I am hoping someone can help with a vibration/shaking problem I have with my 2007 Mini hatchback. Here's what I know:
1. My Mini drove perfectly with no vibration at any speed. Had 16" stock wheels.
2. Had front brakes and rotors installed on front on day one.
3. Noticed slight vibration and shaking steering wheel at 65 mph but went away at 75 mph. Thought I might have had a wheel weight fall off during brake job.
4. Had rear brakes and rotors installed on day two.
5. On day three had 17" aftermarket wheels with summer tires installed. ( bought used but flawless condition)
6. Drove away and had major shaking at 45 mph through 75 mph. Almost uncontrollable
7. Returned to garage to complain. Had front and rear alligned and recheck wheel balance. No change in shaking. Steering wheel is almost hard to hold. They told me I had a bent rim and they put it on the rear for me. I didn't believe these nuts.
8. Took Mini to another garage and they informed me the tires had no weights and were never balanced. They balanced all 4 with lifetime warrantly.
9. They confirmed balancing from computer test and then road tested.
10. I was informed there was still shaking at 55 mph but not consistantly. Suggested drivetrain problem. It did seem better but still an issue.
11. Noticed when driving at a highway speed with cruise control the shaking actually goes away for brief period then comes back,then goes away, then comes back. It starts around 55 and does not totally stop until 79 MPH.
Any suggestions...

 

I've seen a similar issue with a bent rim but with 2 places looking at them I'd hope one of them would have pointed out exactly which one was bent.

I've also seen this with a bad tire where a belt or something was actually broken inside, that was really bad shaking that got better if the tire was in the rear and went away at higher speeds.

 

So worn suspension components can show this behavior as well. The lower control arm bushing, ball joints, and bad shocks can exhibit this behavior. My Z3 would do this exact same thing (shaking in the steering wheel, and it would get violent when I would hit the brakes).

A bent rim should be easy for the tire tech to see when they put it on their balance machine, Discount Tire has pointed out bent and dented rims to me numerous times.

 

Brakes shouldn't have caused a vibration unless you have a warped rotor and you are using the brakes. Did you try your 16's again? Has the cat been lowered?

 

Car!