Steering Problems (the continuing saga)

[cmd512]

for over a year and even picked up it last year around this time... when it was equally this hot in Texas. I know for a fact it did not do this last summer.

[melbs]

How's this our temperature here is almost 30-40 degrees celcius all the time?!?!

Anyway will try it out if it doesn't go back

[melbs]

oh yeah FYI my eps already failed, and was replaced after a month.

[I don't know why, but BMWs seem to work that way]

[cmd512]

[duds]

Add me to the list..... Yesterday on a trip from Orlando to Cocoa Beach the steering "center locked" for the whole trip. Temp was between 92 - 95 for the trip. I have noticed this problem in the past but it has never been as pronounced as it was yesterday. I am very pleased to see I am not alone on this issue. It does give us some clout with our dealers. Off to schedule an appointment.. I will keep everyone updated. Thanks

[cmd512]

[z4toledo3.0]

Electric Power Steering (EPS) is an electro-mechanical system making its debut in a BMW. Steering feel and feedback levels are controlled by software optimising the communication between driver and the tarmac, irrespective of road surface and conditions.

[cmd512]

perfect descriptions of this issue. Your steering wheel basically becomes jerky and is completely unsmooth because of the "binding."

[cmd512]

entire thread and is elevating this issue to the next level. Hopefully, with his crew at BMW of Austin, you guys with this issue and your local BMW service shops, and this issue getting elevated to the next level, we'll find out exactly what the hell is going on.

[z4driver]

I left mine paked in 90+ temperatures for four hours yesterday and the steering performed as it should. Build date 12/02 non sport 3.0.

[Kevin - Ct.]

also had a constant air bag warning sign on that needed to be fixed

will report any info

[ctsemicon]

Temperature hits 92F here, and mine did same thing; weird power assist feeling like assist-no assist-assist, with very uneven turning radius. Not isolated incident, happened earlier this year, but I thought it was a fluke

[cmd512]

And it's been well over 90F for a couple of weeks already.

Don't be shocked if it happens in a few weeks time. :)

[cmd512]

here... it's kind of like BMW's roundtable for all the service shops to talk to each other. I've told them to stress that this seems to be a temperature related issue... so if you ask your service shops to highlight it as such, there will be a much more congruent cases on the system.

[nhtsa.gov. If not, [Oops!] until BMW does somethin]

[Zfortunate1]

I have had a small problem with the front end since day one(03/03). My 2.5 would give me a small "groan" at parking lot speeds when turning sharply. It was very seldom, so just this last week it got bad enough to complain about it. My dealer checked it out and replaced the entire steering rack as a fix. That seems to have solved it, plus I think it tracks even better at speed than before, if that's possible.

this is probably not at all related to your issue, just thought I would throw my .02 in.

Zfortunate1
2003 2.5 titanium/black
2000 540i Anthracite/grey

[melbs]

electronic power steering. instead of hydrolic pump rack and pinion, they used an electronic motor servo.

[cmd512]

Was the temperature hot too? I personally didn't experience any sound issues with the steering... it was purely a change in feel/rotation.

Maybe the other guys with this heat related issue can add to this discussion.

[Sagan]

Is PUMA officially linked to BMWNA? What does the acronym stand for?

cmd512,
Was your EPS replaced? Did that seem to it fix your problem? Does the steering feel any different?
<img src="http://members.roadfly.org/sagan/wet2d.jpg">
'03, 3.0, 6-sp., Black Sapphire Metallic, Black Top, Black Leather, Sport Pkg., Convenience Pkg., Premium Pkg., CD-Changer, Xenon, Butt Warmers, Universal Transmitter-Mirror, Mud Flaps, Chrome Tips, 2 Under-Seat First-Aid Boxes, Drilled CDV.