Car feels unstable at high speed

F83 · 05-16-2017, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dr.mba

Agree with all that said car is solid as rock.. I have gone as far as 180km/hr with no issues (too scared to go any faster on Canadian roads)

M

I think you mean.... Roads that remind you of Canada in Mexico?

Celestion · 05-16-2017, 08:47 AM

My car was unstable above 90mph until I put on the new MPS4S tires. My previous tires (5P) were abused (by me) and had very uneven wear from tire to tire. New tires and competent spin balancing is what fixed the instability for me.

michaelalex17 · 05-16-2017, 09:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celestion

My car was unstable above 90mph until I put on the new MPS4S tires. My previous tires (5P) were abused (by me) and had very uneven wear from tire to tire. New tires and competent spin balancing is what fixed the instability for me.

These tires are basically brand new (about 2,000) miles on them so they definitely aren't worn out. I still find the tire pressure to be very low at 33psi, but everyone seems to be saying that it is the sweet spot regardless of speed

danniexi · 05-16-2017, 11:49 AM

have your car checked out. you should never feel unstable.

i was doing the grocery run at night and i wanted to pull ahead a few cars on the highway. i thought i was doing 80 when in reality i was already hitting 120+. seriously, this car is so stable at high speed. it's ridiculous and messes with my perception of speed in the car.

rmedeir1 · 05-16-2017, 01:14 PM

OP. I think I understand what you mean. I have felt instability but I think the main issue is the road surface if you are completely stock and good tire tread. Everyone on here will have a different experience with different types of surfaces and condition of surfaces. For example, when I lived in NC we had a road (Route 1) that was newly laid asphalt...got to 156 and solid...felt like I was doing 80. However, here in SoCal Toll Road 73's surface is quite different and I feel tramlining occurring much more significantly at higher speeds due to the surface and quality of the road. My bigger concern are the overpasses and the poor design of the seams in the roads that make the car sketchy passing over them at high speeds. Wind has a factor in this too as this area through newport beach can get some good crosswinds. Other factors to consider with my setup....

- I have 265/285 MPSC2s (wider contact patch could increase the tramlining experienced here in SoCal)
- 2500 miles on all four MPSC2s
- PSI is 33 across all 4
- no spacers or suspension mods
- wheels are balanced and absolutely no shaking or shimmy at low or high speeds

Hope this helps somewhat or at least another data point for you.

SD ///M4 · 05-16-2017, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmedeir1

However, here in SoCal Toll Road 73's surface is quite different and I feel tramlining occurring much more significantly at higher speeds due to the surface and quality of the road. My bigger concern are the overpasses and the poor design of the seams in the roads that make the car sketchy passing over them at high speeds. Wind has a factor in this too as this area through Newport Beach can get some good crosswinds.

I've driven that toll road many times and the condition of the road has definitely deteriorated since it was first opened. It's disappointing, since I thought that being a toll road it would get better maintenance, but it doesn't appear to get any more maintenance than any other non-toll highway. I may have driven on that road at some high speeds in the past (may have) but I no longer trust that road at higher speeds. It's definitely not the Autobahn!

Ian1973 · 05-16-2017, 06:59 PM

Personally i think in sport+ there is too much rebound, which upsets the chassis. I haven't tried high speeds in comfort to test out the theory.

TRZ06 · 05-16-2017, 07:37 PM

I have had many high performance cars and the OP has a valid complaint.

The F80/82 with adaptive suspension sucks. The rear-end gets squirley and unsettled when braking or when the chassis is upset. There is a lot of chassis movement that does not give you much confidence when the car is 8/10th and above when the chassis is upset.

Maybe on the autobahn where the roads are very smooth , and the suspension doesn't need to work hard , it is very stable, but you throw in US roads and the weak rebound tuning really makes itself known.

Stock this car has awesome compression and SHITTY rebound control.

I moved to Ohlin coilovers for this very reason and gave up my adaptive suspension.

You throw in the crappy algorithm for the stability control, along with the crappy rebound tuning and this car is not very fun to push hard on roads that are not super smooth.

Draper · 05-16-2017, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F83

I think you mean.... Roads that remind you of Canada in Mexico?

I'm sure that's what he meant. Personally, I feel Mexico has many roads that remind me of home.

