[bimmerkid007]

hey everyone
i'm new to this forum and in fact this is my first post although i've been lurking around here for sometime now. i have a bmw 328i alpine white with sports pkg, navi, paddles, prem. i have some concerns about my steering feel, i think it feels somewhat looser that what it was originally, has anyone experience this? is it expected as part of the break in period? can this happen due to some alignment issue? my car has 2,500 miles, only 2 months old. it also might be that my find thinks it is a little loose but it actually isn't, i just felt that it is right now so wanted to check if it is actually an issue.

[demosthenes]

The first thing to check is your tire pressures. Check them after the car has been sitting a couple of hours. The recommended pressures are on the driver's door jam.

[blue2fire]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

The first thing to check is your tire pressures. Check them after the car has been sitting a couple of hours. The recommended pressures are on the driver's door jam.

Plus One. Most plausible explanation.

[bimmerkid007]

thanks how can i check that in the car? is there an option? i went the tire pressure monitoring system on screen but couldn't figure out.

[bsamoul]

Originally Posted by bimmerkid007

thanks how can i check that in the car? is there an option? i went the tire pressure monitoring system on screen but couldn't figure out.

It will only tell you if it's low. You need to get a tire pressure gauge and do it 'old school'.

BTW, welcome to the forums, and also have you been hitting a lot of potholes and whatnot because that can also cause loose steering.

[bimmerkid007]

Originally Posted by bsamoul

It will only tell you if it's low. You need to get a tire pressure gauge and do it 'old school'.

BTW, welcome to the forums, and also have you been hitting a lot of potholes and whatnot because that can also cause loose steering.

you mean hitting potholes will reduce the tire pressure? or will it cause damage somewhere? tire pressure says OK in my car, can it be still low?

[methodtim]

Originally Posted by bimmerkid007

you mean hitting potholes will reduce the tire pressure? or will it cause damage somewhere? tire pressure says OK in my car, can it be still low?

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Hitting a pothole hard enough can knock your steering alignment out of whack or cause damage to various components. Unless you're rampaging through potholes, damage is rare, so I wouldn't worry about it. Like bsam said, the TPMS will only tell you when your tire pressure is dangerously low, not when it's low enough to affect performance. Buy yourself a tire pressure reader and go old school and check at least once a month.

[demosthenes]

I'm not sure how the TPMS works, but I THINK it works like this:
- It will complain when there is a difference of about 4 pounds or more between one tire and the rest.
- It won't complain if all the tires are equally low unless they are very low.

I've confirmed the 1st assumption on my car but not the 2nd. For example, I don't think it will complain if all the tires are at 28 psi, but having them that low would adversely affect the handling.

[bsamoul]

Originally Posted by methodtim

Yes. Yes. Yes.

Hitting a pothole hard enough can knock your steering alignment out of whack or cause damage to various components. Unless you're rampaging through potholes, damage is rare, so I wouldn't worry about it. Like bsam said, the TPMS will only tell you when your tire pressure is dangerously low, not when it's low enough to affect performance. Buy yourself a tire pressure reader and go old school and check at least once a month.

Thank you Tim

[bimmerkid007]

where can i buy this tire pressure measuring device? can anyone tell me a good manufacturer that makes these devices?

[demosthenes]

I like this dial gauge by Accugage.

http://www.shop.com/Accugage_Tire_Gauge-6219694-p!.shtml

It's easy to get a quick reading with our metal valve stems. Plus, it holds the reading until you release it.

As Tim said, it's good to check your tires about once a month. You can spot slow leaks caused by nails and screws before you lose enough air to trigger the TPMS. That's important because once you drive a certain number of miles on the RFT's with little or no pressure, you can't repair them. They are expensive ($300 - $400 each). It's best to catch small problems early so you can keep them at their proper pressure, fix them when it's convenient and pay only a repair fee ($20-$40).

[John 070]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

I'm not sure how the TPMS works, but I THINK it works like this:
- It will complain when there is a difference of about 4 pounds or more between one tire and the rest.
- It won't complain if all the tires are equally low unless they are very low.

I've confirmed the 1st assumption on my car but not the 2nd. For example, I don't think it will complain if all the tires are at 28 psi, but having them that low would adversely affect the handling.

