Dealing With Steering Wheel Vibrations in Your BMW
Neglecting key maintenance in high-performance vehicles can result in unexpected malfunctions. When a driver experiences a vibrating steering wheel in a BMW, it can be a sign that another element of the car is experiencing problems which need to be addressed. Identifying what aspect of the car needs maintenance or repair will allow you discover the root cause of your steering wheel’s vibrations.
The elite engineering quality of a BMW requires diligent care of routine maintenance to preserve the precision of its handling and performance. Oil and filter changes as well as tire rotations, air management, and tire replacements are the foundation of regular automotive care. Before major problems arise, preventative maintenance should be addressed to keep your vehicle malfunction-free. In order to minimize time and money spent on fixing steering wheel vibrations, it’s important to see a qualified automotive specialist that can determine which of the several common causes is occurring in your BMW.
Steering Wheel Vibration: Potential Causes
Steering wheel vibration adds a risk of an accident. It’s important that you understand potential causes for this common malfunction so that you can be sure to seek out the proper care for your car with a trusted mechanic. Let’s take a look at the areas of the car that can be responsible for steering wheel vibration: wheel alignment, suspension, and brakes.
Improper Wheel Alignment
Wheel alignment is responsible for how well all four wheels of the car are aligned in relation to one another. It’s often confused with wheel balance, which only applies to each wheel on its own. Advanced technology allows automotive specialists to also examine your BMW’s wheels to investigate if there is any damage or irregularities in your wheels that are causing the wheel alignment to be skewed. If your BMW’s wheels aren’t aligned properly, the weight of the car will shift unevenly while it’s in motion, which impacts the steering and movement of the car. To fix this issue, the wheel alignment is adjusted with weights added to specific weak points in the wheel. This will put all four wheels in agreement with one another, which restores the smooth handling and performance that BMW driver’s expect.
Worn or Loosened Suspension
The suspension of a car is composed of various mechanical parts that cooperate to adjust to movement and shifting weight. This allows even driving experience. If parts of the suspension are worn or improperly adjusted, whether too tightly or too loosely, an otherwise well-handling vehicle like a BMW will experience rough driving, even under favorable road conditions. Suspension condition and wheel inspections often go hand-in-hand, because these two aspects of car maintenance contribute to similar functions. Making sure that your suspension is in proper working order can address steering wheel vibration.
Worn Brakes
One of the most important aspects of car maintenance and function is brake health. Keeping up-to-date checks, care, and replacements of brakes is central to long-term vehicle driving quality and safety. When brake health is poor, such as when brake parts like caliper and roots are worn, your BMW can intensely shake. This movement can translate through other parts of the car, often resulting in steering wheel vibrations. These issues can be made worse as driving speeds increase, which is another reason to make sure to address steering wheel concerns early. While getting your car’s brakes checked, it’s always a good idea to have your wheels and suspension looked over as well, as the wheels will need to be removed during the process anyway.
Munich West Can Help
At Munich West in Decatur, Atlanta, GA, our 
experienced and professional BMW experts are ready to apply our experience and knowledge to caring for your car today. We have been serving high-performance European automotives since 1976. So, if steering wheel vibration is a concern in your BMW, we can help you solve this common performance issue quickly. We are always here to provide the specialized service you need to address your car’s maintenance and repair needs. Come see us at Munich West to address steering wheel vibration and any other performance concerns in your BMW today. We look forward to becoming your trusted BMW service and maintenance shop.