So many...

hwalk · 05-17-2017, 02:19 AM

The truth is like TRZ06 wrote: The stock suspension and especially EDC sucks... even on the Autobahn i got wet palms at 200km/h... So i threw out the EDC crap and installed a proper suspension with adjustable camber plates. With a bit negative camber and the new suspension I did 311 km/h last year and the car felt flat and stable. I'd never buy EDC again...

Racer20 · 05-20-2017, 07:07 PM

Tracking straight means nothing as far as alignment goes. The first thing you should do is check your alignment. My M3 calls for 31psi cold. 38-40 is WAY too much.

MrSmileyDC · 05-20-2017, 07:47 PM

If your rotors get worn down you'll get some shaking. Same goes for tires as they get out of balance and bent wheels. Sometimes it just takes a higher speed to notice this kind of stuff.

Colinv6 · 05-21-2017, 01:43 AM

I find my car needs a lot of tiny steering inputs to keep it straight at speed, it's a 2017 comp with spacers and springs. I was just about to remove the spacers when I said to my dad how it feels and he said his 2016 non comp with no mods is the same.

I'm on mpss and he is on Conti's

Must be our UK road surfaces.

logicalunit · 05-21-2017, 05:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwalk

The truth is like TRZ06 wrote: The stock suspension and especially EDC sucks... even on the Autobahn i got wet palms at 200km/h... So i threw out the EDC crap and installed a proper suspension with adjustable camber plates. With a bit negative camber and the new suspension I did 311 km/h last year and the car felt flat and stable. I'd never buy EDC again...

It's not that much of an issue since I don't live in Germany, and track surfaces are generally flat. But I do agree that the EDC is a compromise. I still remember my first drive where the front felt floaty at high speed... as if the car generated too much lift (and it does generate lift, make no mistake), but it was the actual dampening that let the car down going over road undulations. Since TS is talking about "a perfectly flat and straight high way"... than that's not the case here, it must be an alignment issue like everyone is suggesting.

///M-er-gized · 05-21-2017, 11:10 AM

I've never had a car more stable at high speeds than my F80 M3. This is my 4th BMW too, so it's not as if this is my first performance oriented car...

synergy design · 05-21-2017, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ///M-er-gized

I've never had a car more stable at high speeds than my F80 M3. This is my 4th BMW too, so it's not as if this is my first performance oriented car...

+1

My F80 is lowered on H&R Sport Springs and the car is incredible at high speed. It feels very stable IMO.

Caliboy951 · 05-21-2017, 11:35 PM

Make sure it isn't the road. I've noticed (in Mexico of course) that when I do high speed runs if the freeway is concrete the lines will cause the car to wander, if it's on smooth asphalt it very stable.

coolmex200 · 05-22-2017, 04:54 AM

Mine did the same thing...anything over 100 felt like rear wheels were on ice. The car drove straight, but had an uneasy feeling at speed. I took to dealer for a four wheel alignment and balancing. They aligned it and didn't do it again.
It was an expensive fix for a car that had 1600 miles on it, but drove way better afterwards.

elias · 05-22-2017, 09:15 AM

I have a 2015 f82 with spacers and on the few times I have driven at higher speeds my car felt well planted and handled extremely well. No issues at all.

morgan302 · 05-22-2017, 09:22 AM

I have done several day on Robling Road in Pooler GA and lap after lap on the straight at 145 felt great and on the road at (refuse to post) high speed it is great 2015 M3

Alpine300zhp · 05-26-2017, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwalk

The truth is like TRZ06 wrote: The stock suspension and especially EDC sucks... even on the Autobahn i got wet palms at 200km/h... So i threw out the EDC crap and installed a proper suspension with adjustable camber plates. With a bit negative camber and the new suspension I did 311 km/h last year and the car felt flat and stable. I'd never buy EDC again...

Yep. I have been telling people that adaptive suspensions are not good at high speeds. Glad to see I am not alone with this line of thinking. I had M adaptive in my E92 and I will never get M adaptive again.

mynameisplayer · 05-27-2017, 02:55 AM

I thought it was trying to run in comfort at 120+ (over 200KPH) was the issue - today wen't for a drive and went sport+, still a bit wobbly to me. Our roads aren't great, and tyres are at 33 (227kpa). Car is a 4000Km 2016 build Comp F80. I have my M drive day soon, think I can get to 160mph on the main straight in their cars...see what it feels like.

