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Handling problem on 97 M3
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#1
 
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Handling problem on 97 M3 -
07-03-2003
, 10:38 PM
#2
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Hello I have been running in some handling problem on my 97 (E36) M3 As the shocks where getting tired and I had some handling problems (the car felt like oversteering sometimes), I replaced them with Bilstein ones (keeping stock M3 springs), looking for a stiffer, but better handling (I thought that shocks were the problem). Later it turned out it was a broken bushing for one of the rear suspension arm. Anyways, the car feels very jumpy, on roads that are not prefectly flat (like those highways with lots of connected plates), the car seems to jump up and down to the point where it feels like being in a rodeo. This is not bouncing: if I hit one dip, the car will settle very fast (as expected with Bilstein shocks). Also, when cornering, the car jumps over every little bump (so it doesn't really feel like sticking to the road). |
Could be that other suspension bushes are worn alowing a lot of
movement on hard bumps.
Did you put new shocks on the front? What are the bump stops like?
If they're too big you'll be hitting and bouncing off these over big
bumps.
Incidentally I drove a 330 clubsport and over a series of bumps the
car would bounce too like being on a bucking bronco. First time it
happened I almost lost control of the steering wheel! The M3s I've
driven since then were not at all like that.
#3
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Hello I have been running in some handling problem on my 97 (E36) M3 As the shocks where getting tired and I had some handling problems (the car felt like oversteering sometimes), I replaced them with Bilstein ones (keeping stock M3 springs), looking for a stiffer, but better handling (I thought that shocks were the problem). Later it turned out it was a broken bushing for one of the rear suspension arm. Anyways, the car feels very jumpy, on roads that are not prefectly flat (like those highways with lots of connected plates), the car seems to jump up and down to the point where it feels like being in a rodeo. This is not bouncing: if I hit one dip, the car will settle very fast (as expected with Bilstein shocks). Also, when cornering, the car jumps over every little bump (so it doesn't really feel like sticking to the road). I don't know if this is related, but I broke the rear right suspension arm bushing twice in a year, it seems like some other component of the suspension is broken, thus putting more stress on the rest. I replaced the tires several times (S03s), redid the alignement several times too, nothing, still the same feeling. Any ideas out there? I was thinking of tired springs, but is that possible? The car has 136,000 miles on it now. Nicolas |
What size rims/tires are on there?
#4
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Hello I have been running in some handling problem on my 97 (E36) M3 As the shocks where getting tired and I had some handling problems (the car felt like oversteering sometimes), I replaced them with Bilstein ones (keeping stock M3 springs), looking for a stiffer, but better handling (I thought that shocks were the problem). Later it turned out it was a broken bushing for one of the rear suspension arm. Anyways, the car feels very jumpy, on roads that are not prefectly flat (like those highways with lots of connected plates), the car seems to jump up and down to the point where it feels like being in a rodeo. This is not bouncing: if I hit one dip, the car will settle very fast (as expected with Bilstein shocks). Also, when cornering, the car jumps over every little bump (so it doesn't really feel like sticking to the road). I don't know if this is related, but I broke the rear right suspension arm bushing twice in a year, it seems like some other component of the suspension is broken, thus putting more stress on the rest. |
before thighten it? Not 100% sure, but i think those arm bushings need
preload, the best thing is to have the car on the ground before you thight
the nut or simulate normal load on the wheel, if unable. ( Maybe the bushing
has not been installed at the proper place in the arm, unless they have
replaced the complete arm assy.)
sylvain.
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I replaced the tires several times (S03s), redid the alignement several times too, nothing, still the same feeling. Any ideas out there? I was thinking of tired springs, but is that possible? The car has 136,000 miles on it now. Nicolas |
#5
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Thanks for your answer. I changed the shocks in front at the same time than back (as the stocks ones were not so good anymore). Bump stops? I think the only part on the suspension are spring pads on both sides of the spring. It's not as bad as being on a bronco, maybe just a suburban of some sort. |
the shock - within the spring - it limits the total amount of
compression of the strut and stops it crashing down on hard metal
parts. If this is too big you'll be riding on it all or most of the
time and wil give you a bouncy ride on hard bumps. I had to cut an
inch or so off of mine.
#6
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If she's wearing a set of low profile tires then this is expected behaviour. What size rims/tires are on there? Stock wheels / tire combination: 17' wheels and 225/45-17 in front, 245/40-17 in the back they are not that low profile. |
If you bought an M3 because it seemed like a 'nice sporty luxury car',
you made a mistake. The wheels, tires, and suspension of the M3 are
only a couple of small steps away from a competition car. That's how
they feel.
However, you mention this car has 136K on it. How many miles did it
have when you bought it? You may have never felt the M3's ride when
it was like *new*. Now that you've renewed all kinds of suspension
bits, this could be your first experience and you simply don't like
it. It might be time for a nice E36 325 or 328 with its more sedate
ride calibration.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; taught that)
#7
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#8
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#9
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I think his question on the low profile thing were more if I put 35 on 19' I consider 45 to be in the "not that low" profile kind of thing the '03 M3s can be bought with 40 and 35 19'. |
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As for the M3 being close to a race car, no need to flame me on that... I have to disagree with you: it's a sporty car but not a sports car: at least the way the stock US suspension behaves, it's designed to be used on roads, not tracks. Maybe yes, the Euro M3 is a sports car, but that's not what I got at the time. |
and NA E36 M3s differed only in the engines, not the suspensions. I
also am well aware of the distance from full race preparation the
street M3 is. That still doesn't make it anywhere near what most
people would consider a comfortable street car.
As for the terms we're using, I consider 'sporty car' to be pretty
derogatory. I apply it to crap like Cavalier Z-24s & such (makes
their owners think I actually respect them somehow). The M3, and
other BMW E36s, are 'sports sedans'. I don't even use the term
'sports car' if I can avoid it. Apparently, it means something to
you, so I'll try to understand.
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I got the car when it was around 50k, it was still handling pretty good. My problems started when I upgraded the shocks, I never changed the springs. |
be the first to go looking elsewhere for a problem because you spent a
lot of money in the process of inadvertently creating it. I've done
that myself. With no disrespect intended, I'm suggesting that you
consider it.
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and yes, I can tell the difference between a car that handles badly and a car that gives you feedback on what it's doing (on top of being responsive and predictable). |
generally regarded as a *good* thing by most who drive them.
--
C.R. Krieger
(Been there; drove that)
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