Hi Scotty!
A couple weeks ago I drove my 2002 bmw 318ci on the autobahn (no speed limit 🙂). But I noticed a lot of vibration when I came near 120 mph, it also had a hard time getting there.
Tire pressures were good and lug nuts were tightened to spec.
It has been a long time since I drove my car at these speeds and since then I had to change the wheels, because the old ones were bend due to a pothole.
The new wheels and tires combo come from a bmw e88 2013 but they have exact the same dimensions as the stock e46.
Tires are 5 year old summer tires but have no cracks and still have a lot of thread left.
The rims are not bend/ have scratches.
A couple months ago I could sit at this speed no problem.
A mechanic in my region says it is probably my new wheels that are not designed for this car, but I don't see how that can be the problem considering all dimensions are the same.
I think it will have more to do with the balance of the tires.
What do you think?
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With that speed, your wheels should be perfectly balanced. Odds are that the balance was not perfect.Â
I would check the alignment and balance of your wheels. Have them road force balanced. That will really help dial them in. Then, if the problem persists, you can rule out tires.
If it doesn’t do it at 60mph, don’t worry about it.Â
If you keep driving an almost 20yr old car at 120 mph regularly, soon, you’ll have bigger, more important things to worry about..
My Subaru didn’t vibrate last time I got it up to 120.  Only problem is that the cruise control only works up to 99.
But seriously, unfortunately there a lot of things it can be and it may not be easy to get it sorted. Hopefully it’s just the tires finally aging out.  Is there a racing shop in your neighborhood that could give you a second opinion?
There is a shop specialized in old porsches and racing porsches I know, I might be able to ask there.
But I think the problem lies at the wheels, because before it drove just fine at high speed.
Also the steering wheel is a bit off-centered but it drives straight and it had this since the day I bought it.
Thanks for the response!
If you come to the states, stay off my roads!
120mph?
Really?
I've been on the autobahn too and a blowout or ANY mechanical problen at that speed and the Polizei will be scraping you off the road with a sponge.
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at least it's quick
Woah! That was dark, MMJ.
You might want to have your drive shaft u joints replaced and the shaft balanced properly.