05-16-2017, 08:47 AM	#46
Celestion Lieutenant 253 Rep 471 Posts Drives: '22 M3 Comp Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	My car was unstable above 90mph until I put on the new MPS4S tires. My previous tires (5P) were abused (by me) and had very uneven wear from tire to tire. New tires and competent spin balancing is what fixed the instability for me.
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05-16-2017, 11:49 AM	#48
danniexi Brigadier General 3053 Rep 4,388 Posts Drives: 2022 F97 X3M Comp LCI Join Date: May 2008 Location: NJ/NY iTrader: (15) Garage List 2022 BMW X3M Compet ... [10.00] 2016 BMW F80 M3 [10.00]	have your car checked out. you should never feel unstable. i was doing the grocery run at night and i wanted to pull ahead a few cars on the highway. i thought i was doing 80 when in reality i was already hitting 120+. seriously, this car is so stable at high speed. it's ridiculous and messes with my perception of speed in the car. __________________ BMW MY22 F97 X3MC LCI - CURRENT BUILD THREAD\| Instagram: @danniexi BMW MY16 F80 M3 - GONE BMW MY08 E92 335XI - GONE BMW MY06 E46 325XI - GONE
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05-16-2017, 01:14 PM	#49
rmedeir1 First Lieutenant 132 Rep 370 Posts Drives: BMW MW M4 - MPE, CCBs, all CF Join Date: May 2014 Location: windermere, FL iTrader: (0)	OP. I think I understand what you mean. I have felt instability but I think the main issue is the road surface if you are completely stock and good tire tread. Everyone on here will have a different experience with different types of surfaces and condition of surfaces. For example, when I lived in NC we had a road (Route 1) that was newly laid asphalt...got to 156 and solid...felt like I was doing 80. However, here in SoCal Toll Road 73's surface is quite different and I feel tramlining occurring much more significantly at higher speeds due to the surface and quality of the road. My bigger concern are the overpasses and the poor design of the seams in the roads that make the car sketchy passing over them at high speeds. Wind has a factor in this too as this area through newport beach can get some good crosswinds. Other factors to consider with my setup.... - I have 265/285 MPSC2s (wider contact patch could increase the tramlining experienced here in SoCal) - 2500 miles on all four MPSC2s - PSI is 33 across all 4 - no spacers or suspension mods - wheels are balanced and absolutely no shaking or shimmy at low or high speeds Hope this helps somewhat or at least another data point for you.
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05-16-2017, 06:59 PM	#51
Ian1973 Colonel 736 Rep 2,134 Posts Drives: 15 M3 Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Charlton, NY iTrader: (0)	Personally i think in sport+ there is too much rebound, which upsets the chassis. I haven't tried high speeds in comfort to test out the theory.
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05-16-2017, 07:37 PM	#52
TRZ06 Lieutenant Colonel 629 Rep 1,755 Posts Drives: 16' M3 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0)	I have had many high performance cars and the OP has a valid complaint. The F80/82 with adaptive suspension sucks. The rear-end gets squirley and unsettled when braking or when the chassis is upset. There is a lot of chassis movement that does not give you much confidence when the car is 8/10th and above when the chassis is upset. Maybe on the autobahn where the roads are very smooth , and the suspension doesn't need to work hard , it is very stable, but you throw in US roads and the weak rebound tuning really makes itself known. Stock this car has awesome compression and SHITTY rebound control. I moved to Ohlin coilovers for this very reason and gave up my adaptive suspension. You throw in the crappy algorithm for the stability control, along with the crappy rebound tuning and this car is not very fun to push hard on roads that are not super smooth. __________________ 18? Camaro 2SS 1LE 16' M3 MG Ext. /SO Int. (DCT, Ohlin R/T, 19" wheels) 15' Audi S4 13' Audi TTRS (APR stage 1, MSS springs) 09' C6 Z06 08' M3 Interlagos Blue: 6sp, Tech.
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05-17-2017, 02:19 AM	#54
hwalk Second Lieutenant 116 Rep 283 Posts Drives: BMW M4 F82 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Baden/ South Germany iTrader: (0)	The truth is like TRZ06 wrote: The stock suspension and especially EDC sucks... even on the Autobahn i got wet palms at 200km/h... So i threw out the EDC crap and installed a proper suspension with adjustable camber plates. With a bit negative camber and the new suspension I did 311 km/h last year and the car felt flat and stable. I'd never buy EDC again... __________________ Kraut-Hero & (occasional) San Franpsycho
