I am getting significant steering wheel shake in the 50-60 MPH band and when braking. Also seems to shake much less on better, smoother highways. I have four new tires. I have inflation set at manual specified 32 in front and 39 in rear. When I purchased the new tires they were all inflated the same. There has been no improvement with different inflation. I do have a very slightly bent rim on the passenger rear of the vehicle but shaking seems to stem from front of vehicle. Any suggestions as to what could be the problem and/or advice regarding how to pinpoint the problem and repair with time and expense considerations? Thank you in advance.

I also have a 98 740il and have the same problem i havent replaced the tires yet but have had the balance done several times seems worse when the tires are cold. I'm going to have them rotated today and see if that helps.

If you do a search you could probably find quite a few posts regarding this issue... www.e38.org also has some good information for the 7 series.

http://www.bimmerboard.com/forums/posts/3052

save this site to your favorites: www.e38.org
search for SHIMMY (tip: worn control arm busings is the usual culproit)

EDIT: Cashmere beat me to the punch but the good thing is, one can see a trend: www.e38.org :)

this is a common prob with these vehicles. do a search the next time. this has been talk about quite a bit.


1-okay first take your bmw to the shop. and have them check your front rotors; its happened to me and this is what i suspect.***warped rotors****

2-lower control arm bushings( these bushing are not the best and should be replced with the 750il bushing. please dop not start replacing all your bushing with poly urethene; you ride will become stiff and screwed. just do stock on everthing ; and only chang your lower bushings.

maybe others can chime in. but this is work i have just completed at my local indy. and now she is smooth.

3-bent rim, balding tires

4-or all of the above.

but to save $$$$$ start with number one first. also what are the milege on you guys cars. when was the last time you upgraded or redid your suspension.

I am getting significant steering wheel shake in the 50-60 MPH band and when braking. Also seems to shake much less on better, smoother highways. I have four new tires. I have inflation set at manual specified 32 in front and 39 in rear. When I purchased the new tires they were all inflated the same. There has been no improvement with different inflation. I do have a very slightly bent rim on the passenger rear of the vehicle but shaking seems to stem from front of vehicle. Any suggestions as to what could be the problem and/or advice regarding how to pinpoint the problem and repair with time and expense considerations? Thank you in advance.

It could be one of the bushings that needs to be replaced, to check that leave your car in park and rock the vehicle you should hear a clunk noise if the bushings are very bad, or get another person to rock the car, and watch the front right or left tire you might see it move a bit.

how many times has this problem been brought up and discussed in the last week alone?! search you guys are just lazy! im suprised m5james hasnt ripped yall a new one! it soo common we should make it a sticky

That is true....I think a majority of the time it's faster to find an answer by going to e38.org or searching rather than posting a new thread because 9 times out of 10 it's been asked before...

it soo common we should make it a sticky


it already is (along with so much more) here: www.e38.org

Try bringing it back to the tire shop. Balance weights may have popped off the wheels. They shouldn't charge you to check. Good-luck

I have had this on numerous different cars,if it is just under braking then it was always the discs that were worn out or damaged,if you find the car wanders slightly as well it can be contributed to bushes,if you get a wheel noise then it can be bearings,all of these are easy to change but you need to find out which it is or it may be a combination of 2 or 3,the symptoms you describe are under braking,that would mean discs are the problem,i would start there.
When you drive press the brake pedal & observe what happens,if it pulls to 1 side it could be steering bushes,if the steering wheel wobbles but the car stays in a straight line then it is brakes,have them checked out,you can check yourself by feeling across the disc from the inside to the outside,if you feel a lip on the outside edge & deep grooves around the disc(like you would find on an old vinyl record from the 80's) it is almost certain that is the problem & they need replacing.
Please remember that this is general advice i am offering as i haven't had a problem with my e32 brakes yet but i have changed a lot of brake parts on many different cars,hope this helps,put some pictures up if you are not sure then we can all have a look & offer more accurate advice,best of luck.

my friend has a 98 he had a bad shimmy without brakes applied
his tires are only fair cond he is a very good mechanic body man etc
he checked his front end and the main thing he found was the
center link was worn allowing the tow in, out to change at different
speeds as soon as he replaced it he said it was fixed. also thrust
arm bushings can cause this prob.