[omniphil]

I have heard some theories about excessive toe in the alignment.

I want to bring this somewhere to have an alignment done, but I'd like to be able to pinpoint what the issue is so I can tell the alignment place what to do vs just following the preprogrammed settings in their computer.

Some of you must have had this "issue" fixed?

[Oldgixxer]

I've seen a few posts about this wandering issue,but in the 2yrs I had my X3MC I have never experienced it. Even after 2 different brands of tires were mounted

[omniphil]

Yeah, it is a bit strange. I've seen people complain about it on brand new X3M's so my theory of worn out suspension components is invalid..

Consensus seems to be factory alignment is too aggressive. But I can't really go to an alignment place an tell them its too aggressive. They are just going to punch up the vehicle in their computer and start the process.

[Oldgixxer]

Very strange indeed. Hopefully you can get the answer you're looking for quickly

[R0ot.Us3r]

I get "Wondering" sometimes from the drivers assistance being dumb and interpreting marks on the road wrong. Nothing like getting a random hard jerk to the right or left

[joebie3]

I was always under the impression that it's toe related - These cars have a decent amount of toe. You can ask the people aligning it to dial it out closer to zero, any competent alignment tech should be able to do that.

[omniphil]

Originally Posted by joebie3

I was always under the impression that it's toe related - These cars have a decent amount of toe. You can ask the people aligning it to dial it out closer to zero, any competent alignment tech should be able to do that.

Excellent, and also the pre alignment sheet will show me what the Toe is at now for reference.

[edcvin]

After installing my KW's and aligning, my X3M is way more compliant on the road.

The two nuisances you cannot change are numb moments of the electric steering and the driver assistance which definitely annoy me at times.

[joebie3]

I think Y0jjimb0 may have some before/after's as well.

[omniphil]

Originally Posted by edcvin

After installing my KW's and aligning, my X3M is way more compliant on the road.

The two nuisances you cannot change are numb moments of the electric steering and the driver assistance which definitely annoy me at times.

The driver assistant can be disable in the menus can't it?

[Y0jjimb0]

The wandering at highway speeds is primarily due to the aggressive toe settings IMO. The too-stiff spring rates don't help, but I think you can mitigate most of the issue by adjusting the alignment. Ask the alignment shop to zero out your front toe (true zero, not factory zero) and reduced your rear toe to the lowest end of the factory suggested window. If they won't do it go to a better alignment shop.

I had mine done by a race-setup shop that I trust. We talked through what I was looking for and they set it up just right.

Originally Posted by joebie3

I think Y0jjimb0 may have some before/after's as well.

So the before settings are not correct because they are just eyeballed after installing the KWs. The after settings are correct and greatly improved the wandering. If you ask for them to match this you should be satisfied:

[Y0jjimb0]

Originally Posted by omniphil

The driver assistant can be disable in the menus can't it?

Yes you can disable the lane assist. You can still use the cruise control lane assist and follow assist with the steering wheel controls when you want to. Just go through the menus and play with the options.

[Potatohead-M2]

I don't get this either.

Typically, less toe will make wandering worse - So be careful with that.

[M4Lou]

Originally Posted by Oldgixxer

I've seen a few posts about this wandering issue,but in the 2yrs I had my X3MC I have never experienced it. Even after 2 different brands of tires were mounted

Me too. I had posted the disaster of trying my rear 265's on the front - drove like crap.

But w/ my stock, star 255's on front and non-star 295's in rear, it drives and tracks great. No complaints.

[stoked335d]

No problems with mine on stock size PS4S for few hundred miles then 14k miles on PS AS4s. No wheel alignments yet in 2 years. All the lane nanny controls are off or at minimum if can’t be disabled fully.

Only time I experience anything is some annoying tramlining on roads damaged by trucks.

[strohw]

It's confusing what people are posting. The factory toe on the X3M isn't aggressive, it's on the normal side and helps with straight line stability. As already mentioned, if you move toe towards 0deg, you'll make steering more responsive.

[bad430benz]

..........

[Y0jjimb0]

I think I may have had the effects of positive and negative toe flipped in my mind. I'm wondering now if the softening of the spring rates had more of an effect on this than the toe settings, or if the significant toe-in contributes to tramlining on road imperfections and reducing it makes the steering more controlled by driver input rather than reacting to the road surface (even though it would be more responsive to driver input theoretically). I will say for sure that in my x3m the issue is resolved with the installation KWs and this alignment. I know KWs aren't a route everyone wants to go, but I would suggest first trying this alignment setting and seeing how it feels for you.

[GildaStofmnd]

When I owned my 2020 X4MC, the drift was related to a selected setting option. I checked the settings for the lane and steering Assist features. I found that if the setting is set too high, it will cause random drifts. I changed mine to the lowest setting, and the drifts disappeared. When I picked up my 2023 X4MC, I tested all settings again, put the setting on the lowest, and the random lane drifts disappeared. This leads me to believe that the system is picking up the imperfections in our roads.

[omniphil]

Originally Posted by GildaStofmnd

When I owned my 2020 X4MC, the drift was related to a selected setting option. I checked the settings for the lane and steering Assist features. I found that if the setting is set too high, it will cause random drifts. I changed mine to the lowest setting, and the drifts disappeared. When I picked up my 2023 X4MC, I tested all settings again, put the setting on the lowest, and the random lane drifts disappeared. This leads me to believe that the system is picking up the imperfections in our roads.

The assist system work by using the camera to see the lines in the road don't they?

The issue I have with wandering happens on roads without lines and even if the system is deactivated....

[GildaStofmnd]

Originally Posted by omniphil

The assist system work by using the camera to see the lines in the road don't they?

The issue I have with wandering happens on roads without lines and even if the system is deactivated....

From my understanding, the system uses Cameras and Sensors when active; they are meant to detect anything on the road within the field's range that simulates a lane, or at least what BMW technologies deems crossing or departing your lane. Slightly crossing a lane or marking in the lane would trigger the car to wander away if the system intervention setting is high or moderate. In my case, that is what was happening, so I put the steering intervention at the lowest setting, and it fixed my issue.

But if your system is turned off completely, then my fix won't apply.

Is your tire pressure correct? Overinflated tires will also cause wandering since they are distorted when rotating. Are you running the correct tire size and rims for your X3? If they are aftermarket or even OEM and not the correct size, that can cause issues leading to wandering. Could there be a missing weight or slight bend in the rim?

[Kevin_The_Clean1]

Originally Posted by Potatohead-M2

I don't get this either.

Typically, less toe will make wandering worse - So be careful with that.

That's what I though as well. I less little toe is good. But much too little & zero toe can cause any small steering input to get multiplied too quickly.