[ChrisC85]

Hi everyone.

Been a long time reader and decided to join up as I have bought my first BMW Its a 59 plate 118D (old shape). I am in love with the car, its a real dream to drive.

I have one niggle though with the steering. Most of the time it is fine but on odd occasions when I am changing lanes and sometimes turning a corner, the steering feels strange. Its almost as if it is delayed. I will steer to the left for example and all is fine then it will become lighter for a split second and feel like i am going to over steer into the side of the road and then it goes back to normal again as quick as it started. Pretty scary at times. Not sure if its my imagination but it also feels like it steers itself sometimes when I come back to centre it sometimes steers ever so slightly left or right.

Is this normal? I have heard to power steering is turned off on the 1 series when travelling straight or is that just the new shape? maybe a delay in the power steering pump at times?

Any help would be great. I don't want to waste money getting it checked if its normal and the steering is just over sensitive on these.

 

[wnavisual]

I have the same thing when coming to a red light from speed.

 

[marco_polo]

What tyres are you running, and at what pressures? I wonder if you're experiencing a double-settling?

In a poor attempt to compensate for the awful Runcraps, BMW decided in their infinite wisdom to fit the worlds floppiest rear subframe bushes (complete with huge holes in them!)

The problem can feel worse if you swap from Runcraps to proper tyres. You enter a corner, the tyres settle, and then the bushes settle after. Feels like the tail is wagging the dog!

I would try fitting some rear subframe bush inserts to fill the holes in the bushes. I fitted four Powerflex inserts to mine, but I believe Whiteline make a cheaper alternative kit nowadays. Have a research.

 

[mikethemike]

What tyres are you running, and at what pressures? I wonder if you're experiencing a double-settling?

In a poor attempt to compensate for the awful Runcraps, BMW decided in their infinite wisdom to fit the worlds floppiest rear subframe bushes (complete with huge holes in them!)

The problem can feel worse if you swap from Runcraps to proper tyres. You enter a corner, the tyres settle, and then the bushes settle after. Feels like the tail is wagging the dog!

I would try fitting some rear subframe bush inserts to fill the holes in the bushes. I fitted four Powerflex inserts to mine, but I believe Whiteline make a cheaper alternative kit nowadays. Have a research.

You're like this endless fountain of BMW-related knowledge. It's not even my problem but I'm always amazed that you have all the answers.

 

[ChrisC85]

What tyres are you running, and at what pressures? I wonder if you're experiencing a double-settling?

In a poor attempt to compensate for the awful Runcraps, BMW decided in their infinite wisdom to fit the worlds floppiest rear subframe bushes (complete with huge holes in them!)

The problem can feel worse if you swap from Runcraps to proper tyres. You enter a corner, the tyres settle, and then the bushes settle after. Feels like the tail is wagging the dog!

I would try fitting some rear subframe bush inserts to fill the holes in the bushes. I fitted four Powerflex inserts to mine, but I believe Whiteline make a cheaper alternative kit nowadays. Have a research.

Hi Marco,

I believe run flats are on the car but would need to check in the morning in the light. Not sure what pressures either. What would be best?

I will try the pressure first and look into the bush inserts

Not sure if it helps, but today on a long run I had a play and to me there is more play than I am use to in the steering wheel both ways. What I would call swishy. like water would do rolling back and forward in a bucket or bath.

 

[stevesurrey]

Tyre pressures are on a metal plate on the B pillar visible when you open the drivers door, but thats assuming you still have runflat tyres fitted. Non-runflat tyres usually need higher pressures to compensate for their lack of sidewall stiffness.

 

[ChrisC85]

Tyre pressures are on a metal plate on the B pillar visible when you open the drivers door, but thats assuming you still have runflat tyres fitted. Non-runflat tyres usually need higher pressures to compensate for their lack of sidewall stiffness.

Thanks for that Steve. Will check it tomorrow.

 

[Slippers]

I always knew when my pressures needed increasing as my old shape 1er did this and was more noticeable when the pressures got too low

 

[Red5]

The issue marco mentions can often be made even worse!

Sellers or some dealers will fit cheaper tyres, or even just pop a set of non runflats at the rear. The kind of person who buys a car, without taking tyre brand and model into account, will be caught out by this

Funnily enough, the tyres and bushes at the backlog the car, have almost a larger effect on the steering, than the ones on the front, as any problem is delayed and amplified!

I've even noticed a little bit of this, even on my 'fixed' 1ers, when I fitted new rears with half worn fronts. This happens as these cars (my ones anyway) wore rears at twice the rate of fronts. It all settled down after a few miles though.

Please give us the following possibly useful info.....
Brand and model front :
Rear :
Pressure front and rear :
Tread depth on all four tyres :
Any clonking from the front?
How many miles have you driven your 118d?
Where are you based?
Is the car running any modifications?

If it is this issue, then it'll be time for a session on a Hunter alignment rig, plus 4 X inserts for the big wobbly rear subframe bushes.

Oh and welcome to the forum

Ps, shrink the sig pic a bit

 

[ChrisC85]

The issue marco mentions can often be made even worse!

