Wheel balancing (BMW 5 Series E39)

Serially produced wheels are balanced at the factory. Balancing is necessary to compensate for uneven weight distribution and inaccuracies in the material used to manufacture the wheels. During operation, the imbalance becomes noticeable due to the occurrence of angular oscillations of the vehicle's axle in the transverse plane and vibrations. At the same time, the steering wheel begins to shake at high speeds.

Typically, the vibration occurs within a certain range of driving speeds and stops again at lower or higher vehicle speeds.

Over time, such imbalances can lead to damage to suspension joints, steering gear and shock absorbers.

Wheels must be balanced every 20,000 km and after each tire repair, as the distribution of mass and material changes as a result of wear and tear and after repair.