BMW E46 - Wobbling under braking

rickchild

rickchild

rickchild

Associate
Joined
2 Jan 2003
Posts
354
Location
Cambridge
Having got my ABS/Speed sensor sorted out on E46 330i, I have noticed it is still wobbling under braking.

It was doing this before I took it in which I was hoping was down to the weather and would clear off.

Very noticable when braking on the motorway and coming off slip road, but if I brake very firmly it eases off.


All I can think of is:

- Recently fitted new tyres the day before going on holiday, or pressures.
Should be balanced and pressured ok as this was done at main dealer.

- After coming back from holiday I have set off when something was stuck together from car standing with cold / grit, did make a bit of a horrible noise.
Maybe I have bits of something on my pads/discs.



Any ideas, or recommendations for a decent BMW indy in North West/Yorkshire as I don't fancy paying BMW £100 an hour to have a nosey!
 
rickchild said:
Maybe I have bits of something on my pads/discs.
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That something may well be a warped disc.

Quite possible if the ABS has been playing up you may have uneven wear on one or both discs (this is quite common with trucks)

I know of an excellent specialist trouble is, he's in Shropshire.......
 
[TW]Fox;10842152 said:
Could be:

b) Worn lower control/thrust arm bushings
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Doubt this very much, my front bushes were shot on my e38 yet it had no issue with brake wobble.

Can't say I noticed any change after they were fixed, it did stop "clonking" over bumps though. :D
 
Sounds like you guys are right, also sounds expensive so I had better find a nice Indy! Would you say its likely to be all of them, or maybe just the fronts as the wheel wobbles?

If it does turn out to be warped discs, have I done anything to cause the problem or does it just happen sometimes?
 
rickchild said:
Sounds like you guys are right, also sounds expensive so I had better find a nice Indy! Would you say its likely to be all of them, or maybe just the fronts as the wheel wobbles?

If it does turn out to be warped discs, have I done anything to cause the problem or does it just happen sometimes?
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Brake judder is quite common.

Not "bedding in" new pads can cause this, also,hard braking with cold brakes can cause this, also, driving through a ford or deep puddle with hot brakes can also warp the disc.

Most likely a sticking caliper has caused the disc to overheat.

I'd be very surprised if this was on the rears rather than the front discs tbh.
 
R124/LA420 said:
Brake judder is quite common.

Not "bedding in" new pads can cause this, also,hard braking with cold brakes can cause this, also, driving through a ford or deep puddle with hot brakes can also warp the disc.

Most likely a sticking caliper has caused the disc to overheat.

I'd be very surprised if this was on the rears rather than the front discs tbh.
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OK, I'll ring around for a few quotes, is it worth getting the calipers seen to at the same time to avoid future issues, or is greasing them part of a standard disc/pad change anyway?

I seem to remember reading somewhere on the forum (may have been one of Fox's Brake pad threads) that BMW main dealer make you replace something else along with pads?
 
rickchild said:
OK, I'll ring around for a few quotes, is it worth getting the calipers seen to at the same time to avoid future issues, or is greasing them part of a standard disc/pad change anyway?

I seem to remember reading somewhere on the forum (may have been one of Fox's Brake pad threads) that BMW main dealer make you replace something else along with pads?
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Greasing the calipers should be, but often is not done as part of a pad change.

As for BMW dealers, if my last trip to one on a brake related issue is anything to go by, yes they do tend to replace something along with the pads - the discs!

Tbh, one sure way of eradicating the brake judder issue. (as long as it is brake related!)

It Certainly worked for me, the discs did not look that bad when mine were done but the difference in braking performance & stability made the near £500 cost very well worthwhile.

Krap Fit quoted me about £100 less without wanting to sort an ABS fault, so I decided to go with BMW.
 
Thanks for all the help, I will get quotes from my local BMW who have been good the few times I have been in, also someone at work has recommended a decent BMW Indy in Leeds (http://www.bmservicing.com)

Edit:

Just been quoted £298 by the Indy and £347 by BMW for front discs and pads, all inc VAT.

May as well go to BMW for the difference, as it's a lot closer to my house and I can sneak it in while I'm working from home next week!

Thanks for the help chaps I was in a bit of a panic but it's not too bad, still dropped £500 on it in the last week though with the ABS sensor going too, might hold off on that summer M3 (Hitting 25 in summer) for a new style S3 next year!
 
