bmw e46 traction control

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

MikeHunt79

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A friend of mine has a '99 330 and she's saying it's horrible to drive in the wet, and that it feels dangerous as it wheelspins.

She's recently got new rear tyres, so I guess they must still have a lot of tread on. I was wondering if there could be a problem with the traction control? Or does the problem lie somewhere between the seat and steering wheel? :o

I just told her to use a high gear to prevent wheelspin, but I was wondering if there would be a light that would come on if there were any issues?
 
What tyres, and are they a mismatch from the front?

I mismatched front to back once on my e46, in my experience it REALLY didnt like it, felt like it wanted to fall off the road, and they were both good tyres! Reading about seems to agree too.

Also, how new? If they are like <500 miles they can sometimes still feel a bit edgy
 
I think the tyres are at least 2 weeks old by now, but I wouldn't be surprised if the fronts didn't match the rears. Next time I see her I'll ask her if they match. :)
 
If it's lighting up that easily in the wet I would first check the tyres aren't a set of ditchfinders, if they're decent then get the alignment checked as above - when the trailing arm bushes went in my e36 it felt very much like it wanted to plant me in the nearest hedge on any damp/cold day. I've never found the 330 to be particularly tail happy in the wet so something must be amiss.
 
Mine is the opposite, i have too much grip and i have mismatched between front and back. when i first got the vredesteins on the back they would spin up easily but once worn in they were fine, now the front and back is so planted.

My TC kicks in immediately and kills power, god knows how she's managing to spin the wheels with it on.
Check the dash for the TC light and a yellow handbrake symbol(ASC)
 
rodenal said:
If it's lighting up that easily in the wet I would first check the tyres aren't a set of ditchfinders, if they're decent then get the alignment checked as above - when the trailing arm bushes went in my e36 it felt very much like it wanted to plant me in the nearest hedge on any damp/cold day. I've never found the 330 to be particularly tail happy in the wet so something must be amiss.
Click to expand...

the rtab in my 36 are new poly items... but the rear end in mine feels completely disconnected to the front of the car. worn upper and lower control arm bushes have to be the culprit.
 
Could be a whole bunch of things on a 10 year old+ E46.

Tyres are **** for about 100 miles when they're new. She's probably got mismatched and cheap tyres on it too. She's probably hit a few curbs and knocked alignment out and needs a KDS alignment. Bushes are probably worn too (both front control arm bushes and rear trailing arm bushes).

A E46 330i (assuming it is) is not the type of car which can be neglected and expected to still handle well and drive properly. It's not a Ford Focus. It needs suspension work, which isn't even that expensive, and decent tyres to keep it driving properly, and proper care. If you put off this work when it's needed, eventually you'll get to a situation where the car is a complete dog to drive and the only way to sort it is to do it all and have a big bill rather than a few small ones.
 
Bit if an update, I ask her what tyres she had fitted and she had absolutely no idea. I checked myself in the end, and they were were indeed something I haven't heard of, Nang Kang or Nang Ning or something like that; ditchfinders basically. :o

I'll tell her to get some decent tyres and see if things are any better, I'm hoping my advice won't fall on deaf ears.
[TW]Fox;21879983 said:
A 99 330?
Click to expand...
I guess it's probably a 2000 then, I only guessed the year as she told me it was an X reg :)
 
X is September 2000 to February 2001.

Good to see this 330i is continuning the tradition of 10 year old BMW's and being fitted with crappy tyres :(
 
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