[Dav125]

Hi , i have read the forum for a few years and thought the need to post , I had a e87 130 m sport , it was a great car , never had an issue apart from front tyres not lasting more than about 15 k , I have now had my f20 125 m sport for about 18 months and has been back to the dealer 8 times for various issues ,

front hydro bushes replaced - after 9k
Steering rack replaced - still knocks every now and then and feels vague at speed
Wheel alignments - still doesn't feel right after 3 attempts by bmw dealer
Steering wheel still has a left bias and feels notchy
Latches on rear seats replaced - rattle stopped
Centre console rattle - seems ok now with rubber o rings
Car Lurching


The car also wanders and does not feel planted in corners and the steering feels really vague , it does not seem as well put together as the e87 ( was an lci), it does have the sport steering which I am told will not feel like the previous model. Driving the loan cars only makes it worse as they don't do this. This car has been a major letdown and not sure what to do now as the dealer has said it all feels ok to them and warranty is fast running out?

I feel like a whinger but the car just doesn't feel right!

I have tried many tyre pressures but the higher the pressure the more the car rattles and wanders on the road . Not game to drive at higher speeds as it doesn't feel planted! i am a little worried about the car out of warranty .


Short of selling it what can I do ?

[ttimbo]

There are many issues you raise that may be inherent to the model, but the first thing I'd do is go to an independent suspension and steering specialist, and have the car aligned to spec over all four wheels, plus an overall suspension test.

[ovekvam]

Sounds like typical symptoms for toe out and runflat tyres.
I have seen plenty of reports of steering issues on F20/F21, and none of them has the basic steering rack, which seems to work without issues.

If I was in your situation, I would measure front and rear toe angles myself.

[Dav125]

Thanks for the reply, I have had it checked by the dealer on several occasions for toe out and they tell me it's factory settings , They have outsourced it to a local shop for alignment and it comes back the same , might be worth going to a specialist shop for this , anyone recommend one in southern sydney ?

[johnnydad]

Originally Posted by Dav125

Thanks for the reply, I have had it checked by the dealer on several occasions for toe out and they tell me it's factory settings , They have outsourced it to a local shop for alignment and it comes back the same , might be worth going to a specialist shop for this , anyone recommend one in southern sydney ?

My dealer said they could align my car on their machine but at significant cost, intimating that alignment shouldn't be a difficult task for any reasonable tyre shop. Likewise I think they outsource to Bridgestone unless you specifically request.

FWIW they set mine up with a lot of toe-in from new and I've since had it made neutral to reduce front tyre wear and improve steering response. Certainly doesn't make my car unpredictable by any measure.

For an independent specialist you could try East Coast in Taren Point or Heaseman's in Tempe.

[ttimbo]

In southern Sydney, Heasman's is probably the best independent you'll find. Expect to pay $150+