Steering and Speedometer Questions

[Doone]

I've had my 07 328i coupe for 2 months and find the speedometer to be under reading by 10%, ie reads 40 actual 36, reads 70 actual 64. Dealer says this is normal and sends me a bulletin dated 1996 confirming that this is BMW policy. Can't believe that they haven't changed this stance in 10 years. Can anyone corroborate or recommend how to get them to make it read actual?

1900 miles on clock and have had to have steering wheel ( not alignment ) recentered 3 times, wheel moves left of center by 10 to 15 degrees over time. Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Otherwise the car has no other defects.

Unbelievable hiway gas mileage varies between 31 and 34 mpg with Automatic.
Thanks!

[Jhunter]

Can you post this bulletin? I have noticed that my speedometer reads exactly (as exact as you can tell with a needle gage) one mile per hour over my actual speed as measured by portable radar units that post your speed in big flashing numbers.

For instance, my speedometer says I am going 38 mph in the school zone but the radar flashes 37 mph. I have consistently observed this at least a dozen times at different speeds.

Plus after taking highway trips at consistent speeds and watching mile markers, I think I would have notice being off 6 mph at 70 mph.

[Doone]

<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable cellPadding=0 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" vAlign=top>GROUP 62
Instruments <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" vAlign=top>B 62 02 96 <o:p></o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" vAlign=top><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:City w:st="on">Woodcliff Lake</st1:City>, <st1:State w:st="on">NJ</st1:State></st1:place>
Product Engineering <o:p></o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 0.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 0.75pt" vAlign=top>May 1996<o:p></o:p>
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</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 366pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=488>Maximum Permissible Speedometer Error <o:p></o:p>
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<o:p> </o:p>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 457.5pt" cellPadding=0 width=610 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 91.5pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=122>MODELS: <o:p></o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 366pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=488>All<o:p></o:p>
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<o:p> </o:p>
<TABLE class=MsoNormalTable style="WIDTH: 457.5pt" cellPadding=0 width=610 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 91.5pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=122>General Information: <o:p></o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 366pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=488>A certain amount of "speedometer advance" is necessary to compensate for negative tolerances in tire diameter, electronic controls, and other factors. This advance reduces the risk of the speedometer displaying a speed that is less than the vehicle's actual speed.<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">The amount of speedometer advance can be calculated by inputting a frequency (using the DIS Tester, "Kombi Test Schedule") that corresponds to a given speed and noting the speed that is indicated by the speedometer. The maximum permitted speedometer advance is 10% of the actual (input) speed plus 2.4 mph.<o:p></o:p>
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</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">Example:<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">Actual Speed = 50 mph<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">50 mph x 10% = 5 mph; 5 mph + 2.4 mph = 7.4 mph<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">Therefore, the permissible displayed speed is 50 to 57.4 mph.<o:p></o:p>
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</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">(Note: The displayed speed must never be less than the actual speed).<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">No repairs should be attempted if the speedometer advance is within 10% + 2.4 mph.<o:p></o:p>
</TD></TR><TR><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt"><o:p> </o:p>
</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt">NOTE: The amount of speedometer advance has no effect on recording of accumulated mileage in the odometer display. The odometer records total mileage digitally and does not incorporate any "advance" tolerances.<o:p></o:p>
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</TD><TD style="PADDING-RIGHT: 3.75pt; PADDING-LEFT: 3.75pt; PADDING-BOTTOM: 3.75pt; WIDTH: 366pt; PADDING-TOP: 3.75pt" vAlign=top width=488>Information Only.<o:p></o:p>
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[Jhunter]

Interesting. Not knowing anything about it I would think being off as much as you are is extreme. I would assume 1-2 mph would be normal. Maybe some techs with knowledge of this will chime in. I would be unhappy if my car was off as much as yours and all the dealer would do is show you the bulletin.

[Doone]

The huge variance is within their factory spec giving them an out from fixing it. The tech said that as the tires wear the true speed comes closer to the speedo reading. How many miles on your tires?

[Jhunter]

I am on my third set of fronts (due to damage) with about 2,000 on them and my second set of rears with 12,000 on them. I understand your situation is within the tolerance but it seems like the tolerance is too great. I would be interest in other opinions.

[greenie99]

I've had my 07 328i coupe for 2 months and find the speedometer to be under reading by 10%, ie reads 40 actual 36, reads 70 actual 64. Dealer says this is normal and sends me a bulletin dated 1996 confirming that this is BMW policy. Can't believe that they haven't changed this stance in 10 years. Can anyone corroborate or recommend how to get them to make it read actual?

