Why is my car leaning to one side...

[Jand3rson]

I noticed about a week or so ago that my car has a definite lean toward the driver side, you can see it from the back and from the front, and my fender gap is slightly larger on the passenger side, at both wheels. I haven't made any suspension changes or anything, and the only weight differences are that I've removed the AC compressor, and I don't have a passenger seat currently. But I removed the compressor over a month ago, and I've just recently noticed the lean. The air in my front driver side tire is a bit low, but I don't think that would causing the whole car to lean. Any ideas?

[Rob]

Is it constant? Occasionally a car parked on an uneven surface can get a slight lean that will go away with driving.

Other than that, could one or more of your spring pads (assuming you're running any) could have given up or jumped ship.

If it really bothers you and nothing easy fixes it, you could try putting the springs from the drivers side on the passenger side. If its mainly you in the car, I could see a drivers side spring set wearing more quickly (extra 200lbs or whatever you weigh on that side)

[Jand3rson]

Is it constant? Occasionally a car parked on an uneven surface can get a slight lean that will go away with driving.

Other than that, could one or more of your spring pads (assuming you're running any) could have given up or jumped ship.

If it really bothers you and nothing easy fixes it, you could try putting the springs from the drivers side on the passenger side. If its mainly you in the car, I could see a drivers side spring set wearing more quickly (extra 200lbs or whatever you weigh on that side)

It's noticeable on any surface, and most in my garage, which is flat and level. I'll check the spring pads tomorrow, I hadn't thought of that. Also, I'm pretty much always the only one in my car, so I could see that as a possiblity, also. Maybe I'll swap them out.

I just took some measurements, they are as follows, from flat ground in my garage:

Passenger side:
Front wheel well - 24 3/8"
Rear wheel well - 24 1/4"
Side molding - 18 1/8"
Rear bumper - 20"
Splitter - 4 1/2"

Driver side:
Front wheel well - 23 3/4"
Rear wheel well - 23 3/4"
Side molding - 17 3/4"
Rear bumper - 19 1/4"
Splitter - 3 3/4"

Looks like it's between 1/2" and 3/4" difference all around.

[Hodge]

Weird...

I find this funny because my E36 tends to lean on the passenger side slightly... It might just be my eye though.


I would definitely check the pads, run for a few days after checking and if that doesn't work, just swap the springs.

[Danny]

E36s lean to the side because when the driver gets in it evens out the weight balance.

BMW designed them that way, or so I've read.

[TDE30]

Have you checked the tire pressures?

[Quadrajet]

What are you running for a sound system? Is the weight distributed? Just a thought.

[Jand3rson]

No system at all. All stock.

[speedhop]

Stop driving fat people...

Has the car ever been in an accident? Maybe the body got tweaked and your mounting points are higher on one side versus the other. That or tire pressure...

[Jand3rson]

Stop driving fat people...

Has the car ever been in an accident? Maybe the body got tweaked and your mounting points are higher on one side versus the other. That or tire pressure...

It was not doing it a few weeks ago. I think my tire pressures on the driver side might both be low, I'll check them out.

[Jand3rson]

It must have been something related to tire pressure, because I just had my car in to get a slow leak in my left front tire fixed, and now that I have it back, the lean is gone. But I could have sworn I put air in the tires before, and it was still leaning. Who knows.

[golde30]

mine leans, its b/c the car is 20yrs old and had mostly only a driver in it the whole time. shit, i know my lean is b.c of my 240lbs of manlyness.

[Jand3rson]

mine leans, its b/c the car is 20yrs old and had mostly only a driver in it the whole time. shit, i know my lean is b.c of my 240lbs of manlyness.

We weigh the same. lawl.

The front is still leaning down on the driver side slightly, but the rear appears to be fine.

[emi325i]

Did you set your parking brake? put the lever down and see if it evens out. if it only grabs one wheel it'll do that.

[audiquattrot]

my car leans to one side when you pull the e-brake up.