[chip2058]

Okay, this one might be a weird one to explain. I have an '07 328xi Sport with about 32k mi on it. I also live in Boston home of roads that would be better off as a dirt road than the pothole coveredness that they are.

Anyway, lately I've noticed a few things about the overall performance of the car that just make it feel, loose, almost un-BMW like. For instance when I go over speed bumps no matter what speed I go there is a scraping noise and a flexing feeling. When I'm on a road and there are small divots such as sewer grates I can feel every nuance of the road (couldn't in the early days). These types of roads also make the steering feel loose and imprecise.

I can't easily take it to the dealer because the dealer the one I go to is 26mi away and I feel I really need a reason to take the time to go.

Anybody have ideas what it could be or at least what direction I could point the dealer in? I asked them to look into the speedbump issue before but they only did a quick visual inspection and said nothing was wrong (this was 3k mi ago)

Thanks!

[galahad05]

Did you have them measure your suspension geometry? If something was pushed out-of-spec you'd get a funny-feeling ride.

Also, what's the condition of your tires?

[MrDummy]

^^ +1

[reprod]

I'm just glad this hasn't turned into a flame xi thread.

Things to check:
Alignment (for rubbing sound and unbalanced feeling)
Tires + Wheel balancing (for unbalanced feeling)

There is also a pump for the power steering fluid. If faulty this can cause some inconsistency in steering feel and would be a good place to check concerning the loose feeling in the steering.

[Kylekuu]

look at your tire pressures too. I noticed with/out RFT TP does make a difference in feeling every bump on the road.

[E90330iS]

new gf?

[F32Fleet]

I agree with others. Check tire pressure and condition.

[chip2058]

Originally Posted by galahad05

Did you have them measure your suspension geometry? If something was pushed out-of-spec you'd get a funny-feeling ride.

Also, what's the condition of your tires?

Didn't have them measure the suspension geometry, wouldn't they then try and charge me for an alignment?

Interestingly I did do the penny test on my tires real quick today and the front treads just barely cover cover Lincoln's head. The rear's were better. I'm assuming this means the tires may be on their way out. I'm running 32psi up front and 38 in the rear.

This may explain the wobble but still not the scraping noise.

[chip2058]

Originally Posted by reprod

I'm just glad this hasn't turned into a flame xi thread.

Things to check:
Alignment (for rubbing sound and unbalanced feeling)
Tires + Wheel balancing (for unbalanced feeling)

There is also a pump for the power steering fluid. If faulty this can cause some inconsistency in steering feel and would be a good place to check concerning the loose feeling in the steering.

Interesting about the power steering pump, but I think the loose steering feeling is more of a back-end breaking away feeling than a lack of control. I've also noticed today on a pretty smooth road that it felt a little bumpy...