Car goes to the left!

[alankirk01]

Hi All,

I've been having a debate at work about a friend of a friend’s car.

Apparently she has been advised that the reason for her car veering to the left when she lets go of the steering wheel is due to the cars safety design.

The fact she was getting replacement tyres probably says her tracking was out but she is adamant that the garage told her if and when you driving. If you let go of the steering wheel the car will automatically veer to the left to eventually pull to a Holt.

My personal views are that this is a load of tosh and the garage was probably fobbing her off. But if anyone can support this theory. Please speak now so that I can apologies.

btw - her car is a Mini Cooper Convertible 2007

[Clubber Lang]

That is bullshit, lying cunts trying to have her over.

Has she checked tyre pressures? How about tracking?

Thats where I would start.

[SiE]

as clubber says its either tyre pressure, tracking or possibly brakes. Is it veering under normal driving or when braking?

Its definately bullshit about safety.

[Swiss Tony]

lol, tracking !

[God is a DJ]

Id say tracking also, but start with tyre pressures incase shes just being a numpty nd not checked them. I had the same problem in my focus. had a bit of a ding into the kerb at speed nd bent one of the axle arms or something. made it steer to the left. She had any crashes in it?

[Mario87]

Haha, biggest load of bull ever! Either tracking or tyres is what my money is on. See if it still does it with new tyres all at the correct pressure, if so then defo tracking.

[wiggi28]

also worth thinking about is uk roads generally are camberd to the left to let water run away into the drains etc thats why alot of people make the mistake of thinking their car pulls to the left but is actually following the camber of the road .

as for the garage i would report them to the local trading standards office ,people like this make me sick taking the piss out of anybody who doesnt know the full nature of their purchase
to me the garage has commited theft !

[jaguar982]

You need to test it on a good road (motorway) could also be worn steering any chance of complaining under warrenty

jag

[ka$h]

Tracking, or a bent wishbone maybe. As wiggi said, it's only natural for the car to veer left slightly on any road due to the camber. Anyway, WTF is save about steering into the kerb when in motion. Not very safe for the pedestrians is it???

[Over Carl]

I was going to say the same as wiggi - on most uk roads, all cars will pull to the left. Safety feature of the road, rather than the car however.

[TwoPlAnKs]

try it in the fast lane of a quiet dual carrigeway. that will be cambered right so if it still veers you know she isn't just being.... a woman

only time my car ever veered was when i hit a pothole the size of wales and bent the wheel and completely knackered the suspension on that side. deffo worth asking if she's done something similar, if it was anything like as cold there as it was here in winter i assume it was potholes galore for a while.

well arsey of that garage though - although in this climate they might go bust, since they probably dont get much repeat business

[MsDG]

My personal views are that this is a load of tosh and the garage was probably fobbing her off. But if anyone can support this theory. Please speak now so that I can apologies.

The answer is very simple. Go back to the garage and if they insist that they are telling the truth then ask them to put it in writing (say because you want to take the issue up directly with BMW). Of course they won't because its the biggest pile of bollocks I have heard for a long time. However, its great watching how a garage can suddenly change there minds when you ask them to put there claims in writing.

I have driven a Mini for years, and the only time it has ever drifted to the left is when there is a perfect puddle / chav pedestrian alignment.

[Pauls-diagnostic]

Who was the garage so i no not to go there.lol.The only way your car will pull to the left and come to a halt is if you hit a wall.There is a slight camber on uk roads but not usually enough to pull the car.Cars should always run straight on a road.They also have the cambers set on each car to help keep you on the road.Sounds like a tracking problem as you say she had new tyres fitted so they should be set at the proper psi if using a good garage.lol.Best bet is get your friend to go to a local kwik-fit etc and get them to check it out.It saves you getting your hands dirty and its free..

[Mario87]

Best bet is get your friend to go to a local kwik-fit etc and get them to check it out.It saves you getting your hands dirty and its free..

Wouldn't trust Kwik Fit with fuck all! My brother in law used to be a manager there, because of that he got discount on tyres, etc. Got them to fit 4 new tyres and the bolts were LESS than hand tightened!!

Really loud knocking sound from the front drivers wheel as it was moving side to side, he stopped, got out, grabbed a bolt and it simply fell off!

So he tightened them himself then sacked the guy the next day. Had that been a customers car, could have been much worse, esp if it's an old granny who would keep driving it like that till they came back and complained, by that point it could have been too late!

[jaguar982]

I second that dont touch kwik fit

jag

[Lighty]

BWA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Fuckin classic So it pulls to halt , so what happens when she goes travelling aound Europe and drives on the right does it automatically pull to a halt by veering in front of a 40 Ton Artic.......nice saftey feature there BMW

[jaguar982]

Easy cos when you put on your beam deflectors it automatically adjusts steering

jag