[skim7x]

Hey guys,
I'm on stock sport suspension, M3 front sway bar, with Linea Corse Lemans 19" wrapped in UHP General Exclaims for the summer setup and have my 18" 189's wrapped in Dunlop M3 snow tires.

Back in November of last year, I put on the 18" 189's with Dunlop tires and had a lot of vibration from front and rear suspensions at high speeds (>60mph). I had all four tires re-balanced and it made the vibration better, although it was still a little there in the front only. I attributed it to the snow tires and left it at that.

About 1 month ago, I switched from my winter setup to my summer setup and once again felt the vibrations, but only from the front suspension. I re-balanced the front wheels, but the vibration is still there (maybe 10% better than before) when I hit 78mph and gets worse then I load the front suspension with a little weight (Vibration is better on acceleration, worse when I abruptly get off the gas).

Now, I'm starting to think it is not a problem with the wheel balancing because I rebalanced both my winter wheels and my summer wheels at different shops (to make sure it wasn't just an incompetant shop) with only minimal resolution of the vibrating.

Anyone have ideas on what else I should check??

[fdriller9]

Did you ever get an alignment? Aligning and balancing are 2 different things.

[skim7x]

I mean, I got an alignment after I put my stock shocks in (used to be on KW's), but not after changing rims... Would misalignment cause vibrating?? And I thought you didn't really need re-aligment after just switching rims... no?

[The HACK]

Wheel bearings are a notoriously WEAK part of this chassis. The "problem", at least the symptoms, are consistent with either a bearing or bad suspension bushings.

[fdriller9]

Originally Posted by skim7x

I mean, I got an alignment after I put my stock shocks in (used to be on KW's), but not after changing rims... Would misalignment cause vibrating?? And I thought you didn't really need re-aligment after just switching rims... no?

You usually don't....I normally don't when I switch wheels each season. But it's possible it can cause vibrations if you hit a pothole or something with one set and the tread wore slowly so it wasn't vibrating.

And when you switched to wheels with different tread...see where I am going?

[Thumperx]

Just checkin', but does your wheels need to use the hub centric rings for the front wheels?

FYI, I'm not referring to a hub spacer, rather the hub centric rings. If so, were they plastic or metal?

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Wheel bearings are a notoriously WEAK part of this chassis. The "problem", at least the symptoms, are consistent with either a bearing or bad suspension bushings.

Yeah... I'm starting to think that is the problem... going to take the car to BMW next week...

Originally Posted by Thumperx

Just checkin', but does your wheels need to use the hub centric rings for the front wheels?

FYI, I'm not referring to a hub spacer, rather the hub centric rings. If so, were they plastic or metal?

No, I don't think they need the hub centric rings... =/

[lightning20]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Wheel bearings are a notoriously WEAK part of this chassis. The "problem", at least the symptoms, are consistent with either a bearing or bad suspension bushings.

anyone have a idea how much this would cost to fix if it's either one of these

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by lightning20

anyone have a idea how much this would cost to fix if it's either one of these

Wheel bearing about $100 plus labor, which would likely be around $250-300 total. Suspension bushing will depend on which bushing, but $20 in parts and maybe an hour labor. So about $150 would be a wild @ss guess.

[skim7x]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Wheel bearing about $100 plus labor, which would likely be around $250-300 total. Suspension bushing will depend on which bushing, but $20 in parts and maybe an hour labor. So about $150 would be a wild @ss guess.

not too bad... at least if it's bushings i can upgrade to m3 bushings... lol