Handling Issues

[chuka]

Hi guys!! I've owned an E46 for a while now been loving it but recently been haveing lots of handling/suspension issues. when I'm driving, the steering pulls the car to the right so I have to keep tugging at the steering to the left to keep it in a straight line. Makes for a preety diffcult ride and almost impossible to control when speeding and you step on the brake. The car definetly pulls hard to one side.

Also, when driving and you look at the back tyres, they seem to tilt outwards. giving the car a K-leg look. does this affect the handling?

my Mechanic, says that it is the Chasis and Cross-member beam that are bad. but my Panel Beater says that they are both ok but seems like the Bushing in the Lower arm is bad and thus keeps pulling the car to one side.

Please help in providing me with your unbiased view as to what the issue could be.

Thank you.

[Manolito]

It does sound like rear suspension bushings. Pulling as hard as you describe, someone following you should be able to see the rear wheel(s) shift when you switch from gas to brake.

Also make sure that the subframe mounts have not broken loose from the body. Someone posted a video recently showing the cracked sheetmetal gaps opening and closing and letting daylight into his trunk.

Also look at the front control arm bushings. Those are a common failure item on non-M e36s but I have not heard of them failing on an e46.

[Jeron]

The top of the rear tires tilt outwards or the bottom?

Its going to be expensive if you have a mechanic do it but you need to have the entire suspension looked at and replaced as needed.