Steering Wheel Vibration After Changing Wheels

MWE92M3 · 09-16-2013, 11:48 PM

I swapped out my ZCP rims with GTS rims at the dealer today. I have the popular 12/15 MS spacer setup. They mounted and balanced the new rims but I noticed a vibration in the steering wheel at 60-80 mph. I then took the car to another german auto shop that rebalanced the rims but I still notice the vibration (and a slight pull to the right). What are my options here? I'm going to try to remove the spacers within the next few days to see if it fixes the problem.

checkmate · 09-17-2013, 07:43 AM

The spacers are the culprit. I had the same issue, once they were gone-vibration disappeared

N1COM3 · 09-17-2013, 08:01 AM

+1 on spaces (at least that's what I've read around here). Some people have them, some people don't. What brand of spacers do you have, if you don't mind me asking.

slicer · 09-17-2013, 08:22 AM

Were the tires balanced via hunter road force balancer? The M3 is very sensitive to vibration and I have found that Road Force balancing is a requirement. The spacers could also be the culprit. The hub face and spacers must be clean, plus the wheels should be installed and the lugs torqued without any weight on the wheels. A high quality spacer installed correctly should not give you a problem.

MWE92M3 · 09-17-2013, 10:19 AM

Thanks guys, I have MS spacers and I believe the machine was a hunter.

Denk · 09-17-2013, 02:38 PM

If you're pulling, that sounds like an alignment. Check your tire pressures, remove the spacers and if it's still vibrating, take it back and ask them to check the runout again. It took me 3 trips on my last tire change to get a proper balance done, using the hunter road force. They ultimately had to rotate one of my front tires on the wheel to correct some tire runout. Be persistent, they may have to do a little more than they're accustomed to as in my case.

MWE92M3 · 09-17-2013, 05:28 PM

The guys at the shop said that the front spacers were the problem and that the vibration is gone now that they are removed. But I wasn't really getting the vibrations before I changed the rims from ZCP to GTS. Any ideas? He said they looked fine but they were allowing for additional left/right wobble.

09-16-2013, 11:48 PM	#1
MWE92M3 Private 15 Rep 88 Posts Drives: E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Steering Wheel Vibration After Changing Wheels I swapped out my ZCP rims with GTS rims at the dealer today. I have the popular 12/15 MS spacer setup. They mounted and balanced the new rims but I noticed a vibration in the steering wheel at 60-80 mph. I then took the car to another german auto shop that rebalanced the rims but I still notice the vibration (and a slight pull to the right). What are my options here? I'm going to try to remove the spacers within the next few days to see if it fixes the problem.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

09-17-2013, 07:43 AM	#2
checkmate Major 119 Rep 1,497 Posts Drives: AW M3 E90 Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Bel Air, MD iTrader: (2)	The spacers are the culprit. I had the same issue, once they were gone-vibration disappeared
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-17-2013, 08:01 AM	#3
N1COM3 Private First Class 6 Rep 112 Posts Drives: LMB E92 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Hampton Roads, VA iTrader: (0)	+1 on spaces (at least that's what I've read around here). Some people have them, some people don't. What brand of spacers do you have, if you don't mind me asking.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-17-2013, 08:22 AM	#4
slicer Major General 2738 Rep 6,734 Posts Drives: 'E46 M3 Race Car, '23 X7 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Wisconsin - Instagram - @slicer_m iTrader: (39)	Were the tires balanced via hunter road force balancer? The M3 is very sensitive to vibration and I have found that Road Force balancing is a requirement. The spacers could also be the culprit. The hub face and spacers must be clean, plus the wheels should be installed and the lugs torqued without any weight on the wheels. A high quality spacer installed correctly should not give you a problem. __________________ '23 X7 '04 M3 - Fall Line Motorsports Built Race Car - S65 swap, Dry Sump, Bosch Stand-Alone ECU, Drenth Sequential Trans, MCS 3-Way, Flossmann Wide Body, Brembo Motorsports Brakes, Drexler LSD, BBS E88 Etc. INSTAGRAM - @Slicer_M
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-17-2013, 10:19 AM	#5
MWE92M3 Private 15 Rep 88 Posts Drives: E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	Thanks guys, I have MS spacers and I believe the machine was a hunter.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-17-2013, 02:38 PM	#6
Denk Brigadier General 1006 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2021 X5M Join Date: May 2011 Location: PNW iTrader: (2)	If you're pulling, that sounds like an alignment. Check your tire pressures, remove the spacers and if it's still vibrating, take it back and ask them to check the runout again. It took me 3 trips on my last tire change to get a proper balance done, using the hunter road force. They ultimately had to rotate one of my front tires on the wheel to correct some tire runout. Be persistent, they may have to do a little more than they're accustomed to as in my case.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-17-2013, 05:28 PM	#7
MWE92M3 Private 15 Rep 88 Posts Drives: E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: San Francisco, CA iTrader: (0)	The guys at the shop said that the front spacers were the problem and that the vibration is gone now that they are removed. But I wasn't really getting the vibrations before I changed the rims from ZCP to GTS. Any ideas? He said they looked fine but they were allowing for additional left/right wobble.
	Appreciate 0 Quote