handling problems

[ambush]

I have a e46 m3, now the car handls fine but the wheel feels really light (compare to let say a 325 and 330) and there is a detach feeling on it. i am not saying that it does not coner well or anything, infact i does really in a coner, but you know if the wheel is light you just dont have that exter confindent to go for it if you know what i mean?

What can i do??
i am really running out of ideas, so if anyone knows a thing or two about it or if any e46 m3 owners did actually fixed their problems pleas tell me and everyone else.
Thanks

[ambush]

why is my thread moved??

[Dado]

Your question is about E46 right? I guess that's why it's here.

[ambush]

ok thanks

[BMWhartgeM3]

check ur whole front end, tie rod ends, balljoints, all bushings, sway bar, sway bar links??

[tdc]

Did the light steering just start happening or was it like that from the beginning?

Are you coming from a 325/330 prior to getting your M3?

If so, what year was the 325/330? There were some changes made to the steering feel between model years.

[ambush]

The light steering started at the beginning, I noticed it the very moment i drive it out of my dealership, but i did not care (hey is a m3 so every must be good, right?)

and yess i did owned a 325 and 330 prior to the m3 ,and my e46 330ci (02)felt a lot heavier (i am sure is not a lot but it felt better)

anything that i can do about it??

[ambush]

still no help?

[RedBarron]

Do they make under drive pulleys for the M3? That would frim up the steering.

[czm3]

2001s had much lighter steering in comparison to later years.

[Kaisake]

More info: http://www.bmwnation.com/articles/e46_steering.html

[Kaisake]

More info:


Q: What's up with the steering for cars produced between June and December 2000?

A: BMW marketing had feedback that said that their cars took too much effort to turn the wheel in slow speed situations, i.e. parking. BMW modified the steering rack and system to decrease the steering effort. Those owners who have had extensive experience with E36's (previous generation 3 series) or pre June 2000 cars have stated that there was also a resulting loss of road feel through the steering wheel. Many of these board members have dubbed the "new" steering feel equipped cars as the "Ultimate Parking Machine".

Various owners have stated that the only E46's spared this steering boost and loss in road feel are those equipped with the all wheel drive option (i.e. Xi's).

Current rumors state that the steering rack was modified again starting in Jan. 1, 2001 and that the "old" steering was phased in. Some E46s produced between Jan and April may or may not have the "old" steering. If you are unsure, check out post April 2001 cars and compare steering feel. See this post from "Ginger" and Jon S. (http://www.bimmer.org/3series/messag...w08/41754.html) & (http://www.bimmer.org/3series/messag...w10/55279.html). Those with post-April 1, 2001 have stated that the steering feel was indeed not pre-June 2000 feel, but somewhere in between the "new" (June-Dec 2000) and the old (pre-June 2000). The post April 2001 steering has been dubbed as the "new-new" steering. This change was a direct result of feedback through bimmer.org members posting on the E46 board and direct contact with BMW NA. So our voice does count!

So the current terminology is:
"old" feel: pre-June 2000 build
"new" feel: June through December 2000 and some Jan-April 2001
"new-new" feel: post April 2001
"retrofit" feel: early retrofit "pilot" run participants have stated that the retrofit feels somewhere between the "new-new" and the "old" feel.


Q: What is the 'steering retrofit'?

A: In response to consumer feedback, BMW NA initiated a program to satisfy owners of MY2001 E46s who prefer less boost in the power steering system. These owners maintain that a loss of 'feel' was associated with the newer systems which had more boost than MY2000 and earlier E46s. Intitially, BMW NA maintained a list of owners who would be interested in changing their steering racks for systems with less boost. People who have called in to have their name added to a list of persons interested in a retrofit back in Jan/Feb began to be contacted starting the week of April 16, 2001 en masse. BMW NA is going through the list and contacting those with 323/325 and 330's that were produced between June and December 2000, and is offering a one-time free-of-charge changeover to a less boosted steering system.

BMWNA has been very clear on the statements to those contacted. They typically cover the following items:

* Steering rack and components will be replaced with pre-June 2000 components at no charge.
* You have your choice of BMW centers to install the retrofit.
* BMWNA will contact your chose center to give them the details and parts needed for the retrofit. BMWNA requests a couple of days before you try to schedule an appointment with your center.
* BMWNA makes it very clear that the retrofit will make steering more difficult at lower speeds.

There has been some confusion as to whether June-Dec 2000 325's and post Jan 2001 cars with "new-new" feel were eligible for the retrofit. Latest news is that the post Jan 325/330's are eligible due to the phase in started in Jan 2001. "New-new" feel cars might be and will be evaluated on a case by case basis according to some sources.


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