I recently bought a '00 Sport with 52K miles. I have replaced 3 rims that were out of round-fronts and rear right. Tires(Dunlops Sport 2000E) have been balanced and still have 10-15 K miles left.

I am having a problem with the steering wheel shaking badly typically above 45 MPH, but not constantly. The front does not feel stable to me. I realize the fact that it is a Sport may have something to do with it. But this can't be normal.

What would you suggest?? I had the local Svc Mgr drive it and he thought the tires should be Road Force Balanced, which they were.

All BMWs have a harmonic front vibration at about 45/55mph,that is prone to the least problems.If you had 3 wheels out of true for some time,chances are that the tires are now out of round,and only replacement or shaving them even will probaly cure your problem.That is assuming the car has proper wheel alignment and no weights have come off since the wheels were balanced.
Bob G./rags535
BMWCCA#5217

ur wheels are now true, but your tires are no longer. get new tires, and also a good balance shop, discount has Hunter, one of the best

Time out, let me help you:

I have seen virtually the same symptoms. My tires bounced like basketballs between 41 and 53 MPH under certain braking or turning conditions. Sometimes they'd go into a dance (oscillation) on an apparently smooth, straight highway! If I hit a small bump in a turn, sometimes my car with 70K miles would walk sideways toward oncoming traffic....because the tires spent more time in the air than on the road. Folks blamed the tires and the wheels and ball joints and other stuff. If I bought everything they suggested I'd be broke. But the tires WERE worn strangely. Luckily, I have eight wheels, 4 brand new tires & 4 worn tires in my garage to try. Guess what? They all annoyingly hop/bounce in varying amounts.

I traced my problem down to the garbage original equipment Boge struts & other's have too. As many M5 and 540i E39 owners have discovered, the factory struts begin deteriorating in about 2 years and 24K miles. Many are totally shot by 40K & by 50K or so they are useless. When the struts are worn, the wheels on the E39 will bounce terribly & this cups (wears) tires. This is not the case with many cars. Most can be driven with no damping and tires will not bounce or wear bad. Clean your struts off and see if they are white color....Boges. I have been told that badly cupped tires will not bounce or vibrate with Koni stuts installed. Once you stop the vibration, the cupping wear will stop and the tires will wear evenly. Cupped, uneven tire wear on an E39 is usually the result of bad struts. Believe it.

My advise is to have somebody examine your tires for MAJOR scalloping or cupping. If they are half decent, I would invest in new front and rear struts, not tires. Fresh damping will likely stop the uncontrolled bounce and allow the tires to wear back into roundness. Adjustable Koni's with a lifetime warranty can be bought for around $700. IMO, your old wheels were probably not the problem. A small amount of wobble is OK. Hope you didn't throw them away.

You're welcome.

Originally posted by Lscman
Time out, let me help you:

I have seen virtually the same symptoms. My tires bounced like basketballs between 41 and 53 MPH under certain braking or turning conditions. Sometimes they'd go into a dance (oscillation) on an apparently smooth, straight highway! If I hit a small bump in a turn, sometimes my car with 70K miles would walk sideways toward oncoming traffic....because the tires spent more time in the air than on the road. Folks blamed the tires and the wheels and ball joints and other stuff. If I bought everything they suggested I'd be broke. But the tires WERE worn strangely. Luckily, I have eight wheels, 4 brand new tires & 4 worn tires in my garage to try. Guess what? They all annoyingly hop/bounce in varying amounts.

I traced my problem down to the garbage original equipment Boge struts & other's have too. As many M5 and 540i E39 owners have discovered, the factory struts begin deteriorating in about 2 years and 24K miles. Many are totally shot by 40K & by 50K or so they are useless. When the struts are worn, the wheels on the E39 will bounce terribly & this cups (wears) tires. This is not the case with many cars. Most can be driven with no damping and tires will not bounce or wear bad. Clean your struts off and see if they are white color....Boges. I have been told that badly cupped tires will not bounce or vibrate with Koni stuts installed. Once you stop the vibration, the cupping wear will stop and the tires will wear evenly. Cupped, uneven tire wear on an E39 is usually the result of bad struts. Believe it.

My advise is to have somebody examine your tires for MAJOR scalloping or cupping. If they are half decent, I would invest in new front and rear struts, not tires. Fresh damping will likely stop the uncontrolled bounce and allow the tires to wear back into roundness. Adjustable Koni's with a lifetime warranty can be bought for around $700. IMO, your old wheels were probably not the problem. A small amount of wobble is OK. Hope you didn't throw them away.

You're welcome.

Could not agrre more. Replacing tires right now will only result in you throwing money down the shitter as they will certainly cup again. Fix your suspension.