Car feels/drives very 'nervous'

[mr2peak]

I think the alignment is wrong. I see more and more crappy alignments every day. Some people are really getting ripped off.

Just saw a thread on MR2OC about the same thing. Summary:

"Cheap alignment = alcoholic worker who does a fast job cause he doesn't get paid enough to care".

[KenC]

I'm sure PacMo's alignment is legit.

[CorvallisBMW]

How many miles were on that rack?

Oh man, no idea... I got it from Funk 3 years ago.

[phreshkid]

I have the exact same problems. Scares the shit out of me to drive hard.

[Smelser]

I am by NO means a street car kinda guy, I tend to keep my stuff for the closed circuit Roundy round stuff. but.....

You said the car was lowered, I have something in the back of my brain from my early years as a mechanic... When You lower a car and if you also play with the tire saize to those freaky hard to mount low profile tires, there is a line you could picture running through your suspension to the road. Idealy you would want that line to match up in the center of the tire path. When you lower the car, it moves it around giving you "less road feel" I wish I could be more specific, but HEY, its winter, Im canadian, and old grey mare memory, she aint what she use to be!!!!

As for the wheel going back to center, if the springs are not binding in the upper mounts, then that would tend to maybe in the caster setting.

[CorvallisBMW]

Thanks for bumping this thread, I actually have some updates.

I went in a few months back and checked every single nut and bolt in the suspension, everything was tight. But I noticed the longer bolts I had used to install the x-brace to the steering rack were not exactly the right diameter, they were about 2mm smaller than the stock bolts. So it was possible that the rack could have been shifting around a bit under hard load or when I hit a bump with just one wheel. I replaced them with larger diameter bolts but haven't gotten a chance to test drive the car.

I'm also removing the stock springs and e90 drop hats, which I believe are causing the steering to bind a little bit. Going with GC coilovers. I also have brand new Lemfoerder CAs and tie rods to install at the same time. And new tires. Hopefully all of this solves the issue.

[phreshkid]

Don't forget the swaybars/links if you haven't tended to those already. That's what my problem was.

[CorvallisBMW]

^All brand new everything

[phreshkid]

Did you do the m3 swaybar endlinks since your car is lowered and it is suggested to do so?

[CorvallisBMW]

No, stock end-links still. I may go with adjustables though.

[phreshkid]

My car is still scary to drive.

[CorvallisBMW]

Alright, I finally was able to get my new GC coilover set on, along with new Lemfoerder CAs and tie rods. Also new 205/45r17 Continental DW tires all round.

Holyfuckingshit, it drives better than ever. All the nervousness and twitchy feeling is gone, the car feels planted and solid. I think the culprit was one of my tie rods. When disassembling it for removal, I noticed it wasn't locked in tight to the rack, it has slop in the inner ball joint, probably close to 6 or 7mm of play. No wonder the thing felt like shit over bumps, the whole damn tie rod was loose in the rack! Lesson learned: never buy eBay tie rods.

I'm in love with my car all over again, no more butthole clenching while driving

[phreshkid]

Yes!

Mine was my crazy toe that wasn't adjusted.

An alignment took care of it all.
Now my car does what it should.

You did good man