Steering Problems (the continuing saga)

[Chadder007]

If BMW hasn't changed anything on the new Steering Columns, then this problem will probably resurface again. Service Technicians can't keep changing steering columns over and over again, there has to be a fixed part that they are putting on that provides a permanant solution.

[cmd512]

back to these service shops to tell them to put in a new EPS system, which is pretty much the entire steering column.

From what we've seen here, it obviously isn't that issue. That's why my service advisor and I are at a loss... there is nothing left to replace!

And it's heat/temperature related... what in the world could that be due to????

[Bogie1]

I encountered a problem with my steering on 3 occasions. All 3 times the car was parked, just started from cold, and you could barely move the steering wheel at all. I had a Warning light on the dash and it set a computer code. The dealership updated the uCode and told me if it happened again they would have to change the entire steering column. It has happened 2 more time since then but I am waiting because I don't want to have my car all tore up just yet.

[cmd512]

I haven't gotten any warning indicators or anything of that sort go off. And, it's very much so temperature dependent with this issue.

This electronic power steering and all its bugs are finally starting to show. I'm starting to really cringe at the maintenance costs of this car a few years down the line.............

[Dave M.]

[cmd512]

[edZ3]

[edZ3]

[cmd512]

[cmd512]

[edhchoe]

<img src="http://members.roadfly.com/edhchoe/RS.JPG" height=100 width=250>
2002 Z3 2.5i Atlant Blue
2001 325i Jet Black

[edhchoe]

sport mode and non sport mode was malfunctioning at high temps. Cars without the sport button don't need that switch between heavy and light steering feel so I thought maybe that's where the problem originated.


<img src="http://members.roadfly.com/edhchoe/RS.JPG" height=100 width=250>
2002 Z3 2.5i Atlant Blue
2001 325i Jet Black

[cmd512]

suggestions at this point.

And so is my dealership.......

[cmd512]

Do all of you have the sports package with the sport mode button?

I certainly do.

[fatsound]

As mentioned by others, on particularly hot days my steering feels locked on center and very sluggish. Kind of like turning the wheel of a non-power steering car while sitting still in a parking lot. Not quite that bad, but that is what it reminds me of because considerably more effort is required than usual and the wheel tends to kind of stick where I put it.
This seems to happen only when car has been sitting in direct sunlight on days in low 90's or above. Once the car has been run, with top up and AC on long enough to cool the interior the steering feel returns to normal.
If the car is sitting in a hot garage..in the shade....it doesn't have this problem
Weird and worrisome.

I have 3.0 Sport.<img src="http://home.earthlink.net/~240tallyho/images/interior_sm.jpg/path_to_pic/pic.jpg" height=## width=##>

[Blown_Z3]

[cmd512]

with the same identical temperature related issue.

God I hope someone comes back with a solution because it sounds like BMW is clueless...

[Dave M.]

During this lengthy discussion, there is one very important point that may not have been made clear:

This problem only shows up after the car sits in the hot sun all day. It makes no sense to me, but it seems that everyone with this problem has a similar story. When I pull my car out of the garage, no matter how hot it is outside, the steering is fine. When I drive my car during lunch (when it has been in the hot sun for 3 or 4 hours) the steering is fine. Only at the end of the day, after baking all day, does the problem show up. Believe me; I know how strange that seems. Those of you who are fortunate to have shaded parking areas or parking garages at work, may have never let your cars sit and bake for 8 hours. If you are up for an experiment, park your car in the hot sun (I always use the cockpit cover), and then see how your steering feels. I suspect the number of people who experience this problem (currently 6) will increase sharply.

[Mike in Oregon]

Zed sat in the sun until 4:30 today when it was 92 degrees. I quickly put the A/C on max and had a very stiff driving experience within a minute. It only lasted about a minute; then everything was fine.

[cmd512]

I hope more people test this thing out once it gets hot. If this becomes more of a norm than anything else... I think we might have a design flaw on our hands or something.

Sounds like something electrical is overheating... something that's more in the interior than in the engine bay since the A/C seems to cool it down and make it functional again......