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05-20-2017, 07:07 PM	#55
Racer20 Major 1030 Rep 1,190 Posts Drives: F80 M3, 228i THP, E46 ZHP Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ann Arbor, MI iTrader: (0)	Tracking straight means nothing as far as alignment goes. The first thing you should do is check your alignment. My M3 calls for 31psi cold. 38-40 is WAY too much. __________________ 2015 M3, 2005 330i ZHP, 2015 228i 6MT Track Handling Pack, 2007 M Coupe (Sold)
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05-20-2017, 07:47 PM	#56
MrSmileyDC Major 327 Rep 1,001 Posts Drives: 2016 F82 M4 Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW F82 [0.00]	If your rotors get worn down you'll get some shaking. Same goes for tires as they get out of balance and bent wheels. Sometimes it just takes a higher speed to notice this kind of stuff. __________________ 2007 e92 335i 6MT \| Cobb AP Stage 1+ \| ETS FMIC \| AFE Dual Cone Intake (Sold) ED 8/18 - PCD 10/19 \| 2016 F82 M4 6MT \| Alpine White \| CF Roof \| CF Trim \| Black Extended Leather \| Executive Package \| Lighting Package \| Adaptive M Suspension \| 19" 437M Black Wheels
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05-21-2017, 01:43 AM	#57
Colinv6 Colonel 4017 Rep 2,815 Posts Drives: 2020 M4 comp, Mexico / Opal Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	I find my car needs a lot of tiny steering inputs to keep it straight at speed, it's a 2017 comp with spacers and springs. I was just about to remove the spacers when I said to my dad how it feels and he said his 2016 non comp with no mods is the same. I'm on mpss and he is on Conti's Must be our UK road surfaces.
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05-21-2017, 11:10 AM	#59
///M-er-gized Captain 687 Rep 663 Posts Drives: 2019 540i Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	I've never had a car more stable at high speeds than my F80 M3. This is my 4th BMW too, so it's not as if this is my first performance oriented car... __________________ 2019 540i \| Black Sapphire \| Black Dakota Leather with Blue Stitching \| M Sport Package \| Executive Tier \| Driver Assistance \| Parking Assistance \| HK \| M Sport Brakes \| Leather Dashboard 2016 M3 \| YMB \| Black Extended Merino \| CF Roof \| CF Trim \| DCT \| Adaptive \| Executive
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05-21-2017, 11:35 PM	#61
Caliboy951 Second Lieutenant 202 Rep 297 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: So Cal iTrader: (1)	Make sure it isn't the road. I've noticed (in Mexico of course) that when I do high speed runs if the freeway is concrete the lines will cause the car to wander, if it's on smooth asphalt it very stable.
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05-22-2017, 04:54 AM	#62
coolmex200 Second Lieutenant 117 Rep 213 Posts Drives: F80 M3, 2016 X5 35i, F25d Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: DE iTrader: (0)	Mine did the same thing...anything over 100 felt like rear wheels were on ice. The car drove straight, but had an uneasy feeling at speed. I took to dealer for a four wheel alignment and balancing. They aligned it and didn't do it again. It was an expensive fix for a car that had 1600 miles on it, but drove way better afterwards.
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05-22-2017, 09:15 AM	#63
elias Lieutenant 81 Rep 424 Posts Drives: M4 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I have a 2015 f82 with spacers and on the few times I have driven at higher speeds my car felt well planted and handled extremely well. No issues at all.
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05-22-2017, 09:22 AM	#64
morgan302 Second Lieutenant 91 Rep 299 Posts Drives: m3 2015 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: atlanta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 M3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M3 [0.00]	I have done several day on Robling Road in Pooler GA and lap after lap on the straight at 145 felt great and on the road at (refuse to post) high speed it is great 2015 M3
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05-27-2017, 02:55 AM	#66
mynameisplayer SCHNELL 224 Rep 835 Posts Drives: F15 50i, E46, E90, Crafter van Join Date: May 2016 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	I thought it was trying to run in comfort at 120+ (over 200KPH) was the issue - today wen't for a drive and went sport+, still a bit wobbly to me. Our roads aren't great, and tyres are at 33 (227kpa). Car is a 4000Km 2016 build Comp F80. I have my M drive day soon, think I can get to 160mph on the main straight in their cars...see what it feels like.
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