Sellers or some dealers will fit cheaper tyres, or even just pop a set of non runflats at the rear. The kind of person who buys a car, without taking tyre brand and model into account, will be caught out by this

Funnily enough, the tyres and bushes at the backlog the car, have almost a larger effect on the steering, than the ones on the front, as any problem is delayed and amplified!

I've even noticed a little bit of this, even on my 'fixed' 1ers, when I fitted new rears with half worn fronts. This happens as these cars (my ones anyway) wore rears at twice the rate of fronts. It all settled down after a few miles though.

Please give us the following possibly useful info.....
Brand and model front :
Rear :
Pressure front and rear :
Tread depth on all four tyres :
Any clonking from the front?
How many miles have you driven your 118d?
Where are you based?
Is the car running any modifications?

If it is this issue, then it'll be time for a session on a Hunter alignment rig, plus 4 X inserts for the big wobbly rear subframe bushes.

Oh and welcome to the forum

Ps, shrink the sig pic a bit

Thanks Red! I am in the process of moving house over the next few days but once I get a minute I will go through your list and reply with answers.

I can say that there is no mods and no clonking that I can hear. Also I have driven around 1000 miles so far but the car has done just over 71k. I am based in the North West in Westhoughton (Bolton).

Sig pic now shrunk sorry.

 

[Cupster]

Do the electrically steered 1's have any kind of settings? What you describe sounds exactly how the mini's steering feels on "maximum go kart" setting. Horrible feeling! Hope it is easily cured for you!

 

[BigJimNoFool]

Hey I have been feeling the exact same thing on mine! I thought it was just a case of getting used to the diff steering sensitivity of a new car.

When i corner it feels quite unstable at times like the car is really really twitchy and yawing. The steering certainly feels alot lighter after 50mph when taking corners or changing lanes requiring only the smallest of movements at the wheel to make adjustments.

I am running non runflat winter tyres with good tread and at the recommended pressures. No suspension or wheel mods.

I initially thought it must be my tracking or wheel balancing but have had that checked and all is well.

Could this be the rear bushes mentioned above?

 

[Red5]

Hey I have been feeling the exact same thing on mine! I thought it was just a case of getting used to the diff steering sensitivity of a new car.

When i corner it feels quite unstable at times like the car is really really twitchy and yawing. The steering certainly feels alot lighter after 50mph when taking corners or changing lanes requiring only the smallest of movements at the wheel to make adjustments.

I am running non runflat winter tyres with good tread and at the recommended pressures. No suspension or wheel mods.

I initially thought it must be my tracking or wheel balancing but have had that checked and all is well.

Could this be the rear bushes mentioned above?

What tyres are you running?
Brand and model?

Winters are more floaty anyway, so can make the problem more pronounced!

Yes, bush inserts would go a long way to curing the mistake BMW made!

 

[BigJimNoFool]

Front: Pirelli Wintersport 240

Rear: Gislaved Nord Frost 5

Yeah i initially thought it was since i had my winters put on so i went back to get them to check my alignment/balancing etc but they said it was fine.

How easy a job is the bushes to replace? Are we talking needing her up on a ramp for couple of hrs?

Cheers

 

[marco_polo]

Inserts can be fitted on the drive in an hour or so, check the Powerflex website for instructions.

 

[BigJimNoFool]

Inserts can be fitted on the drive in an hour or so, check the Powerflex website for instructions.

spot on marco cheers

 

[ChrisC85]

Could somebody be so kind as to post some links to the correct bush inserts.

Had a quick look on powerflex and there is loads

 

[marco_polo]

Could somebody be so kind as to post some links to the correct bush inserts.

Had a quick look on powerflex and there is loads

Sure thing. In return, please could you consider cropping your sig pic into a smart banner, it takes up half my screen with road and trees!

 

[marco_polo]

Right, have a goose here:

http://www.powerflex.co.uk/road-series/products/E81,+E82,+E87+&+E88+1+Series+(2004-2013)-2668/1.html

2 x PFR5-419
2 x PFR5-423

I went Powerflex inserts, but have a look for the alternative Whiteline kit too.

Another (expensive) alternative is to entirely remove the whole rear suspension + subframe from the car, and have M3 (or solid Powerflex) bushes pressed in. The downside with that is it's not easily reversible.

 

[jaye944]

think thats why you (if I remember correctly)
said to use XR ? stiffer standard tires and not ordinary ones?

What tyres are you running, and at what pressures? I wonder if you're experiencing a double-settling?

In a poor attempt to compensate for the awful Runcraps, BMW decided in their infinite wisdom to fit the worlds floppiest rear subframe bushes (complete with huge holes in them!)

The problem can feel worse if you swap from Runcraps to proper tyres. You enter a corner, the tyres settle, and then the bushes settle after. Feels like the tail is wagging the dog!

I would try fitting some rear subframe bush inserts to fill the holes in the bushes. I fitted four Powerflex inserts to mine, but I believe Whiteline make a cheaper alternative kit nowadays. Have a research.