My guess is... worn tie rod bushings?
I have just traced a wacky abut subtle steering problem down on my 95 525i.
My car has been pulling to the left in the evenings on the drive home, but never in the morning... It turns out that when I park at work, I leave the steering wheel to the left (after pulling into the parking spot) and this causes the symptom. (The car does look "good" with the wheels turned that way).
I just did a test today where I left the wheel off to the right and sure enough the car tended to drive that way.
The symptom does correct itself after about 30 min in any case.
Anybody else ever see this?
Scott
1995 BMW 525i w/139K miles, EAT Chip - (Gone)
07 525i 22K, 07 328xi (41K)
1982 Mazda RX-7 w/147K miles (Back again!)
My guess is... worn tie rod bushings?
Ex-Calypso Red 540i owner
coincidence? That doesnt seem to make any logical sence to me. is it the road/roads crown? different lane usage? One too many sodas after lunch? JK
95 E34 530I V2.37
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
ROFL - I drive the same roads each day....Originally Posted by 632 Regal
1995 BMW 525i w/139K miles, EAT Chip - (Gone)
07 525i 22K, 07 328xi (41K)
1982 Mazda RX-7 w/147K miles (Back again!)
Turning the wheels causes the control arm/thrust arm bushings to distort. Leaving wheels turned all day or night probably makes the bushings take a temporary set, which causes the car to pull until they get beaten back into shape after a bit of driving. Nylon belt radial tires used to do that in the good old days. They'd flat-spot over night and thump for a while the next day.
the distorted thrust arm deal makes sence. Maybe if you back in with the wheel turned and then stop vs turning the wheel afte stopped causes this?
95 E34 530I V2.37
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Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy
I don't think it makes any difference. I put my car on ramps and had my wife turn the steering wheel from lock to lock while I watched underneath. The bushing distortion was quite noticable as the wheels turned, and seems to be a function of the steering/suspension geometry.
I believe George is right on the money. A long time friend / BMW tech. told basically the same thing. The bushings are under a gereat deal of stress when the wheels are turned, especially at the full left or right lock position. Combine this with the crown/ slope of the road and that is more than likely the problem.
1991 535i 176k (under serious surgery: repaint, interior swap, manual conversion, etc.)
1993 750iL 132k