Chasing Steering Wheel Shimmy Issues

[shark88]

My 2002 3.0 w/102k miles has developed an annoying wheel shimmy between 50 and 65 mph. It came w/2011 E70 Star Spoke 210 wheels with Michelin run flats. After recently replacing the worn run flats w/Michelin Premier LTX's it has started shimming. I have been back 3 times and today they were supposedly re-balanced with the cone & spring on the inside of the wheel simulating the hub-centric mounting on the vehicle. This did not help.
Do I need centering rings for the E70 wheels or are the E70 wheels hub-centric on the E53 hubs w/o the rings?
I have E39 wheels on my E24 and I have to use them in this application.

Thanks,
John

[williamx5]

Good day!!

AFAIK, all the documentation I have seen says all X5 wheels will fit any X5... I have 2014 wheels on my 2001... I don't think it matters, but did they pull the pressure sensors out of the wheels and put in normal valve stems? Balancing should null that out, if they left them in, but.... If it wasn't there before the tire swap, the issue HAS to be with the new tire install or associated work... Wheels torqued the same? Did you do a roadforce balance? That could reveal issues with the new tires...

Guessing here...

Good luck!! And let us know what you discover...

Cheers!!

[motordavid]

E70 wheels have center bore of 74 mm...
E53 oe wheels have center bore of 72.5.

Some have noted no prob with E70 wheels on an E53, while other posters have used hub centric rings. Those rings, installed carefully and properly, may or may not alleviate your shimmy.
GL, mD

[OrangeFurious]

Had the exact same issue with E70 wheels. Road force balance and hub centric rings to the rescue.

[shark88]

Good News! Finally had a chance to check things out tonight. Centering rings solved 95% of the problem! Luckily, I had an extra set of the aluminum rings from my E24 wheel set-up. I do not recommend the plastic rings. Thanks for all the input!