Is it possible for a car to have lighter steering in one direction then the other

5121 Views 38 Replies 12 Participants Last post by AF, Apr 5, 2002

AF

Discussion Starter · Apr 1, 2002

In helping to determine if my steering on my 330 had different increments of steering effort for some other posters on the board I am starting to think my 330Ci might have a problem.

It's a little weird but I feel like it's easier to turn right then left.
It has been very hard to determine and I think my mind is playing games with me but can this be possible ?

Can it be resistence be lower in one direction no matter where in the turn the wheel is ? In other words I'm not just talking off center feel but the entire range.

When I first started testing out the steering I would have said the right is easier on my car but now the more I am getting into testing it, the more it seems to be more towards the even side as far a effort is concerned.

It hit me that when I first did the testing, the road is tilted to the right which started to make the effort less.

What do you guys think ?

Any good way of testing this ? ?

1 - 20 of 39 Posts

Alex Baumann

· #2 · Apr 1, 2002

Off-Topic : Alan, your post count reads 666

Sean

· #3 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan,
That 2002 330i loaner has messed you up. :yikes:
I know how it is, I've been there when I've had a 330 loaner.

Shinobi

· #4 · Apr 1, 2002

I Had This Problem After Retrofit

After the steering retrofit from the dealer. The alignment was off and it was noticeably harder to turn to the right then it was to the left. Didn't take it back to the dealer. Took it to an independent shop with a guy who knows alot about Autocross setups. Since then the alignment is perfect and balanced.

AF

Discussion Starter · #5 · Apr 1, 2002 (Edited)

Sean said:
Alan,
That 2002 330i loaner has messed you up. :yikes:
I know how it is, I've been there when I've had a 330 loaner.

Sean, you & I have been in the same boat since day one. The only difference is I usually get to the point where I start to accept the faults of our cars.

Though they do haunt me from time to time.

This is the ONE thing I hate about these boards . . . when someone posts a weird problem and then I test my car and think it might have the same prob. It's like I never would have thought about it in the first place and once I read it I get obsessed

Another example of this is when i first got my car I read how the 3 series cars are lower on the right rear then the left rear . . . this one had me going for almost a month

and BTW it's true . . . 9 out of 10 cars I tested were lower on the right side :dunno: :dunno:

Sean

· #6 · Apr 1, 2002

Mine is lower. It's noticeably lower, but I think it's related to the battery being on that side of the car.

bmw325

· #7 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan-

That lower on the right thing could actually be viewed as a very subtle feature-
it balances out the driver's weight on the left side and makes the car perfectly even w/ a driver.
That's pretty cool if that's actually the intent-- and I think it probably is. Although its strange that only 9 out 10 cars would be this way-- if its an intentional feature they should all be this way.
Its probably due to the battery being located on the right side.

AF

Discussion Starter · #8 · Apr 1, 2002

robg said:
Alan-

That lower on the right thing could actually be viewed as a very subtle feature-
it balances out the driver's weight on the left side and makes the car perfectly even w/ a driver.
That's pretty cool if that's actually the intent-- and I think it probably is. Although its strange that only 9 out 10 cars would be this way-- if its an intentional feature they should all be this way.
Its probably due to the battery being located on the right side.

Rob this is the theory that goes around these boards but when I spoke to BMWNA one of the managers who knew his BMW's very well never heard of this before.

Also I had called BMWCCA and spoke to one of the mechanic advisers that they have he never heard of such a thing either.
So I really don't know if that theory is correct though it does make sense. The only thing is I have seen some E46's with a noticable diefference while driving so if the driver is supposed to weight the car down to make it even then it's not working. It's strange but these cars REALLY are lower on the right

webguy330i

· #9 · Apr 1, 2002 (Edited)

Hey Alan-

Sounds like your alignment could definitely be off... particularly the camber. If your toe/camber is negative on one side and positive on the other, that would definitely cause some extra effort necessary to turn in one of the directions (depending on which side was negative/which side was positive). Imagine this:

\-------\
|
|
|
|-------|

Of course that's to an extreme, your wheels wouldn't point that much.

