[haaken675]

So i have a COMPLETE suspension overhaul on my car. Literally all new bushings front and rear including subframe and diff bushings, m3 control arms front and rear, and bilstein coils. I finally got the car sitting fairly even left to right.

The passenger side coil is literally maxed out height wise, and the drivers side is pretty low. The drivers side is still ever so slightly higher too....Something doesn't seam right here. I have never had a car with such a difference in coil adjustment left to right, and now I am starting to get concerned the car has a bent frame.....

Any thoughts?

[TGTIW]

Are the strut mounts new? Old ones will compress over time.

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by TGTIW

Are the strut mounts new? Old ones will compress over time.

Yes, I literally replaced the entire suspension with brand new components. I think the only original part at this point are the swaybar bushings.

[BSM n54iS]

What's the measurements? Maybe it's just my eyes or the way the shadows are hitting but the passenger side actually looks higher to me

[haaken675]

I'll have to retake measurements as I can't remember what I used off the top of my head. THe photos definitely don't really do it justice with the poor lighting, but I thought they were worth including for reference.

The passenger side is about 1/4" lower, which isn't really noticeable. I am concerned with the giant difference in adjustment per side.

[mrjimyjohn]

Are both sides fully seated in the knuckle?

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by mrjimyjohn

Are both sides fully seated in the knuckle?

Yup ,both are completely seated.

[ferocity02]

Did you torque the lower control arm bushings when the suspension was loaded? Spring clocked correctly in the perch?

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Did you torque the lower control arm bushings when the suspension was loaded? Spring clocked correctly in the perch?

I did torque the lower control arms under tension as advised, and yes the springs are seated properly. This is all why my head is starting to hurt over this issue, I can't come up with a good reason why this would be the case.

I also dug up the alignment specs from the last time I had the car aligned. I was so ecstatic to have the car back and driving strait in well over a year I honestly didn't pay attention to the sheet. The front specs make no sense since camber can't be adjusted (outside of pulling the alignment pins like I did), along with caster from my understanding. The car was in at least front end accident before I bought it (unknown to me before purchase). Had to replace the core support, front fenders looked to have been replaced at some point, new bumper, hell, the A/C lines were even damaged apparently.....This has me wondering if I am chasing an issue that isn't some setup or install issue.

[ornicar]

just a remark. the label on the strut seems to be different L/R.

[335i54n]

if youre sure the install is right, you need to find a level/flat lot, to always take your height measurement (fender to center wheel or bottom rim lip). Adjust sleeve evenly side to side and front to back and see where you fall. By having such a difference in adj side to side you're basically corner balancing the car but not or hiding a mechanical flaw.

the alignment printout raises so many questions, car messed up before and after

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by 335i54n

if youre sure the install is right, you need to find a level/flat lot, to always take your height measurement (fender to center wheel or bottom rim lip). Adjust sleeve evenly side to side and front to back and see where you fall. By having such a difference in adj side to side you're basically corner balancing the car but not or hiding a mechanical flaw.

the alignment printout raises so many questions, car messed up before and after

I started the adjustment on a level spot making completely even adjustments across the board. The rear turned out pretty even. And completely agree, something is off with the alignment. Camber shouldn't be able to be changed in the front, period, so I am not sure what the hell is going on there. It was done at a regular shop that had an in ground alignment rack that could handle the car but I think I will be taking it to a BMW specialty shop soon to get that part figured out as that is probably the best place to start.

THe alignment shows near perfect toe but I am still pulling to the right pretty hard at highway speeds....I barely drive the car other then to the gym, which is a mile away. It's been a slow process of figuring out what things are wrong with this car (literally everything, not an exaggeration).

[ferocity02]

Crosscaster and crosscamber can also cause it to pull one direction or the other. Some cars actually design in crosscaster to intentionally pull the car to the right for safety, so you don't merge into oncoming traffic if you doze off. But most of the time pulling to the right is because the roads are crowned to allow water to drain off the road. Most roads are crowned slightly and it's very hard to tell visually.

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

Crosscaster and crosscamber can also cause it to pull one direction or the other. Some cars actually design in crosscaster to intentionally pull the car to the right for safety, so you don't merge into oncoming traffic if you doze off. But most of the time pulling to the right is because the roads are crowned to allow water to drain off the road. Most roads are crowned slightly and it's very hard to tell visually.

If i let go of the wheel on the highway it will pull into the next lane or off the road nearly immediately. Trust me, what's going on is not by design.

[ferocity02]

Originally Posted by haaken675

If i let go of the wheel on the highway it will pull into the next lane or off the road nearly immediately. Trust me, what's going on is not by design.

That would make sense given your crosscamber situation.

Was the car in an accident? Maybe the frame is bent.

Alignment shops are also a joke. You can get it aligned twice at the same place on the same day and get two different results. I would trust a dealer to do it more than for example Big Brand Tire Co.

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by ferocity02

That would make sense given your crosscamber situation.

Was the car in an accident? Maybe the frame is bent.

Alignment shops are also a joke. You can get it aligned twice at the same place on the same day and get two different results. I would trust a dealer to do it more than for example Big Brand Tire Co.

The car was definitely in an accident before I got it. I hadn't realized to what extent until now having replaced the radiator core support, new A/C hard lines that were damaged, bumper, fender, etc. That is what has me worried about a bent frame situation.....

[335i54n]

most shops don't know how to do alignments properly, as long as it can track straight is all most care about. that printout makes no sense especially if you drove it in and all they did was align it. the alignment machine can check setback and other frame measurements also and the printout you want is the summary one.

before readout, the front and rear toe way out of whack, after somehow the caster and camber change significantly. based on the before readout looks ok besides toe way out of whack, don't know how caster and camber change so much when there is no caster adjustment and little camber

[haaken675]

Originally Posted by 335i54n

most shops don't know how to do alignments properly, as long as it can track straight is all most care about. that printout makes no sense especially if you drove it in and all they did was align it. the alignment machine can check setback and other frame measurements also and the printout you want is the summary one.

before readout, the front and rear toe way out of whack, after somehow the caster and camber change significantly. based on the before readout looks ok besides toe way out of whack, don't know how caster and camber change so much when there is no caster adjustment and little camber

I completely agree. I'm going to take one more crack at adjusting the car and then take it to a specialty BMW race shop locally.

[bluelightM]

I second a race shop. Even some race shops that do $200 alignments complain about the difficulty of some setups.