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rickchild said:
Thanks for all the help, I will get quotes from my local BMW who have been good the few times I have been in, also someone at work has recommended a decent BMW Indy in Leeds (http://www.bmservicing.com)

Edit:

Just been quoted 298 by the Indy and 347 by BMW for front discs and pads, all inc VAT.

May as well go to BMW for the difference, as it's a lot closer to my house and I can sneak it in while I'm working from home next week!

Thanks for the help chaps I was in a bit of a panic but it's not too bad, still dropped £500 on it in the last week though with the ABS sensor going too, might hold off on that summer M3 (Hitting 25 in summer) for a new style S3 next year!
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For the small extra, I'd go for the BMW dealer option.

The standard of work will be A1 (not to diss the indy btw) not to mention I'd have thought you'd get a loan car if you ask nicely?

One thing for sure, I'll be very surprised if your not well pleased with the end result. :)

Edit:

The site for the independent you quoted says " 50% Labour savings on main dealers "

Seems to me that this is not the case comparing price for price.
 
R124/LA420 said:
For the small extra, I'd go for the BMW dealer option.

The standard of work will be A1 (not to diss the indy btw) not to mention I'd have thought you'd get a loan car if you ask nicely?

One thing for sure, I'll be very surprised if your not well pleased with the end result. :)
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Yeah going for BMW now, but I noticed last week they now want £10+VAT admin fee for loan cars, will just ask them if they can do it while I wait.
 
R124/LA420 said:
Edit:

The site for the independent you quoted says " 50% Labour savings on main dealers "

Seems to me that this is not the case comparing price for price.
Click to expand...

Maybe it is for the labour, as its only an hour's work he said, which would be just about the £50 difference at the main dealers £100 hour.
Although that means the parts are costing exactly the same.

Shame I can't ask nicely and get the 4 plus, I tried that last week!
 
rickchild said:
Maybe it is for the labour, as its only an hour's work he said, which would be just about the £50 difference at the main dealers £100 hour.
Although that means the parts are costing exactly the same.

Shame I can't ask nicely and get the 4 plus, I tried that last week!
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Fair enough.

I never got 4+ prices from my BMW dealer, apparently it did not apply to the e38. :(

Get them to do it while you wait & take up that time by booking a test drive of something you fancy - That M3 perhaps?
 
Have you thought about the possibility of changing the discs and pads yourself? Its a nice easy job to get you into DIY servicing, and in the long run it could save you loads as it will be much easier once you have done it once.

Those prices are fairly high for what is a simple job, and the E46 brake assemblies are very userfriendly.

Just a thought :)
 
Jez said:
Have you thought about the possibility of changing the discs and pads yourself? Its a nice easy job to get you into DIY servicing, and in the long run it could save you loads as it will be much easier once you have done it once.

Those prices are fairly high for what is a simple job, and the E46 brake assemblies are very userfriendly.

Just a thought :)
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Good point.

If however the OP is like me, then he'd weighed up his "skills" in DIY mechanics & decided did he really want to drive a car with brakes serviced by somebody of that skill level, or, would he rather somebody trained by BMW did it.

With me it was a no-brainer despite me being relatively competent with a spanner. (comes with the job I guess)

I'll happily mess with most parts of my car, brakes have always been something I've left to the experts tbh. :o
 
Fair enough - but you dont need to empty the braking system, its just a matter of taking the caliper off its mounting and unscrewing the disc and screwing another one on. Then changing the pads. I dont see how this could possibly be dangerous - just remember to pump the pdeal a few times BEFORE you drive off to avoid the omg no braaaaakessss moment :p
 
Jez said:
Fair enough - but you dont need to empty the braking system, its just a matter of taking the caliper off its mounting and unscrewing the disc and screwing another one on. Then changing the pads. I dont see how this could possibly be dangerous - just remember to pump the pdeal a few times BEFORE you drive off to avoid the omg no braaaaakessss moment :p
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I should point out that I am the sort of home mechanic that always has a few "left overs" after working..... :o:D

More than once have I tested my brakes on my truck prior to moving off only to have them fail a few mins / hours later! :eek:
 
Yep I thought about it, and I do fix little things on my cars but when it comes to things like brakes I'd prefer the professionals do it.

A day off work (It would take me a day!) would cost me around £170, so I don't mind paying somebody else the same amount to do it for me.

As someone in IT I happily take cash to do specialist jobs so I just see it as a reverse, sure someone cheaper could probably do my job, but not as quickly, so BMW can do my car quicker and safer!

Leaves me free this weekend to do some other bits of DIY I have outstanding, like tiling floors...
 
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