[W37V]

Car: '11 e92 328 m-sport

I noticed that my rear wheel have a lot of negative camber. If I am looking from above, I can see both wheels' bottom sticking out. I get an alignment once a year and it was always done at the dealership.

I just had my rear tires replaced. I do not recall my car having so much negative camber. Car does not pull on either side, but when going straight, it feels unstable.

Is this normal?

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

Car: '11 e92 328 m-sport

I noticed that my rear wheel have a lot of negative camber. If I am looking from above, I can see both wheels' bottom sticking out. I get an alignment once a year and it was always done at the dealership.

I just had my rear tires replaced. I do not recall my car having so much negative camber. Car does not pull on either side, but when going straight, it feels unstable.

Is this normal?

Is it lowered?

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

Is it lowered?

All stock.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

All stock.

I think stock rear camber is about -1 degree or so which isn't all that much.

[W37V]

this is almost stanced look. if it was a track car - sure, but holly crap it's horrible for straight line. i feel like car is teeter tottering on straights, but id does not pull. it tracks straight.

i will schedule an appointment for new alignment.

I just changed rear tires, so maybe that's what is throwing it off.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

this is almost stanced look. if it was a track car - sure, but holly crap it's horrible for straight line. i feel like car is teeter tottering on straights, but id does not pull. it tracks straight.

i will schedule an appointment for new alignment.

I just changed rear tires, so maybe that's what is throwing it off.

Tires shouldn't have an effect like that, something's definitely not right, as if there are broken springs or something. Can you post a pic?

[W37V]

it looks like it's on both wheels, but mainly left.

now i am concerned on how the shop jacked the car. they lifted the rear by trailing arms. maybe that messed up the alignment the alignment.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

it looks like it's on both wheels, but mainly left.

now i am concerned on how the shop jacked the car. they lifted the rear by trailing arms. maybe that messed up the alignment the alignment.

Say wha? Lifted by the trailing arms?! Find a lawyer cuz they fucked up your car. Trailing links are likely broken, lower camber arms likely bent or at least twisted, possible damage to the subframe, etc. That's about the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard for a shop to do. Holy shit. Get it to a dealer or a real BMW indy fast cuz things could go from bad to worse. Hope you can get it fixed at this shop's expense.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

it looks like it's on both wheels, but mainly left.

now i am concerned on how the shop jacked the car. they lifted the rear by trailing arms. maybe that messed up the alignment the alignment.

Are you sure they jacked at the trailing links instead of at the lower camber arms? Either way they bent something.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

Are you sure they jacked at the trailing links instead of at the lower camber arms? Either way they bent something.

i am not sure. i could only see from the distance and that is what it looked like. i couldn't go in the garage, so... i am going to the the picture now.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

Say wha? Lifted by the trailing arms?! Find a lawyer cuz they fucked up your car. Trailing links are likely broken, lower camber arms likely bent or at least twisted, possible damage to the subframe, etc. That's about the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard for a shop to do. Holy shit. Get it to a dealer or a real BMW indy fast cuz things could go from bad to worse. Hope you can get it fixed at this shop's expense.

tires were replaced in florida while i was on vacation. i live in dc. going after them might not be bit of a challenge.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

tires were replaced in florida while i was on vacation. i live in dc. going after them might not be bit of a challenge.

That sucks. If they lifted on the diff body, not the cover, that'd be perfectly acceptable. But if they moved the jack for each wheel they weren't and the suspension is damaged. Not likely to be cheap to fix, I'm afraid. Hope so though.

[avocet]

What tires did you put on? RFTs? I find they become darty and miserable if the pressures are too low. And you will get odd tire wear. Always ran mine 38psi.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by avocet

What tires did you put on? RFTs? I find they become darty and miserable if the pressures are too low. And you will get odd tire wear. Always ran mine 38psi.

True enough but he's seeing excessive negative camber which shouldn't be there. Something's mucked up somewhere...

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

That sucks. If they lifted on the diff body, not the cover, that'd be perfectly acceptable. But if they moved the jack for each wheel they weren't and the suspension is damaged. Not likely to be cheap to fix, I'm afraid. Hope so though.

It's hard to see in pictures, but i tried to show the difference in distance from fender by hanging a string (in this case an iPhone charger). on top there is about 1/4 inch distance. on the bottom, the string was touching the tire.

Also, I circled area which they used to jack up the car.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

It's hard to see in pictures, but i tried to show the difference in distance from fender by hanging a string (in this case an iPhone charger). on top there is about 1/4 inch distance. on the bottom, the string was touching the tire.

Also, I circled area which they used to jack up the car.

Jayzus. They damaged your suspension, at least the trailing links and most likely the lower camber arms are bent. Hard to see but I'm pretty sure. You need to get it to a qualified shop.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

It's hard to see in pictures, but i tried to show the difference in distance from fender by hanging a string (in this case an iPhone charger). on top there is about 1/4 inch distance. on the bottom, the string was touching the tire.

Also, I circled area which they used to jack up the car.

Actually, if they lifted at the point where the trailing links attach to the subframe they very well may have bent the subframe at that point.

Don't take my word for it though, I'm no expert, get it to a competent shop so they can inspect it.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by avocet

What tires did you put on? RFTs? I find they become darty and miserable if the pressures are too low. And you will get odd tire wear. Always ran mine 38psi.

I had michelin AS/3. Replaced them with Continentals DWS 06. With DWS, rear end felt as if I had a trunk full of water. Rear end felt like it would just swing and sway. Didn't feel safe. It hooked great in corners, but small adjustments, especially at speed were nerve-wracking. I returned them and got another set of AS/3. Car is back to usual self, but rear end still feels loose.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

I had michelin AS/3. Replaced them with Continentals DWS 06. With DWS, rear end felt as if I had a trunk full of water. Rear end felt like it would just swing and sway. Didn't feel safe. It hooked great in corners, but small adjustments, especially at speed were nerve-wracking. I returned them and got another set of AS/3. Car is back to usual self, but rear end still feels loose.

Mold release compound on the tires can do this, have had it happen. But it goes away.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

Actually, if they lifted at the point where the trailing links attach to the subframe they very well may have bent the subframe at that point.

Don't take my word for it though, I'm no expert, get it to a competent shop so they can inspect it.

No!

If that is the case, I just want to cry. I love this car. It took me 3 months to find it to exact specs.

Would dealership know if there is a damage? I just got an email about an alignment special.

[W37V]

Originally Posted by justpete

Mold release compound on the tires can do this, have had it happen. But it goes away.

Thats what the guy said. But even after driving over 300 miles on them, the feeling didn't go away.

[justpete]

Originally Posted by W37V

No!

If that is the case, I just want to cry. I love this car. It took me 3 months to find it to exact specs.

Would dealership know if there is a damage? I just got an email about an alignment special.

Absolutely! Take it to the dealer, they'll know by inspection, assuming it's a good dealership. I hope it's not terrible, that was an awful thing for that shop to do. Unless lifting from the frame points or the diff body suspension damage is almost guaranteed, sad to say. Let us know what they find. Maybe they just blew some bushings and nothing's bent, that could explain both the odd camber and the trunk full of water feeling. Sure hope it's just that. Really sorry to see this.