BMW update: wheels not to blame for wobble

"ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability" (italianjobr53) 02/27/2020 at 19:48 • Filed to: None

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Borrowed a friends front wheels and tires but the wobble is still there. I’m about 80% certain that is bad control arm bushings. I need to jack up the car and push the control arms and see if they move abut in the bushings. Also, the steering turns fairly violently on speedbumps.

She does look pretty with good wheels tho :)

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/27/2020 at 20:00

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I feel like those wheels are too big for an E46, especially if they were  on the rear. But that’s just, like, my opinion.

Def the bushings and/or ball joints.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 02/27/2020 at 20:38

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Yeah, they are too big. I will go with 17x7 instead of the 18x8.5 that those are right now.

Gonna start with bushings coz they are supposed to be easier to replace.

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/27/2020 at 20:38

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Isn’t that size mismatch driving your ABS Controller crazy?

Or is it an optical illusion?

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 02/27/2020 at 20:40

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Not really, no. I didnt think about that honestly but maybe they are close enough that its fine? I’ll check the profile on those fronts and calculate diameter tomorrow

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/27/2020 at 21:06

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I was always told the rule of thumb was about 4-5% for the Bosch controller, but I could be all wet.

Mainly would be an issue in “panic braking” where the controller sees the bigger front wheel turning more slowly prematurely and fights back to keep the fronts spinning the same “approx” as the rears.

But.  I could be all wet on this one.  On my Audis, if it’s too far off, you get a flashing ABS light and the Red Brake Pedal-y icon lit up.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 02/27/2020 at 21:23

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I’m not driving it on those wheels again anyways so I guess I survived!

SBA Thanks You For All The Fish > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/27/2020 at 21:28

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Sorry for the digression . Mainly it was idle curiosity...

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > SBA Thanks You For All The Fish 02/27/2020 at 21:39

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Ooh no, that was a good point, no need to be sorry.

I wouldnt be on Oppo if not for curiosity  

atfsgeoff > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/27/2020 at 22:07

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Yeah, control arm bushings and/or ball joints are main suspects.

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > atfsgeoff 02/27/2020 at 22:18

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Bushings are easier to replace so i’ll start with those.

dtg11 - is probably on an adventure with Clifford > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/28/2020 at 10:43

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that’s such a nice blue color and the bronze looks fantastic with it

brianbrannon > ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability 02/28/2020 at 21:22

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Move forward very slowly and hit the brakes hard while someone watches how much the wheel shakes. You should be able to see tiny cracks or leaks in the bushings but I don't think you have enough leverage to check the bushings by hand

ItalianJobR53 - now with added 'MERICA and unreliability > brianbrannon 02/28/2020 at 21:50

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Thats exactly what we did this morning. Friend said right front had more play than the left so bushings are definitely shot.

FCP has already shipped the replacement ones.