thanks Chris330dF31 It really worked out.
Anyone should do this wheel balancing, it's well worth it.

[Chris335dF31]

Glad it worked.