[jurassic86]

Hi Guys,

I have a BMW 318ti SE Compact - 2002. Covered 70k and recently when braking at any speed the cars steering wheel vibrates and jolts to the left. It appears that when it jolts to the left it does appear to stop vibrating, or at least get alot better.

It is worth pointing out this only happens when you slightly apply the brakes, if you apply them with some force it doesnt appear to vibrate, only when you apply the brake a little bit?

Any help would be great.

Thanks

Jason

 

[LiLoCollinsy]

Sounds like your brakes are warpped mate..

Does it vibrate at all when your just cruising?

 

[jurassic86]

Doesnt vibrate what so ever under normal driving. It does at about 110mph, but not often I sit at those speeds.

One other thing maybe worth noting, it only does it when the brakes are warm, i.e 4-5 mins after you start driving it.?

 

[steve23002]

Sounds like your brakes are warpped mate..

Does it vibrate at all when your just cruising?

Ill Second Lilo there mate. :thumbsup
It sounds like you have warped discs. :frown

 

[jurassic86]

Is their any reason why the shaking goes away when I apply the brakes really hard?

 

[gap141070]

i agree wi the lads m8..defo warpe discs..you mite find the shakn goes away wen you brake really hard coz wen you apply the brakes lightly ther is only slight pressure applied too the disc and not a lot off heat..weras..if your brakn really hard the the pads are biting hard into the disc and allowin no movement at all and the extreme heat also for a split second softens the disc ever so slightly...its hard too explain..am no brainbox at all...but if you can imagine spinnin a bent disc between your hands vertical position....the tighter you close your hands..the less movemnt ther will be in the disc..hope thet helps you...coz am startn too confuse myself now!:confused

 

[jurassic86]

As strange as it does sound I know what you mean. Ive just took the wheels off the front and spun the disc around and it doesnt appear to be wharped, but im assuming that you wouldnt be able to see it with the naked eye.

What I think ill do is take to the merchanics on Tuesday AM and see what he thinks. I just pumped up the tyre pressures also just incase its that but I doubt it:!

 

[steve23002]

When the mechanic is checking the brakes get him to check the lower arm rear bushes as well mate. :thumbsup
These can also cause vibrating problems.

 

[jurassic86]

Yeh - finally what about that steering wheel jolting to the left? Is this an important factor because it appears the vibrating calms down when it does that?

 

[steve23002]

It could be wear in those buses causing it to go left as well.
Get your mechanic to check the calipers have not started to sieze as well. Lilo who replied first had these problems with his compact :thumbsup

 

[jurassic86]

Sounds expensive lol!

 

[steve23002]

The bushes are not too bad. Dont worry..:cool
Report back to us with the findings mate, its just to make sure these common faults are spotted....

 

[jurassic86]

Will do! Annoys me when I read forum posts of all the problems but the outcome / solution / fault was never reported so people like me could be a littel clearer as to what problem I actually have!

 

[steve23002]

Will do! Annoys me when I read forum posts of all the problems but the outcome / solution / fault was never reported so people like me could be a littel clearer as to what problem I actually have!

Cheers. I couldnt have said it better. When people let us know, it enables us to point other people with similar problems to the thread :thumbsup
Thank you