[feuer]

To OP: you have less negative camber on the right that is why the car was pulling right and you had to hold the steering wheel slightly to the left in order to go straight. It was you camber not the toe. I would look into that and not the toe.

[feuer]

To OP: the stalks are also not at same hieght either so centaring the steering wheel according to that is just wrong. Turn signal is higher. On a lot of makes and models the stalks are not symetrical. Measure from the floor and you will see. Honestly, why is this tread a sticky?

[ferocity02]

As mentioned, the shop should center the wheel before alignment, but I've found that most do not unless you are watching them and ask them to do it.

[vadk]

I had the same story. I made alignment in the BMW dealership but steering wheel was a bit off the center (exactly as on the picture). I came back and asked to correct that. With no questions they did it by adjusting tie rods and then checked alignment again. I guess any shop should be able to do that with no extra pay of course.

[vadk]

Originally Posted by feuer

To OP: the stalks are also not at same hieght either so centaring the steering wheel according to that is just wrong. Turn signal is higher. On a lot of makes and models the stalks are not symetrical. Measure from the floor and you will see. Honestly, why is this tread a sticky?

I agree, I had Nissan SUV where stalks were not on the same height, and they did alignment centering steering wheel by stalks . However on E90 they seem to be on the same height. I measured and even if they are not on the same height the difference is not noticeable.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by vadk

I agree, I had Nissan SUV where stalks were not on the same height, and they did alignment centering steering wheel by stalks . However on E90 they seem to be on the same height. I measured and even if they are not on the same height the difference is not noticeable.

The turn signal on the e9x is slightly higher. I have worked on quite few. It varies from car to car depending how the stalk was used and ect.
Regardless, aligning the front end by adjusting the toe only judging by the position of the steering wheel it is not the correct way.
Additionally, I know the photos posted are for reference but still it begs the questions: has he holding the camera perfectly leveled, was the car on perfectly leveled surface, was the tire pressure correct.
Honestly, this DIY made me laugh a little.

[teaston]

I think it's not true about having to use ramps and not jacking the car up, the workshop manual shows the car is jacked up:

http://workshop-manuals.com/bmw/3_se...axle/page_999/

Also worth noting that the locking screw should be tightened to 40nm.

[fmzip]

Great tutorial

Why not simply pop the steering wheel off and move it over a notch or two to get the wheel straight?

[teaston]

Originally Posted by fmzip

Great tutorial

Why not simply pop the steering wheel off and move it over a notch or two to get the wheel straight?

Because then the steering column won't be centered on the rack.

[fmzip]

Originally Posted by teaston

Because then the steering column won't be centered on the rack.

Ah! Now I understand........

I thought it was not centered the other way

[german88]

He never said the car was "pulling". The steering wheel simply was not centered. You should read a bit more before posting. Camber has absolutely nothing to do with this issue. This is exactly how all alignment shops should and will correct alignment of the steering wheel.

Originally Posted by feuer

To OP: you have less negative camber on the right that is why the car was pulling right and you had to hold the steering wheel slightly to the left in order to go straight. It was you camber not the toe. I would look into that and not the toe.

[teaston]

Originally Posted by german88

He never said the car was "pulling". The steering wheel simply was not centered. You should read a bit more before posting. Camber has absolutely nothing to do with this issue. This is exactly how all alignment shops should and will correct alignment of the steering wheel.

Holy thread revival!

Do you realise you're quoting a post from a year and a half ago!?

[german88]

Recently went through this on my "new to me" 2011 328i Xdrive. Steering wheel was rotated approx. 3 degrees clockwise from center when driving straight.
Couple points worth noting:

1. The car does not need to be on ramps. Access to the tie rods while the car sits flat on the ground with the wheels straight is no problem. Additionally you if you have access to a hoist there is nothing wrong with using it. Having the wheels in the air will have no negative effect.
2. Tie rods should not require any additional leverage to rotate once the lock nut is loose. Mine were easily rotated by hand once loose.
3. Rotation of the tie rods (Clockwise driver / counter clockwise passenger = counter clockwise rotation of the steering wheel. Approx 1 full turn of each tie rods will yield approx 2-3 degrees of steering wheel rotation.
4. If this exercise takes you more than 2 minutes each side to perform your doing something wrong.

[german88]

I do. Couldn't help myself though. Been doing alignment work for many years and saw a need to simplify this and debunk some of the "not so good" information that was posted in the thread.

Originally Posted by teaston

Holy thread revival!

Do you realise you're quoting a post from a year and a half ago!?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by german88

He never said the car was "pulling". The steering wheel simply was not centered. You should read a bit more before posting. Camber has absolutely nothing to do with this issue. This is exactly how all alignment shops should and will correct alignment of the steering wheel.

He did not have to, look at the Sears alignment sheet, almost 1/2 degree difference from side to side, LT -0.8 RT 0.2, you can have toe in/out spot on, it still steering wheel will get off as soon as car gets rolling.

[german88]

Let's assume the alignment is correct for sake of the OP's efforts to correct the condition.
Taking this to a debate on alignment settings is not the idea here...

