Highway speed vibration normal?

sfiermon · 04-10-2011, 08:16 PM

Hello

I just picked up my first BMW. It was preowned. When I go above 70, the car seems to vibrate a bit. Is this normal? Should the ride be stiff or silky smooth.

I have a 335i 2010 without sport pkg.

John 070 · 04-10-2011, 08:18 PM

No it's not normal. The car should be smooth all the way to its top speed....

JohnnyT · 04-10-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfiermon

Hello

I just picked up my first BMW. It was preowned. When I go above 70, the car seems to vibrate a bit. Is this normal? Should the ride be stiff or silky smooth.

I have a 335i 2010 without sport pkg.

If they put new tires on it, check to see that they did a wheel alignment after doing so.

lablake · 04-10-2011, 08:41 PM

Is it vibrating, or is it tramlining a bit? These cars tend to do that, especially on grooved payment due to the tires. It gets especially noticeable on worn tires.

If it behaves slightly differently on different roads or different sections of the same freeway, it is probably tires/alignment (tramlining).

markham335i · 04-10-2011, 08:43 PM

could be a bent rim.

achien · 04-10-2011, 08:54 PM

take it to the dealer. at best, it could just be alignment. at worst, it could be suspension related.

Tom K. · 04-10-2011, 09:37 PM

More likely wheel balance than alignment. Also could be caused by a damaged wheel or bad tire.

Tom

FVM3 · 04-11-2011, 01:00 AM

get the wheels balanced

applebook · 04-11-2011, 01:10 AM

It's normal...in an Infiniti.

DarkRider23 · 04-11-2011, 01:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

get the wheels balanced

This. Take it back to the dealer and tell them to balance the wheels for you.

sfiermon · 04-11-2011, 05:04 AM

Thanks all!!!

michaelalex17 · 04-11-2011, 05:06 AM

+1 wheel balance or bent rim

Timothy J · 04-11-2011, 05:14 AM

I have a similar problem as well. Right at about 60 MPH the steering wheel starts vibrating. Was wondering if its normal? Seems like it's not.

335BBS · 04-11-2011, 07:42 AM

Bent wheel.

tomz17 · 04-11-2011, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timothy J

I have a similar problem as well. Right at about 60 MPH the steering wheel starts vibrating. Was wondering if its normal? Seems like it's not.

It is definitely not.... the car should be smooth all the way up to 150mph.

Check tire balancing first. Should cost <$30 at any tire shop.

BOSSBMW · 04-11-2011, 01:56 PM

if you feel the shaking the in the steering wheel then its likely the front wheels, which +2 will need to be check for bends and re-balancing.

sfiermon · 04-11-2011, 07:43 PM

Thanks. I broughtnit in and it was 3 wheels that were not perfectly balanced. The rims were fine.

What happened was that the car was 20 months old with ONLY 8500 miles on it. I picked it up over the weekend with a good price and since itnwasnsitting around for long periods, the tires got flat spots on them. A rebalance seemed to correct the issue.

04-10-2011, 08:16 PM	#1
sfiermon Private First Class 33 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Durham, NH iTrader: (0)	Highway speed vibration normal? Hello I just picked up my first BMW. It was preowned. When I go above 70, the car seems to vibrate a bit. Is this normal? Should the ride be stiff or silky smooth. I have a 335i 2010 without sport pkg.
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04-10-2011, 08:18 PM	#2
John 070 Lieutenant General 1706 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	No it's not normal. The car should be smooth all the way to its top speed....
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04-10-2011, 08:41 PM	#4
lablake Private 7 Rep 75 Posts Drives: 2011 JZB e92 M3 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (1)	Is it vibrating, or is it tramlining a bit? These cars tend to do that, especially on grooved payment due to the tires. It gets especially noticeable on worn tires. If it behaves slightly differently on different roads or different sections of the same freeway, it is probably tires/alignment (tramlining).
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04-10-2011, 08:43 PM	#5
markham335i Lieutenant 61 Rep 540 Posts Drives: 07 335i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Toronto, Markham iTrader: (0)	could be a bent rim. __________________ Upgrades: <Cobb V3, DCI, BMS downpipes, ER charge pipe, Forge DV, bbs ch-r, 30%tint all around, bmw performance exhaust, umnitza V4 angel eyes>.....Next upgrades (I would like):intercooler, BBK, turbo upgrade....etc....
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04-10-2011, 08:54 PM	#6
achien AC 95 Rep 2,387 Posts Drives: E90 Post Members Crazy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (0)	take it to the dealer. at best, it could just be alignment. at worst, it could be suspension related. __________________ Your Supreme Leader
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04-10-2011, 09:37 PM	#7
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	More likely wheel balance than alignment. Also could be caused by a damaged wheel or bad tire. Tom
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04-11-2011, 01:00 AM	#8
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	get the wheels balanced
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04-11-2011, 01:10 AM	#9
applebook Private First Class 4 Rep 160 Posts Drives: e90 328i -Stick & Sport Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	It's normal...in an Infiniti.
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04-11-2011, 05:04 AM	#11
sfiermon Private First Class 33 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Durham, NH iTrader: (0)	Thanks all!!!
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04-11-2011, 05:06 AM	#12
michaelalex17 Brigadier General 597 Rep 3,386 Posts Drives: Manual Wagon Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: CT iTrader: (4)	+1 wheel balance or bent rim
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04-11-2011, 05:14 AM	#13
Timothy J Captain 54 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Too much Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Hudson Valley, NY iTrader: (1)	I have a similar problem as well. Right at about 60 MPH the steering wheel starts vibrating. Was wondering if its normal? Seems like it's not. __________________ 2001 Chevy 2500HD Duramax 2003 VW Jetta TDI 2012 BMW F800GS 2024 BMW M2 BSM 6MT Carbon Package
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04-11-2011, 07:42 AM	#14
335BBS Brigadier General 55 Rep 3,606 Posts Drives: 2009 335 coupe. Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Bent wheel.
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04-11-2011, 01:56 PM	#16
BOSSBMW Captain 81 Rep 741 Posts Drives: 2013 X3 35i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	if you feel the shaking the in the steering wheel then its likely the front wheels, which +2 will need to be check for bends and re-balancing. __________________ ['13 X3 SGM] [20" XXR550's in Black Chrome] [Lamin-X Tails/Fogs] [M-Sport Rear] [FOX Exhaust][H&R Sport Springs][RaceChip Ultimate][BMS N55 Intake] SOLD-['06 325i TiAg] [19" VMR VB3 HYPERBLACK] [Blacklines] [OEM Xenon Conversion] [35% Tint] [M-Tech Rear] [M-Tech Front] [Black Vinyl Roof] [Slotted/Drilled Rotors, Cool Carbon Pads] [PBX]
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04-11-2011, 07:43 PM	#17
sfiermon Private First Class 33 Rep 158 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535xi Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Durham, NH iTrader: (0)	Thanks. I broughtnit in and it was 3 wheels that were not perfectly balanced. The rims were fine. What happened was that the car was 20 months old with ONLY 8500 miles on it. I picked it up over the weekend with a good price and since itnwasnsitting around for long periods, the tires got flat spots on them. A rebalance seemed to correct the issue.
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