alignment with active steering after full m3 suspension conversion.

Funkmob · 11-25-2010, 02:12 PM

I recently had my E92 upgraded with Bilstein pss10's and the full m3 suspension conversion.
My car is equipped with active steering. The suspension swap has been done by an independant shop , i never told them my car had active steering.
After the suspension conversion they had the car aligned by another independant shop.

When i got the car back the rear felt wobly , and after som inspection i found 1 bolt loose that was connected to a rear control arm.
After i tightened the bolt , the rear felt ok again.

Now im pretty sure they just did a standard alignment without taking the active steering into account.
And they probably aligned the car with that control arm not properly tightened.

The car feels much more stable , turn in is much better. Overall impression is good but not really brilliant.

The main problems i experience is that the steering wheel seems to have alot of play before actually making the wheels turn. This is not how my active steering felt before.

Other problem i feel is when accelerating hard or driving high speed on the highway , the front end of the car becomes floaty and doesn't feel planted at all.
The car feels much better under deceleration or braking , when the weight shifts more to the front.

I have the front schocks on max height , wich is pretty low. The rears have been adjusted to the same amount of drop as in the front.

Can somebody share some thoughts on how to get rid of that play in the steering wheel?

I guess a proper alignment at a BMW dealer could solve it. What should be the optimum alignment settings for a 335I with M3 suspension?

Thanks.

NiVeDh · 11-25-2010, 07:27 PM

I just got an alignment too and I have active steering. The technician did not know that the car had AS until I mentioned it after he did the alignment. Then he used a BMW tool / computer thing to initialize and reset AS and that's all that needs to be done.

By the way, does your rear make a clunking sound when you go over dips and bumps in the road? I am having this issue with my Bilstein PSS9. Any help would be great. Pictures would be even better. What pieces do you need to transfer over from the OEM struts other than the orange bushing thing?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456540

Funkmob · 11-27-2010, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

I just got an alignment too and I have active steering. The technician did not know that the car had AS until I mentioned it after he did the alignment. Then he used a BMW tool / computer thing to initialize and reset AS and that's all that needs to be done.

By the way, does your rear make a clunking sound when you go over dips and bumps in the road? I am having this issue with my Bilstein PSS9. Any help would be great. Pictures would be even better. What pieces do you need to transfer over from the OEM struts other than the orange bushing thing?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456540

I didn't do the installation myself , so i can't help you on that one. I don't have a clunking sound going over bumps. The coilovers are very firm. I had them installed with all M3 suspension parts and new subframe bushings. The car is alot more solid now and alot of chassis noises have dissapeared.

Did your steering improve after they reset the active steering?

NiVeDh · 11-27-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funkmob

I didn't do the installation myself , so i can't help you on that one. I don't have a clunking sound going over bumps. The coilovers are very firm. I had them installed with all M3 suspension parts and new subframe bushings. The car is alot more solid now and alot of chassis noises have dissapeared.

Did your steering improve after they reset the active steering?

I didn't drive it before they reset it. They did the alignment, pulled the car out front and I asked them if they knew it had AS. Then the technician said, "wow, I didn't even feel it" and then he reset it.

Dackelone · 11-27-2010, 05:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiVeDh

By the way, does your rear make a clunking sound when you go over dips and bumps in the road? I am having this issue with my Bilstein PSS9. Any help would be great. Pictures would be even better. What pieces do you need to transfer over from the OEM struts other than the orange bushing thing?

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456540

Is this noise from the rear suspension? BMW's are famous for going thru rear shock mount bushings. Did you buy new ones when you installed your suspension?

Dackel

NiVeDh · 11-27-2010, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Is this noise from the rear suspension? BMW's are famous for going thru rear shock mount bushings. Did you buy new ones when you installed your suspension?

Dackel

Yes, it's from the rear.

No, I just reused the old ones I think... or maybe I left those out.

That might be it. I'll go check.

Edit: Do you mean the bushing between the shock and the control arm?

cstmx_ryder · 05-06-2011, 09:33 PM

The bolt on the rear strut might be loose.......Had a friend that had that noise coming from the trunk, he too has PSS9s..........

ShyGuy · 05-30-2011, 03:27 AM

I'm experiencing the same symptoms as you. During long sweeping high speed corner, the car feels very "floaty" and there seems to be some sort of delay between steering inputs and the car actually responding.

How is the active steering reset? Did it make a difference?

tofu- · 05-30-2011, 10:26 AM

quick question:

how do you know if you have active steering? i bought the car used

Manoah · 05-30-2011, 11:14 AM

old thread, but +1 ^ although, mine wasnt used.

cstmx_ryder · 05-30-2011, 05:26 PM

Make a turn when doing 25, then same turn at 40. If you feel the steering tightening up during the 40mph turn compared to the 25mph one, then you have AS......

