Harsh Ride on 2002 325i

I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles. I
love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am on a
very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very thick
like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough ride. What
about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have to get 16 in
wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car prior to giving
it a good test drive..

Dude, that's what Performance feels like. You paid extra for that.




"Randy" > wrote in message
...
>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles. I
>love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am on
>a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very thick
>like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough ride. What
>about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have to get 16 in
>wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car prior to
>giving it a good test drive..
>

My performance days have come and gone, I want a classy ride that doesn't
ride like a truck beat me do death.

"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
...
> Dude, that's what Performance feels like. You paid extra for that.
>
>
>
>
> "Randy" > wrote in message
> ...
>>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles.
>>I love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am
>>on a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very
>>thick like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough
>>ride. What about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have
>>to get 16 in wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car
>>prior to giving it a good test drive..
>>
>

Well, I have the same size tires on my '94 3 Series, and the ride is stiff,
but the ride was also stiff with 225/55x15s, so the stiffness comes from the
suspension for the most part. Yes, the 17s will be a bit harder because they
have less sidewall, but the ride won't change much -- using my experience as
a guideline.

If you car has the 17s, then it probably has the Sport Suspension as well,
which is stiffer than the standard setup.





"Randy" > wrote in message
...
> My performance days have come and gone, I want a classy ride that doesn't
> ride like a truck beat me do death.
>
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Dude, that's what Performance feels like. You paid extra for that.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Randy" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles.
>>>I love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am
>>>on a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very
>>>thick like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough
>>>ride. What about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have
>>>to get 16 in wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car
>>>prior to giving it a good test drive..
>>>
>>
>
>

Thanks for the info...
"Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
...
> Well, I have the same size tires on my '94 3 Series, and the ride is
> stiff, but the ride was also stiff with 225/55x15s, so the stiffness comes
> from the suspension for the most part. Yes, the 17s will be a bit harder
> because they have less sidewall, but the ride won't change much -- using
> my experience as a guideline.
>
> If you car has the 17s, then it probably has the Sport Suspension as well,
> which is stiffer than the standard setup.
>
>
>
>
>
> "Randy" > wrote in message
> ...
>> My performance days have come and gone, I want a classy ride that doesn't
>> ride like a truck beat me do death.
>>
>> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Dude, that's what Performance feels like. You paid extra for that.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> "Randy" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles.
>>>>I love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I
>>>>am on a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not
>>>>very thick like other cars. Does this have something to do with the
>>>>rough ride. What about getting thicker tires? I realize I would
>>>>probably have to get 16 in wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in
>>>>love with the car prior to giving it a good test drive..
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

Then you bought the wrong car...

Randy wrote:
> My performance days have come and gone, I want a classy ride that doesn't
> ride like a truck beat me do death.
>
> "Jeff Strickland" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>Dude, that's what Performance feels like. You paid extra for that.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>"Randy" > wrote in message
...
>>
>>>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles.
>>>I love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am
>>>on a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very
>>>thick like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough
>>>ride. What about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have
>>>to get 16 in wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car
>>>prior to giving it a good test drive..
>>>
>>
>
>

"Randy" > wrote in message
...
>I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles. I
>love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am on
>a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very thick
>like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough ride. What
>about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have to get 16 in
>wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car prior to
>giving it a good test drive..
>

Since you apparently have the sport package, what tires are on the car (make
& model)? My sport 328i has 225/45WR17 ContiSport Contact tires and has a
firm but comfortable ride at the recommended cold tire pressures of 29 front
and 33 rear. If your tire pressure is appreciably higher, you might want to
bleed them down to the pressures specified on the label found on your
driver's door jamb.

Although an E46 Sport is biased more towards handling than ride, mine is
still a much smoother ride than my wife's Saab 9-3 with 16" all-seasons.

Tom K.

Randy wrote:
> I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles. I
> love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am on a
> very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very thick
> like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough ride. What
> about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have to get 16 in
> wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car prior to giving
> it a good test drive..
>
>

Randy,


Do you know if your car has the "sport" package? Since you have the 17"
wheels (part of the sport package in '02), I suspect you do. Stock size
for an '02 w/o sport package is 205/55-16. If it does have the sport
pkg, the stiffer springs and shocks will increase the stiffness as well
and transmit more road vibration.

Unlike Jeff, I believe that a large amount of what you are calling
"harshness" may be attributable to the tires. There can be a huge
difference in "road feel" from that variable alone, even with the same
size tire.

I suggest you try changing to a smaller diameter 16" wheel/tire
combination and select a tire with a soft sidewall and see if that
helps. Do you live in an area that you will need winter tires? If so,
that is a perfect way to "test ride" some smaller wheels and tires since
they will be cheaper and perform better in winter conditions than larger
/ wider set-up.

You should have no problem selling the 17" wheels / tires should you
decide to change your summer wheels as that is the direction most people
want to go (larger) in search of sportier handling.

--
-Fred W

Thanks for the info everyone...

"Malt_Hound" <""Malt_Hound\"@*spam-me not*yahoo.com"> wrote in message
news
> Randy wrote:
>> I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles.
>> I love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am
>> on a very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very
>> thick like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough
>> ride. What about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have
>> to get 16 in wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car
>> prior to giving it a good test drive..
>
> Randy,
>
>
> Do you know if your car has the "sport" package? Since you have the 17"
> wheels (part of the sport package in '02), I suspect you do. Stock size
> for an '02 w/o sport package is 205/55-16. If it does have the sport pkg,
> the stiffer springs and shocks will increase the stiffness as well and
> transmit more road vibration.
>
> Unlike Jeff, I believe that a large amount of what you are calling
> "harshness" may be attributable to the tires. There can be a huge
> difference in "road feel" from that variable alone, even with the same
> size tire.
>
> I suggest you try changing to a smaller diameter 16" wheel/tire
> combination and select a tire with a soft sidewall and see if that helps.
> Do you live in an area that you will need winter tires? If so, that is a
> perfect way to "test ride" some smaller wheels and tires since they will
> be cheaper and perform better in winter conditions than larger / wider
> set-up.
>
> You should have no problem selling the 17" wheels / tires should you
> decide to change your summer wheels as that is the direction most people
> want to go (larger) in search of sportier handling.
>
> --
> -Fred W

Randy wrote:
> I just bought a used 2002 325i in like new condition, only 30,000 miles. I
> love the car except for the harsh ride. Every bump is felt unless I am on a
> very smooth highway. I notice the tires 225 45 ZR 17 are not very thick
> like other cars. Does this have something to do with the rough ride. What
> about getting thicker tires? I realize I would probably have to get 16 in
> wheels. I guess I shouldnt have fallen in love with the car prior to giving
> it a good test drive..

I had a '94 3 series (with sport suspension) and had to try to steer
around every pot hole. Then I put eibach springs and Boge M-tech
dampers on and the ride actually improved (as well as the cornering).
Newer BMWs get criticised for their harsh ride and I think the best
thing to do would be swap out the suspension.