New (old) X5 owner - Problems Already - Shimmy 1/2hr after purchase

[tuvix]

Hi everyone. This site is awesome. Ive been lurking for a couple weeks now Read thru the entire "hidden" features thread and learned a lot: http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-forums/x5-e53-forum/23294-cool-hidden-features-e53-x5.html Im really happy i stumbled apon this place!

So... Quick intro. I live in the Kootenays of BC Canada. After driving Toyota and Mazda forever, Ive been wanting an X5 for a couple years now. Last weekend I flew down to Vancouver and picked this up for 5G



...and now, im in love.

Its an 2001 3.0i

Its the weirdest feeling to know im driving an SUV that handles better than my Celica or my MX3. In fact, it does EVERYTHING better. I will love this X5 for the rest of my life.

So here is the problem. The dealership I purchased from told me that one of the tires had a "flat spot" because it sat on them for so long, and if I had any vibration or shimmy on my way home not to worry - it would stop after the tire warmed up and I would need a wheel balance. Sure enough, about 30 minutes after leaving the lot with it, the shimmy started. I was on the freeway doing a buck-twenty-five. The steering wheel started shaking left and right and I felt a vibration through the seat. It continued for a minute and then stopped. After another 30 minutes passed, it happened again, but not as bad or for as long as the first time. I drove the rest of the 8 hour trip home without a problem. Ive been driving it an average of 2 hours a day at both city and hwy speeds since then and it has done it every day since. It doesn't happen when Im braking unless its already happening. I went in yesterday and had a balance done on all 4 wheels, and then this morning (cold) it was worse than ever. It was a violent shaking shimmy for 20 minutes while doing about 75kph. When I got to work I looked at all the tires and my front left was so hot I couldn't touch the rim. Then a few hours later I drove it back home (hwy - 45min) and it barely did it once and the tire didn't get hot.

Ive been searching online and on these boards and have learned it could be one of a hundred problems. Im reaching out to see if anyone else has had similar problems and knows what I should do. Why would it come and go like that? Would a flat spot on a tire cause it to heat up like that?

[David.X5]

Hard to believe that's a "flat spot" on a tire. I'd be more inclined to think a dragging brake pad or a bearing/suspension problem. Are you the DIY type? If so, pull the wheel and check the pads for wear and check the caliper slides properly. Check the wheel bearing (does it spin freely). Check for play in the ball joints and tie rods. Do you have a full size spare? If so, you can switch it out just for grins, but I would be really surprised if it's a tire problem. Do you have a way to check for codes?

[g300d]

Congrats on the new "truck"!

Yeah, I remember first driving an E53 and marveling at the precision handling. Better indeed than many sporty cars.

Tradeoff for that is that it is extremely sensitive to wear/damage to suspension parts/running gear.

Unlikely that the wheel will heat up due to flat spots. Intermitent sticking caliper maybe?

You could maybe swap wheels left to right and/or front to back to see if the shimmy changes. If it does it's definitely wheel/tire related.

This is aside from the usual visual/physical inspections to check for worn suspension parts.

[Joshdub]

Welcome!

I doubt it's the tire. Get your alignment checked.

[4.8isX5]

Whats the mileage on it? And even with the age of the car it most likely needs front end refresh...

Can be tension arm or thrust arm (goes by either/or alot), lower control arm, balljoint, tierods.

Edit- cv axles can cause this as well.

[Bouchedag84]

Good luck.
I hope the dealer wasn't hiding something major by saying 'it's just a flat spot, it'll go away'....

Also, I'm jealous you live in the Kootenays...everyone's dream in AB haha

[thrillcat]

I had a very similar experience. It turned out to need a new front CV axle, which took care of the violent shake I was having.

I still seem to need to balance the wheels at each oil change because I'll get a slight wiggle in the wheel, but nothing like what the CV axle fixed.

[tuvix]

Thanks for all your replies everyone. I pulled the tire and checked for problems. everything is solid. I swapped out the tire for my spare and went for a drive - same thing happened. After it cools ill pull the caliper and inspect it.

Would a bad alignment cause the rotor to heat up?
Should the rotor spin freely if the other tire is on the ground?
Would the brakes cause this even if im not using them? Because I start driving, and everything is fine, and I dont use the brakes, and then 10 minutes later it starts.
Also, what is this? I found it dangling under the front passenger side:

[tuvix]

Originally Posted by David.X5

Do you have a way to check for codes?

I will soon, but not soon enough

[tuvix]

Originally Posted by trader4

It was bought from a dealership. Any warranty?

Yes 6 months and a 14 day return