It basically tightens up the steering as the speed increases to be more responsive.......

Quote:

Originally Posted by tofu-

quick question:

how do you know if you have active steering? i bought the car used

raceyBMW · 05-31-2011, 11:44 AM

Check the power steering reservoir...

star/spoke type cap, no active steering
round cap, active steering

you can look on realoem.com to see the difference.

tofu- · 05-31-2011, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by raceyBMW

Check the power steering reservoir...

star/spoke type cap, no active steering
round cap, active steering

you can look on realoem.com to see the difference.

thanks

11-25-2010, 02:12 PM	#1
Funkmob First Lieutenant 22 Rep 306 Posts Drives: 335i E92 space grey Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0)	alignment with active steering after full m3 suspension conversion. I recently had my E92 upgraded with Bilstein pss10's and the full m3 suspension conversion. My car is equipped with active steering. The suspension swap has been done by an independant shop , i never told them my car had active steering. After the suspension conversion they had the car aligned by another independant shop. When i got the car back the rear felt wobly , and after som inspection i found 1 bolt loose that was connected to a rear control arm. After i tightened the bolt , the rear felt ok again. Now im pretty sure they just did a standard alignment without taking the active steering into account. And they probably aligned the car with that control arm not properly tightened. The car feels much more stable , turn in is much better. Overall impression is good but not really brilliant. The main problems i experience is that the steering wheel seems to have alot of play before actually making the wheels turn. This is not how my active steering felt before. Other problem i feel is when accelerating hard or driving high speed on the highway , the front end of the car becomes floaty and doesn't feel planted at all. The car feels much better under deceleration or braking , when the weight shifts more to the front. I have the front schocks on max height , wich is pretty low. The rears have been adjusted to the same amount of drop as in the front. Can somebody share some thoughts on how to get rid of that play in the steering wheel? I guess a proper alignment at a BMW dealer could solve it. What should be the optimum alignment settings for a 335I with M3 suspension? Thanks. __________________ 335I AT 2007. Vishnu V5 / UR CAI / HPF Intercooler / ER Charge pipe / Synapse BOV / Macht Shnell dp's / Vanguard catless exhaust / BSH occ / Labonte S4 Meth injection / Quiafe LSD / Full M3 suspension parts / Bilstein PSS10 / EBC brakes and lines / RB turbo's
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11-25-2010, 07:27 PM	#2
NiVeDh Major General 422 Rep 8,003 Posts Drives: '08 E90 335i, '99 E36 M3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Houston, TX & Atlanta, GA iTrader: (132) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i Sedan [8.66]	I just got an alignment too and I have active steering. The technician did not know that the car had AS until I mentioned it after he did the alignment. Then he used a BMW tool / computer thing to initialize and reset AS and that's all that needs to be done. By the way, does your rear make a clunking sound when you go over dips and bumps in the road? I am having this issue with my Bilstein PSS9. Any help would be great. Pictures would be even better. What pieces do you need to transfer over from the OEM struts other than the orange bushing thing? http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456540
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05-06-2011, 09:33 PM	#7
cstmx_ryder Colonel 165 Rep 2,875 Posts Drives: A metal box with a roundel Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (2)	The bolt on the rear strut might be loose.......Had a friend that had that noise coming from the trunk, he too has PSS9s.......... __________________ '08 AW E90 335i PROcede V5 \| BMS DCI \| RR DPs \| ETS FMIC \| FORGE DVs \| Stett CP \| Vanguard \| PSS10
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05-30-2011, 03:27 AM	#8
ShyGuy Private First Class 4 Rep 167 Posts Drives: BMW 335i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (3)	I'm experiencing the same symptoms as you. During long sweeping high speed corner, the car feels very "floaty" and there seems to be some sort of delay between steering inputs and the car actually responding. How is the active steering reset? Did it make a difference?
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05-30-2011, 10:26 AM	#9
tofu- Banned 87 Rep 2,854 Posts Drives: 335i Jet Black/Coral Red Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: nyc iTrader: (4)	quick question: how do you know if you have active steering? i bought the car used
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05-30-2011, 11:14 AM	#10
Manoah Captain 10 Rep 639 Posts Drives: 335i, LE R1 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: San Antonio, TX iTrader: (0)	old thread, but +1 ^ although, mine wasnt used.
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05-31-2011, 11:44 AM	#12
raceyBMW king of the hills 92 Rep 2,915 Posts Drives: 2011 M3 w/ESS55, 2001 540i/6 Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Arvada, CO iTrader: (1) Garage List 2001 BMW 540i/6 [8.17] 1994 530i [9.00] 2007 335i Coupe [8.37]	Check the power steering reservoir... star/spoke type cap, no active steering round cap, active steering you can look on realoem.com to see the difference.
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