[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Well, now that the paddle-shift retrofit is completed, I thought I could rest my mind for a while from now til BimmerFest. But this morning, I realised my steering wheel is not dead center when the car is moving straight. Yes, I am fully aware of the concavity of the road surface too. I tested it again on a huge parking lot and the steering wheel is STILL NOT centered! It's not that bad of a deviation really. The wheel has to be about less than 5 deg to the right. But it's really bugging me. Almost like wearing a sock that is not align properly and feeling a bulge when wearing the shoe.

Ok, you guys must be thinking of the misalignment of the spline marks when I installed the Alpina wheel. But I have checked it again, the marks are aligned.

Searched some old archives at the Org. Realised that most pple had this problem after they sent their cars in for the steering retrofit. In addition, I also found out that a trip to a certified wheel alignment shop may remedy this problem and not to the dealer since they may not have the equipment for wheel alignment.

Thoughts?? Enlighten me. :angel:

 

[johnlew]

If one spline is 5 degrees(and I'm not sure or saying it is) why not just move it one spline to the left and forget it...assuming of course that the car tracks straight?

 

[bmw325]

Vince-

Did you recently have the steering retrofit done? An alignment? I don't recall you posting that you'd had either of these things done. Improperly adjusted toe is the only thing that could cause what you're describing-
unless the steering wheel was improperly installed- so given that you double checked the steering wheel
installation- its got to be the toe. But, the question is - how did the toe get messed up?

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Good point John.

but..5 deg is a very crude assumption though. I did think about adjusting the spline...but...hmmm...

If one spline is 5 degrees(and I'm not sure or saying it is) why not just move it one spline to the left and forget it...assuming of course that the car tracks straight?

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Hey,

No steering retrofit on mine yet. Will give BMWNA a quick ring tomorrow to find out more.

I was thinking about the toe too. And yes I have triple checked the steering wheel installation. Nothing wrong there.

Funny thing is I never really observe whether the steering wheel was centered until I replaced it recently. Perhaps it was a bit off since I had my car. Or that the pot-holes of LA have done it this time...

Vince-

Did you recently have the steering retrofit done? An alignment? I don't recall you posting that you'd had either of these things done. Improperly adjusted toe is the only thing that could cause what you're describing-
unless the steering wheel was improperly installed- so given that you double checked the steering wheel
installation- its got to be the toe. But, the question is - how did the toe get messed up?

 

[31st330i]

try one spline if it's out more than slightly. perhaps the steering wheel is mis-stamped..?? did you check the wheel you pulled of? perhaps it was off one spline and aligned that way. yet another suggestion is Alpina just has to tweek everything one way for intentional incompatibility (purely a guess)..??

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Perhaps I should try one spline. What about that test of letting go of the steering for a while and see how the car steers?

The OEM Sport wheel splines are aligned before I replaced with the M3 wheel. And I am darn sure that I didn't hit any curb for the last week or so.

Actually, with the M3 wheel, it's not centered either.

try one spline if it's out more than slightly. perhaps the steering wheel is mis-stamped..?? did you check the wheel you pulled of? perhaps it was off one spline and aligned that way. yet another suggestion is Alpina just has to tweek everything one way for intentional incompatibility (purely a guess)..??

 

[Emission]

Vince,

Tilt your head 5 degrees to one side.

Problem solved.

- Mike

 

[The HACK]

Vince,

Tilt your head 5 degrees to one side.

Problem solved.

- Mike

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

You've got a great career ahead of you as a service advisor my friend.

 

[Alex Baumann]

You've got a great career ahead of you as a service advisor my friend.

LOL! That reminds me of the posts on the b.org

Q :What to do against brake dust ?
A : Don't brake !

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

C'mon pple! I am hoping for some suggestions...

 

[ZBB 325Ci]

Vince -
My wheel was off center about the same as yours when I first took delivery... I drove it like that for all of ED (1500 miles), and had it fixed at the dealer after US delivery (I asked them to fix it before I took US delivery, but they forgot and I had to bring it back the next week). It really drove me nuts though - had to continously hold the wheel right 5-10 degrees, but it tracked straight if I let my hads off the wheel...

All they did was fix the allignment -- probably the toe-in change previously recommended.

In your case, I'd see if you have the same problem with the other wheel -- if the other wheel still has the off-center prob, take it in... if not, the Alpina wheel may be misalligned and you just need to rotate it one spline over...

 

[johnlew]

C'mon pple! I am hoping for some suggestions...

I gave you one, move it one spline over :yikes:

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Hey John,

Yep thanks for the note. I will probably do that this weekend. I was referring to Hack and AlexB not helping... :bawling:

I gave you one, move it one spline over :yikes:

 

[johnlew]

Hey John,

Yep thanks for the note. I will probably do that this weekend. I was referring to Hack and AlexB not helping... :bawling:

This weekend???? The man who had his Alpina Wheel on before we could even ask when you're going to put it on??? Where's the Vince I know? j/k Keep us posted.

 

[Mr Paddle.Shift]

Peer pressure!

Aye...still wait for the weekend. Weekday nights are for chilling out and drinking Earl Grey tea...

This weekend???? The man who had his Alpina Wheel on before we could even ask when you're going to put it on??? Where's the Vince I know? j/k Keep us posted.