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2010 2011 BMW 5 Series Forum F10 Directional stability on motorway |
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05-20-2012, 03:56 AM | #1 |
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Directional stability on motorway
Am delighted with my new F10 520d except for one issue. Car is very sensitive to sidewinds on motorway. I have to make constant small corrections to stop the car wandering out of my lane. In fact stability not great even when not windy - wanders too much. Much worse than my previous E60. Any suggestions? Should I experiment with tyre pressures?
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05-20-2012, 06:01 AM | #2 |
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Well there's no harm checking the pressures. I ve had car for just over a week and checked my pressures yesterday and assuned the dealer would have set them correctly as part of the pdi but they were all slightly low.
I've not encounted crosswinds on the motorway yet but I don't think the f10 feels as planted as my old e39 which I guess because it far heavier steering felt less like deviating from course I also found mt f10 was veering to the left which prompted me to check pressures. Need to find a flat road withoiut a camber to check Its sorted that out. |
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05-20-2012, 08:22 AM | #3 |
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I find the same but I think it is the electric steering as opposed to the hydraulic steering. The hydraulic steering seems to self centre more.
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05-20-2012, 10:22 AM | #4 |
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^^ A large amount of it is possibly down to the new electric steering. Your E60 had hydraulic steering. The F10 has been criticised for its steering and one of the problems is as you describe - keeping it in a straight line on the motorway. But I would check tyre pressures and have a go on a perfect road if you can find one!
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05-20-2012, 10:37 AM | #5 |
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is there such as thing as a perfect road in the UK? Certianly around London its all potholes and badly repaired roads!
I've got just over 300 miles now on my F10 and still find the steering 'weird' , getting used to it but I certianly do feel detached. Not sure if the run flat tyres are more sensitive to road cambers as well. I'm sure the F10 with hydralic steering and normal tyres would be near enough a perfect car. Oh hang on that sounds like I'm describing a M5.... oh well dream on! |
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05-20-2012, 11:29 AM | #6 |
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As others have suggested, check tire pressures.
Do you have stock tires? One set of tires I had on my M5 had circumferential tread (an unbroken rib around the center of the tread), and those tires were horrible for tramlining -- they followed every little ridge in the pavement. The car was a handful with those tires. It was fine on all the other tires I had on the car, so that could be part of it.
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05-20-2012, 12:41 PM | #7 |
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I've got Michellin on mine and i think tramlining is just one of features of having wide tyres. My E39 was subject to that as well.
got 351m wheels on min so its 245 at the fornt adn 275 at the back which is pretty wide I'd have thought. |
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05-21-2012, 06:50 AM | #9 |
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In comfort and comfort + I experience the steering issue. In sport and sport + no issues.
I have also found that the more I think about the steering on long trips, the harder it is to stay centered in the lane without constant minor corrections. With this car I think you have to really let go and pay attention to something else. |
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05-21-2012, 08:19 AM | #10 |
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I have a 2012 535i x-drive with hydrulic steering, it steers straight on the highway, even in cross wind. I have conti tires, 36 psi front and 40 rear.
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05-21-2012, 08:21 AM | #11 |
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Last week I got a brand new software update (only a few days old) after experiencing the exact same issuses as mentioned above, they have done 5 separate 4-wheel alignments without any results, after the update the car is much more firm in the handling (steering) and the turning wheel is at center and most important the car runs perfectly straight!
Questions on that? |
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05-21-2012, 07:35 PM | #13 |
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Are you sure the 2012 535i x-drive has hydraulic steering?
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05-22-2012, 12:41 AM | #14 |
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05-22-2012, 04:59 AM | #15 |
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+1 - Same experience... wide tyres does it (and of course the electric steering)
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05-24-2012, 04:17 PM | #17 |
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Im glad im not the only one with this issue. My 2011 528i seems to feel "loose" or un planted on the freeway. Seems to be a lot better in Sport or Sport+ modes, but just crappy in Comfort or normal. Im going to check tire pressures... but i thinkt his goes beyond that as it should result in the same feeling in sport mode if it were the tires.
I think its more of a suspension issue (shocks, sway bar, control bar)?? |
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05-26-2012, 04:09 AM | #18 |
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Directional stability
Thanks everyone for your comments. Taking your advice I drove long motorway journey with Dynamic Drive Control in Sport Mode and it definitely seemed a little better. Of course that increases revs. So you need to select manual 8th gear to reduce revs and maintain economy. But I still think the steering is too vague - how can BMW think it is acceptable? How come the "experts" who write magazine road tests haven't lambasted BMW? Shouldn't "The Ultimate Driving Machine" be rock-solid stable at speed instead of wandering unless constantly corrected?
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05-26-2012, 10:41 AM | #19 | |
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Quote:
OP, very small variations in tyre pressures have a surprisingly large effect and you'll be rewarded by experimenting within the recommended ranges as placarded on the driver's door frame. I have 18" wheels and the best set-up I've found is 31psi front and 33 rear with a consistently lightly laden car. |
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05-27-2012, 05:25 AM | #20 |
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Directional Stability on Motoway
I've a 525d with the same issue. Delivered on Michelin Run-Flats, I swapped to non-run flat Vredesteins after 2 months and it's definitely an improvement.
It's still not a drivers car by any standards with floppy steering still, but it doesn't tram-line anything like so much, and I can also hear the radio as well. They went on the same rims (245) no problems, and are 1/2 the price to replace. Ironically, the run-flats gave me my first flat in 15 years, so they lived up to their name. |
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02-07-2016, 10:42 PM | #21 |
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Hi guys !
Any fix yet ?? I have recently purchased a 2010 525D F11 with 63t km on it. And I am experiencing the cross wind issues and directional stability problems as well.. My car rides on original 18" wheels with new ( not run flat ) tires and has just been 4 wheel aligned.. The car has the sport gearbox, but the problem is there in all settings, and almost dangerous in all but "sport" and "sport+". So I was wondering if any fix has been offered byBMW yet ?? |
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08-29-2016, 02:42 PM | #22 |
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Same for me, 520d 2014 MSport 18" runflats wanders like hell at speeds of 60mph and over. I haven't chekced tyres pressures yet but it has been 4 wheel aligned by BMW twice but no difference.
Used it for towing a caravan also and it is the worse car I ever used for towing. Still under warranty so it will be going back. |
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