Steering Problems (the continuing saga)

[Penguin]

You said "I really feel this is a serious safety issue"

If true, I suggest you file a complain with NHTSA, including your VIN.


NHTSA Complaint Link

Note a couple of things:

1) NHTSA is only interested in complaints that affect safety (I assume the steering would fit),

2) If you provide your VIN, they take it much more seriously. I believe one person actually got a response from BMW after doing this. (I assume NHTSA wrote a letter to BMW and BMW NA tracked him down to his dealer using the VIN).


This seems to be an all to frequent problem, and if NHTSA gets enough complaints, they will open an investigation which could lead to a recall and help a lot of unaware Z4 owners.

[Sagan]

http://forums.roadfly.com/forums/bmw...8588462-1.html

[BombayDuk]

I feel it wasn't a permanent fix. After the column replacement, the problem was almost gone; extremely small compared to the initial stickiness. What has it been now, a few years? And suddenly, last week, temperture in the mid 80s, car sitting in the heat for hours, and the sticky problem raised it's ugly head, though nowhere near as badly as it initially was.

Although we may never know exactly what the real cause is, it is evident that wear may contribute in my humble opinion. I have to wonder what different component the electrical assist has that may be at fault as I have not heard of this problem from 3 series guys.

So long as it does not revert entirely to the initial extent, I'll be happy. Hope you have the same luck.

[Sagan]

I could have posted the exact same report.... Unfortunately

I wish you luck as well.

I think electric power steering is analogous to I drive: Neither serves a purpose; both detract from driving pleasure; neither is liked/preferred by anyone. Yet they are both forced upon the consumer by a company that is afraid that cars devoid of techno gee whiz gizmos won't sell.

To go off on a big tangent....I'm very disappointed that the 1 Series is not available without I-drive. Since I own the only two BMWs available without I-drive, it probably indicates that all BMWs will eventually have it regardless of what people want. Therefore, I probably will never buy another. My next car will probably be a Lotus. I think I could learn to embrace the rattles, creaks, and noise. I don't think I'll ever learn to embrace all this electronic nonsense that distracts from driving pleasure and creates serious reliability problems.

It really is a shame........So close......
<img src="http://members.roadfly.org/sagan/siga.JPG">

[Maury S]

I had the same problem and my steering column was replaced. I had noticed it last year but thought it was probably the tires. The car only had 10,000 miles. I have not read all these messages but I have not read about who was paying for all these repairs. My dealer paid for half, leaving me with $1,200. How about you?

[TeddysZ4]

You are not dreaming. Many Z4 owners have this problem and there should have been some mandatory major recall regarding this. However, Hitler is alive somewhere back in Germany BMW and telling the Z4 owners and the rest of the world to go F itself.

I too have the same problem over the entire time I've owned the vehicle. I understand and feel your frustration. I learned to live with it because the one thing I noticed was that on these hot days, the symptoms are somewhat temporary. So while driving and running the ac, the car eventually gets cool inside and the problem becomes less noticeable and eventually the steering gets back to normal again. It is scary as f**k when you are on the freeway and the locked feeling happens when you are switching lanes ever so slightly. It makes me believe that the problem is definitely temp related and lies within the steering column. In addition, I never had any work done to replace the steering whatsoever because I have very little confidence in V*ll*y BMW. They are only good for simple things like routine oil changes, etc. I can make a list on this dealership and how their work ethic is horrible, they only know what you tell them whereas other service locations are constantly keeping up to speed with what problems are present and important. You know the service guy that looks at his watch and wishes it was Five O'clock so he can say screw this job and its customers, I'm out! Unfortunately it is too far out of my way for me to service my car somewhere else. Good luck to you for what its worth.

[GARY]

AFTER A LONG NEW ENGLAND WINTER I TOOK MY Z OUT FOR ITS FIRST TRIP OF 2009. MUCH AS I FEARED THE STICKING STEERING PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY WITH 5 MONTHS OF WINTER DOMANCY. WITH 52,000 MILES ON IT NOW AND 6 YEARS OLD MY Z4 IS OUT OF WARRANTY.

HAS ANYONE COME UP WITH A CLEAR SOLUTION TO THIS ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS PROBLEM?

[Penguin]

File a formal safety complaint with NHTSA. Be sure to have your VIN handy when you file the complaint online, as having the VIN get the complaint much more attention. If NHTSA get enough complaints, it will open an investigation which may lead to a recall. And pass the word to any others you know that have this problem.


NHTSA site to file safety complaints

[philip]

hey johnny quest, i have a z4 can u tell me how they fixed it, and what part was redesign

[Scary Steering]

So my wife and I both thought we were nuts, we both felt it but didn't say anything until one day (temp at about 98degrees) is was unbareable! It wasn't until I saw this post that we felt like we weren't just losing it~ I mean perfect steering in temps below 85??? Unheard of! we are taking it to the dealership in the morning. The worst part is we bought it last Sept (cool weather) and the warranty ran out in May (still fairly cool). Didn't start "acting up" until June.. Ofcourse! It is quite bazarr to leave the garage in the morning with it handling like a dream and 4 hours in the lot at work in the middle of summer and you may as well be driving home in a used go-cart. We have filed a complaint with the NHTSA thanks to the posts here. I suggest we all do the same to see if MAYBE they do something about it. Meanwhile- I'll prepare for the fight with the dealer tomorrow since we are 3 months out of warranty on a car with only 26,000 miles. Helluva thing when you've waited 40 years for a car that won't steer.

