How to test for shock problems?

Drivaar · 12-18-2010, 11:19 PM

I feel like the car isn't handling bumps very well -- i.e., the chassis gets quite unsettled easily... how can I verify whether this is out of spec?

Thanks.

captainaudio · 12-18-2010, 11:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drivaar

I feel like the car isn't handling bumps very well -- i.e., the chassis gets quite unsettled easily... how can I verify whether this is out of spec?

Thanks.

Is this a new issue or has the car alsways behaved that way.

CA

Drivaar · 12-19-2010, 11:05 AM

Hard to say... because I moved and the new location has much worse roads... one perfect roads, the car is great... which makes me wonder what roads all the reviews are on when they say the ride is so "supple" etc... The car is pretty jittery and nervous on bad roads, but maybe everyone's is?

It's hard for me to say having gone through this switch. All I know is that the roads I drive on regularly now are jittery.

Often, when I try to accelerate, there is some wheel hop due to road irregularities... sometimes quite violent wheel hop... is that a sign of any problem?

Thanks!

NiVeDh · 12-19-2010, 11:48 AM

Are you using RFTs?

Drivaar · 12-19-2010, 11:53 AM

Nope, no RFTs.

(RFTs certainly are twitchy, especially once some of their tread wears off...)

captainaudio · 12-20-2010, 11:43 PM

Without knowing where you moved from or too I can only go from my own experience on my 07 335i convertible with sport package.

The 335i sport suspension can be very harsh and jittery on poor surfaces.
When I first got the car I was in Palm Beach Florida. No issues on South Florida roads. After I had the car shipped to New York City I replaced the RFTs after a few weeks. I recently replaced the stock shocks with Koni FSDs and am very happy with both the comfort and the handling.

CA

fdriller9 · 12-20-2010, 11:46 PM

Are your tire pressures ok?

OnlyTruth · 01-03-2011, 03:26 AM

Also re-balancing front tires makes a huge difference

12-18-2010, 11:19 PM	#1
Drivaar Lieutenant 78 Rep 463 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	How to test for shock problems? I feel like the car isn't handling bumps very well -- i.e., the chassis gets quite unsettled easily... how can I verify whether this is out of spec? Thanks.
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12-19-2010, 11:05 AM	#3
Drivaar Lieutenant 78 Rep 463 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Hard to say... because I moved and the new location has much worse roads... one perfect roads, the car is great... which makes me wonder what roads all the reviews are on when they say the ride is so "supple" etc... The car is pretty jittery and nervous on bad roads, but maybe everyone's is? It's hard for me to say having gone through this switch. All I know is that the roads I drive on regularly now are jittery. Often, when I try to accelerate, there is some wheel hop due to road irregularities... sometimes quite violent wheel hop... is that a sign of any problem? Thanks!
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12-19-2010, 11:48 AM	#4
NiVeDh Major General 426 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	Are you using RFTs?
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12-19-2010, 11:53 AM	#5
Drivaar Lieutenant 78 Rep 463 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Nope, no RFTs. (RFTs certainly are twitchy, especially once some of their tread wears off...)
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12-20-2010, 11:43 PM	#6
captainaudio World's Foremost Authority 1183 Rep 4,535 Posts Drives: M4 Cab - Cayenne GTS - Jag XK Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Upper East Side Manhattan - Boca Raton FL - Lime Rock CT iTrader: (0)	Without knowing where you moved from or too I can only go from my own experience on my 07 335i convertible with sport package. The 335i sport suspension can be very harsh and jittery on poor surfaces. When I first got the car I was in Palm Beach Florida. No issues on South Florida roads. After I had the car shipped to New York City I replaced the RFTs after a few weeks. I recently replaced the stock shocks with Koni FSDs and am very happy with both the comfort and the handling. CA __________________ Drivers Club at Lime Rock - International Motorsports Research Center - Society of Automotive Historians - Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society (0nly a VP) - BMWCCA - Porsche Club of America - M Gruppe - Polish Race Drivers of America (PDRA) - Glen Club (Watkins Glen International) - Jaguar Club of Southern New England Last edited by captainaudio; 12-21-2010 at 11:54 AM..
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12-20-2010, 11:46 PM	#7
fdriller9 Banned 261 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Are your tire pressures ok?
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01-03-2011, 03:26 AM	#8
OnlyTruth Lieutenant 18 Rep 547 Posts Drives: 2011 535 iX Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: NY iTrader: (3)	Also re-balancing front tires makes a huge difference __________________ 2011 535 iX lemoned
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