I am in the market for a 2002-2004 used 3 series convertible and I test drove a 2002 today with 14k miles on it. This is the first 3 series convertible I have driven. When I got up to 75-80 mph (with the top up), the car kinda shook and shimmied so much so that the rear view mirror was moving quite a bit. I have a 99 328 4 door sedan that does not shake like this and I was wondering if the convertible is not stiff enough and that is why it was shaking or this car just had tire balance or alignment issues. If you have driven your convertible at this speed (and you know you have) and NOT had shaking problems, please let me know so I can be confident that a different 3 series convertible is still the right car to buy.

thanks

PS - any leads on a 3 series convertible for sale would be welcome also

Scuttle shake :

All verts have it.

Scuttle shake :

All verts have it.
not necessarily. they just lack the structural rigidity that the coupes and sedans have. doesnt mean it should feel shakey or unstable at 80 mph. a touch shakey, could be seen as normal if the car has parts that are a little worn. rattling side mirrors on a $45 k+ car that is less than 6 years old is definitely NOT a normal thing.

i would recommend test driving different cars of the same type. you'll be able to see if its normal then by comparing them. the newest model should have the least amount of parts worn out. i believe the tie rods wear quickly on those cars, as well as the bushings, so that could explain a 'looser' feeling on an older one or one with more miles.

Mine had a slight shake between 65 and 75, it was caused by improperly balanced/out of round wheels. FYI My mom had a brand new '00 convertible and it had little to no shake whatsoever. The car you drove probably had bent rims.

I set the cruise at 85 when I drove to boston and while my back window flapped around a bit from having the window down, the car itself was perfectly smooth. I even had it up to 95 while passing a semi and it was still very smooth. With the hardtop on, it rides smoothly and quietly.

mine shakes on rough or crappy roads but on smooth roads its smooth up to 120

Bad rims, bad tie rods, and even warped rotors can cause this.

When I first got my car, it would shake at 69mph (dude). When I did the 330 "big brake upgrade" the problem went away. I'm thinking mine was warped rotors...

Palomino's suggestion of driving a few cars is a great one. Don't settle for the dealer's likely claim that "it only needs a balance/alignment". If you can, try driving some e36's too, just to see the differences between the 36/46.

This time of year, in Massachusetts, getting a convertible should be a buyer's market. Take advantage of that and have fun with the test drives!

perhaps... driveshaft out of balence?

Last week I passed a couple of semis on a 2 lane road. When I pulled back into my lane I looked down at the speedo and was doing 107. It was so smooth I had no idea I was going that fast.http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/icons/icon10.gif

Last week I passed a couple of semis on a 2 lane road. When I pulled back into my lane I looked down at the speedo and was doing 107. It was so smooth I had no idea I was going that fast.http://images.bimmerforums.com/vb3images/icons/icon10.gif
That's what I love about my car. My parent's both say that "I should be able to feel how fast I'm going" - I just reply "that's because you drive GMs :devillook" My mom's lumina shakes at almost any speed. No wonder why she doesn't speed much; the car feels like it's going to fall apart!

I,ve had mine up to 110 no shake!:redspot

I've done 137 in mine and still felt stable. Factory indicated topspeed is 144mph.

Well it was fast anways.

My original statement....I meant going over bumps etc. Then you can feel that car flex, but overall, there not many squeeks etc.

I love this car!

Hmm, mine did not shake going at around 110 MPH in Ohio when we were returning from Illinois. My friend was driving and he got the ticket. Trooper did clock him at 110 MPH as was told. Did not shake, just wobbliness from the wheel (I'm hoping). When you are going that fast, you don't really feel that wobbliness, just the blur outside...zing!
not necessarily. they just lack the structural rigidity that the coupes and sedans have. doesnt mean it should feel shakey or unstable at 80 mph. a touch shakey, could be seen as normal if the car has parts that are a little worn. rattling side mirrors on a $45 k+ car that is less than 6 years old is definitely NOT a normal thing.

i would recommend test driving different cars of the same type. you'll be able to see if its normal then by comparing them. the newest model should have the least amount of parts worn out. i believe the tie rods wear quickly on those cars, as well as the bushings, so that could explain a 'looser' feeling on an older one or one with more miles.

Mine shakes quite a bit. I have had 4 different tire balances. To my knowledge the rims aren't bent, however is it the case that they just might be 'bad'?

I have replaced so far...
RSM's with GC shims
Four original shocks/struts
Front Lower Control Arm bushing

Things to check for I have heard...
Tierods
Ball joints
Control Arms
Wheels

I am going crazy, I want the steering wheel to feel solid in my hands, and thats just not the case.

My convertible (my 2nd e36 vert and 3rd BMW vert) shakes under these conditions:
Tires are cold, Proxies, once warm smooth
Irregular road surfaces that cause torsional twist and I get some cowl shake
Out of balance tire, BMWs are extremely sensitive to this
Worn control arm bushings, mine are still good but my e30 did shake until I replaced them

Hardtop on the car is close to as stiff as the coupe or sedan
Even with an X-brace and one piece strut bar I get some cowl shake but not a great deal.

I would agree that a car as new as you test drove should not have much shake but again I have no knowledge as to the road surface you drove over. If the road was smooth then something is wrong with the suspension of that car...