[carz]

Sorry for the re re re re post, but I have been reading the 19 posts (now 20) talking about shimmies, but I didn´t get any clear answer.

My steering wheel vibrates between 80 and 100 kms/h (50 to 60 mph) and after having the wheels balanced twice, there has been no improvement. It also vibrates when braking a little bit hard, above 90 kms/h, until I reach less than 80 kms/h.

I read here that it might be a wheel unbalanced (done!), brakes needing to be bedded in (done!) or new tires (changed 2.000 kms ago)
Don´t you think it might be related to the suspension system? A rubber piece with some play or something similar that causes the front end to vibrate under certain speed conditions?

I took my car to the BMW dealer ship, and they didn´t do anything. I took it somewhere else, and they started charging me money for things that didn´t help, so before I keep on spending money on changing perfectly working pieces, I wanted to ask you for some advise.

Thanks!!!

[cn555ic]

Originally Posted by carz

Sorry for the re re re re post, but I have been reading the 19 posts (now 20) talking about shimmies, but I didn´t get any clear answer.

My steering wheel vibrates between 80 and 100 kms/h (50 to 60 mph) and after having the wheels balanced twice, there has been no improvement. It also vibrates when braking a little bit hard, above 90 kms/h, until I reach less than 80 kms/h.

I read here that it might be a wheel unbalanced (done!), brakes needing to be bedded in (done!) or new tires (changed 2.000 kms ago)
Don´t you think it might be related to the suspension system? A rubber piece with some play or something similar that causes the front end to vibrate under certain speed conditions?

I took my car to the BMW dealer ship, and they didn´t do anything. I took it somewhere else, and they started charging me money for things that didn´t help, so before I keep on spending money on changing perfectly working pieces, I wanted to ask you for some advise.

Thanks!!!

If you have done tire balance twice, I would say your next thing to check is to see if the rotors are warped...Tell tell signs they are is when you brake and the steering wheel vibrates and shakes

[carz]

I had the rotors checked when they balanced the wheels, and looked ok.

[cn555ic]

Originally Posted by carz

I had the rotors checked when they balanced the wheels, and looked ok.

Rotors may appear to be normal and warping cannot be seen by just inspecting it....Need to spin them and look at them

[fnckr]

Originally Posted by cn555ic

Rotors may appear to be normal and warping cannot be seen by just inspecting it....Need to spin them and look at them

...while using a runout meter. Lots of brake shops have one available as should your dealer. Tell them to use it to make sure the rotors are in spec. If not, then you can get new rotors under the maintenance program.
Based on your OP, just like everyone who posted before, I suspect your rotors are the issue. Now you must prove it though. Or, just keep complaining and your dealer may replace anyway.

Try gsp9700.com
Check rotors for runout
Do a visual check of your suspension components, bushings

[401FlaGATOR]

are they Bridgestone Potenza's? They might have flat spots.. Replacing them or diving on them for a few thousand miles might eliminate the problem as the flat spots getreshaped.. Either one of the wheels or the tires might be slightly out of round.. Make sure to get the wheels road force balanced..

If you hav a BMW OEM wheel, they are pretty solid so I would suspect a defective tire..

[DnA Diesel]

How much mileage on the 328xi? Could it be the traction strut bushings? Those have a habit of producing the dreaded 55mph shimmy on a number of BMW products (a.k.a. thrust arm bushings), but it usually takes a while to wear out the bushing (unless work was done on the suspension, and the car didn't have full weight on the front wheels when the strut bushing bolt was tightened up again...

[02themax]

Originally Posted by cn555ic

If you have done tire balance twice, I would say your next thing to check is to see if the rotors are warped...Tell tell signs they are is when you brake and the steering wheel vibrates and shakes

This is my thought as well.

[carz]

The car has 72.000 kms (around 43.000 miles) and the wheels are not Potenza RFT.

[Healey3000]

Originally Posted by carz

My steering wheel vibrates between 80 and 100 kms/h (50 to 60 mph) and after having the wheels balanced twice, there has been no improvement. It also vibrates when braking a little bit hard, above 90 kms/h, until I reach less than 80 kms/h.

Hi,

I can offer a couple of thoughts on the subject, both from experiences with past cars.

My E34 535i developed a classic shimmy between 50 and 60 mph that would be exacerbated when the brakes were applied. It turns out that on the E34, the thrust arm bushings eventually fail (I had 150,000 miles on the car) and the symptoms are a steering wheel shimmy. As the wear gets worse, braking adds to the shimmy. Replaced the arms and the problem was solved. I don't know if the E90 has similar suspension geometry but it's quite possibly the same "family" design.

The car before the E34 (not a BMW) developed a shimmy that just wouldn't go away. Finally, a local suspension shop that works on a lot of race cars found the answer - the wheels had to be balanced on the car. All the normal off-car techniques just wouldn't cure it.

A problem like this may call for a specialist shop since it's not a routine problem. Even the dealership isn't necessarily equipped to do this kind of troubleshooting.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Adnan