Steering or Tyres Issue

[rajindergill]

I bought an X5M only a few weeks ago and I have done my first real long distance trip in it yesterday (300 mile round trip). I found when driving/cruising at 80 mph on the motorway(highway) I was having to constantly make small corrections to try and keep the car in lane.

My son said it felt like turbulence in a flight. All settings were in comfort. When I firmed the suspension to sport it was a little more manageable. I found the front left tyre pressure was at 2.5 bar whilst all the other tyres were at 2.6 bar.

I pumped up the tyre to 2.6 bar and found it a little better on the return leg. If I accelerated the car it felt okay.

Do you think I have a problem with steering or is it the Pirelli P-Zero (285/40/20; 325/35/20)?

[Kraftwerk AG]

I find that it's easier to manage in comfort mode at highway speeds. You can try swapping the wheels side to side and see if the problem goes away. If not, have the alignment checked. GL.

[desertfox73]

This may sound silly, but was it windy where you were driving? If I'm understanding your description of the corrections you were making, it reminds me of small adjustments I sometimes have to make when it's windy.

Could explain why the return was better...either the wind died down, or you were traveling downwind (versus into a headwind, where corrections would be needed).

Maybe it was, indeed, turbulence?

[pachieh]

If not alignment, I bet it was the road grooves. I have similar problems on roads that are more heavily travelled with deeper grooves in them. Wider tires tend to 'float' in grooves.

[rajindergill]

It was a little windy but nothing excessive. But I never had this issue in my previous e70 40d which had the staggered 20 inch setup of 275 and 315. Hence why I'm puzzled.

Will call the dealer tomorrow given I've only had the car a few weeks.

[lv42day]

Hello
I have found the car wanders if the tires pressure is low, I run my tires at 38psi all around after experimenting with 35, 36 and 37psi. This is due to the wide tires and the electronic steering but at 38psi the car sits like a brick on high speed rails. Then there is the issue of wind, the previous post on wind is correct, if there is a side wind you have to correct the steering angle often.

[rajindergill]

Thanks for the replies. Tyres pressures at 37.8 psi. Just finding it unusual compared to my old e70 and f30.

[ajob]

The Pirelli tyres tend to track along the varying inclination of the road, which may not be visible to the driver.

An older road, whose water shedding cross section has settled irregularly as you travel along it, will cause a random lateral pull, very similar to wind gusts.

There is no cure, actually you want some of it, because is is part of the steering feeling you need when you drive fast along a windy or a wet road.

If you still have this effect while travelling on a modern highway on a windless day with correct tyre pressures, then you need to carefully check all the wheel alignments in a competent shop.

[Skyracer]

^^ All of the above mentioned items are potential causes for your described problem.

However, based on your comment about having to constantly make corrections, I'd like to suggest an additional, possible contributing issue:

The electric assisted power steering on the X5M (and to varying degrees pretty much every other similarly equipped car I have driven) gives virtually no off centre feedback. The subtle, off centre resistance normally present in good hydraulically assisted systems (now being phased out rapidly) enabled the driver to sense very quickly when the car was wandering off course, and keep a straight line with minimal inputs. Without this, it's a guessing game as to how much input to apply. In my experience this makes for an irritatingly distracting and unpleasant highway cruise in the X5M, over and above the expected tramlining of the wide tires, etc.

[Apple Corps]

One must also consider the driver as a part of the issue. You may be driving with a "hydraulic response" to an electric system. It is a different feel but I have adapted and am quite impressed with how my '18 X5M holds the line I set for it. That is especially true given the width of those tires

Electric steering is here - resistance is futile (pun intended).

[rajindergill]

Been on the motorway/highway again today and still feeling it. I previously had and LCI E70 which had electric power steering so I am used to it. Plus we have an F30 328i with power steering.

I've booked it in with the dealer next week so they can get it on a ramp and have a look as well as road test it. I might ask them for a loaner so I can check behaviour on that. This may just be a quirk of the F15/F85.

[Kraftwerk AG]

Originally Posted by rajindergill

Been on the motorway/highway again today and still feeling it. I previously had and LCI E70 which had electric power steering so I am used to it. Plus we have an F30 328i with power steering.

I've booked it in with the dealer next week so they can get it on a ramp and have a look as well as road test it. I might ask them for a loaner so I can check behaviour on that. This may just be a quirk of the F15/F85.

I'm curious as to what the tech discovers (or not). Keep us posted and the best of luck to you.

[desertfox73]

What steering setting are you using while driving - comfort, sport or sport plus?

I ask because i did a long(ish) drive today and notice significant differences between the three settings at highway speeds. Sport was the least preferable for me, lots of adjustments needed. It was also quite windy so that could have been part of it.

[rajindergill]

I had everything in comfort (steering, suspension, engine, gearbox). Changing steering settings made no difference. The only thing that improved was setting the suspension to sport.

But just done another long drive on the same motorway yesterday using the F30 328. That was perfectly fine and an easier drive in terms of steering (also fuel consumption +20 mpg compared to the F85).

I'll keep you posted as to what the dealer says, most likely they will say they can't find a fault.

[Skyracer]

Originally Posted by Apple Corps

One must also consider the driver as a part of the issue. You may be driving with a "hydraulic response" to an electric system.

Ah, yes. Blame the end user for a subpar product. You must work for customer service LOL...

Yes, electric steering is here to stay, and yes, I will have to adapt as best I can. No, that doesn't mean it's any good, or that I have to like it.

[enzom]

Wondering if the OP took their car for service and if the problem was addressed.

I have the same issue with my X5M - highway at speeds of 90 mph and up, I have to work to keep the car in the lane. Constant corrections as the truck goes left and right. Seems to follow every imperfection in the road. It is pretty frustrating. Not as bad as my Range Rover Sport SC. That was horrible on the highway. But my Cayenne Turbo S stayed exactly where i put it. No corrections at all.

Took the X5M for an alignment last year and was told it was fine.

Love the X5M 90% of the time. But when I have a long highway ride, I would rather be driving something else.

[ctdw]

I noticed the same issue with my X5M. It was very noticeable after driving my M3 Comp. I recently replaced my X5M with a M5 Comp which does not have that issue.

[BeeMdblU]

I'm having the same issue, tried alignment today but not much better, it'll be nice to hear back from the op about what the dealer told him

[JMAN1111]

You guys need to road force balance on all 4 corners

[JMAN1111]

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

I'm having the same issue, tried alignment today but not much better, it'll be nice to hear back from the op about what the dealer told him

Originally Posted by BeeMdblU

I'm having the same issue, tried alignment today but not much better, it'll be nice to hear back from the op about what the dealer told him

Road force balance. Report back if you still have any issues.

[BeeMdblU]

Originally Posted by JMAN1111

You guys need to road force balance on all 4 corners

Excuse my ignorance but what's road force balance?

[rajindergill]

Dealer did not find a problem, but suggested I switch off the lane change warning. I have done that and got all the tyre pressures to within 0.1 bar. I think the car is very sensitive to small differences in tyre pressure. It seems a little better, but the wife's F30 is easier to keep in lane.