The road crown could definitely be affecting you also, so get out on the highway or somewhere that the crown is less prevelant and test it out, or just take it to the dealership and get an alignment checkup (they can print out all the camber/castor/toe details for you).

AF

Discussion Starter · #10 · Apr 1, 2002

I just got back from a quick drive in my brothers A4 and I noticed his car is similiar except his car feels a little easier turning left then turning right where my car is the opposite.

Just so you guys understand this is coming from the most analist of tests and if you are not specifically driving around slowly and trying to feel every little bit of your steering you will never notice it.

Also, this morning I tested my car and found it to be very even so I am putting this problem to rest.

If anyone has anything to add except the recommendation that I seek therapy

then please throw your 2 cents in

webguy330i

· #11 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan F said:
I just got back from a quick drive in my brothers A4 and I noticed his car is similiar except his car feels a little easier turning left then turning right where my car is the opposite.

Just so you guys understand this is coming from the most analist of tests and if you are not specifically driving around slowly and trying to feel every little bit of your steering you will never notice it.

Also, this morning I tested my car and found it to be very even so I am putting this problem to rest.

If anyone has anything to add except the recommendation that I seek therapy then please throw your 2 cents in

You crack head! =)

AF

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 1, 2002

webguy330i said:
You crack head! =)

Sometimes my obsessions make me hate my car

Why can't my car be perfect . . . like me :lmao: :lmao:

AF

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 1, 2002

I just posted this same question over at Audiworld to see what they think . . .

Sean

· #14 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan F said:
Sometimes my obsessions make me hate my car

Why can't my car be perfect . . . like me :lmao: :lmao:

Alan,
It sounds as though you are just as picky as me.

Mike 325xi

· #15 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan F said:
I just posted this same question over at Audiworld to see what they think . . .

Alan, may I suggest this

See less See more

Dr. Phil

· #16 · Apr 1, 2002 (Edited)

Mike 325xi said:
Alan, may I suggest this

I think he's starting to act a little like some one else we know quite well:eeps: :yikes:

You've even started cleaning your style 68s.......:thumb:

vexed

· #17 · Apr 1, 2002

Mike 325xi said:
Alan, may I suggest this

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

Alan

Your next "project" should be to see if your turn signal relay makes a louder noise when you signal left as opposed to right. (j/k)

AF

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 1, 2002

Why don't you guys go out and test your steering for me and let me know if your car does the same though the 2002's are muich tighter steering so some of you might not notice it.

Mike 325xi

· #19 · Apr 1, 2002

Alan F said:
Why don't you guys go out and test your steering for me and let me know if your car does the same though the 2002's are muich tighter steering so some of you might not notice it.

I went out and tested my car for some other things...I noticed that if you put it in reverse and turn the wheel all the way to lock and do reverse donuts in the parking lot that 1) you get dizzy 2) security will come out and stop you and 3) steering feels the same tightness no matter which way I do it

Oh...and my left turn signal blinks faster between 7 and 9 mph while in reverse...I think Iwill post that on the Mercedes board and see if they have the same problem? :dunno:

:lmao:

Dr. Phil

· #20 · Apr 1, 2002

Mike 325xi said:
I went out and tested my car for some other things...I noticed that if you put it in reverse and turn the wheel all the way to lock and do reverse donuts in the parking lot that 1) you get dizzy 2) security will come out and stop you and 3) steering feels the same tightness no matter which way I do it

Oh...and my left turn signal blinks faster between 7 and 9 mph while in reverse...I think Iwill post that on the Mercedes board and see if they have the same problem? :dunno:

:lmao:

:lmao: :lmao:

Remind me to not let you drive my new car.

1 - 20 of 39 Posts

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