Car swerving to the left

[black320]

Hi, my one month ride is doing funny things on the highway. I tried to test the wheels alignment. and it just keeps swerving to the left!

2 questions
1) What is the problem? Is it wheel alignment
2) Does warranty covers this?

My ride was delayed for correction for 1 day as they said my wheels are not align properly.
Can I use this against PML for giving me a unsafe ride?

 

[Nuke]

Re: Car swerving to the left

How did you "test" the wheel alignment?

Were you:
1) Holding the steering wheel at what you believe would steer you straight? But was going left.
2) You were going straight but the car tended to swerve to the left?
3) Something else..

Sometimes people can pull the alignment off if they kerb the ride, or if they have the habit of turning their steering wheel while the car is stationary.

 

[T6]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Have u checked the tyre pressure on the front left? It may be lower in pressure than the one on the right. Or you may have a flat tyre on the left.

 

[BlackStealth]

Re: Car swerving to the left

I have this feeling that bringing it back to PML will do nothing for you and your car! Maybe you can declare it a Lemon! Have you actually went for a actual Alignment?

 

[black320]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Did not send for wheel alignment. thought new car no problem
Was not holding on to steering wheel when I drive. So notice it just keeps going left instead of straight.

Will check the tire pressure before sending back to PML to rectify. Quite scary as it went from Lane 3 to 1 within 10 sec!!

 

[Nuke]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Was not holding on to steering wheel when I drive.

May the force be with you young padawan...soon become a jedi master you will.

 

[MARK]

Re: Car swerving to the left

My month old 320 needed a day's visit to the 'doctor' at PML Kg Arang for basically the same problem within the first few days - tendency to change lanes towards the left. Not as drastic as your 10 sec drama though.
They fixed a wobbly steering that required some new balancing tabs as well. Got them to paste it on negating the use of external unsightly tabs.
Makes me wonder how they 'inspect' their pre-deliveries!

 

[flyboy]

Re: Car swerving to the left

If your car have a tendency to swerve to the left.... it's normal. This is because singapore roads are laid with a bias to the left. This is to drain off any standing water to the side. Read this long time ago somewhere. So if your car is not really excessively swerving to the left, relax.......

cheers!

 

[Terry]

Re: Car swerving to the left

i tried both alignment and wheel balancing before going to PML but they say its perfectly normal.. they say its because of the engine placement in the right hand drive... didnt really get what they mean...so just leave it alone..not that bad anyway... and if the drain thing its true.. more reason for it to swerve :S

 

[BMWSILVER]

Re: Car swerving to the left

I faced the same problem when my E46 was brand new

Steering slightly to right but car go straight. Just like those Old Taxi.

When back to PML and they did the aligment and it is O.K. now.

During the test drive, the advisor told me how tell your car aligment is O.K.

Drive your car at 80KM/Hr to 90KM/Hr, then let go your hand on the Steering Wheel. If your car start to turn to the left gradually after passing 2 lamp posts then this is normal

Not sure is this correct but please try this method when there are no car around you

 

[jooggie]

Re: Car swerving to the left

i think a good test would be go drive in the middle of an expressway when the road is straight and see if the car still swerves left. normal roads are slanted down at the extreme lanes to help drain the water off.

 

[oneHeadlight]

Re: Car swerving to the left

alignment. The bias on the road will not cause so much swerve.

 

[micky]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Hi,my 7 months old 523 is having the same problem, car swerving to the left. Had sent to PML alexandra for checking, said aligning out a little, and did an alignment, But problem still persist, swerve to the left. What should i do?? i have sent in my car for 2 days and problem not rectified!!!

Another problem, engine oil icon light up, indication to add 1 litre of engine oil. Have encounter 3 times. First time encounter, called PML, they said due to new engine, have to add a litre of engine oil and ask me to monitor the car. After adding, and the icon no more light up. After driving around 3000km, the engine oil icon lights up again, I sent my car to PML. PML gave same reason and ask to me to buy another litre to top up and monitor. Within 1 month, the engine oil lights up, and i sent to PML, they ask me to buy another litre of engine oil to top up. But i have already top up 3 litres within my 7 months' drive!!!! I ask them will this thing happen again, they can't gave an answer!!!!

 

[Nuke]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Piangz.. how come like this. I think you have to take your problem up a higher level. Seems like service side dun really know what's happening. Nor are concerned with finding out.

 

[GTV6]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Hi,my 7 months old 523 is having the same problem, car swerving to the left. Had sent to PML alexandra for checking, said aligning out a little, and did an alignment, But problem still persist, swerve to the left. What should i do?? i have sent in my car for 2 days and problem not rectified!!!

Another problem, engine oil icon light up, indication to add 1 litre of engine oil. Have encounter 3 times. First time encounter, called PML, they said due to new engine, have to add a litre of engine oil and ask me to monitor the car. After adding, and the icon no more light up. After driving around 3000km, the engine oil icon lights up again, I sent my car to PML. PML gave same reason and ask to me to buy another litre to top up and monitor. Within 1 month, the engine oil lights up, and i sent to PML, they ask me to buy another litre of engine oil to top up. But i have already top up 3 litres within my 7 months' drive!!!! I ask them will this thing happen again, they can't gave an answer!!!!

Something is seriously wrong with the engine. Either there is an oil leak somewhere in the gaskets or the piston rings or valve guides are shot... burning 1 liter of oil in 3000km for a new engine is excessive. What grade of oil are you using? 0W-30? A thicker grade may help...

 

[micky]

Re: Car swerving to the left

yes, is 0w-30. so far have you or your friends driving this serie encountered this problem?
PML said is normal and ask me to monitor since i have already top 3L. furthermore i have to bear all the costs for the engine oil. Can anyone help me???

 

[GTV6]

Re: Car swerving to the left

yes, is 0w-30. so far have you or your friends driving this serie encountered this problem?
PML said is normal and ask me to monitor since i have already top 3L. furthermore i have to bear all the costs for the engine oil. Can anyone help me???

Ha....0W-30 is way too thin for our tropical climate once the engine warms up; it literally 'evaporates' with its volatility at our ambient temperatures. What's the deal? I suggest trying 5W-40 but pse check how this will affect your warranty claims, if any.

Running 5W-50 in the 318iS with 250k on the clock; no oil loss at 9k oil change interval.

 

[WhyBMW?]

Re: Car swerving to the left

So strange. I also got swerve left problem! Wow... looks like a very common problem

 

[Drag00n]

Re: Car swerving to the left

Yah, my one month old E90 has this same problem too.

First time to PML.

Can the experts here advice how to book a slot with PML to fix my alignment?

How long does it take usually? Dun think I need to leave it there for the whole day right?

Thanks alot

 

[jooggie]

Re: Car swerving to the left

You can call 63190883 to book an appointment. If it's covered by warranty, make sure you are either given courtesy vehicle if the job is going to take more than a day or taxi vouchers for a day job.