new E30, more new problems

[turbo-tastic]

MY 318i touring has an alarming wobble/shudder between 60-80mph. So much so that the dash visibly shakes It doesn't seem like its coming through the steering wheel, but I cant be sure as the whole car shudders

Also, the temp gauge usually sits about 1/4, only occaisonally getting up to half if I've ben sat in traffic, then down to 1/4 again once moving. I'm not complaining at it not getting hot, just wondering why its so low??

The steering feels vague at speed. I never really drove my 318iS fast, so have nothing to compare it to

The front elec windows only work when the door is open (I've actually sourced it to be the interior light switch in the door, when you push it in, the windows stop operating)

I've not really got a clue what any of the above could be, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Ed

[maxfield]

Wheel balancing?

Subframe/trailing arm bushes?

[daimlerman]

Tyre pressures? Window fault is most likely a fuse.

[johnl320]

Shaking could be a buckled wheel, cheap tyre totally out of balance, a tyre bulge (had one on my 320, nasty). If you can't feel it through the steering wheel then I would head to the rear of the car first.
I would check condition of the tyres fisrt and see if any balance weights have come off recently ( leaving marks where they were).
Then I would jack the car up and spin the raised wheel looking for any buckling or changes in the profile of the tyre.
If there is nothing obvious then try using your spare on each corner at a time to see if the symptoms improve.
Thats not to say say it is a tyre/wheel issue. As mentioned above beam bushes, trailing arm bushes could all be a possible cause.

I spent ages looking for a cause of a judder and it turned out to be a fairly new tyre (cheap) witha slight bulge in it. Look for the simple things first.

HTH

john

[turbo-tastic]

Wheel balancing?

Subframe/trailing arm bushes?

I was hoping it was wheel balancing, but suspected probably rear axle bushes I'll get it up to the garage to check both on monday.

Unless its commonly something else??

Tyre pressures? Window fault is most likely a fuse.

Tyre pressures? For the vague steering or shudder/wobble?

And the windows work fine when the door is open, its just when they're closed they dont

[turbo-tastic]

Shaking could be a buckled wheel, cheap tyre totally out of balance, a tyre bulge (had one on my 320, nasty). If you can't feel it through the steering wheel then I would head to the rear of the car first.
I would check condition of the tyres fisrt and see if any balance weights have come off recently ( leaving marks where they were).
Then I would jack the car up and spin the raised wheel looking for any buckling or changes in the profile of the tyre.
If there is nothing obvious then try using your spare on each corner at a time to see if the symptoms improve.
Thats not to say say it is a tyre/wheel issue. As mentioned above beam bushes, trailing arm bushes could all be a possible cause.

I spent ages looking for a cause of a judder and it turned out to be a fairly new tyre (cheap) witha slight bulge in it. Look for the simple things first.

HTH

john

Cheers John,

I hadn't thought about conditio of the tyres Will check those tomorrow. Fingers crossed eh?? ;

[turbo-tastic]

Also, the temp gauge usually sits about 1/4, only occaisonally getting up to half if I've ben sat in traffic, then down to 1/4 again once moving. I'm not complaining at it not getting hot, just wondering why its so low??

The steering feels vague at speed. I never really drove my 318iS fast, so have nothing to compare it to

The front elec windows only work when the door is open (I've actually sourced it to be the interior light switch in the door, when you push it in, the windows stop operating)

Anyone else got any ideas for these??

[johnl320]

Check the starter motor connections.

A quote from Brian Moore

Fuse 17 is fed with power from the battery by one of the unloader relays in the fusebox. One end of the relay's coil is powered by an ignition live 12 volts, and the other end of the coil is earthed through the windings of the starter motor.
This arrangement is used to disconnect power to several circuits temporarily while the engine is being cranked.
The wire to the starter motor is black/green, and goes to the smallest terminal on the starter motor.

Common problem, do a search in tech help. Write in 'electric and windows'

HTH

john

[daimlerman]

[quote="daimlerman"]Tyre pressures? Window fault is most likely a fuse.[/If your tyre pressures are too low,your steering will feel 'vague'.Windows have two power feeds,one with the doors open,one with doors closed and ignition on.I traced a similar window problem to a blown fuse.quote]

[Brianmoooore]

Minor temperature problem is probably a thermostat that isn't seating properly.
Vibration problem isn't likely to be rear beam bushes, but most of the other suggestions are valid. Control arm bushes are a common cause of vibration at specific speeds, and could be related to the vague steering.
Check out the tracking as well, but don't adjust it until the vibration is sorted.