[ROBERT SHORT]

I am having the same problem with the steering on my 2004 Z4. On warm days the steering seems like it just locks up and you have to continue jerking the steering to keep the car under control. In the winter months the car is ok. I love the car but if this problem were to go away it would be more exciting to drive in warm weather. BMW needs to come up with some sort of a recall before someone gets hurt.

[Penguin]

If you feel it is a safety issue, file a formal complaint with NHTSA:


NHTSA Complaint Site

If they get enough complaints, it greatly increases the odds that BMW will finally address this issue and issue a recall. BMW will not do anything, IMHO, unless the Government twists their arm. And the government will not do that without formal complaints.

Be sure to include your VIN if you do file a complaint, as it increases the odds of action.

[TomO]

I experienced the same problem with daughter’s 2006 Z4 with 28,000 miles. I drive her car only occasionally. The first time I notice it was when I took it to the track last fall and on the straight section, when hitting speeds over 100mph, I felt that the car would not track straight but since I seldom drive at those speeds, I just assumed it was a result of the high speed or perhaps the track.

I noticed it again several weeks ago during a trip on the highway at about 60 mph and higher. I didn't connect the two incidents at the time and felt that perhaps is was a slight alignment problem and was going to take it in to a shop that understands alignments and sports cars. I stay away from the dealers on these types of issues because you can’t talk to the mechanics. There are just too many layers of people there and only the government has a bigger bureaucracy than the BMW dealer.

Before I had a chance to take it in for an alignment, I took it in to the dealer to fix the broken light lens on the bottom of the interior mirror (still under warranty). As I picked up the car and started to head home, I notice that the steering didn’t want to correct itself completely and wouldn’t track straight. I turned around and went back in. A senior tech went for a drive with me and he acknowledged the problem, although it was slight. It was 80 degrees outside and the car had been baking in the sun for several hours so maybe that is what brought it on. Some of these posts say it’s more apparent when the inside of the car is hot. The tech thought it was the EPS. Said that some of the units had problems in the past. He called someone and that person pretty much confirmed the problem so I left the car with them.

He said that the entire steering column would need to be replaced. Hopefully that solves the problem. Lucky me, the warranty is still good for another 7 days!

[NimfTaria]

[NimfTaria]

[Ken Wingrove]

Having steering issues with 1998 328i BMW, please help?

[Unregistered]

My 2003 with 29k does it. Just like you mention. Took it in last year - to a BMW dealer that I did NOT buy it from (used). They said it was OK - just the "high performance" steering package. Sounded goofy - but? Took it out of storage this year - and it has gotten worse. At 70mph, you have to almost break the wheel free. And the car swerves at that speed before you can counter the trun. Going back to where I bought it. Fortunately I bought a Warrranty. We'll see. With all I have recently read, don't see how they can say this is unheard of.

[Unregistered]

I have a shop up here in BC. One of my customers has this problem. The only difference being his vehicle does it all the time.
I did some research, BMW did produce a service bulletin stating that they were aware of the problem and were looking into it. That was back in 2004.
I also talked to the local BMW dealer and, although they were tight lipped about the problem, explained to me that they succesfully repaired this problem previously at the cost of around $2500.00.

Phil Harts Auto Repair Ltd

[Brucecovexeno]

This problem is no myth, my Z 4 with 95,000 miles has the same mysterious steering problem, I 1st noticed it at 75,000 miles when I bought the car, I was driving to Oregon one Christmas in the snow and the exact symptoms described in this thread were happening to my car. As soon as I got into warmer climate the problems seemed to dissipate, however in temperatures above 75° the problem occurs again and increases in severity as the temperature climbs,, I was going around the turn at high speed on the freeway and I literally had to jerk my steering wheel to correct back to center which scared the hell out of me and I'm fearless!!!!! I have heard something about a recall, is there any truth to this rumor? And who do I speak to to increase the odds of a recall happening,,.. I love my Z 4 because it's so much fun to drive, but this steering problem takes all the fun out of it!!!! and it has all the potential of becoming a lethal problem,,, help!!!!!!

[Unregistered]

In regards to the steering problem the proper agency to contact and file a complaint is; the national Highway traffic safety agency their telephone number is; 888-327-4236, these are the people that will investigate how large a problem this is and if it is noteworthy of a recall. In other words, if enough people complained to this particular agency something will actually get done like a recall! I just got through filing a complaint with this agency do not waste your time with the Bureau of automotive repair they are a toothless agency and are worthless to this particular cause! So people that have this problemFILE A damn complaint! Even if you have paid to have this repaired. File A complaint if you don't file a complaint you might as well bend over now and wait for the next time you get screwed