shaky e30 at speeds above ~50mph

[SparkyNT]

I've got a 1990 325i (e30), ~144k miles, and had the rims / tires replaced a couple months ago due to bending the two right ones hitting a curb.

The car started to shake really badly when I went above ~40mph after that, and I told the mechanic, and he replaced them with a DIFFERENT set of tires and rims.

After being okay for a few days, it's back to being pretty shaky, seems around 50mph or higher. Not TOO horrible, but after all this headache, I'm beginning to think that the problem isn't the tires or the rims. I'm not too trusting of the mechanic at this point, even though he says that's the only problem.


Could they need balancing? Any ideas what else it could be? I like to drive the thing on 500 mile trips each way and I haven't been able to trust it for the past couple months. It's driving me crazy and I'm thinking of just giving up and getting another car. Thoughts?

 

[wood_e]

You probably need an alignment done

 

[SparkyNT]

So you think that would be the first thing

You probably need an alignment done

To try before anything else? Will do! Thanks.

 

[wood_e]

Yep, give that a try first

 

[echothreezero]

Although mis-alignment issues do not usually cause vibrations. They cause pulling, poor steering, traction issues, tire wear etc, but not vibration.

Sounds like either a damaged steering joint (which means you now have play in your steering and vibration is occuring) or my guess is wheel bearings.

A good alignment place should pick up any play in the steering esp. if you ask them to look for it. And you should get an alignment anyway after hitting a kerb hard enough to bend a rim.

Then move to wheel bearing.

JDM accident???

 

[wood_e]

oh really? My taurus was misaligned for a while and i had bad vibrations above 50

 

[Tom]

It could be as simple as getting your wheels/tire balanced. Are the tires still in good shape or almost worn down?

 

[wood_e]

Any compenent shop should balance a wheel and tire combo when mounting them...

 

[hoh]

I know that my 86'325 does it also...I was told the my car needs the wheels and rotor balanced together..i would guess on the car...I was also told that if you pull your wheels off you should mark them for proper return. hoh