Steering wheel vibration nightmare.

[sedwilkins]

The vehicle in question is a 6/06 4.8is. Mileage is 81k miles.

Possibly pertinent modifications: Brand new wheels, 2 new Conti DW tires up front, lowered permanently to access height via INPA.

For the past month or so I have slowly developed a horrible steering wheel shake that exists when cruising stictly between 45-60MPH. If i'm over 60 mph, I get the vibration temporarily under throttle, but it goes away when I let off.

2 weeks ago I had a brand new set of style 214s installed and there was no effect. Then, just this past Thursday I had the aforementioned 2 new tires installed at tire kingdom. After the tire install, the vibration was still there with the same symptoms, but seemed slightly worse.

1. I had them double check the balance on the front wheels, and it was initially off by .5oz each side (according to them). After rebabancing them, there was no change. Vibration was still there.

2. They recommended I get a road force balance...I agreed and had it done. Both front wheels were road force balanced, and STILL no change. Still the same horrible vibration/steering wheel shake between 45-60mph and when on the gas.

3. I did the shake test on the front wheels and everything is TIGHT.

So far, I am wondering if something might be wrong with one of the front wheels? This is my first X5, so I also wanted to reach out and ask some of you who have been around these for longer and see if there are any other common things that could explain this with the x5. Something with the front suspension/axles maybe?

I have asked around here at the plant in Greer, and none of the guys have ever heard of anything so bizarre. If anyone has any ideas, i'd greatly appreciate it. Im almost at the point where Im ready to swap an entirely different set of wheels onto it and see if that helps....

Thanks for any help in advance. I greatly appreciate it!