New E53 owner here. Possible concern?
 

Alright, to preface this, I'm a long time lurker and reader but up until about two months ago I only wishes for an E53. Got a very clean '02 4.4 with roughly 202k for $4100. Timing chain and self leveling rear bags were replaced by the local dealer prior to my purchase.

Only issues aside from a few missing interior bits and a faulty coolant level sensor was a way past failing front suspension. Mostly noticeable during low speed reversing maneuvers and highway speed braking.

While backing out of my driveway which is on a hill onto the street which is also on a hill, it felt as if the front wheels would try to "roll over" for lack of a better term. Just a shimmy of sorts letting me know that something was obviously not right. At highway speeds (above 60mph) if I had to apply heavy braking there was an awful shudder in the front end. Very uneasy feeling.

I ordered the $300 kit from ECS which had new lower control arms with bushings, thrust arms(?) With bushings and ball joints, Tie rods, end links, and some assorted nee hardware. Awesome value btw.

I have a 320k mile E36 that runs like a top, and have owned other E36s and dinner plenty of work on lots of others as well as a few E46s, E39s, and E30s. I'm definitely not new to BMWs, but this is my first X.

After installing all of this new hardware on the front as properly as I could to the best ofy knowledge (also discovered a torn CV boot on the right front axle) the shudder is a thing of the past thank God. However, the odd feeling while reversing is still there. I've also noticed that since them during low speed turns the truck seems like at a certain point it just wants to stay turned and pull itself into a tighter turn. Is that just the AWD? I've never owned one prior to this. And is the odd feeling in reverse possibly the axle failing due to the torn boot? There's no popping or any other signs of a failing CV joint.

Apologies for the book and if it's kind of sporadic. If I need to clarify anything I most definitely will lol

Here's a pic of the truck. Not too bad for the age/mileage/price in my opinion

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...psahkiwgpc.jpg

Thanks in advance

Sounds like the alignment is way off. The turning in feeling is oversteer. Not typical for X's. Get it on a lift and check the suspension and driveshafts. Some of what you say makes me think you may have failing front driveshaft splines, but I'd start with careful inspection of all the suspension and a careful alignment

It may also be a failing CV joint, which is binding when the wheel is at an angle.
Does the car want to always steer to one side?
Brilliant that the dealer replaced the airbag and timing chain... The timing chain replacement itself can cost more than the value you paid for the car!

I may not have been 100℅ clear in my description. Driving down a straight relatively flat road, the truck tracks well and the steering wheel is properly oriented, so nothing to me points to an alignment issue. Now I did just replace many things so I'm sure it's not perfect but I don't think it's way out of whack.

To clarify, on slow turns, turning left (or right for that matter) at a certain angle of the wheel and with slight application of throttle the truck seems to want to tighten the radius of the turn. It's nothing to correct, but it definitely pulls harder into which ever direction the turn is. I'm used to cars that gradually straitened the wheel out as you let go and apply throttle out of a turn. I feel if I did that in this X5 it'd keep turning sharper. Part of me Just assumed it was a characteristic of AWD since this is my first, it just seemed different.

The other issue with the feeling of the front tire(s) kind of feeling odd when turning in reverse could very well be the CV joint on the axle. I'm sure they're ageing at this mileage and both need replacing even tho only one boot is torn.

I don't know any symptoms of failing front driveshaft splines other than the grinding noise when they're already gone, but I can't see where that would effect the behavior of the front wheels directly. Am I wrong about that?

Edited my post. Should call that oversteer.

Do you think the steering wheel itself is stiff? Could that be the feeling you have when it's not returning to center after a corner? There is a well known problem with the double joint in the steering column freezing up, but it makes steering stiff all the time.

Besides that, it's suspension and alignment ...

That sounds more likely. Is the steering joint something that requires replacement when it starts freezing or can it just be greased to loosen it up?

There are some threads on it. Some say you can Spray grease with a long stray and whack it, but none of that worked for me. There is no proper way to lube it. Sealed bearings... Had to replace mine. Failed state inspection for being too stiff.

Just dropped the truck off for an alignment, we'll see how it goes.

Picked it up. At least on the short drive back to my work from the shop, it felt much better. I didn't notice the tire wobble during low speed turns like I did before, but I haven't really been in a situation where I KNOW it would do it. Here's a pic of the spec sheet. I have a feeling that toe value could have been my issue.

http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p...psi2wtsjmk.jpg