Car issues

Troublesome

I posted the following on a BMW forum, but I'm posting it here too incase anyone has any ideas.

I was a bit of an idiot tonight and decided to try and turn my car around in a field. Unfortunately my E36 316 decided to dig holes into the ground and soon got stuck. We spent a good 30 minutes trying to get it out using various techniques. However, we'd only get it less than a foot before getting stuck again. Eventually, my friend's step-dad came and towed us out in his Mercedes M-Class. (Unfortunately he didn't have a BMW X5) However, it dragged my car out of the mud as if it was a toy car.

On the way home, I noticed that the car vibrates somewhat. I can feel it on the steering wheel and the passengers in the back seemed to think it was coming from the rear. (although I am not 100% sure whether or not it actually was) This vibration issue is only apparent at relatively fast speeds. (70mph+) Does anyone know what the problem could be?

hellboy99

I'd say the tracking is out.

Your tracking was probably knocked off when it was yanked out of the ground.
Or
It is possible you lost a balance weight from your rim when it was being spun in the clay trying to get out. An incorrectlly balanced wheel will vibrate more at speed.

chris85

Just needs a wheel alignment id say

cantdecide

Could it be mud on the inside of the wheel throwing off the balancing?

Captain Slow IRL

probably just mud on the wheels, throwing off the balance - it only takes 10 grammes to f**k it all up!

demanufactured

1...What were you doing in a field in a bmw?

2....What difference would it make if he had an x5...? ,dont you watch top gear?

junkyard

Nothing wrong with X5's, I have one and it works just as good as any other 4x4 off road too. Do you believe everything you hear on Top Gear? They do tend to be a bit biased towards Range Rovers, I had one and it was a total heap of sh*te.

Guy:Incognito

junkyard wrote: »

Nothing wrong with X5's, I have one and it works just as good as any other 4x4 off road too. Do you believe everything you hear on Top Gear? They do tend to be a bit biased towards Range Rovers, I had one and it was a total heap of sh*te.

That maybe so but the comment in the Op is no less baffling.

Rovi

My first suspicion would be mud in the wheels all right.
Ideally, the correct thing to do is to take the wheels off and give them a good blast of a power washer, and give the hubs/suspension/brakes/wheel arches a good clean up at the same time too.
We get this all the time with the off-roaders, but then, we're ploughing through muck that's coming over the bonnet and in the window.

If you have vented/cross drilled brake discs, inspect them closely too as their cooling efficiency and balance will be adversely effected by mud clogging them up.

Troublesome

I want a 4x4 now. I can't go anywhere in my car unless it has a concrete or asphalt surface, or I'm doomed. I guess that's to be expected, but it's not good for where I live.

I meant turn around as in turn around and face the opposite way. The road was narrow and a several point turn would have been required to turn the vehicle. Saloons are more hassle to reverse too, so I felt the easiest option was to turn it around in a field. That said, I was in first gear and I did try and drift the back end a bit, but I got stuck before I knew anything else.

I want:

junkyard

The older X5 is far nicer in most ways to the new one.

DublinDilbert

Troublesome wrote: »

I can't go anywhere in my car unless it has a concrete or asphalt surface, or I'm doomed.

I hope your not shocked by this? how long have you been driving??

Troublesome wrote: »

I meant turn around as in turn around and face the opposite way. The road was narrow and a several point turn would have been required to turn the vehicle. Saloons are more hassle to reverse too, so I felt the easiest option was to turn it around in a field. That said, I was in first gear and I did try and drift the back end a bit, but I got stuck before I knew anything else.

Why didn't you just turn around in the entrance to the field?? It sounds like you drove straight into the field and were messing about drift etc.... To cause the back end to drift you must of been going quite fast....

I guess your not driving very long based on your "Saloons are more hassle to reverse" comment, just put it down to experience.... Do you think a 4x4 would be easier to reverse...

Esel

Probably mud on inside of wheels all right. Huge lumps I'd say!

cantdecide

DublinDilbert wrote: »

Do you think a 4x4 would be easier to reverse...

Harder to drift thank god. We could start a fund to buy OP his 4X4:D

Del2005

Troublesome wrote: »

I want a 4x4 now. I can't go anywhere in my car unless it has a concrete or asphalt surface, or I'm doomed. I guess that's to be expected, but it's not good for where I live.

I meant turn around as in turn around and face the opposite way. The road was narrow and a several point turn would have been required to turn the vehicle. Saloons are more hassle to reverse too, so I felt the easiest option was to turn it around in a field. That said, I was in first gear and I did try and drift the back end a bit, but I got stuck before I knew anything else.

I want:

Don't forget a 4x4 can also get stuck, espically with road tyres. And when they get stuck you'd need a tractor to get it out, why not go straight for the tractor (4x4 if you want) and then you can go nearly anywhere:D

Anan1

esel wrote: »

Probably mud on inside of wheels all right.

+1

DublinDilbert

Del2005 wrote: »

why not go straight for the tractor (4x4 if you want) and then you can go nearly anywhere:D

+1

A tractor should be easier to reverse than a salon car also, as your sitting over the back wheels...

cjt156

DublinDilbert wrote: »

+1

A tractor should be easier to reverse than a salon car also, as your sitting over the back wheels...

Plus you get that commanding-view-of-the-road all the 4x4 drivers crave. Scare teh sh!te out of the yummy-mummies in Dundrum carpark though...

DublinDilbert

cjt156 wrote: »

Plus you get that commanding-view-of-the-road all the 4x4 drivers crave. Scare teh sh!te out of the yummy-mummies in Dundrum carpark though...

That's an excellent point... Also if you hitch up a trailer you would have lots of room for all the stuff for the kids ( another common reason to buy a 4x4 )....

If any of the PC brigade accuse you of not being Green and damaging the environment, you could tell them its ok your using Green Diesel!

siralfalot

this should do nicely

cantdecide

BUAHAHAHAHAHAhahahahah........ooohhhh

cjt156

siralfalot wrote: »

this should do nicely

my 8x8 kicks your 4x4's ass!