1900 miles on clock and have had to have steering wheel ( not alignment ) recentered 3 times, wheel moves left of center by 10 to 15 degrees over time. Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Otherwise the car has no other defects.

Unbelievable hiway gas mileage varies between 31 and 34 mpg with Automatic.
Thanks!

Audis speedo does the same thing!!

[Brian W]

The European regulation ECE-R 39 states essentially that the speed indicated must never be lower than the true speed or higher by more than one-tenth of true speed plus four kilometers per hour (79.5 mph at a true 70). Never low. Not even if somebody swaps a big set of 285/35R-18s for stock 255/45R-16s. BMW speedometers read high by an average of 4.54%.

[Doone]

Thanks then I guess that all the 335 owners who are claiming 4.8 are for 0-54 not 0-60. which makes the factory spec of 5.3 seconds the real number when you factor in the 10% error.

Has anyone else with an 07 e92 experienced the off centering of the steering wheel?

[DrRT]

Thanks then I guess that all the 335 owners who are claiming 4.8 are for 0-54 not 0-60. which makes the factory spec of 5.3 seconds the real number when you factor in the 10% error.

Has anyone else with an 07 e92 experienced the off centering of the steering wheel?

Wrong, as those timings are not measured by the car speedometer.

[GoHerdIBG]

I have a 2007 328i and noticed the speedometer seemed to be off during a recent trip. I did some timing measurements using the highway mileage markers and noticed that my speedometer was off by a decent amount. I ran each test 5 times to come up with the following averages:

- at 75mph took 50 seconds
- at 70 took 54 seconds
- at 65 took 58 seconds
- at 60 took 63 seconds

I am not a mathematician but the above numbers show my speed being off by a fair amount.

The big thing that worries is I ran 10 tests over 8 mile stretches. I noticed an average variance of 2/10ths of a mile over the 8 miles tests.....meaning my odometer reached the 8 mile mark 2/10ths before I hit the 8 mile mark according to the road markers.

Anyone else notice their odometer being off along with their speedometer?

[PaulWarfield42]

Now that I've kinda gotten used to my speedo reading about 4 mph higher than true, it's made me wonder if the computer's info regarding my average gas mileage is also reading higher than true. It says I get 22-23 mpg city and about 30 highway: which is about 4 more than the specs state of 17-27.

I am going to test it the old way by resetting the trip odo upon tanking, as well as resetting the compu for mpg.

Can anybody corroborate this?

[cvx5832]

I've had my 07 328i coupe for 2 months and find the speedometer to be under reading by 10%, ie reads 40 actual 36, reads 70 actual 64. Dealer says this is normal and sends me a bulletin dated 1996 confirming that this is BMW policy. Can't believe that they haven't changed this stance in 10 years. Can anyone corroborate or recommend how to get them to make it read actual?

1900 miles on clock and have had to have steering wheel ( not alignment ) recentered 3 times, wheel moves left of center by 10 to 15 degrees over time. Anyone else have this kind of problem?

Otherwise the car has no other defects.

Unbelievable hiway gas mileage varies between 31 and 34 mpg with Automatic.
Thanks!

We get the same on my wife's '07 328i sedan. She thinks we go "faster" in her car, and as long as she's happy, i'm happy.

Seriously speaking, it is off. MPG is more than likely off, too.

Paolo

[mryakan]

Now that I've kinda gotten used to my speedo reading about 4 mph higher than true, it's made me wonder if the computer's info regarding my average gas mileage is also reading higher than true. It says I get 22-23 mpg city and about 30 highway: which is about 4 more than the specs state of 17-27.

I am going to test it the old way by resetting the trip odo upon tanking, as well as resetting the compu for mpg.

Can anybody corroborate this?
No impact except on your speedo and cruise control. Everything else uses the actual speed.

[PaulWarfield42]

No impact except on your speedo and cruise control. Everything else uses the actual speed.

Thanks, 'preciate it.
That certainly leaves me satisfied about my gas mileage (23/30).

I still wish BMW didn't do that with the speedos, sort of deflates the German anal exactitude stereotype, replacing it with presumptuously anal care-taking. (Pliz not to flem me, Ay em frent of zeh Chermans...)

[TIM58]

I've had my 08 328i now for 2 weeks. After I drove it off I noticed my wheel off center to the left. Took it back, they saw it, did an alignment, now it's off center to the right. About the same amount - an inch.

Taking it back this week for them to correct it.