Some issues

[Olliefrom83]

Morning all

I have a few issues that I want to get sorted before they get worse

1) I have a slight wheel shimmy at about 50mph up to about 75mph then disappears after that, I have had the wheels balanced, tyres checked and the whole car on a 4 wheel alignment and new front discs and pads but it has not gone away, I also have severe shake when braking, under 40mph it disappears?

2) sometimes at low speed when going over bumps or doing full lock turns I get a small clunk which sounds as though it's coming from the boot, I have checked the boot hatch and adjusted but it has not gone away

3) my tyre pressure light sometimes comes on after about 600-700miles of driving, I check pressures (cold) which are fine and then reset the sensor and it's fine for say another 700miles and then will pop up again, it sometimes comes on sooner if I am doing more motorway driving, my tyre pressures are 33psi all around

Any help appreciated

Thanks

Ollie

[Greydog]

Item 1 I would change the front bushes they are just about shot at 60k is my experience, vibration under braking is a classic symptom.

Item 2 Bushes again (BMW bushes are made of Cheese I think) check all the rear bushes including sub frame and change the drop links. Remember to get the alignment re-done after suspension work. I have changed all mine and the difference in handling and ride is massive.

Item 3 Are all the tyres the same make and correct sizes, when I first got the X5 I had this issue, front tyres were a different make to the rear when I changed all 4 the problem went away.

[Olliefrom83]

Thanks Greydog

Would the front bushes be the thrust arm ones? Also is it worth changing all the bushes to poly ones?
With the tyre pressure monitor I am running Michelin diamaris at the front and dulers at the rear both to the correct BMW size for the 20inch, it only started doing it recently, pressure in all the tyres always seem constant, once I have worn these tyres out will go for same make front and back and see if that makes any difference

Thanks

Ollie

[Greydog]

Regarding Polybushes I would say how long are you going to keep the car?  Polybushes are roughly 3 times the price.
I used standard replacement bushes all round. Front I changed both arms and drop links on each side the bottom swivel joints were fine thank goodness as the BMW specialist I use said it is a B^^ch of a job. Rear I brought a Kit of Meyle replacements and made my own Rose Bush tool with help from one of my boys all done in a weekend with no drama or pressure. Total cost of parts was just under £300 from memory the car was on 74K when we did the work its on 94K now

[Steamyrotter]

1 could be sticking caliper..

[Olliefrom83]

Thanks Greydog

I was probably going to keep the car for a few more years and then change to newer X5
So probably best to just stay with standard bushes?
Do you know if the rear subframe bush tool they sell on eBay is good for the job?

Cheers

Ollie

[Olliefrom83]

Steamyrotter

How would I check for a possible sticking calliper?
Sometimes I get a slight pulse like feel when I am braking at slower speeds, got told the front discs and pads were shot but backs were ok, so changed fronts and still the same, could that be a sign of sticking calliper?

Cheers

Ollie

[Greydog]

Morning
Sub Frame bushes on mine were changed at the BMW specialist I use when the car was in for service. The rest of the suspension is straight forward the only special tool (if you could call it that) is the tool I made to push out the rose bushes in the rear suspension. One tip I was given at the front tighten the brake reaction bush (the big one) with the car on its wheels, apparently if they are tightened with the suspension on full droop it causes premature failure.
If a caliper is sticking the disc that side will be hot due to the friction, also the pads will wear unevenly. Take the wheel off and check.

[X5-D-Sport]

Simple check for a sticking calliper...
At the end of a decent speed journey... ie 50-60mph.. then stop.
Touch each wheelaround the nuts...
The sticking calliper will make one wheel centre much warmer/hotter than the other three...