Z4 steering wheel warning light

[bluespit]

Started the car yesterday and a warning light came in the centre of the dash. Steering wheel and exclamation mark. Went out after about 50 yards. Had been parked with about 75% left lock.

Any ideas?

I know I could RTFM but you lot are much more knowledgable and I don't remember where TM actually is after a major sort out!

Thanks

[TitanTim]

If the warning light is a steering wheel with an exclamation mark next to it then could be this....

BMW Z4 E89 Roadster power steering malfunction warning light - if this symbol illuminates it means there is a fault with the power steering system in your Z4.

Tim.

[Angie4m]

I has that in my E88 when I left the car parked with the wheels almost at full lock. The car wouldn't start in my case as it was the same symbol but red, I had to wiggle the steering wheel when pressing the start button and it started and no further issues. Now I always ensure I park with the wheels straight. It seems to relate to disengaging the steering lock.

If it became a frequent occurrence then you may have an issue with the steering coloum and/or rack but otherwise it's possibly just been the way it has been parked.

[bluespit]

contacted dealer today, says its just a waring light to remind you that your wheels are nowhere near straight. Tried the same on SWMBOs 4 series with similar results

hopefully nothing to worry about but if I see it again without the wheels on lock then back to the dealer

thanks for the replies

[ruggedscot]

trouser moment indeed... lol

[Maniac]

A reminder to tell you your wheels aren't straight? Bizarre.

[Angie4m]

A reminder to tell you your wheels aren't straight? Bizarre.

That's what I thought. I assume that they made that comment after being told how the car was parked? But it is to do with the steering lock which is effected by how the car has been left parked but it's not to remind you your wheels weren't straight, it's to tell you it is had an issue disengaging the steering lock and when it's red and won't start it becuade it can't disengage the steering lock.

Which will happen if there is an issue with the steering lock or if you leave it on almost full to full lock for a period of time.

[bluespit]

Found TFM. No mention of lock warning but it does say poer steering failure! But the power steering is clearly still active and the light went off and hasn't returned

Think I'll try paring the same way tomorrow and see what happens

Hmmmm

[TitanTim]

I think I would get a second opinion in all honesty. If you google it theres a fair bit of info on BMW Steering Lock Probs that throw up the warning light. Yours could be intermittant but with an underlying fault. Last thing you want is the steering lock engaging when you don't need it to. I've never heard of a warning light to tell you your steering is on lock lol.

Tim.

[Angie4m]

Did you get a new Z'd recently? if not do you still have the warranty? To be honest if not I wouldn't be looking to induce problems.

Like I said I had the car not starting when leaving the car on almost full lock and it took me trying to wriggle, pull on the wheel hard whilst also pressing the start butting before it would start. Did you notice when you switched the engine off if the wheel seem to lock hard making a noise? If it's in between locking points it can do this locking the steering wheel slightly further round than where the wheels are also causing a bit of an issue.

If you do have a warranty by all means try it and or take it to the dealers to be looked at properly. The diagnostics will show it happened and the cause.

[bluespit]

Yep it's 3 months old. But and I think it's a significant but, the same light comes on the wife's 420 if left on full lock and that's 10 months old. My 2 year old 5 series doesn't though.

[Angie4m]

Do either of you have the active steering racks? Ideally wheels should be straight as possible when parking but in order to make sure there is no underlying issues BMW should be looking at both cars. Like Tim says you don't want it to fail but you wouldn't want it not staring and having to be recovered if you were out somewhere.