BMW 525 Makes Passengers Vomit

Sorry..OP title was wrong..it's a 520!

Bent driveshaft? Worn CV joint?

Zathras ( snipped-for-privacy@nospamthanks.hotmail.com) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying :

Have they tried balancing that wheel on the car?

Were the joints inspected as well? A gradually siezing one could cause it.

John

He really needs to use someone who knows about these cars. By far and away the most common reason is worn lower track control bushes - which won't likely fail an MOT or be obvious by inspecion. The simplest cure is just new assemblies from Eurocarparts etc.

I had a similar problem many many moons ago with a Triumph Herald. Above 50 you couldn't see anything in the rear view mirror it was vibrating so badly. Turned out to be a failing bearing on the prop shaft front universal joint. I replaced the bearings and achieved a complete cure. As your colleague has had the prop shaft balanced I presume that a faulty bearing would have shown up during balancing?

Kev

Rear differential mount and rear subframe bushings?

I'd look at the upper and possibly also the lower track control arm bushes as Dave P suggested. This 'shimmy' effect always feels as if it's originating from the rear of the car but often it is the front suspension which is the culprit. The only othe possibility could be the 'Guibo' (flexible coupling) on the propshaft.

JB

There is something wrong with the suspension. The upper control arm bushes are shot. £17 per side for an aftermarket bush plus fitting or £89 for the whole arm from BMW plus fitting.

The 50-70 MPH wobble is caused by the upper track control arm bushes being worn. They carry most of the weight of the car under braking.

Can you do this on the back of a BMW?

Tell her to drive on the road, it's smoother.... ;-)

Not much help but a few years ago my friend had a 520 courtesy car and after the five mile drive home we (3 passengers) all eneded up being sick. It was like being on aflat bottomed ferry!

Andy

Heh..you're a brave man saying that..I've seen the size of her Husband!!! 8-)

Not very nice of them giving you a clapped out car, then. The normal suspension ain't soft. Of course, a knackered loan car makes you happy to get your own back, so less likely to complain about any work done on it. ;-)

Yes , but you ought to lift both rear wheels off the ground.

My brother's driving is guaranteed to make me feel sick regardless of what car he's driving.