You've given me something to test once I get the summers back on, never even thought of the differential. Since I have an air compressor, I can easily drop one by 4psi and put it back up...

I think your theory B is correct as mine were like 30/27 my first winter, which I felt was pretty low, but nothing on the dash.

[John 070]

Originally Posted by demosthenes

I like this dial gauge by Accugage.

http://www.shop.com/Accugage_Tire_Gauge-6219694-p!.shtml

It's easy to get a quick reading with our metal valve stems. Plus, it holds the reading until you release it.

As Tim said, it's good to check your tires about once a month. You can spot slow leaks caused by nails and screws before you lose enough air to trigger the TPMS. That's important because once you drive a certain number of miles on the RFT's with little or no pressure, you can't repair them. They are expensive ($300 - $400 each). It's best to catch small problems early so you can keep them at their proper pressure, fix them when it's convenient and pay only a repair fee ($20-$40).

I no longer trust those mechanical gauges. I got a digital one which is accurate to +/- 1% PSI + .1, which I round to +/- .4 PSI. Once I started using it and compared it to my dial gauge, my dial gauge was always +4 PSI which is significant.

[demosthenes]

Originally Posted by John 070

You've given me something to test once I get the summers back on, never even thought of the differential. Since I have an air compressor, I can easily drop one by 4psi and put it back up...

I think your theory B is correct as mine were like 30/27 my first winter, which I felt was pretty low, but nothing on the dash.

I learned about theory A the hard way. I left a business meeting, pulled out of my parking place and got the TPMS warning. I pulled into a gas station and checked the tires. I got 32, 32, 32, 28. Once I bumped the low tire back to 32, I reset the TPMS and drove 80 miles home. I checked the pressures after the tires cooled off and they were still at 32. I had a hard time finding a place to repair the RFT, so I nursed it along for a few days and kept adding air. The pressure never dropped below 28. Once I got it patched, it was fine.

[demosthenes]

Originally Posted by John 070

I no longer trust those mechanical gauges. I got a digital one which is accurate to +/- 1% PSI + .1, which I round to +/- .4 PSI. Once I started using it and compared it to my dial gauge, my dial gauge was always +4 PSI which is significant.

I've had one of these for years and bought 3 as gifts last year. I checked them against my BMW digital gauge. The 3 new ones were perfect and the old one was 1 PSI off. I think a good quality digital or analog gauge is fine.

[335Transformer]

It is primarily the "steering feel" that BMW is known for. After driving other cars it feels nervous, jittery and even dangerous but you get used to it. I personally think it is too much and requires too much input just to get from A to B.

The runflat tires don't help any with their tramilining, etc.

[bimmerkid007]

Thanks guys!!!!!!!

Can anyone recommend me a good quality digital air pressure device? I'm looking for something that will last long and will do the job correctly without any hassle...

To the guy who posted above me, In a BMW, I think the steering feel is solid all the time and if not, then something is fishy... I can't live without that solid feel.

[bimmerkid007]

i checked my tire pressure and my rear was off quite a bit.. it is supposed to be 44 psi but was 39 psi on both sides. so i inflated my rear tires and got them to 44 psi but i still feel the loose steering.. i'm going to the dealer day after but just wondering if anyone here has any idea? is there anything specific i should be asking the dealer?

[Year's_End]

tire pressure
tire wear
alignment

all possible reasons. and ditch the RFTs.

[bimmerkid007]

i fixed the tire pressure and tire wear can't happen in 2 months.. so looks like it is an alignment issue? can anything else be the source?

[demosthenes]

What do you mean by "loose steering"?

[328skidpad]

When I got my 335 8 months ago I felt that the car felt different from the various demo cars I drove. I have always been sensitive to changes in a car and can easily tell if my tire psi is low by 4-5 psi.

After playing around with the tire pressures, I still was not satisfied with the results. So I contacted my SA at the dealership.

He came back to me saying that the alignment (camber) was off by 4 degrees, got the car and the car felt like a "bmw" again as opposed to the loose steering feel that my honda accord has.

I believe that before 5 K miles or 10K miles bmw will alter/adjust the alignment for free.

Get it fixed now before you see non-symetric wear on your tires

I also have the sports package with 18" michelin RFT's
Good luck.