Help needed

I have a 96 E36. I'm a bit thick when it comes to the working of a car. I need some advice. Sometimes when driving and quite often on braking the car pulls slightly to the left. I'm thinking either the tracking is out or wishbones.

I would be grateful for any advice.

Its most likely your wheel alignment, or you might need new tyres.

Just changed the tyres so maybe the alignment. Thanks for the info.

Thats probably what it is then, if you just changed them. Did it start doing it after you got them, or has it been going on before?

alignment

It was like it before I changed the tyres.

Any vibration??

No vibration. Is that a good thing?

Yeah, means your brake pads and Rotors are not warped

Thanks for the advice guys

Spoke to Kwik Fit about getting the alignment done on my car and was told only BMW can do it. Does anyone know if it can be done anywhere else as BMW quoted me 350.00gbp.

Please say I don't need to pay that much.

Originally Posted by Nick72

Spoke to Kwik Fit about getting the alignment done on my car and was told only BMW can do it. Does anyone know if it can be done anywhere else as BMW quoted me 350.00gbp.

Please say I don't need to pay that much.

Alignment can be done at any tyre fitting place or garage with the laser alignment things and mirrors. BMW charges more and charges a fixed price, whereas an independent will only charge you based on what needs aligning, and it will be cheaper.

Originally Posted by Pirate_copy

Yeah, means your brake pads and Rotors are not warped

Pirate, I had new tyres and alignment done a few months ago, but the car still moves to the left slightly if I don't hold the steering wheel, and the steering wheel shakes under braking. Why would I have warped brake pads and rotors? Is that what it could be, or just worn parts in the steering gear?

Just another quick tip.....make sure the tire pressures are equal. if there not, that could cause the pulling as well.

Cone
XXX

good call cone!
BMW, if your car's steering wheel vibrates under braking then your rotors are warped. Thats the main reason.

I just did some reading about this issue. I might have a look into high quality ceramic pads and standard rotors, as the issue seems to be that a rotor is a rotor, made of iron, whereas the pads are composites and the best ones are made to be heat resistant. The copper filaments in the ceramic help to draw heat away from the rotors, which prevents warping of them because they don't get as hot. So pads seem to be the key here.

I didnt know that
You learn something new everyday. Thanks bmw!

Originally Posted by Nick72

Spoke to Kwik Fit about getting the alignment done on my car and was told only BMW can do it. Does anyone know if it can be done anywhere else as BMW quoted me 350.00gbp.

Please say I don't need to pay that much.

1. Never take you car to kwik fit, they are far to expensive and are usually the independent tire fitters rejects anyway.

2. Any tire place got do it or major garage over here in the uk.

Agree with Cone. the tyre pressure could be the key on this one, so check that out first, as its free to do so.

Originally Posted by Conehead

Just another quick tip.....make sure the tire pressures are equal. if there not, that could cause the pulling as well.

Cone
XXX

+1
plus diffrent makes of tyre on the same axle can do this as well but mostly on the front

Originally Posted by B/\/\W

I just did some reading about this issue. I might have a look into high quality ceramic pads and standard rotors, as the issue seems to be that a rotor is a rotor, made of iron, whereas the pads are composites and the best ones are made to be heat resistant. The copper filaments in the ceramic help to draw heat away from the rotors, which prevents warping of them because they don't get as hot. So pads seem to be the key here.

EBC Green or Red stuffs are your friend mate...not too expensive either

Mine shakes sometimes and not others, I know it's pads and rotors because I checked the bushings, I was just curious to why it would only do it every once in a while

Originally Posted by greenbeem

Mine shakes sometimes and not others, I know it's pads and rotors because I checked the bushings, I was just curious to why it would only do it every once in a while

That's actually true of mine as well, it doesn't always do it under braking, weird eh?