My advise to anyone with a steering wheel that's not centered would be to make sure you have your alignment correct first. If you have this condition however and you simply want to make the adjustment to center the wheel. Have at it. It's how any shop will perform the fix. If you disagree I would be curious as to how "you" would suggest correcting this issue. Maybe I'm about to learn something new. All ears...

Originally Posted by feuer

He did not have to, look at the Sears alignment sheet, almost 1/2 degree difference from side to side, LT -0.8 RT 0.2, you can have toe in/out spot on, it still steering wheel will get off as soon as car gets rolling.

[feuer]

Originally Posted by german88

Let's assume the alignment is correct for sake of the OP's efforts to correct the condition.
Taking this to a debate on alignment settings is not the idea here...

My advise to anyone with a steering wheel that's not centered would be to make sure you have your alignment correct first. If you have this condition however and you simply want to make the adjustment to center the wheel. Have at it. It's how any shop will perform the fix. If you disagree I would be curious as to how "you" would suggest correcting this issue. Maybe I'm about to learn something new. All ears...

Well, is simple, as you said let "assume the alignment is correct" and if so none of this DIY would be required. I do alignments too just like yourself. You air up the tires, turn wheels left and right to full lock, center the steering wheel and lock it place, then work on camber, caster, toe in/out, then reset steering position sensors, done. Why would I go to a shop to have "correct alignment" done, pay for it, only to go and re-work it myself?

[german88]

I see, your not willing to let the off center steering wheel live as a separate issue which can be solved in less than 4 minutes from the comfort of your garage. IMHO it can be delt with as a separate issue which is why I'm guessing it landed in the "sticky" section. Keep in Mind we are talking 2-3 degrees off center both in my case and from the OP's pics his case as well. I would say this is within most alignment shops tolerance given the myriad # of angles and spokes on the avg. steering wheel these days.

Originally Posted by feuer

Well, is simple, as you said let "assume the alignment is correct" and if so none of this DIY would be required. I do alignments too just like yourself. You air up the tires, turn wheels left and right to full lock, center the steering wheel and lock it place, then work on camber, caster, toe in/out, then reset steering position sensors, done. Why would I go to a shop to have "correct alignment" done, pay for it, only to go and re-work it myself?

[feuer]

Originally Posted by german88

I see, your not willing to let the off center steering wheel live as a separate issue which can be solved in less than 4 minutes from the comfort of your garage. IMHO it can be delt with as a separate issue which is why I'm guessing it landed in the "sticky" section. Keep in Mind we are talking 2-3 degrees off center both in my case and from the OP's pics his case as well. I would say this is within most alignment shops tolerance given the myriad # of angles and spokes on the avg. steering wheel these days.

Exactly, I'm not, why would I? What comfort of my garage? Comfort is me sitting in a chair, sipping on something, reading a magazine, all while the tech aligns my car properly. So I will not tackle at home, not even if it takes 4 min as you say, especially after I have just paid someone for the job. Additionally, is not a sticky but simple DIY and even if it was a sticky what that represents? Is not like is a sacred guide to perfect alignment! Google the joke about how women and how man change the oil on their cars. Joke is on man! So why would be the joke on me? If you care you will notice. If you notice it would bother you. If it bothers you then you should really go back to the shop and have them correct the issue. You paid for it. Besides, that is how not only that you would help yourself, but also future potential shop customers seeking alingment. Or perhaps you hand your customers copy from this DIY to do it at home if you messed it up?

[german88]

Paid for what? In my case I simply purchased a used car which had a slightly mis-aligned steering wheel. I did not pay for a poor alignment and could assess that my alignment was fine based on several factors. Perfectly even tire wear, zero pulling in either direction and no shimy at any speed under braking or otherwise. I stand corrected on the sticky vs DIY.

Nice insult there at the end though. Not my MO and you've clearly shown your hand there. Time to move on... the info is here for others to use as they see fit which is the spirit of forums such as this.

Originally Posted by feuer

Exactly, I'm not, why would I? What comfort of my garage? Comfort is me sitting in a chair, sipping on something, reading a magazine, all while the tech aligns my car properly. So I will not tackle at home, not even if it takes 4 min as you say, especially after I have just paid someone for the job. Additionally, is not a sticky but simple DIY and even if it was a sticky what that represents? Is not like is a sacred guide to perfect alignment! Google the joke about how women and how man change the oil on their cars. Joke is on man! So why would be the joke on me? If you care you will notice. If you notice it would bother you. If it bothers you then you should really go back to the shop and have them correct the issue. You paid for it. Besides, that is how not only that you would help yourself, but also future potential shop customers seeking alingment. Or perhaps you hand your customers copy from this DIY to do it at home if you messed it up?

[Germanbato17]

Thanks nukezero for this information.

I'm going to try this this weekend, my steering wheel is crooked to the left too.

So, when you took your car on ramps, did you center the steering wheel first? before to move the tie rods.

Thanks

[teaston]

Originally Posted by Germanbato17

Thanks nukezero for this information.

I'm going to try this this weekend, my steering wheel is crooked to the left too.

So, when you took your car on ramps, did you center the steering wheel first? before to move the tie rods.

Thanks

No need to centre the steering wheel. Just make sure whatever adjustment you make on one side make exactly the opposite adjustment on the other side!